Linda1408

We are going to Cyprus in June to celebrate my 6oth birthday and bringing no kids. Can anyone recommend a 4 or 5 star hotel on a sandy beach that has clear water? We want to spend less than $400 USD/nt for a double room with a sea view and prefer it not to be an all-inclusive. We like to eat in local restarurants. We will be there nine nights and would like to stay 4 nights in the SW and 5 nights in the SE. Any recommendations of nice hotels with modern amenities or suggestions. We are open to other locations--we just want to be on a great swimming beach!

sheila

That's actually quite a hard ask, I think; and I suspect the only answer is the Anassa. Its sister hotel, the Almyra is getting better reviews, but it misses on a number of your other points.

A lot of the accommodation in Cyprus is mass market, so it might be notionally 4 star, but it's not great.

The classier smaller hotels tend to be in the mountains.

Odin

Adams Beach hotel in Ayia Napa is very nice and there are other properties in the area which could also be suitable. I know Ayia Napa has the clubbing reputation and indeed there are alot of young people however people of all ages go there. There is some music bellowing out over AN beach but you cannot hear it in the hotel.
If you check around the other more secluded beaches eg Macronissos or further away to Protaras, the beaches are beautiful in this area. You might not get anything authenticly Cypriot as far as eating out but the hotels are of a high standard in the 5 star range. Also if you have a car you can get to the inland villages or even Larnaca is not far away with it's lovely seafront.
I'd also check out Nissi Beach hotel, only 3 star but best location. Otherwise Napa Mermaid gets good reviews.

SW is more tricky for great swimming beaches, Coral Bay comes to mind but the sand here is darker but a lovely beach with clear water on calm days. With it's proximity to Paphos for eating (can recommend Viklari the Last Castle in the Akamas for souvla but need to book - remote and lovely place for lunch - no dinner) and lots of other places Coral Bay seems a good choice.

The Anassa is gorgeous but hugely expensive, the land around it is protected - the Almyra used to be the original Paphos Beach hotel so is in a great location for Kato Paphos but personally I prefer to be slightly outside Paphos. The area around the Anassa is very nice and the road to Aphrodites Baths makes a nice excursion (plus lovely restaurant at the end of the road and swimming beneath but very rocky - good for snorkeling.) Be sure to take an excursion from Latsi harbour along the Akamas and take a swim in the blue lagoon.

tod

Hi Linda - I suggest you get hold of the EyeWitness Top 10 Cyprus. It's a handy little book and easy to take with you.
In it it has listed:
Accommodation Tips
10 Luxury Hotels
10 Family-Friendly resorts (which I would think you want to avoid as you're not taking the kids!)
10 All Inclusive and Activity Resorts
10 Villas
10 Suites and apartments
10 Traditional Guesthouses

and then.....all the Northern Cyprus hotels etc. I got it because we had visions of going over to see friends who were building a house, but they sold it shortly after completion............oh well.

There is so much stuff I can't list it all here for you.

caroline_edinburgh

We visited friends who are living in Cyprus earlier this year, and to my surprise ended up going to Ayia Napa each time we wanted to go to the beach (we were staying near Larnaca but - sorry Odin - we thought the seafront there was horrible). I had only heard of it as a clubbing destination for young ravers, but I suppose that isn't until the height of summer (hopefully not until July). It has the best beaches in the south and is a pleasant place, while being still very much a resort rather than a charming traditional town (I don't think there are any of those on the coast.) The beaches in Ayia Napa are quite extensive so while one day we could hear music coming from an area off round a bend to our right, the parts of the beach we used were quiet enough. I suppose places become popular in the first place because they are the nicest spots.

Odin

The seafront at Larnaca is not nice to swim in, rather it is nice for a walk in the evenings along the promenada and marina. None of the beaches around Larnaca are particularly nice - Ayia Napa and Protaras have very nice beaches. However the Golden Bay hotel is one of the best in the Larnaca area even if the beach is not the best.

lolab

Hi Linda, I have been spending the majority of my holidays in Cyprus for the last 25yrs and during this time I have stayed in numerous 4* hotels, all situated on the beach. You will find it very difficult to find a 4* hotel (forget 5*) on the beach for under $400 as Cyprus as a whole is very expensive across the board i.e. accomodation, food & drink, therefore you will not find anywhere for a low cost nowadays. However, in my opinion, the answer to your question for a lovely hotel on the beach thats close to restaurants/bars must be for me, the Sunrise Beach Hotel in Protaras as it's in a central location, right on the best beach in the whole of Cyprus with very spacious wonderful grounds but ensure that you book a seaview room when booking your holiday. Also, if you prefer to be more central on the island to visit the Troodos Mountains or travel towards Paphos for example, then the Meditterean Beach Hotel in Limissol is a lovely hotel that's located on the beach and is much cheaper to stay. However, if you adore lovely beaches then Protaras is the place. I can mention loads of other hotels and the for's and against's etc - just let me know which one's you are interested in and I will happily let you know about them. Whereever you stay, enjou your holiday - I always visit in June too so who knows, we might even bump into each other over there!

gertie3751

If you can handle North Cyprus try http://www.cyprus44.com
I got an amazing price through them for The Colony in Kyrenia last summer (though it isn't on the beach but they might have some that are).