Mare Ayia Napa — Hotel in Ayia Napa

My wife and I stayed here in Jun this year, overall we had an excellent holiday and would recommend the resort.

Although very close to Ayia Napa we didn’t leave the site and opted for a relaxed holiday.. We booked a swim up bungalow and we’d absolutely recommend that especially for couples. The bed was huge and incredibly supportive, the room was a good size with decent facilities (TV, fridge, hairdryer, iron etc) and a really nice bathroom/shower. Although a shared pool between three bungalows it felt like a private pool as we rarely saw anyone else and enjoyed the ability to swim in peace.

The buffet, was pretty much as I’d expected. A huge choice and you can see a lot of effort being put into it but often food was cool and popular items short on supply. For fussy eaters there was something for everyone, we tried an evening meal once and a breakfast and that was enough. Big shout out to Stratos who although relatively new was excellent and went out of his way to help.

Dante’s, the Italian was great, we ate there twice and really enjoyed the pasta and pizza, plus the starters were all good quality. The service here was excellent also, especially the female lead (sorry forgot your name).

Don Pepes the fine dining restaurant was excellent, we’d have eaten here every night but wanted to try other venues. The food, the service, the ambience all spot on.

Madeline the Med Bistro was good, I opted for a special (lamb cutlets) that were great but another €40 over the cost, but again a nice meal, with great service. I mention the cost because the restaurant was probably only 20% full and I’ll come back to this.

Makisu, the Asian restaurant was utterly fabulous, the service was immaculate and the food incredible and maybe that’s because we were the only cover! I don’t recall the cost but I think it was €110, to me good value but clearly not to many others.

We tried twice to get to Meat @ Rotunda but it was always closed, I assume because of the cost?

The BBQ house what a missed opportunity, superb setting at the bottom of the lawn by the beach, cool breeze, nice picnic table, beautiful mezze style starters then possibly the cheapest and lowest quality meat for the BBQ, we fed the numerous local cats so much of ours as it was barely edible, cooked but just poor quality. For the sake of €3-5 a head in quality it could be so much better.

Streat Lab, fast food and drinks, desserts but near the main pool/spa, it’s what it is, fast food but really handy for a quick snack on the go. The wraps and Korean chicken went down well as did the cool lagers.

Having paid for a “5T” package which includes food, I’d assume each meal is costed out, so I think the level of additional cost in the specialty restaurants is what puts people off, if it were a smaller cost akin to how cruise ships charge, I think they get a lot more covers and generate more profit. The concept is great and the food fine (bar the bbq) but the costs too high.

The Spa is a lovely oasis of tranquility- Despina worked her magic with some massages and whilst I made use of the surprisingly good gym my wife lounged around the indoor pool, which was always cool even when outside it was in the 40s.

Last bit of praise for Alexandros and Alastair in Ammos pool bar, it became a bit of a routine, to spend the afternoon on the private beach (but rocky so take sliders or buy some there) and then have drink by the pool before getting ready for dinner.

Most nights we’d end up in the Sky Lounge and although advertised as adult only there were often (well behaved) children which was totally fine, Christos treating us to some great drinks. My only whine was a couple of nights the music was way too loud for such a small space, a minor thing.

Whilst we wanted a relaxed holiday and we got that some better adult entertainment might have been good, but overall an...

We arrived very late at night and were welcomed warmly by staff and given something to eat. We (husband Barrie and myself) were traveling with my elderly parents and my brother, and we had requested three rooms close together. We were not disappointed, they had put us in a block of three adjoining rooms with its own pool. We were told the times for breakfast and were shown to our rooms. Our room was a complete surprise. We have stayed in an Atlantica Hotel before, the Aeneas, but this room was much bigger. We had booked a swim up room, something I'd recommend, and which we'd had previously at the Aeneas. The rooms here have their own kitchen area with a sink, coffee machine, kettle and fridge. There is ample storage and we didn't use all the drawers. The technology is bang up to date with touch pad operation for lighting, illuminating 'clean room', 'DoNotDisturb' and 'bell'. We struggled to get to breakfast by the 10 o' clock dead line in the morning but were warmly greeted by staff and found the selection more than adequate. The staff bend over backwards to cater to your needs and I am sure they'd be hurt by some of the negative comments left here and can only assume that the writers must have caught them on a bad day. I'm not sure what they meant by having to pay even if you're all inclusive because we certainly didn't. You get two opportunities a week to dine for free in each of the the Greek and Italian restaurants and one free visit per stay for the barbeque. You can also go to the sushi restaurant once a week. I'm certain this is enough for most people. The hotel was completely stripped back to the walls and refurbished last year so still feels very clean and new. It is also under new management. We did notice that there are a lot of weeds around but I'm certain in time they'll get round to sorting that out. The drink measures are MUCH smaller than it's sister hotel, a Bailey's (substitute) is the size of a UK measure... (What's that about guys?) But since they're included anyway it just means a few more trips to the bar. My husband even had a gin measured and the 'tonic' that was given was soda water. He had to pour it away it was horrid. The beach is literally on the doorstep. It's pretty and clean and unspoilt. There a lot of fish to see if you like snorkeling. The in-house Greek restaurant The Mandolin, gave us good food but we couldn't see it!! There were no lights above us and I had to use my phone light over a glass to see. The light above us was broken. My brother, who is an electrician, even tried to screw the bulb home but it was apparent that a faulty connection was too blame as every time the light was lifted it would come on but when he let it go it went off again! We went to Don Pepe the following evening. The food and people were wonderful but we waited sooo long, an hour from sitting down to be served. My mother has dementia and got quite upset, she couldn't understand why we had to wait so long when she could see others in the main restaurant eating. (They're serving people in there.. Why can't we go in there?) So our in-house restaurant experience wasn't great, but try it as the food was fabulous and they may well iron out the teething difficulties they have now. The town is a short taxi ride (about 10 euros) and has a wide variety of shops. I'd recommend taking the phone number of the taxi that drops you off for your return trip as the taxis in town overcharge, wanting to charge 15 euros. We are definitely returning in September. I don't know why there are some bad and unpleasant reviews here. You can't get perfection but the staff on hand do strive for it, we didn't meet one person that wasn't warm and friendly, and they're mortified if they make a mistake. For our part, all five of us have had a wonderful time, hot weather, good food and made new friends. Thank you for making...

Hotel Review: Mare Hotel, Ayia Napa (7 Nights, Half Board)

We spent 7 nights at Mare Hotel in Ayia Napa with half board and overall had a peaceful and enjoyable stay. Here’s a detailed overview of our experience:

Accommodation: We stayed in a garden bungalow, which was very spacious and exceptionally quiet – perfect for rest and relaxation.

However, it was a handicapped-accessible room, which we hadn’t requested. While fully functional, the design (e.g. open shower, lower fixtures) wasn’t ideal for us.

Atmosphere & Grounds: The resort has a beautiful, well-kept garden area and a calming, natural vibe.

A standout feature was the constant birdsong throughout the hotel grounds, adding to the tranquil atmosphere.

The entire property was very clean and well-maintained, from the gardens to the public areas.

Beach: The hotel has its own private beach, located in a quiet, protected bay.

The beach was very clean, with shallow, crystal-clear water, making it ideal for swimming.

There were plenty of modern, comfortable sun loungers, and the whole area felt peaceful and exclusive.

Pools: The pool areas were very clean and well kept, just like the rest of the resort.

However, the pools themselves were on the smaller side, and we can imagine that in peak season (July/August), they could become quite crowded.

Dining: Buffet (Breakfast & Dinner – Half Board):

Unfortunately, the buffet did not live up to the standard expected from a 5-star hotel.

The food was repetitive, lacked variety, and felt uninspired in both presentation and taste.

Because of this, we often chose to eat out at local restaurants instead of returning to the buffet.

À la Carte Restaurants: We only tried one of the à la carte restaurants, which turned out to be excellent – great food, professional service, and a much more upscale experience.

In hindsight, we regret not trying the other à la carte options, as we now believe they would have been much better than dining outside the hotel.

Room Service: We ordered a pizza to our room, and it was surprisingly delicious – hot, fresh, and well-prepared. A great alternative for a quiet evening in.

Staff & Service: The staff was consistently friendly, helpful, and attentive in all areas of the hotel – reception, restaurants, housekeeping, and beach.

Location & Transport: The hotel is in a very quiet and remote location, far from the center of Ayia Napa.

There are few options within walking distance, so we strongly recommend renting a car.

The hotel does offer a taxi service, which is convenient.

There’s also plenty of free parking on-site, which made having a rental car very easy.

Summary Pros: Spacious and quiet garden bungalow

Beautiful, peaceful atmosphere with birdsong

Very clean and well-maintained resort grounds

Private, clean beach in a quiet bay

Shallow water and quality sun loungers

Excellent à la carte dining (what we tried)

Great room service (pizza)

Friendly and attentive staff

Ample free parking

Convenient taxi service available

Cons: – Breakfast and dinner buffets below 5-star standard – Limited variety and low-quality buffet food – We only tried one à la carte restaurant due to buffet disappointment – but wish we had tried more – Assigned a handicapped-accessible room we hadn’t requested – Remote location – a rental car is highly recommended

Conclusion: Mare Hotel is a peaceful and relaxing destination with a beautiful private beach, friendly service, and very clean surroundings. While the buffet was a disappointment, the à la carte and room service options were excellent – and we wish we had explored more of them. A great retreat if you’re seeking tranquility, especially with...