Natura Beach Hotel And Villas — Hotel in Polis Chrysochous

When it is being used to hold parties, and exercise classes, only for the German Tour Groups. Yes that is right, despite all the promises of quiet relaxing, avoid the noise of Polis, the owner is allowing German tour groups to hold parties on his tennis court. ||||Hotel website “Peaceful and relaxing holiday close to nature” “Offering tranquillity” “Away from the noisy traffic and activity of the town” “Right ambience for peaceful and relaxing holiday close to nature”.||||What it should say is expect noisy night parties held on the Tennis Court, hotel provides lighting and music.||||Expect your sudden peace to be interrupted by thump thump blasting music during the day, while some select guests exercise on the tennis court, to blaring music.||||Did complain was met with this response I will upgrade you to a sea view room, party was arranged to start at 21.00 at night, (one of the tour group was asking where the party was, and was given directions by the receptionist) it was now around 21.20 the staff will help you pack up and move, this was 3 days before the end of the 2 week stay, we had requested a room overlooking the garden, and not a sea view. (the garden rooms get the sun from sun-up until around mid afternoon, are sheltered from the wind, the sea view rooms do not and when the sun gets round, it is often with a cold wind). ||||Owner also offered to refund us, never happened.||||The receptionist said it was only for an hour, the owner said he had given permission for it to go on longer. That to me indicates and he was told this that the party was going on well into the early hours of next day, and there would be more in the coming days, not a one off. ||||Another excuse was because they were a new tour group who had just arrived, they were getting to know each other. Asked him why he would not provide a room at hotel to hold a welcome meeting, his response was he was "not having this sort of behaviour inside his hotel". His residence is well aware from the Tennis Court.||||When I said could I get the recently arrived guests together, mainly British, would he allow us to do the same thing, there was a very firm NO! Not that I would want to engage in this.||||He was point blank asked if he favoured German guests, yes was the reply, and he indicated he was moving to only accommodating German guests, at the hotel good luck with this! ||||I then got the we should not have booked a room next to the tennis court, because in every country there would be noise from people playing tennis because in every country tennis is played all day and all night when there is a Tennis Court. ||||Had not brought this up before, BUT decided to query why the tour groups were allowed to ghetto blast music to exercise again on the tennis courts around 16.00, forgot about this from last year, but reminded when the peace and quiet was shattered while sitting by the pool one day. Apparently he is fully aware of this, said he could no longer avoid the upkeep of the tennis court. Don’t advertise a tennis court on your website!||||Worth mentioning that there are bee hives next to the tennis court, the surrounding area is farm land, and the owner has livestock, including chickens, all of which he says he uses in his “awarding winning breakfasts”, back to Nature experience. Not exactly healthy environment for this type of sourced? food, unless the bee hives are all for show.||||The owner is not only alienating all international guests, not booked as part of German Tour Groups, and independent German guests. He is also destroying the property, we saw discarded alcohol bottles in the garden, that would explain last year the broken glass we saw on the tennis court, that must be from the parties. Not only this there are other properties, while not right next to the property, still near enough to have their peace disturbed by night parties, and ghetto blasting music through the day.||||I agree with a previous review of “Unpleasant Guest Clientele”.||||We had returned to this hotel, having stayed last year in the same month. Did not get round to posting a review. ||||Now for the review should have been wrote, and which should not been severely overshadowed by the above events, added to that there was some niggles we were willing to accept from last year, definitely not the noise.||||Food||Last year nearly all evening meals were buffet, previous reviews hotel’s response, say if there is insufficient numbers then this will not be offered. This year only 2 buffets, set meal offered instead, was enough guests for buffet. Rather hit and miss, there was too much food, despite asking for smaller portions of fish (took it out for ||the cats, as could not eat it), would not accommodate. ||||Over 2 weeks there was too much repeating of same food, when asked for vegetarian just got plate with no meat or fish on, so next time when same choice, came around Calamari or Pork just asked for the chips, the rest would have been wasted. I would have got chips and couscous, with vegetables, no sauce or dressings. No choice for starter or dessert. ||||When the starter is salad bar, expect long queues and to be pushed out by the tour groups. If eating half board you need to get there for the doors opening.||||I would now definitely say avoid the half board, you can opt for the set menu, same as the half board choice, think it was around 22 euros at hotel, no choice of dessert, will be served up for breakfast next day, smaller portion sizes, will not miss out, and no choice for starter, or just use the al a carte menu. ||||You make your choice in the morning at breakfast.||||First night the only wine we were offered was a bottle of wine for 28 or 29 euros (29 euro bottle was on sale at supermarket for just under 6 euros, massive mark up), excuse start of season, this was around 2 weeks in. House wine carafe at 10 euros half litre was not available (cost in Polis is around 7 to 8 euros). Last year this did not happen and we arrived a few days earlier. Water 2.70 a bottle. ||||Expect restaurant to be noisy in evening, tour groups again.||||Buffet breakfast, there is plenty to eat, not to everyone’s taste, no bacon.||||Mainly at breakfast expect the tour groups to start moving the table and chairs around, outside why when they are set out for their group, happened last year.||||Expect to witness platefuls of food being taken for those guests the owner favours, to be consumed later. That included witnessing them taking drink and putting into their own containers to take away. If the breakfast is a bit sparse later on in the morning then that’s the reason.||||Room||You will get ants in room, ours was mainly in bathroom, usual for Cyprus, one of main mentions in other posts . The owner will defend the presence of ants, would say avoid saying anything, unless you want a lecture on why they are there, just bring a spray or get one from the supermarket around 2.50 to 3 euros a can. ||||Very basic room and very emphasis on basic clean each day. ||||Only 2 guests soaps, and 2 small shower gels provided, no replenishment. ||Small fridge, not very cold, same as last year, and different room, so much be standard. ||||Two bottles of water charge 1.50 euros per bottle, not clearly stated. ||Free safety deposit box in room, will fit a normal size camera, handbag, keypad code.||||Hairdryer in room.||||The air con/heating is a bit hit and miss.||||Water is slow to heat up in morning, especially if you are trying to get ready and down before all that furniture moving takes place.||||Disabled room is in block next to tennis court, suspect may be a bit noisy, next to reception, and the pool room, where the tour groups gather at night.||||Other||You can settle your bill after each meal, drink. If you can I would strongly advise doing this or at the end of the day.||||Hotel offers excursion from hotel, same as last year, only for German speaking guests.||||The owners have their meal in the evening, in the main restaurant, so watch out for the reserved table as you enter, the Spaniel dog is often in the lounge room, friendly enough.||||Pool room, but like last year this is taken over by the tour groups in the evening (except when they are out partying on the tennis court). ||||The hotel rooms are basic, the views from the hotel are great, remote being 30 minutes walk to Polis, one hour walk to Latchi, and one hour to Limini Bridge then onto Argaka Beach. |||| For the most part of stay quiet, and this is why when speaking to independent guests they have chosen the hotel for nice surrounding scenery, relaxing time, but blighted by the attitude and direction the owner is taking is hotel, hence the mark down. ||||Hotel is around 30 minutes walk from Polis, and 10 euros by taxi arranged by hotel. If coming back on foot/bike in dark, then bring a torch.||||Expect cats at hotel, all seem well looked after, goats being herded, and the peacocks, although they were not out as much as last year. ||||There is a farm, more like an allotment set up, continue along the path passed the block near the owner’s villa, through a gate.||||There is a bike hire, place, new bikes were delivered when we were there, have no idea of set up.||||Hotel is in 3 blocks, the block attached to main reception, are the best ones and most in use. Over look the garden, with rose bushes and orange and lemon trees. ||||Last year one block looked like being refurbished, and other block, near to owner’s villa, did not appear to have any guests, did last year. There are some villas. ||||While last year I would have recommended this hotel, with the way the hotel is heading to just another noisy blaring music, drunken unruly mass. I would not recommend it and told the owner would not be returning with the way he is taking his hotel forward. Did not care, says it all. ||||He needs to change his description on his website, and let Jet 2 know, his cliental preference is Germans. There seemed to be less independent travellers this year, not part of the tour groups, possibly word has got out, and less of these guests. ||||I would have liked to have gone back, as like the area, especially at this time of year, but because of the direction the owner is going, allowing tour groups to make noise, disturb other guests, and destroy the ambience, then no way. Shame another peaceful quiet hotel disappearing. ||||If after reading this you still want to go, would avoid half board, still get the room facing the garden, if at start of season, complain if the noise continues, make the most of the area and the peace and quiet while you can. If you have booked half board, we asked and were refused, could we substitute the set menu with one choice, from the al ala carte, we were refused, but do...

The Natural Beach Hotel is beautifully situated just outside the town of Polis on the north west coast of Greek Cyprus. It’s just under an hour from Paphos airport.

We stayed in one of the several villas which are situated either side of the hotel complex. The villa was airy and spacious, was cleaned twice during our week stay, with change of sheets and towels. It had its own small pool, although visitors also have access to the main pools. The kitchen was well enough equipped with 2 ring hob, oven and microwave and enough equipment to cook. Hot water was only available in the bath/shower and is heated by solar panels or immersion.

We stayed in the first week in April and had clear blue skies and temperatures in the mid twenties. There is no view of the sea from our villa, as there is from the hotel rooms, but we happily spent many hours on the loungers that are found in the garden overlooking the small beach and sea.

Our package included breakfast which has a wide range of cold and hot dishes, which should cater for most tastes. However there are no allergens marked on any items and when we asked about one of us needing a gluten free menu (due to Coeliac Disease), we were pointed to the fried veg and told that was all there was. There was probably quite a bit more that was suitable, but when you suffer from a dietary condition where eating certain foods can harm your health you need confidence in the ability of all staff to provide correct information, or to be able to get the correct information. To be brushed off in the way we were destroys any potential confidence.

So while one of us could enjoy the range on offer at breakfast , the other had to bring their own supplies, which we did supplement with some of the fresh fruit that was available.

We would recommend this lovely hotel if you want a quiet setting. There is plenty to do locally, although a car would be helpful. However this is not a hotel if you need a...

Receptionist was welcoming at first, but when we enquired after dining within the hotel from the a la carte menu as opposed to the set menu, her attitude inexplicably shifted and became openly hostile for the rest of our stay. Asking to buy bottles of water produced a shouting match between a friendly member of kitchen staff who wanted to issue the water for free and said receptionist who ultimately charged us nearly three euros for one bottle.

The villa was spacious but there the good ends. The electrics were a mystery, the air con units were poor and did not cool, the beds were uncomfortable, the bathrooms infested with mould, the villa was dirty, the kitchen was disgusting, the swimming pool filters were off and the pool itself was ridden with caterpillars, ants & beetles, the tile surround was lethal when wet, with blown tiles in places presenting razor sharp edges to the kids, breakfast was budget and hugely overpriced - although they do try to produce most of the food on site which I applaud - the evening dining was a joke - hamburger and chips for the kids I recommend just so you can witness the biggest mismatch between burger and bun in history, to be fair the burger was ok after we found it, finally the staff in general seemed to treat us as an inconvenience.

For context I have travelled the world mostly via hostels and the kindness of strangers, so I don’t have an unrealistic view of travel and hospitality, but for the money I paid I was left with a sour taste, which fortunately was rescued by the friendliness and kindness of the locals as well as the landscape itself.

I recommend Cyprus, but certainly not the Natura...