Athena Royal Beach Hotel — Hotel in Yeroskipou

Book this hotel, you will not regret it. I cannot fault it. From the moment you walk in and are met by the receptionist (who took us into a room offered us a complimentary drink and ran through check in, then took us up to our rooms - with a porter who bought up our luggage) until the moment you leave you will be thoroughly spoiled. The hotel is beautiful, every single staff member that you meet cannot do enough for you. Staff are from all over the world and they are all smartly dressed, polite, professional and helpful (but not obsequious). The staff seem happy working for the hotel and speaking to them they seem to work split shifts or about 8 and a half hrs. There is a really good entertainment programme aqua fit every day (I did 8 sessions and they were such fun - I particularly liked the Aqua stretch). They also offer pool, darts, shuffle board, mini golf and more. The pool water was perfect, not over chlorinated, sunbeds are free and they are well distanced so you aren't sitting on top of the person next to you. You are also given pool towels in the rooms, so you don't have to carry them in your luggage. The greek night entertainment was really good and there were a couple of good singers in the bar area. However, there wasn't loud music all of the day and most things that made noise closed at about 11/11.30pm, which was perfect. Everywhere is immaculate and the hotel is very well thought out. The views from the rooms are stunning and once the door to your room is shut there is silence. The air conditioning is great. We had a superior sea view room and as it was a special anniversary the staff put balloons and a card next to our door on the day. We also had complimentary wine and some fruit. There is a feeling of opulence everywhere, but the hotel is also trying to be environmentally friendly. Sheets are routinely changed every 4 days and the towels every 2 unless you state otherwise. There is also a recycling bin by the pool. They also state that they give food that is not used to various charities and support a local animal charity. You get the feeling that they are trying to be a very ethical company which is nice. We were B&B basis and this included the most amazing breakfast buffet in an air conditioned private breakfast room until 11am. The choice was outstanding and it all looked fresh and appetising - nice fruit, yoghurts, bread etc ect. The greek night/barbeque should not be listed as a barbeque (it was unlike any barbeque I have ever been to, which usually includes a few burgers and sausages burnt on the outside and raw in the middle. The food at this barbeque was out of this world, all freshly cooked or kept nice and hot. There were different stations with different foods and a chef at each. If you are a veggie that eats fish, dairy and milk - go - there is plenty there for us to eat. The lovely female chef I spoke to at the little area that told you about about ricotta and halloumi cheese was able to reassure me re the ingredients in the halloumi and the brie. I am not usually a pudding person, but I had 5 small pieces of various puddings and a creme caramel - I was in heaven. The male chef on the greek pudding section was so kind and helpful. I only wish they offered a whinch service back to the room afterwards as I could not move. The olive tree cafe in the day has a fabulous range of puddings and pizzas. The bar on the 5th floor is lovely especially as the sunsets. It is a short walk to paphos harbour and to some great restaurants, but I think if you didn't want to leave the hotel there would be enough choice re food to make staying at the hotel (and not going anywhere else) an option. Everything is cash free (including tips which you can add to the end of your bill), which is a very sensible idea and leads me to think that this helps with the happiness of all staff as I presume all of them get a fair share, which means that I didn't feel that I had to tip individually), this I feel probably helped to make everyone working there feel that they are part of one big team, which is how it came across. There are bikes that can be hired from the hotel. There is a little shop in the hotel that is reasonably priced and a small mini market just along from the hotel (but also run by the hotel - I believe). There is a fabulous spa at the hotel which isn't run by the hotel, however, the staff working there are of the same standard as the main hotel. Lovely women, mainly from Nepal. My husband and I treated ourselves to a pain relief 45 min back neck and shoulder massage. I am a retired beautician and complementary therapist and I taught on a degree programme for 3 years. The standard of massage that I received (and that after speaking to my husband I feel that he received) was of a standard that I would have expected of a student that I had taught. They were amazing, contraindications were checked, the whole process was professional, the rooms were clean, warm and relaxing, they did a lovely bit where they put a hot towel across you back, for exactly the right of time so it doesn't get too cool. It was £60 euros and if I could have afforded to I would have had one every day. The therapist I had worked on the areas that required attention and maintained my dignity at all times. She checked pressure and comfort and used lovely warm sweet almond oil (which did not have any nasty synthetic fragrance in it). After the massage, we were taken to an area where we could snooze on a bed and were given a cup of water. I have never had a massage on holiday before and it exceeded my expectations. It was also good to know that my therapist had received training in Napal and Cyprus for a total of 3 yrs. The person that runs this spa has done an exceptional job. We were very lucky to be given the complimentary free check out which is available on the superiors package, which was fabulous as it meant we could go to the pool and to have another proper day before leaving the hotel at 6pm. This hotel has tried to think of and to offer everything that holiday makers could possibly want. They listen to their customers and if there is anything amiss, a member of staff will sort out the issue immediately, without any animosity. I don't think I have ever written such a long trip advisor review. It was just perfect from start to finish and I hope I will be able to go back again. People that we spoke to at the pool come back year after year and sometimes 2 or 3 times a year - if only! Still I have been fortunate enough to go once and I consider myself very lucky, I have already recommended this hotel to everyone that I know and I will continue to do so. It is so lovely to find a hotel and staff that have such high standards and put their...

We’ve just returned from a wonderful 10-night stay at the Athena Beach in Paphos, and it was an absolute pleasure. ||The hotel itself is traditional, well-maintained, and in an excellent location with it only being a 15-20 walk along the front to the harbour. Whilst we did not arrive until after midnight, they keep a restaurant open until around 2am for you so that you can have some food and drink, which is greatly appreciated after a day's travel. ||On our first trip to the Athena Beach in 2024, we opted for a standard all-inclusive, and therefore excluding the few Elite benefits. This year we upgraded and it was for breakfast where this added the most value as you could have a more relaxed atmosphere in the Leda restaurant along with some extra attentive service. Special praise to Manus who was always smiling and welcoming and went out of his way to make your visit special. Also to Dona working her magic at the egg station, made delicious omelettes and perfectly poached eggs every single time. Her cheerful personality and engaging conversation made waiting for breakfast a pleasure.||At lunchtimes, it is worth visiting the Adonis restaurant where you can sit and relax and have a bit more quiet time. Helios beachside bar is another standout – well looked after, with staff who work incredibly hard in the heat. Jaspreet and Zakir were always helpful, and Richard, working around the grounds, was attentive and always willing to assist.||We had a nice land view room, (555), which was slightly bigger than the side sea-view room last year but you do miss the nice sea view and so it's well worth paying extra if you can. Also, on the land view, there were a number of nights when the bar opposite had loud music until the early hours with the, quite unnecessary, heavy bass keeping us up. (Yes, I know I sound old! haha) (A special mention must go to the lovely lady who looked after our room. She was always smiling, greeted us warmly each day, and kept everything spotless.)||The pools are excellent with plenty of space, clean water, and a couple of slides that were a welcome bonus for us. For those wanting a lounger by the pool, it seems some guests head out in the very early hours to reserve them, but we found that coming down around 8:30–9:00am still gave us plenty of beds on the grassed area overlooking the sea, which we actually preferred. (Someone we got chatting to had gone for a run at 5am and there were only a few loungers left at the pool at this time!) ||One area for improvement would be the lifeguarding. While one sign states there’s no lifeguarding, there are often 3–4 lifeguards on duty. Unfortunately, some appeared more interested in their phones, chatting with guests, or even playing football, rather than actively watching the pool. On one occasion, one lifeguard tried to close the slides early and had to be reminded by another that they must remain open until the stated time. We raised this concern with reception, and the gentleman we spoke to was extremely appreciative, took a genuine interest, and assured us it would be addressed, which gave us confidence the feedback was taken seriously.||Plenty of entertainment during the day and evening. Can be a bit 'hit and miss' and after the first 5/6 nights, we didn't really watch any of it and instead headed to the lobby bar for a couple of drinks and to play a game. The Cypriot night is really good and has a lovely atmosphere, whilst the outdoor movies are a nice touch.  ||A few extra points. We booked with Jet2 and so got unlimited access to the Aphrodite Waterpark (20 min walk of very short bus journey). Went a couple of times and really enjoyed it. Speaking of the bus service, it is very easy to use and takes you around all the places you probably need should you wish to venture out. Stop is right outside the hotel and only a few Euros each return I think. We also did parasailing at the San Antonio watersports centre located about 150m from the hotel (behind the Louis Ledra Beach ||We would return again, and would rate this hotel as very good but could be even better with a few tweaks. ||Overall, we had a brilliant holiday with many happy memories. The warmth, professionalism, and friendliness of the staff are what make the Athena Beach somewhere truly special, and we wouldn’t...

A long and mixed review from a 30 year old couple on honeymoon. Overall opinion: overpriced for what you get, not a shred of luxury.||Arrival - We arrived at midnight after a delayed flight and a long day of travelling. Staff member was there immediately to get our bags and took them to the room for us while we checked in which was fantastic. Check in was going fine until the manager (I think) arrived to take us into a small room for champagne (a lovely touch) and to explain all the information about our stay: meal times, Elite privileges, hotel layout, etc. but after such a long day it went in one ear and out the other, and at the end of the briefing he gave us an envelope with all the information anyway. You know that moment in a meeting where they tell you they’re going to email you all the info anyway and you switch off? Imagine that at midnight. My mum had actually called the hotel in advance to say it was our honeymoon - cue balloons taped to the door with a laminated misspelled congratulations poster…the end.||Room - Beware booking a ‘sea view’ room if you think this will give you a room facing the sea; our room was facing East and you could see the sea side on - in my opinion this really wasn’t worth the extra money! How much more would I have had to pay for a room facing the sea or is it just luck of the draw? Speaking of the room itself, I knew it was going to be old-fashioned and dated from the pictures so no surprises there, but it was just so ugly, I can’t fathom why they don’t update them. First time I’ve ever had carpet in a hotel room in a hot country - why??? Curtains almost close so you can almost get a good night’s sleep, and there are frosted windows on the wall between the bathroom and bedroom for some unknown reason so you can’t use the light in the bathroom without waking up whoever is sleeping - so strange!||Pool - Sunbeds not a problem to find even by 10am/11am; mind you, the wooden ones around the pool are limited and if you miss those it’s metal sunbeds on the grass for you. On the days we did get sunbeds by the pool the staff are great coming to take drink orders and entertainment team do a great job of circling to invite you to join in activities (of which there are many). Pool areas overall are lovely. ||Beach - you can barely call it a beach; it’s rocky coastline with the most unstable jetty with metal bars and wooden steps, not a nice experience at all!||A La Carte Restaurants - We booked the two a la carte restaurants for our first two dinners to check them out. They are basically the same food as each other, I can’t fathom why there are two at all. For the second booking it was 7pm (earliest slot), we arrived at 6:56pm and the waitresses said they had to ask their manager if they were allowed to seat us yet?? The manager came and said come back at 7pm (by this point it was 6:58). Truly gobsmacked by this - is it not customary to arrive a few mins prior to your booking time for literally any restaurant? What rules are stopping them seating us a couple of minutes early I would love to know. We did a lap of reception and came back. ||Main buffet - The buffet is generally excellent, lots of variety day to day at dinner; breakfast and lunch are mostly the same foods day to day but there’s enough variety to mix it up yourself. ||Cabanas - When we asked about booking a cabana, they told us it’s €40 even for our Elite package (there is a level up from us which is even more expensive - an unholy thought). Now, when I think cabana, I think of a big cushioned sunbed - it was just two of those crappy metal sunbeds underneath the wooden structure - so disappointing, we cancelled our booking and didn’t bother, it’s not worth it! No wonder the people who get them included in their package don’t even use them!||Greek night - this was sensational! Every Thursday they clear the terrace/pool areas and set up a buffet of freshly barbecued foods, Greek salad items, cold Greek foods, and a wide range of desserts - quality was amazing. There was also Greek music and performances by Greek dancers which involved getting guests up joining in - a fantastic night!||Overall it’s a standard 4 star experience for people who don’t care...