Our Cyprus Hotel Diaries, Part 3: Three Nights at Capo Bay Hotel, Protaras

After Paphos and Ayia Napa, Mike and I headed to Capo Bay Hotel in Protaras for the final three nights of our Cyprus holiday. The drive from Mare Ayia Napa took us around 12 minutes, although we’d already had a sneak peek at Protaras a few days earlier.

We’d gone to Capo Bay to watch the England match with a colleague and her family, who were staying there. It was around 9pm when we turned onto the main road through Protaras, and we were surprised by how much was going on. Bars, restaurants, music and live entertainment all lined the same road — far livelier than I’d imagined. I’d somehow pictured Protaras as a very quiet place, so it was lovely to discover its evening atmosphere before coming back to stay.

Capo Bay has a wonderful position beside Fig Tree Bay, in the centre of Protaras. The hotel’s grounds lead towards the beach, and shops, restaurants and places to stop for a drink are within walking distance. We loved being able to go out for an evening stroll without needing the car.

We arrived to find chocolates, apples and water in our room, and the team brought us a chilled bottle of white wine with plenty of ice. When we had trouble closing the patio door, two members of the maintenance team came straight away and sorted it out. It was a good first impression of how helpful the staff were throughout our stay.

The room was a comfortable size, with a fridge and coffee facilities. The bathroom was lovely, with a bath and shower over it. I tend to prefer a separate shower, although that’s simply my personal preference. The generously sized Elemis toiletries smelled gorgeous. Our balcony looked right over the bay and was a very good size. It was a lovely place to step out in the morning and take in the view.

One detail I particularly appreciated was the dressing table, with the hairdryer right beside a mirror. Anyone who has tried to style their hair in a hotel room with no mirror near the socket will know why that stood out! One practical point if you travel with a laptop: the safe in our room was too small for mine.

We thoroughly enjoyed the food at Capo Bay. Breakfast at Elea offered a huge choice in a spacious restaurant, with seating both inside and out. We returned one evening for a barbecue-themed buffet, which had a great selection of meats alongside other dishes for those who preferred something meat-free. Anyone with specific dietary requirements should check the options with the hotel.

We had a lovely meal at Koi, which serves Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, on our first evening, and enjoyed lunch at Mama’s, with its Mediterranean menu, later in the stay. Cucina offers Italian dishes, but we didn’t manage to try it during our three nights.

On our last evening, we ate at Bitter Lemons, which is the main lobby bar within the hotel, and that meal was lovely too. We found plenty to enjoy across the different places we tried.

On our second afternoon at the hotel, I booked a massage at the spa while Mike used the sauna and steam room. It was a wonderfully relaxing way to spend part of the day

One of our favourite things was walking along Fig Tree Bay and looking back across the coastline. We stopped for drinks at SIKO, an open-air bar with canopy-covered seating, a relaxed, bohemian feel and wonderfully attentive staff.

We also spent an evening at Bitter Lemons, the bar within Capo Bay, watching the football from a covered outdoor table. Outside, thunder and lightning put on an amazing display — quite a backdrop to the match!

The hotel invited us and other guests to a welcome gathering hosted by the management team. There were drinks and gorgeous canapés, and afterwards we returned to Bitter Lemons for a later meal. We met a lovely fellow guest who joined us for the evening; those unexpected conversations are often such a nice part of a holiday.

Capo Bay was a lovely place to finish our trip. The location beside Fig Tree Bay, the view from our balcony, the food and the relaxing afternoon at the spa all stood out. We also appreciated the helpful service and practical touches in the room.

If you’re considering Protaras and would like to know more about Capo Bay, I’d be happy to tell you about our stay and help you decide whether it would suit your holiday.

And that brings our three-part Cyprus trip to an end. From exploring Paphos to beach days in Ayia Napa and our final few nights beside Fig Tree Bay, Mike and I have loved seeing three different parts of the island.

A few friends have asked which hotel we preferred, but I honestly couldn’t pick one. Each area and hotel had its own plus points, and all three stays felt different. More than anything, the trip has given me a much better feel for the areas and hotels, so I can talk through the differences with clients and help them choose what would suit them best.

We’ve come home with plenty of photos, lovely memories and a definite wish to return!