Our Cyprus Hotel Diaries, Part 1: Four Nights at Mare Hotel Paphos

Mare Paphos was the first stop on our Cyprus holiday, and what a start it gave us. Mike and I spent four nights here, making time to enjoy the hotel as well as explore Paphos and the surrounding area.

The hotel is in Kissonerga, on the coast outside Paphos. It has lovely views over the Mediterranean from its elevated setting, but it isn’t a hotel where you step straight onto a sandy beach. For us, it worked well as a place to enjoy the pools and as a base for days out.

From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel welcome. The reception team were polite, helpful and happy to answer our questions. The member of staff who took us and our luggage to our accommodation by buggy was lovely too. Those first few interactions helped us settle straight into the holiday.

We were delighted to be upgraded to a spacious one bedroom suite with a swim-up pool and a view out to sea. Fizz and a fruit platter were waiting for us, and the team called later to check that we had settled in. It was a lovely welcome and a great example of the care we experienced throughout our stay.

The suite gave us plenty of room to spread out, with a separate lounge and bedroom, the bathroom was a really good size with a powerful shower. We made good use of the swim-up pool, especially when we came back after a day out exploring or from the beach. It was lovely to be able to step straight in for a swim.

Food was one of the highlights of our stay. We ate at the buffet on two evenings and also tried two of the à la carte restaurants: Aroma, for Mediterranean cuisine, and Estia, for creative local dishes. We really enjoyed the variety, and the service throughout our stay added to the experience.

There were plenty of ways to spend a day at the hotel. Alongside the main pool areas, we noticed a quieter pool, although we didn’t use it ourselves. The hotel also has a Splash Park with slides, sports and fitness activities, and a spa for anyone who wants some dedicated relaxation time.

Families had activities and evening entertainment to choose from as well. While we were there, the children had a silent disco, which was lovely to see. As with any hotel programme, what’s on will depend on the dates of your stay.

As much as we enjoyed the hotel, I’m glad we made time to explore. We wandered around Paphos harbour and the castle, visited archaeological sites including the Tombs of the Kings, and headed out to see the waterfalls.

It was a very hot day when we visited the Tombs of the Kings, so I’d recommend going early in the morning and taking plenty of water. I loved being able to combine days like that with slower time back at Mare Paphos: a swim, a chance to relax and then dinner to look forward to.

What stood out most was the way the staff looked after us. The welcome felt personal, the food was excellent and our suite was a lovely place to come back to each day. Four nights gave us a wonderful introduction to Paphos, but there’s still plenty we’d like to see.

If you’re thinking about a Cyprus holiday with a mix of relaxation and sightseeing, I’d be happy to tell you more about our stay and help you decide whether Mare Paphos would suit you.

Next stop: Mare Ayia Napa. Read part two of our Cyprus hotel diaries here -