Flamingo Beach Hotel

We couldn't use the balcony, which was mostly taken up by a rusty air-conditioning unit blowing hot air. Its rail was broken, with rusty screws sticking up. The hotel also advertises a rooftop pool in every brochure, though it has reportedly been closed for more than 5 years because the building is unsafe. It needs a proper inspection and should be removed from booking sites. The room was filthy and clearly wasn't cleaned properly for days. We sometimes came back to find sand and crumbs still on the floor, with the bedding just pulled up. The mattress was dirty, the curtains had brown handprints, the furniture was damaged, the bath and sink were rusty, and the swollen woodwork was falling apart. The bathroom door barely shut, and there was no toilet air vent. We stayed 10 days, and staff seemed to stop listening to our complaints. The Russian receptionists were rude and unprofessional, questioned everything, and made us feel stupid. They left us without face towels for 4 days, then said I was lying when I mentioned it. When I pointed out they hadn't even brought one for us to share, they insisted we only got one. I had to take serviettes from the restaurant to dry my face and use a body towel on my hair. They even questioned us running out of toilet roll, though luckily one was left behind reception. The shower gel was empty too, so I left the pump on the sink for them to refill. These are basic necessities. Breakfast was cheap and very poor. The hotel wasn't even the cheapest option, so it felt like they were ripping people off and getting away with it. The whole place was a disgrace, with a run-down, third-world feel. Most staff were unfriendly, apart from one young man who was helpful.

The reception staff were kind and helpful, and even arranged a taxi to the airport. The location was great too. But my stay at the Flamingo Hotel in Larnaca was still a letdown. The food was terrible for the price, the rooms were dirty, and the old furniture smelled unpleasant. The AC was so noisy that sleeping was difficult. I wouldn't recommend it if you're after a comfortable stay.

You can watch planes from here, which is great if that's your thing, and the beach is right across the road. Reception were friendly and helpful. The hotel has what you need, but it's basic. Fine if you're not after anything posh.

The hotel looks like it may have been lovely years ago, judging by the old photos. Now it feels neglected, and I got the impression the staff had given up on it too. When we complained, everyone agreed with what we'd said. We booked three nights, but stayed only one. Since we arrived late, we had to spend that first night there. The place you see advertised online isn't what you actually get. My three biggest disappointments: There were about 15 hairs in the bed before we'd even got into it, so they must have been left by previous guests. Cleaning didn't seem to be a priority, and I could give plenty more examples. The rooftop pool and bar on the 5th floor are ruins and can't be accessed. That's not mentioned when booking, even though the photos show a nice rooftop and pool. The bathroom, furniture, beds, and other equipment were either broken or very old. I could feel the mattress springs, for example. I just hope we didn't pick up bed bugs or anything like that. We looked at breakfast too, but it didn't help the impression. The coffee and tea water came through the same outlet, so my tea was already coffee-coloured and I couldn't have any. It's worrying that the hotel is still open, or at least that nobody warns you. I know it isn't a luxury place for the price, but it still felt like a big scam.