Kissos Hotel

We had a lovely four night holiday, and there were enough sunbeds at the pool even though we went in busy September. The pool was our favorite part, especially the fun lagoon pool, with inflatables provided. The area also looks really pretty when it's lit at night. Our basic room was very clean, and the balcony faced the pool, which was lovely, though I'm not sure all rooms do. The air con worked well and was definitely needed. We didn't have to pay for the fridge, and it was essential in that heat. There was no kettle or tea and coffee in the room as standard, and I think those cost extra. Toiletries were limited to wall mounted shower gel and a small bar of soap. We chose bed and breakfast, which suited us. Breakfast was average but there was plenty to choose from, and nearby restaurants served some amazing, very cheap meals. The hotel is handy as a base for exploring, roughly between the harbor and old town, and near the bus station. We had a lovely holiday, though I wouldn't pick it for all inclusive if I wanted anything luxurious.

We were put in the wrong room on our first night, but they moved us by 9am the next morning and gave us a fruit platter for the trouble. The replacement was exactly what we'd booked. We also hadn't realized how much the hotel had going on: tournaments, a games room, free Yoga and water aerobics, plus singers most nights. The location suited us, and the staff were phenomenal, helpful, and happy to chat, get to know you, and help plan trips. It's a quiet hotel rather than a party place, though the bar stays open until 12 and has the best cocktails. There's poolside background music during the day too.

The standard room felt like a dungeon, dark with just one small light on a far wall and two little bedside lights. The balcony doors had no locks, just a big hole in the metal frame where the locking parts had been removed, so they wouldn't close or lock properly. The air conditioning was useless: even at 10 degrees, the room felt like 20. The place barely deserves 2 and a half stars, never mind 3. The rooms weren't just old and tired, they were gross, with sticky, dirty surfaces and large areas that looked untouched for years. The beds sank when you sat on them and were very uncomfortable. The rooms smelled of sulfur and wet dog, like they'd flooded and never dried properly. The shower pressure was so poor I had to keep dipping parts of my body that weren't getting wet. Bring your own pool towels, because they don't provide them. Bathroom towels were changed only every three days, so using those for the pool would leave you without a dry towel after showering. A kettle, fridge, and safe all cost extra. With those fees added to the inflated rate of around £65 a night, I think you'd be better off paying more for a better hotel where these are standard. It felt like the owner was ripping guests off by charging extra for basic room things. The cafes, restaurants, and shops around the hotel were mostly awful. The local food was rubbish, with places serving British style food or taking advantage of tourists by passing bad food off as local cuisine. There were lots of British pubs that smelled of cigarettes, beer, and sorrow. If you want a Cypriot experience, don't stay in this area of Paphos. I've stayed at the other end of the island before, and it was much better. This part of Cyprus felt run down. I'm very disappointed I chose Kissos Hotel. The pictures are misleading, and the standard room is a dungeon.

We only had bed and breakfast, and breakfast was adequate for us. The rooms are cleaned daily, beds are made, and towels and bedding are fresh every other day. The pools are good and the pool areas stay very clean. There never seems to be a scramble for loungers or a need to put towels out ridiculously early. It's a brilliant location, and well done to the hotel staff. You wouldn't get a week of bed and breakfast in the UK with this weather for that price. It's a 3 star hotel, so what would you expect?