Kipriotis Aqualand

The entertainment team and the staff, including the bar staff, were friendly and great. The rooms were spacious and cleaned daily, which was very good. The hotel itself was tired and could use some care, though its position at the top of a hill makes it difficult for older or disabled guests. There were bad sewage smells around the pool from the drains. In October I tried the mackerel, and six hours later I had vomiting and diarrhoea. I was told there was no doctor whenever I asked, so I spent the week ill in my room and bathroom. On the day before flying home, I went to the pool for some fresh air and collapsed from dehydration caused by salmonella. The lifeguard and staff were amazing, came straight over to help and got me back to my room. When I returned to England, I was admitted to hospital for two weeks and put in resuscitation. I was lucky to be here. The hospital lab report later showed it was due to a staff member’s lack of hygiene. If you stay here, be careful with the food.

We had a fantastic time in mid-October. The dining room staff were lovely, and all the meals were beautiful, with lots of great choices that changed daily. Our room had the basics and was pretty good, with a spectacular view I loved waking up to each day. Towels and other basics were provided. There are a couple of excellent drivers who help you get around the huge complex, especially Yiannis, who was a real gentleman. The entertainment staff were good, and the kids loved them. The pool was a bit cold, but it didn’t stop the little one or most of the other children. One thing bothered me about the kids’ entertainment. They hand out T-shirts to children as if they’ve won one, but after my daughter and two other kids had stood waiting for a couple of days, I asked another parent what they were for and found out they’re sold by the pool during the day. Presenting them that way feels cruel and manipulative, especially when you’ve just arrived and it looks like every child can earn one. I can imagine it pressures a lot of parents when their kids still haven’t been given one on stage after a few nights. I understand an outside company may run this, but it’s a naughty thing to do and should be addressed before next season.

I’m here with my mum and 13-year-old brother, and I’m 18. The food’s very good, with different mains each day and snacks in between, and I enjoyed it a lot. The ice cream was good too, I had at least three a day. Rooms are spacious, with plenty of room. Entertainment was okay, mainly aimed at children, but very interactive for them and their adults. I’d do the food and other parts again, but probably wouldn’t come back because of the hills. Every room is up on a hill, and it’s a trek getting back after sunbathing, so it’s definitely not disability-friendly. To improve, the pools should be heated, the beds need improving, and some staff could be warmer and smile more.

Kos is lovely if you take the time to walk in or catch the bus. It took us an hour at a gentle stroll, and we took the bus back. We’re here now, and the hotel looks tired and about three-star, but that seems reflected in the price. It’s all functional, and the rooms were dated as expected. We don’t spend much time in them, so that’s fine. The food has had variety, and we’ve all been happy with it. Staff clear plates quickly, though they start clearing by 10:45 even though breakfast is supposed to finish at 11, so don’t arrive five minutes before the end and expect everything to still be there. Staff are friendly, especially the shuttle driver, perhaps because it’s the end of the season. But they don’t tell you useful things, like the shortcut up and down the hill or places to visit, the sort of things locals know. You have to find the snack fridges yourself, since they aren’t really pointed out or shown on a map. The local tour leaflets aren’t there either, and there’s just a bit of paper with some information instead of someone to welcome you and explain things properly. The rep is only there from 9 to 10am, and there’s no welcome meeting to go over tours. There’s apparently mini golf, but nothing tells you where it is or what facilities are available. You can use the other hotels’ facilities and dine at their restaurant once, but that’s the buffet rather than a la carte, so the food was exactly the same and it felt pointless. The cleaners don’t make the beds or replace or remove dirty glasses and cups. They just fold the shower mat onto the toilet seat and empty the bins. The baths are much smaller than back home and have an uneven bottom. Since they aren’t cleaned daily, I slipped in the shower and got hurt. It also seems they move furniture around every morning from 7am, which is so annoying.