Hotel Imperial Beach

The sandy beach right by the hotel was lovely for walks, shells and nearby playgrounds, and the restaurant waiters seemed to be doing their best. But the rest of our stay was a real disappointment. Our room was cramped for two adults and a child, with barely room for toothbrushes in the bathroom. The balcony was unusable in the evening because bright lights attracted mosquitoes, and there were only two chairs and nowhere to hang swimwear. Cleanliness and maintenance were poor: mold, dust, cobwebs with dead flies, dirty curtains, a loose toilet seat, and a flush my husband had to fix. We often had no hot water around 6-7 PM. Meals were mostly processed or frozen, with cheap meats and cold cuts and little that was fresh or local. Lunch seemed to be leftovers, dinner wasn't replenished, and the pasta was hard, sauces bland, and food often fried. Breakfast was also reused for lunch at times. Reception was the worst part. A blonde woman with glasses didn't greet or explain anything, was unfriendly and unprofessional, spoke very poor English, and made rude comments about guests in Italian to a colleague. Her younger coworker tried to help but was overshadowed. Outside food and drinks were forbidden, even baby water, and the rule was strictly enforced. The beach and restaurant staff couldn't make up for the poor service, food and cleanliness. We regret booking here. At least there are plenty of good restaurants nearby, so you won't go hungry.

The breakfast restaurant had an awesome view, and the staff were warm and friendly. The hotel is very well located, and I stayed for two nights. I couldn't use the spa at all because you have to tell reception in advance when you want to go. If someone has booked it privately, other guests can't use it during that reservation, and I don't think that system is right. They should improve it.

The mini club made it clear the children were loved and well cared for, and adults could join beach volleyball or do stretching in the sea during the day. The evening program was simple, but everyone could join in, from kids to adults, and have fun together. Special thanks to the animators, who are so lovely this year. Staff were friendly in aaaall areas, though not everyone speaks English and you can still communicate with everyone)) We bought a tour at a good price/quality ratio, and the cozy hotel really does feel like a place to take a vacation. The beach is wonderful, with beautiful sunsets and sunrises. I'd definitely recommend coming with children: there aren't strong waves, and there isn't much depth nearby 🦀 I'd give it a solid 4.7⭐️. The owner has some things to work on, but I'm already grateful for a good vacation!!

The beach location was the hotel's main strength for me, especially since I was on holiday alone with two small kids. The city centre was about a 20 minute walk, which was manageable even with the stroller. The staff were very nice. I hope the owners pay them well. The evening entertainment was mostly for Italian guests or in Italian. The animator was lovely and tried hard, but didn't have the tools for much of a program. They did have a kids disco on most nights, though it lasted only around 20 minutes, so with two little ones I couldn't go into town for evening activities and we usually went back to our room afterward. Compared with the hotel we stayed at in Cyprus last year, which had a magician, a parrot show, Latino dancing and more, this program was poor. Food was edible, but not especially tasty. Meat was usually overcooked and hard to chew, and I didn't like any of the main fish dishes because they smelled unpleasant, though I normally love fish. There wasn't any of the famous pizza, and every pasta I tried was so salty I couldn't eat a bite. I thought it might just be me since I don't usually add much salt, but other guests with kids agreed. Kids love pasta, please make it edible for them 😅. Breakfast was the same every day, and after a week the scrambled eggs, bacon and sponge cakes got tiring. There was very little fruit. The oranges looked so sad I never ate one, and there were no peaches, bananas, pears or melons, only canned peaches. I didn't have high expectations, since I was travelling alone with two small kids.