Achilleos City Hotel

Achilleos City Hotel is a budget-boutique hotel housed in a five-story 1980s-era building with wood panelling and rows of balconies. It appears simple and unassuming from the outside, but inside is a much chicer affair, with polished marble floors, crystal ceiling lamps, a mosaic-covered column, and a couple of seating areas with plush soft crushed-velvet chairs and sofas in hues of pale gold and gray. At the back of the lobby, an aquarium filled with colorful fish adds interest to the space. There are a bookshelf with some chessboards and books for guests who want to linger a bit longer. There's also a small separate room off to one side with additional seating (tables and chairs), and though it resembles a cafe, it's actually just a place to hang out. Elevators lead up to the rooms and to the breakfast room on the top floor, which offers lovely views out over the Mediterranean Sea. Most guests here are couples, many on leisure holidays, though the hotel also attracts some business travelers. 

Achilleos City Hotel is located on a narrow side street right in the center of Larnaca, behind a McDonald's and just off a main thoroughfare with plenty of restaurants, as well as shops selling everything from clothing to roasted cashews. It's about a half-block to the beach and a five-minute walk to the city's most popular attraction, the Church of Saint Lazarus. Further afield, it's about a 40-minute drive to Lefkara, a traditional village known for its lace and filigree silver work. Coastal party hub Ayia Napa is a 45-minute drive from the hotel. Limassol takes about an hour to reach. It's an hour and a half by car to Paphos and just under two hours to scenic Mount Olympos. The Larnaca Airport is about a 15-minute drive away. 

Rooms here come in Standard, Superior, Grand Superior, and Deluxe categories, primarily distinguished by their increasingly large sizes (though Deluxe Rooms also have huge jetted tubs in the bathrooms). All rooms are decorated in a similar style to the lobby, with sleek polished floors and marble-topped coffee tables, plus wooden desks with black leather chairs and polished black desktops. Dark blacklight back-lighting adds modern flair. All but the entry-level Standard Rooms have crushed velvet sofa beds and can sleep up to three guests. Amenities found across the categories include kettles, minibars, flat-screen smart TVs, and electronic room controls. Many rooms also have tiny furnished balconies with tables and chairs. Bathrooms are equally chic, with gray floors and walk-in rainfall showers plus mosaic countertops with vessel sinks. Hairdryers, slippers, and bathrobes are provided. Connecting rooms are available. 

Achilleos doesn't have a ton of facilities, but what they do offer, they do well. There isn't a restaurant, but there is a buffet breakfast (only included in some rates) with hot and cold items plus the odd local specialty (think spinach pies and haloumi cheese) all prepared on-site. There's also a small self-serve bar in the lobby with free coffee, tea, and miniature chocolate chip cookies, plus soft drinks and beer for a fee. Guests also have access to free laundry facilities next door, and the hotel provides detergent free of cost. Unusual for a hotel of such a small size, there's a medium-sized fitness center on the basement level, with a few benches, free weights, and two cardio machines. There are five free parking spots in all, plus plenty of paid parking in lots located in the general vicinity. That said, having a car here is more of a burden than a blessing for most travelers (save for those who want to go on road trips). Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.