Lordos Beach Hotel

Lordos Beach Hotel is a mid-range resort hotel that was built in 1978 and most recently remodeled in 2017, with more remodels to come in the 2017-2018 winter season (the hotel is closed from December 2017 through March 2018, but is otherwise open year-round). It's housed in a five-story cream-colored block, with a lovely lobby lounge, Les Sirens, complete with lavender and orange velvet chairs, dark wood floors, and recessed lighting. During our visit, ambient electronic music was playing in the background, adding a chic lounge-like feel, but there was an unfortunate lingering cigarette smell in the lobby.

This hotel hosts a lot of couples and families, depending on the season, along with a mix of business travelers, incentive groups, and sports teams (who come to Cyprus when it's too cold to practice in Northern Europe). Around half of the guests here are British, German, or Russian -- the other half come from elsewhere (mostly other parts of Europe). Many visitors are repeat guests. 

Lordos Beach Hotel is located in the northern outskirts of Larnaca, right on the beach and next door to Sentido Sandy Beach Hotel. There's a small mini-market/souvenir shop across the street, but not much in terms of attractions in the immediate area. However, there are plenty of restaurants (like a Chinese restaurant and a fish restaurant) and small shops within walking distance, and travelers can get down to the heart of Larnaca on the local public bus, which stops in front of the hotel every 30 minutes. The journey takes about 30 minutes. Further afield, it's about a 45-minute drive to Lefkara, a traditional village known for its lace and filigree silver work. Party hub Ayia Napa is a 25-minute drive from the hotel. Larnaca International Airport is a 20- to 25-minute drive away.

Lordos offers four types of rooms and two types of suites. Entry-level Standard Rooms are nearly identical to Superior Rooms -- both types have furnished balconies and measure 23 square meters (248 square feet) and have wooden floors and furniture with striped curtains and bed runners, plus natural wood paneling behind the beds, along with flat-screen TVs, free safes, and mini-fridges. Most have shower/tub combos in the bathrooms with marble detailing and free basic toiletries. Superior Rooms add coffee- and tea-making facilities, robes, and slippers  -- none of which are found in Standard counterparts. Front Sea & Garden View Rooms are just a bit larger and add second balconies and four-poster beds. The hotel also offers Family Rooms that are identical to Superior Rooms but add bunk beds -- while they can sleep two additional children, they feel cramped. Suite options include Mini Suites, which have their own gardens with lounge chairs and direct access to a shared whirlpool hot tub, plus a sofa bed. The Grand Suite measures 46 square meters (496 square feet) and comes with a separate living room, whirlpool hot tub, and a separate walk-in shower in the bathroom. 

The star attraction at Lordos is arguably its huge outdoor pool, surrounded by lounge chairs and with a fountain feature and bridges. There's also a castle-style waterslide for kids, plus a lap pool for adults and an indoor pool with a whirlpool hot tub that's heated in the cooler winter months. There are additional lounge chairs with parasols on the beach -- free for guest use. All sorts of water sports are available, including standup paddle boarding and scuba diving. Other leisure facilities include tennis courts, a fitness center with a so-so selection of equipment, and a spa with steam and sauna (for a fee). Massages and hair services can be arranged.  

Dining options include the main Atlantis Restaurant, which serves buffets at breakfast and lunch plus snacks throughout the day and offers a mix of indoor and outdoor poolside seating. Oceanis Restaurant opens up for dinner and offers Cypriot and European dishes a la carte along with a rotation of themed buffets. Guests can also order light meals at the Poseidon Beach Bar or at the Sirens Lounge lobby bar/coffeeshop. There's live music most evenings at the open-air Sun Deck Observatory. Bed-and-breakfast, half-board, and full-board packages are available, but all-inclusive rates are not. Note that Wi-Fo is free in rooms and throughout the hotel. There's ample free parking on the property.