Ivi Mare by Louis Hotels

Stayed here with my husband 5-14th June in room 232 booked thru easyJet Holidays on a half board basis. From the moment we stepped off the transfer coach, the overwhelming feeling of calm just hit us in the very best way - mainly alongside the beautiful smell in reception coming from a mystery place! The only way I can accurately sum up this beautiful hotel is that someone somewhere in upper management has really taken the time & care to work out what guests really look for & need when booking an adults only stay. It feels like they have truly listened to guest feedback & put it all together to create the success that is the Ivi Mare. Having travelled extensively, we have found this to be rare especially for European hotels & I believe it really sets the Ivi Mare apart from many other hotels in well known chains. We were welcomed promptly by the lovely smiling Anna from reception, shown through our check in documents & had all of the dining options explained. For our 9-night stay we were entitled to 1 meal per week in the a la carte Japanese & Cypriot restaurants opposite Palettes buffet restaurant which meant we visited the Japanese restaurant twice. We weren't blown away by the Cypriot restaurant, it was nice but OK. The Japanese on the other hand was really lovely - dishes were perfectly proportioned & super tasty with great wait staff to take care of you. Palettes restaurant was a true gem - SO much choice at breakfast & dinner & the staff were just joyful! Special mentions must go to Rajan, Sofia, Diane & Popi on the omelette station but we didn't encounter a single inefficient or unfriendly member of the team at all. Still or sparkling water was unlimited & free of charge at dinner every night except for the a la carte restaurants where it was chargeable (for half board anyway). You could also move dinner to lunchtime very easily each day should you want to eat out in the evening. We didn't do this but I would imagine it would be a case of turning up at Palettes & advising them of the change. The entertainment each evening comprised mainly singers or musicians which perfectly suited the chilled out adults only vibe. For those seeking more of an upbeat nightlife, you would need to walk (25-30 mins) or taxi to Paphos Harbour but for us wanting peace & quiet to recharge our batteries it was everything we needed. The bar by reception was a lovely space to relax & play cards after dinner in the evening. Drinks prices (again for those paying on half board) were as you'd expect of hotel prices & each order came with nibbles/nuts. Each Thursday there were complimentary drinks at 6pm in the bar which was great. There was a night service each evening to all rooms providing 2 x 500ml still water bottles & a chocolate by our beds - lovely little touch. Our room was spotless every single day thanks to the lovely Veronika & other members of the housekeeping team who do such a diligent job. The room amenities again were very well thought out - a super little fridge that kept our water SO cold, complimentary tote bag, slippers, bathroom amenities, Caudalie toiletries, great coffee maker, hairdryer, complimentary water replenished each day & really efficient air conditioning. We didn't turn the TV on during our stay so can't comment on the extent of English channels. We had a side view room which looked over the front car park. Some cars & motorbikes do scream along the road at all hours but with the balcony door shut it wasn't really very troublesome. Plenty of space on the balcony & a drying rack for swimmers & towels. The pool was huge & a pleasant 1.35m depth all the way along. As others have said, nowhere I stay from now on will compare when it comes to the sunbeds! The "mattress" (at least 25-30cm in depth!) was just divine & the app to order drinks straight to where you were positioned for the day worked really well. Orange beach towels were available with no deposit needed just by the snack bar. There was the usual reserving or sunbeds first thing in the morning but even with almost everyone doing this (including us - sorry!) there were still plenty of beds to be had all day long. The only slight downside was the quality of the food at the snack bar - for paying customers it was a little disappointing. After a hearty breakfast, we shared a main course most days but most of the choices were a little underwhelming - the burger was probably the nicest choice. I had to send my chicken souvlaki back as the chicken was undercooked but it was soon rectified & I didn't have to wait too long. We took advantage of the 10% off offer at the spa on level -2 of the hotel (separate business to the hotel). My Cretan facial, neck & foot massage was very nice (not the best I've ever had but still good) & my husband reported his full body massage was good too. Price wise, expect to pay more than you would at home but if it's something you fancy while you're away, it's a nice treat. We hired a car for a few days from Camel Car Hire around 15 mins' walk from the hotel - very friendly & efficient although I have read the hotel can organise car hire for you if you'd prefer less walking around in the heat to do it yourself. We didn't struggle to find parking at the hotel & there is no charge for overnight parking. Top tip for Paphos area- my husband found a charming winery up in the hills called Sterna. ???5 each for wine tasting of 6 wines with bread, hummus & olives which was great value. Staff were lovely & not pushy if you didn't want to buy anything (but we couldn't resist!) We also visited Larnaca on 1 day & Limassol the next & took walking tours with Guruwalk - always well organised with local guides. On our last day we had a late flight & checked out at midday. We were able to book a 30-min slot in a courtesy room the day before departure (not before as they are subject to availability on the day). This was just what we needed before dinner & our flight home. We chose to eat early at a restaurant a short walk from the hotel - Mare e Monti. Gorgeous tasty food, generous portions & very good value for money for those looking for a change to the hotel. All in all, we had the ultimate mix of chill out & exploring on our trip & wouldn't hesitate to recommend Cyprus & the Ivi Mare to all our friends & family. Give us a couple of years of exploring elsewhere & we'll most certainly be back - thank you Ivi Mare!

Everything was absolutely fantastic. The hotel facilities are luxurious, the service from housekeeping to restaurants was unbelievable and the staff were all amazing. Nothing was too much trouble. Particular mention to Thewart, which is hard because everyone was superb. There is nothing that I can think of yo be improved. Everything and everyone was just perfect.