We’ve just returned from a delightful 5-night stay in Paphos! Although we had one rough day, which I’ll detail later, overall, it was a fantastic trip. Our flights were generously provided by Ryanair, significantly reducing our holiday expenses. Despite their mixed reputation, we’ve flown with them five times this year without any major issues. However, there was a hiccup with our booking. Little Miss was mistakenly listed as an adult, which required us to check in at Stansted Airport instead of online. The check-in queues were unbelievably long! We arrived just before 3 am and were shocked by the crowd. It’s essential to arrive at the airport at least three hours before your departure time—we spent 45 minutes just waiting in line.
To avoid any issues with checked luggage potentially being tampered with, as I’ve read about and seen on TikTok, we decided to travel with only hand luggage. I used our great Ryanair-friendly bags from Decathlon again.
The security line was also incredibly long, but fortunately, there was a separate queue for families, which helped a lot. The flight to Paphos was 4 hours long and went smoothly. Getting out of Paphos Airport was a breeze. I paid €45 for a taxi to our hotel, which was less than 30 minutes away. In hindsight, I wish I had known how easy it was to take the bus. It’s a much cheaper option, costing just €6 for a return trip for two buses to our hotel.
The hotel.
I used hotels.com to book our hotel because of their rewards system. Collect 10 Nights, Get 1 Free* to use on over 275000 hotels worldwide.
We stayed at Venus Beach Hotel and I paid £609 for half board (breakfast and dinner)
The Good
The swimming pool at our hotel was lovely, providing a perfect place to relax and swim. The hotel’s location right on the beach offered easy access to the sea and stunning views. Conveniently, there was a Lidl right opposite the hotel, making it easy to grab snacks and essentials whenever we needed them. Most of the staff were friendly and helpful throughout our stay, enhancing our experience. A special mention goes to the lady who ran the kids club; she was so sweet and ensured that the little ones had a fantastic time. The hotel’s proximity to the airport, being less than 30 minutes away, made transfers quick and easy. Additionally, there was a bus stop right outside the hotel, which provided affordable and accessible transportation. For quick meals, there were McDonald’s and KFC nearby, which added a touch of familiarity and convenience.
The Bad
Despite the many positives, there were a few downsides to our stay. The evening entertainment was terrible and not worth attending. Unfortunately, the indoor pool was closed during our stay, which was a disappointment. Lastly, the food was just okay; it wasn’t anything special or particularly memorable, which left us a bit underwhelmed in that regard.
The ugly
The hotel’s attitude toward racism is the main reason I would NOT recommend staying here. While I understand that the hotel cannot control the behaviour of its guests, their response to a racist incident was completely unacceptable.
Here’s a quick recap of what happened: Little Miss was playing with a group of white boys when one of them asked her if she knew what the n-word meant. She, of course, said no. He told her it meant “kind” and that she is an n-word. Another boy told her it means “beautiful,” and that she should approach me and use the word. She did so with a big smile on her face. I have never been so shocked in my life. I immediately approached the mother of the boys, who, unsurprisingly, denied it and defended them. She even went to the hotel reception to complain about me! The audacity was unbelievable.
I spoke with both guest relations and the hotel manager, and their response was, “We don’t know who is telling the truth.” You cannot be on the fence in a situation like this. Their attitude made me feel like I was overreacting, which was not nice at all. There’s no room for racists or racist sympathisers in society.
It was a really upsetting day, but I did my best not to let it ruin the rest of our holiday.
Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark
Probably the best waterpark we’ve ever been to! It’s great for young kids. To be honest, it’s great for the whole family. There’s something for everyone to enjoy! We had the best day, and I was tempted to book a second day. It was that good!
A single adult ticket costs €31, and children’s tickets (under 12 years old) cost €18. Kids under 3 years old can enter the waterpark FREE of charge.
You can find more info here.
Pirates Adventure – Jolly Roger II
This cruise is a family favourite, welcoming all ages aboard to enjoy the action-packed Pirate show. It’s a relaxing day for parents and an entertaining experience for children. Little Miss had the best time making new friends onboard and joining in with all the fun pirate-themed activities. I must say, it was very cool sailing around on a pirate ship! This experience is €25 for kids and €45 for adults. This price includes transfers to and from your hotel, a welcome drink, food, and more!
More info can be found here.
Other things to do with kids
I came across “Things To Do In Paphos with Kids” on Tripadvisor so you might want to check it out.
I did love our time in Paphos despite that one crappy day! We will be back!
Our entry into the water park, the boat ride and flights were complimentary but all views are my own.
