Oтeли Пpoтapaca: Capo Bay 4*, Silver Sands Beach 3*, Sunrise Beach 4*, Vrissiana Beach 4*

Location of the hotels

The hotels in this group are situated along the coastline of Protaras’ sandy beaches, one of Cyprus’ most popular resort towns. In our view, the hotels’ location is ideal. On the one hand, they are set back a little from the centre, ensuring peace and quiet for guests. On the other hand, within a five-minute walk of each hotel, there are plenty of restaurants and tavernas to suit every taste, souvenir shops, fruit stalls and supermarkets, as well as the most popular entertainment venues. For example, the famous Protaras fountains, where magnificent shows are held during the high season, are just a few minutes’ walk from the 4* Vrissiana Beach Hotel.

Generally speaking, most guests eat at the hotels themselves, but even the tastiest and most varied breakfasts, lunches and dinners start to get a bit monotonous after a couple of weeks, and that’s when many guests opt for the various local tavernas. Of course, you won’t be able to fully appreciate all the delights of authentic Cypriot cuisine if you stay exclusively in the resort area. Nevertheless, local restaurants offer a very decent selection of traditional Cypriot dishes, in particular the famous meze.

Hotel beaches

All the hotels listed are situated in the immediate vicinity of one of Cyprus’s most picturesque beaches – Fig Bay Tree, which owes its name to the fig trees growing on its grounds. Fig Bay Tree – a shallow beach with magnificent golden sand and blue-green water – leaves a lasting impression on everyone who sees it for the first time. It is popular not only with visitors to the island but also with locals, so it can get quite busy at weekends. However, thanks to the well-developed facilities, holidaymakers do not feel as though the beach is overcrowded.

The stretch of coastline between the hotels is about 1 km long and 15–20 m wide. Protaras’s beaches are situated right next to the hotels, accessible via a short footpath.

Fig Bay Tree Beach is ideal for children: there are no stormy waves here, and the depth increases gradually, so children can not only splash about in the sea but also learn to swim. The beach has been awarded the ‘Blue Flag’ for the crystal-clear water.

Features of the 4* Capo Bay Hotel

The Capo Bay Hotel enjoys well-deserved popularity, particularly amongst families with children. According to numerous guest reviews, it is very easy to get around the hotel and the promenade and to push prams, as both the hotel grounds and the nearby promenade are equipped with the necessary ramps and access points.

In terms of service standards and the range of facilities on offer, the hotel sits somewhere between a 4* and a 5* rating. The hotel’s cuisine is varied and delicious, with plenty of fruit available throughout the day. Guests may choose to have ‘breakfast only’, half-board or full-board.

On the beach, each guest is allocated a separate sun lounger with a parasol (use of beach facilities is free for hotel guests); during the off-season, guests can make use of the indoor seawater swimming pool.

The hotel’s definite strengths include a kids’ club (open from April to October for children aged 4 to 12), its close proximity to one of Cyprus’s best beaches, high-quality service, and Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel. Among the drawbacks is the entertainment programme, which lacks variety.

Overall, the hotel is ideal for families with children, as well as for those seeking a romantic and peaceful holiday.

Features of the Silver Sands Beach 3* Hotel

The hotel holds its own among Cyprus’s three-star hotels. It is also one of the few three-star hotels situated right on the seafront. The beach is about 50 metres away, with a short footpath running between it and the hotel. There is a water sports centre on the beach.

As with most 3* hotels, the Silver Sands Beach offers an entertainment programme featuring karaoke and folk evenings; however, according to guest reviews, the programme is not particularly varied. The hotel also organises sporting activities.

This hotel is recommended for those seeking a peaceful holiday, as well as for families with children. There aren’t many entertainment options near the hotel, so those who prefer a more active holiday might find it a bit dull. Moreover, Protaras itself is not really geared towards those seeking lively nightlife; all the main nightclubs and bars are located in Ayia Napa or Limassol.

Features of the Sunrise Beach 4* Hotel

As a 4* hotel, the Sunrise Beach is notable for its popularity, even amongst tourists who usually opt for higher-class hotels. Sunrise Beach offers one of the best accommodation options in its category, and guests highlight the excellent value for money, high standards of security, service and comfort.

This hotel is particularly recommended for families with children. The complex offers a varied buffet-style dining experience. Meals at the hotel can be limited to breakfast only — which is quite convenient given the numerous cafés near the hotel where you can grab a bite to eat if necessary — or you can opt for half-board or full-board. The hotel offers a varied entertainment programme for children, and the large number of guests ensures that your child will not be left on their own. In addition, the hotel offers a programme of activities and entertainment for adults, including various sporting events, themed evenings and water sports (the latter at an additional cost).

Those looking for a youth-oriented holiday should bear in mind that nightlife in Protaras is limited to visiting restaurants and leisurely strolls along the seafront, whilst the distance to the centre of Ayia Napa, where the bars and nightclubs are concentrated, is 5–7 km.

Features of the Vrissiana Beach 4* Hotel

Vrissiana Beach 4* is a luxury boutique hotel situated on the seafront, renovated in 2013. The hotel’s main attractions are its high standard of service and its peaceful, cosy atmosphere. The hotel’s rooms offer stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea.

If you appreciate exclusivity and want to escape the hustle and bustle, you will undoubtedly love this hotel; however, families with children and groups of young people may find it a little lacking in interest, as the hotel’s entertainment programme is not particularly extensive. That said, it’s not as though there are no interesting places or things to do in this part of Protaras. Nearby (about a 10-minute walk) are the famous Protaras fountains, and just a 2-minute walk from the hotel is the jetty, from where small yachts set off daily on trips to introduce visitors to the island’s natural beauty (Cape Greco, the Famagusta area, etc.). The cost of such a trip is around 10–15 euros per person, including food and drinks on board.

Conclusion

So, the undoubted advantages of the Capo Bay 4*, Silver Sands Beach 3*, Sunrise Beach 4* and Vrissiana Beach 4* hotels include their close proximity to the beaches, good value for money and their proximity to Protaras’s attractions and entertainment centres, such as the fountain shows, the marina with yachts for boat trips, and children’s entertainment centres.

Among the hotels’ shortcomings are a somewhat lacking entertainment programme and limited internet speeds in the rooms.