Отели Протараса: Golden Coast Beach Hotel 4*

Hotel Location

The Golden Coast Beach Hotel is situated on the outskirts of Protaras, closer to the Paralimni district in the centre of Famagusta. The hotel’s main attractions include its own sandy beach of the same name, a harbour and the small Chapel of St Nicholas, which offers magnificent views from the hotel’s windows.

The Chapel of St Nicholas was built in 2007 and is renowned for its beautiful murals. In 2011, as a symbol of religious unity between Russia and Cyprus, a cross was installed in the sea (350 metres from the shore at a depth of 15 metres), brought there by Russian sailors from the sailing ship ‘Running on the Waves’.

The chapel is very popular with local residents, who hold christening ceremonies here, as well as with visitors to the island, for example, for wedding ceremonies. Next to the hotel is a cosy harbour, from which you can set off on a short trip across the Mediterranean Sea (the cost of a group trip is 5–15 euros, depending on the duration and the services included on board).

The hotel’s beach

The hotel is situated in a beautiful bay, on Golden Cost beach. The beach’s former name, Louma (derived from the verb ‘louo’, meaning ‘to bathe’ in Ancient Greek), is explained by locals as referring to the fact that sheep used to be bathed on the beach in ancient times. Nowadays, the beach is also known as Kalamies Beach (which is how it is named on Google Maps of Cyprus).

The beach and bay are protected by breakwaters on both sides; the beach is shallow and sandy, making it ideal for families with children, who make up a significant proportion of the hotel’s guests.

Nearby is the main fishing harbour in the area, which serves as a home port for small boats and yachts that set out to sea every day.

Features of the Golden Coast Beach Hotel 4*

The hotel is situated on the very outskirts of Protaras; the only nearby shop is a small convenience store (periptero) selling souvenirs, groceries and essential items, including alcoholic and soft drinks, sun cream and so on). Despite this, prices in the shop are not overpriced, and the range is quite varied. For example, the selection of alcoholic drinks includes wines from small Cypriot wineries. A bottle of Cypriot wine at the kiosk costs between 3 and 7 euros, depending on the variety.

Upon arrival, hotel guests are treated to the popular Cypriot dessert wine, Commandaria, which is also specially ordered by the hotel management from a village winery.

The hotel operates on an ‘all-inclusive’ basis, which is undoubtedly very convenient, as there are no restaurants or bars in the immediate vicinity of the hotel. Therefore, if you do not plan to make daily trips into town, the ‘all-inclusive’ or full-board options would be preferable for this hotel.

The hotel has put together a varied entertainment programme; for example, various sporting activities are on offer during the day (including yoga sessions by the sea), whilst themed and folk evenings are held in the evening.

For children, the hotel has a kids’ club offering both a daytime entertainment programme and evening activities (such as a parrot show).

When discussing the hotel’s strengths, it is worth noting its quiet and cosy atmosphere, its beautiful private beach, an indoor swimming pool with a jacuzzi and a gym, a good entertainment programme for children and adults, a spacious swimming pool, a mini-water park for children, as well as a high standard of service and Russian-speaking staff. The hotel is an attractive option for a wedding in Cyprus, with the ceremony taking place in the Chapel of St Nicholas or in another chapel located on the hotel grounds.