Family Traveller Reviews: Elysium Hotel, Paphos

Booking a multi-gen holiday can be a lot of pressure. You’ve got to please children and grandparents all at the same time and let’s not forget that you probably want to enjoy yourself too! Pools for the kids? Check. But will it be all noise and splashing when grandad is trying to take an afternoon snooze? Lovely restaurants for the grown ups to treat themselves? Check. But is there a kids menu? Will your little one refusing to eat her peas annoy the other diners and waitstaff? These questions don’t come into the equation at all when it comes to the Elysium Hotel. It’s the perfect blend of serenity and family-friendly, of peace and fun, of activities and relaxation. This holiday can be whatever you need it to be for everybody, from babies to great-grandparents.

The design of the hotel is stunning and is definitely a bit factor to the air of tranquility that follows you everywhere you go. Walking through the lobby, after being looked after by the staff, you can look out over the beautiful blue pools full of families and then further sits the sea. The pool complex it huge, meaning that no matter how many sun loungers are taken or how many splashing kids are in the water, it still never feels crowded or hectic. There’s a waterslide pool with a queue of eager little ones, and a shallow pool for babies and toddlers to paddle in. If you ever get sick of the glorious sunshine (maybe not) or feel like swimming a few lengths, there’s a lovely heated indoor pool, too. Head down to the private beach for safer sandcastle making and sea swimming or simply sun lounging with a sea view.

The rooms, suites and villas are all beautiful and whilst there are some made with families particularly in mind, you can even choose interconnecting standard rooms so that teenagers and grandparents can have their own space. If you can, though, the villas are well worth plumping for. Light, airy, spacious and split over two levels, parents can have their own giant bed upstairs (cots are available for babies) whilst children can have a bed set up in the lounge, giving you plenty of space. There are baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs to make sure they’re safe if on a different floor to you. Outside the villa, there’s a private terrace complete with sun loungers, a huge shaded daybed – ideal for an afternoon snooze out of the sun – and, wait for it, a beautiful turquoise plunge pool that’s all yours. Walls are high for privacy but getting two villas next door to each other would be great if it is a multi-gen trip. Being in one of these villas also gives you access to the adults-only Royal Pool which makes for a good getaway for grandparents who want some time by themselves.

When it comes to time by yourself when the kids want to go full steam ahead, there’s the Angel Kids’ Club for ages three to 12 which is totally free and doesn’t need to be booked ahead of time. For little ones, there’s a creche and 24-hour babysitting that you can book if you want to take a trip to the spa or have a lovely dinner. If you’re looking for activities to enjoy together, there’s a tennis court – with private tuition available – and scuba diving nearby which is spectacular all year round. For a cultural excursion, the Tomb of Kings is a 5-10 minute walk away and Elysium offer a shuttle bus service twice-daily to both the Old Town, home to Paphos Market, and Paphos Harbour, where you’ll find boat tours, the huge archaeological park (an absolute must for history lovers, the mosaics are spectacular), and numerous seafront eateries for a gelato and iced coffee on a hot afternoon. Not too far away, you’ll also find Paphos Zoo, the Water Park, the Pirate Ship, Paphos Karting Center, Coral Bay Karting, Ride in Cyprus (for horse riding), Cosmic Bowling Center and Vertigo Adventure Club (for kayaking & boat Safari), so you’ll never be short of days out and activities.

Back at the hotel in the evening after a day of fun, there are a few options for dinner which all welcome kids. Ristorante Bacco is totally luxurious with a Tuscan inspired and Italian wine list to match, but it’s also entirely unpretentious and kids are more than welcome. If you fancy something a little different, O’Shin is a pan-Asian restaurant which has a menu of sushi, light bites and hot mains, plus a quirky dessert menu, including the theatrical Chocolate Surprise which will delight sweet-toothed kids and adults alike. Mediterraneo Restaurant is a great shout for something a little more casual, with outdoor seating and a delightful fresh fish and seafood menu, or there’s a nightly buffet on the terrace if you want variety and some evening entertainment. All restaurants cater for kids and welcome them like young adults.

When it comes to the service, we’ve never experienced anything like it. From the waitstaff to porters to guest relations, every single person at Elysium was exceptional. Small touches like remembering your name or drink order, or asking how you enjoyed your dinner where they’d served you the night before and ensuring your favourite table at breakfast is available, all add up to make each and every guest feel completely special. As we departed, we felt like we were leaving a new home from home and a new extended family; a place that we’d remember for years to come that had really set the benchmark for family luxury holidays.