Here’s my full review of the gorgeous Queen’s Bay Hotel near Paphos in Cyprus.

The minute I returned from my stay at the Queen’s Bay Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus, I couldn’t wait to sit down at my desk and write this review.

My partner and I booked our trip to Cyprus after being invited to attend the wedding of a close friend. We’d never visited the country before, and excitedly started planning a trip.

After much research, we decided to spend the first few days of our holiday exploring Kalavasos and the surrounding area, before driving down to Paphos for the wedding. As some of the bridal party were staying in the luxurious Mare Paphos resort, we were on the lookout something equally comfortable but a bit more budget friendly, that would make it easy for us to catch the chartered transport to the wedding venue.

That’s when we came across the Queen’s Bay Hotel, which looked gorgeous and worked for our budget.

I arrived at the hotel on the third day of our trip. At this point we were ready for lots of rest and relaxation, good food, and a lazy swim around the pool. We were feeling optimistic about what the Queen’s Bay Hotel had to offer, and I can report that it certainly delivered.

About the Hotel

The Queen’s Bay Hotel is a four star establishment located by the Kissonerga seafront, which is just a few minutes drive outside of Paphos. Originally having opened its doors in 1991, the site has been well maintained and modernised throughout the years and contains everything that you need for a beautiful holiday.

There’s a total of 200 rooms, with twin, double, superior and family options.

The onsite facilities include two pools (one indoor, which is ideal for taking time away from the sun), multiple restaurants, bars, a fitness centre, and activities including snooker, archery, padel tennis and table tennis. There’s also a small wellness centre with a sauna and treatment rooms for massages. An additional fee is applicable for some of these activities.

Located right by the sea, guests can swim in a gorgeous natural lagoon and stroll along the Kissonerga costal path which runs right by the hotel.

On a typical day the hotel has a calm but busy atmosphere, with many guests congregating by the outdoor bar and pool area. We found it relatively easy to get a sun bed here if we wanted one, without the crazy morning rush experienced at some hotels.

If you prefer not to sit by the pool, comfy sun beds and parasols are also scattered across the grassy areas of the site. Music and games are hosted by the pool at various points throughout the day, although the atmosphere remains relaxed and the music was never too loud for my liking.

As we were travelling on a budget, we booked one of the standard double rooms with an exterior facing balcony. Upon our arrival, and opening the door to our allocated room (202) I was delighted to find that we actually had a partial sea view when stood on the balcony itself, which overlooked a beautiful plant with pink flowers.

The room itself was small but contained everything we needed during our stay. The double bed, which had been created from two single beds pushed together, was surprisingly comfortable, and the AC was powerful and easy to adjust.

Other amenities in our room included a hairdryer, small flat screen television, telephone, toiletries such as shampoo and shower gel, as well as a tea and coffee station.

Although we were only staying for four days and didn’t bother unpacking our suitcase, there were plenty of shelves and cupboard space provided had we needed it. A small fridge in one of the lower units was stocked with a few complimentary bottles of water, and there was also a safe that held our passports and other documents.

I do wish that the safe had been a little bit bigger, as I’d needed to bring my laptop along on this trip and it would have been nice for my peace of mind to be able to lock it away.

The entire room was spotless, and a cleaner visited to service the room daily.

Our little en-suite bathroom was simple and contained everything that we needed, including a shower and small bathtub.

We enjoyed three evening dinners in the restaurant, which is pictured above. Served from 7 until 9.30pm, there was always plenty of seating available, with outdoor and indoor options. Each night we chose to eat outside in this covered seating area, where we could relax and enjoy the balmy evening weather.

As a self confessed fussy eater, I often worry about what the food provision will be like at all inclusive resorts. Fortunately I found that the options at the Queen’s Bay Hotel were great. Each evening had several stations available, with the examples below showing the salad and dessert offerings. I particularly loved the salads, which were always fresh and delicious.

The theming of the food in the restaurant changes every day of the week, so you could easily eat there every night and find something different to try.

As we’d booked a half board stay, we also ate breakfast onsite each morning, which is served in the coffee shop next door between the hours of 7.30 and 10am. Again, there was a great spread to choose from. As far as I could tell this was the same each day, and included a wide range of options such as cooked eggs and bacon, pastries, breads, cheese, and more traditional Cypriot options.

As I was on vacation, I treated myself to a few slices of the Cypriot vanilla cake each morning, which was delicious.

Lunch was also served everyday in the coffee shop between 12.30 and 2.30pm, although we passed on this and made do with an enormous breakfast and a snack lunch of Lays purchased from a local supermarket. All inclusive guests were able to eat lunch from the buffet, with al la carte options also available for an additional fee.

As with many places in Cyprus, the hotel is home to a number of stray cats. They frequently visit the restaurant at meal times, and although someone nearby appears to feed them, many of the cats are thin and seem very hungry. Despite this, I found them to be very friendly, and often keen for a stroke or a cuddle.

How to find the Queen’s Bay Hotel

The easiest way to access the Queen’s Bay Hotel is by car, as it’s just a 30 minute drive from Paphos Airport. I highly recommend hiring a car if you’re keen to explore the surrounding area.

If you don’t plan to leave the hotel very frequently, then you may wish to arrive by taxi.

Local bus links are also available.

How much did we pay?

We stayed at the Queen’s Bay Hotel for four nights in June on a half board basis which included breakfast and dinner. This cost us a total of £487, which works out at £61 per person per night (this includes a 10% discount for being a booking.com member).

We booked a double room with an inland view, but found that we actually had a great view of the sea and would highly recommend room 202.

Considering the beautiful location of the hotel and the great included food, we felt that this hotel provided excellent value for money and a fantastic overall experience.

Do I recommend staying at the Queen’s Bay Hotel?

The answer to this is a clear and resounding yes. While this hotel may not be a sprawling five star resort, it is a beautiful place to enjoy a relaxing holiday. The rooms are great, the food is fresh and tasty, and the proximity to the sea is ideal.

The site has plenty of spaces to sit and relax, whether that’s on a sun bed by the pool or a terrace overlooking the sea, and low key entertainment is available for those who seek it.

If you’ve stayed at the Queen’s Bay Hotel then I’d love for you to leave a comment and tell me what you thought.

You can compare prices and book on the Tripadvisor website here.

Alternatively, book your stay on booking.com here.