Azia Resort and Spa

Difficult to know where to start with this hotel, everything about it was absolutely spot on with extremely friendly and helpful staff, nothing was too much trouble for anyone. The pool was a very good size with lots of good quality wooden sun beds and never any issues getting some no matter what time of day you ventured down.There was a swim up bar with the usual friendly and helpful staff and the entertainment team always had something going on, very friendly without being pushy. We stayed half board and the buffet style meals were always varied and plentiful, again the dining room staff were friendly, hardworking and efficient. We had a sea view room, 014 and the sunset views were spectacular, we had a late transfer and the reception staff arranged for us to keep the room on without any charge. We didn’t do any evening entertainment but there was something on every day. The whole week was extremely relaxed and the hotel had a really great vibe, in large part due to the staff who without exception were the stars of the show.

Staff all very helpful and friendly. Room was superb. We were in a premium room. Can’t speak for others. Plenty of food and choice in the restaurants. Reception staff couldn’t have been more helpful and everyone spoke very good English. Don’t we embarrass ourselves when we expect them all to speak OUR language and we never even try to say Kalimera or Kalispera. I hen we moan if they’re not fluent. Get a grip

From the moment of arrival to departure everyone was attentive for asks as elk as professional. The pool was lovely and enough beds to meet the needs even with cancelled or delayed flights impacting on the hotel last minute. All travellers treated with courtesy and respect by the staff - can’t say the same in reverse. People are self entitled and rude. Staff aren’t paid to be treated like this. Variety of food was really nice over the week and seven days wasn’t enough.

As for the Kava bar entertainment the violinist was beyond excellent. I would love to see her and the guitarist with her every night. Some of the other performers left a little to be desired but that’s about personal choice again. Overall would highly recommend

If you are used to other 5* luxury hotels in Cyprus and Turkey you will be disappointed at the Azia. It’s a 4* star in our view with lots of potential.

Starting with the positives:

• Some of the staff are excellent in particular Adil and Alex in the bars.
• The Italian À la carte was very good quality food and menu choices.
• Some of the themed buffet nights in the main restaurant are excellent. Some not so much. Quite hit and miss depending on the day.
• The rooms are clean and spacious.
• The hotel grounds are beautiful and the main pool large and spacious.
• The sunset views are incredible.

Turning to the negatives:

• The location of the hotel. Not very much around it at all. Feels a bit like you’re neither in Coral Bay or Pafos.
• The mini bar in the room only comes with water and orange juice. Most 5*hotels have beer and soft drinks replenished every day (not here).
• No free complimentary beach bags in the room like many other resorts offer. A small touch but missing here.
• Main pool bar is understaffed and opens late (after 10am most days)
• The air con in the main buffet restaurant is on so high that it’s uncomfortably cold. Outdoor dining is much nicer though.
• The main inside bar (Cava bar) is dark and dingy. It’s quite bleak in there to be honest. Needs totally revamping as the main bar.
• No bottles of water given with towel collection. Most 5*hotels will provide water with towels before the bars open.
• Very limited sun bed waiter service around the pool. Asked once a day if you want a drink otherwise you have to go to the bar. Same for snacks, no fruit etc brought to beds in the afternoon. Small luxury touches that are missing.
• À la carte restaurants are incredibly hard to get into. Very limited reservations.
• The biggest negative is that you are not told when booking that TUI have a contract with this hotel for cancelled flights on the island. We had hundreds of people descend on the hotel for 2 days due to flight cancellations. Guests disgruntled and (likely) not from 5 star hotels and really change the atmosphere around the pool. TUI should be telling paying guests about this. It’s akin to a TUI dumping ground on certain days and quite unpleasant for all involved when that happens. We overheard that they were actually given nicer rooms than the paying guests (!)

Overall a lovely hotel and one week stay but not a 5* when compared to other hotels in Cyprus and Turkey. Lots of very small things that could be much improved and bring it up to the standard that the hotel could be. Lots of potential but coming up short.