Avra Beach

Recently arrived back from an amazing 10 day holiday at Avra Beach. From reading reviews, we knew that we may end up with one of the rooms that are not yet refurbished and we went with the mentality that as long as it was clean, we’d be fine. However, when we are arrived and were in fact allocated one of the older rooms, I have to admit, it did feel a little disappointing and gloomy. The main issue we had though, was that the set up of the room made it unbearable through the night. The children’s beds were on a slightly lower level with an old air conditioning unit directly above one of the beds. The main room, which was partitioned off and up a couple of steps, didn’t have its own air conditioner, which meant it was difficult to manage through the night. When we left it on, it was loud and the children were freezing in their room, but if we turned it off, the double room became unbearably hot. We contacted reception about the issue the next morning and were moved to one of the new rooms which was absolutely perfect and what I consider to be the best location in the hotel (ground floor, garden view. We were room 019) However, I know we were very lucky to have that option available to us right away and that it was likely because we arrived mid to end of June, rather than a week or so later when it began to get busy. We enjoyed the food in the food hall every night and found there was always plenty for us to choose from. We only ate there for dinner as my kids slept past breakfast every day (which is unheard of, so we weren’t waking them) and we preferred the Greek/Italian restaurant for lunch. You can dine inside there or take your food out to enjoy at your lounger or at the outdoor tables which is great. The poolside snack bar also has pastries, cakes, rolls etc available all day which are nice enough. The all inclusive cocktails were fine in my opinion. Not the best I’ve had but I still enjoyed them - my particular favourite, the Avra beach special. There definitely aren’t enough sun loungers by the pool, but we usually arrived there around 10am and found that there was always space to take some of the stacked ones and find a spot for them. Again, this could be due to us being early in the summer as it was getting busier as we were leaving. I personally think that the amount of tables by the pool is unnecessary and it would be better if some of them were replaced with loungers. The views are beautiful, sunset unreal and location excellent. But of course as most reviews state, the stand out of the holiday is the animation team! Though it is obviously their job to make you feel welcome and be friendly, they really go the extra mile, remembering names, where guests are from and when they’re leaving etc. They make you feel more like a friend than just another face which is nice. Special shout out to Sam, Boogie and Tibi who are always around the pool, chatting to guests and trying to get everyone involved in activities, but never being pushy or making you feel like you can’t say no, which is something I worried about when I first saw them scouting the pool. I needn’t have worried though - they have a laugh with the guests but don’t overdo it. For us though, the highlight of the holiday was absolutely Anna and Erina who look after the children in the kids club and do the mini disco at night. Our two girls (10 and 6) can be shy and prefer to enjoy entertainment from the table rather than join in up front. But they totally fell in love with Anna and Erina after having so much fun with them at the kids club, and by our last night the girls had them up dancing and singing with everyone. We couldn’t believe it. It was amazing to see and really made our holiday. There were a few days our kids spent around 3 hours at the kids club, just because they loved doing activities with the girls and for the first time ever, we felt completely at ease leaving them there to go and enjoy some cocktails by the pool. They were so sad to leave them and were glad when we got to see them right before we left for an extra goodbye.

Excellent family holiday at The Avra beach. The Hotel is full of helpful staff. The food is varied and plenty of great options. Rooms are cleaned daily and well appointed. The animation team are phenomenal. Special shout out to “Boogie” aka Bogdan and”Tibi.” “SEE YA LATER!” X

Not a 4 star HOTEL- Nothing too exciting but is generally kept clean. SOME Staff are friendly and others make you feel like they’d rather not be there. Shout out to Valentino on the snack bar and Manolis in the lunchtime restaurant both lovely friendly gentleman. ROOM - Paid for superior family sea view with partition - got a side sea view with building site- went straight back to reception and asked to change which they did no problem and we then had a lovely refurbed room over looking the sea/pool area. - We found out from a current customer here that we were the fourth family they had heard the same had happened to with the building site room so think the hotel were just trying it on. - No wardrobes just two poles for 3 people(room was for 4 people can’t imagine where all The clothes would go for 4) - No kettle or tea/coffee or anything like biscuits bottle of water. Just nothing. - Has a small fridge - just one mirror in bathroom- no full length mirror. - Hairdryer burns out after 3-4 mins so take your own. - No chair to sit and do makeup/hair so have to do it in the bathroom - I also had ants that were in my pants drawer! Make sure you have nothing sweet in your room. - Nowhere to hang towels except one tiny hook in the bathroom, so we had to use the partition doors and the balcony BEACH - - fixed umbrellas which is good as people couldn’t pinch more than one but bad as you couldn’t move them when the sun moved so struggled to sit in shade when needed. - Windy - this makes going in the sea initially quite cold but also not very relaxing with the waves constant in your face. We had the last two days when the sea was slightly calmer. But if you love a calm relaxing sea this area IXIA is not for you. - Beach beds are nice and large but look worn. Try the beds behind which are the same style but much newer and cleaner. POOL- - can be cold initially but once in very nice and less windy than the sea. - Nice size and great for families as all daytime activities are ran around this area. RESTAURANT Main one - open 6:30pm - long queues- not much variety- food goes cold by time you’ve queued and then sat down. The restaurant is not big enough - there’s no fresh morning juice it’s either fizzy or from concentrate- similar style foods each day - mostly edible but did come away feeling like I hadn’t had a good solid meal. The lunch was probably the best meal of the day in the Greek restaurant by the beach. The gyros were lovely but we’d had enough by the end of the week. They also do pizzas chicken drummers chips and a selection of salads here. Open 11:30-4pm. GREEK RESTAURANT- - Need to book this with your voucher you get at check in. Selection of foods in small dishes. Can’t really say it was much different from the foods in main restaurant just presented slightly better SNACK BAR- Cheese and Ham toasties - LOTS of baklava- cakes - spring rolls not so nice chick nugs tasted processed ice cream was ok. This is open from10am BARS- queues for drinks but if you chose when you go up you can avoid them. The only thing that stood out as amazing at this hotel was the animation team. Without them it would’ve been a let down. In saying that our 17 yr old loved it so maybe we just have higher expectations. ENTERTAINMENT- Shout out to Tibi and Boogie on the animation team lovely guys. They worked very hard day and night and kept the hotel going. Bingo/karaoke/live bands playing. Unfortunately we wouldn’t return to this hotel or to Ixia.

Our second visit to Avra Beach! An amazing hotel, the staff are so hard working, from the entertainment team, bar/restaurant staff to the cleaners! Such a warm, welcoming place. We had a superior family room over looking the sea which is beautiful (albeit a bit loud at night when the entertainment is on as it’s right below so bear this in mind if you have kids who aren’t the best sleepers) The food is great, themed nights in the restaurant on an evening. The snack bar is great for pastry’s/cakes/fresh sandwiches and our favourite is the pizza/gyros beach side restaurant, they do the best salads, meats etc. Big shout out to Tibi, Sam & Boogie. They really make the hotel. Tibi made us feel so welcome and had such good banter with us & our children. A real asset to the place along with all the entertainment team. Anastasia behind the bar on an evening is also a credit to the place, an amazing bar lady who remembers your order. Only slight issue we had was we had a cot for our 18 month old and twice it collapsed through the bottom, reception were informed & quick to change it but we had the same issue on our last day. I think updated cots are needed. Also no toilet roll holder in my parent’s room (314) or anywhere to hang the towels. A clothes dryer on the balcony would be very handy too. But none of these things would put us off coming again, which is we will at some point! Thanks again Avra, you’re a special place! The hotels song will never leave my head & that sunset, wow so special! What a time we had!

Location was superb. Lovely comfy sun longers & umbrellas right on beach. Sunsets were incredible. Lovely breeze on beach which made hot temps very enjoyable. Hotel was impeccably clean throughout. Room modern and very comfy. Food very good and service in restaurants was excellent. Snack bars were best we've had on AI and were always clean. We are determined to return. Highly recommended x