Hotel review: upgraded Imperial Island Resort by Louis Hotels, Cyprus

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Half of ancient Paphos still lies underground, but the modern-day Cypriot city is charging ahead at full chariot-pelt with its tourism upgrades.

 

Imperial Island Resort by Louis Hotels is one such property, having opened in May after a winter glow-up to emerge, like Aphrodite from the foaming waves, with a shiny new fifth star.

The metamorphosis is part of Louis Hotels’ strategy of annual investment, upgrading mid‑range properties to join its higher-end Elegant Collection.

 

All 239 rooms in the resort have been renovated, with more than half converted to family suites, switching children’s bunks for swish daybeds and adding bedroom‑dividing sliding doors, providing some much-needed privacy for multigenerational groups. 

Juniors can also taste freedom at the refreshed Kids’ Club (now with an outdoor soft play area) or the new Teen Club, complete with gaming stations, billiards table, a photo booth and TV lounge.

 

Family resort in Paphos

About 80% of summer occupancy comes from families, says operations manager Matthaios Matthaiou, hence the focus on multigenerational groups.

 

Plans are underway to open a new water park in 2027, overhauling the family pool zone with two new family pools and a kids’ pool. 

But I’m delighted to hear the ‘quiet’ pool will remain unchanged, in all its palm-fringed glory. Guests will love the refreshed stripy loungers beside the pools and beachfront – which is lucky, given that a lack of sunbeds was a previous point of contention (reassure clients that there are now 550 of them, so there’s no need to sneak down before dawn to reserve a spot). 

That said, the sands nudging the hotel’s grounds are compact, so for sandcastle-friendly shores, suggest clients head to the popular public beach at Coral Bay, a 30-minute drive north.

 

Alternatively, they can hop aboard a boat to swim in the aquamarine waters of the Blue Lagoon, or even circumnavigate Aphrodite’s Rock three times to secure eternal youth – or so I’m told. 

 

Renovated family room at Imperial Island Resort by Louis Hotels

 

Dining at Imperial Island Resort by Louis Hotels

 

Food and beverage formed a key component of the resort’s extensive makeover. The refurbished main restaurant serves up Dionysus-pleasing buffets: think local delicacies such as honeyed fruits and peanut brittle, alongside fry-up classics at breakfast – the British market is the hotel’s main audience, after all.

Japanese fusion restaurant Fiki has also been revamped, while Pygmalion plates up such a tempting array of burgers, it’s nigh on impossible to pick just one (my favourites were the sticky pork-belly bun, and a Cypriot halloumi and fig combo). A poolside ‘Snackeria’ – yes, it’s a snack bar – will be added in 2027. 

The entertainment venue’s facelift has taken the former ballroom into the 21st century with snazzy equipment, a DJ booth and a bar, showcasing nightly shows and quizzes. 

Activities elsewhere include stretching sessions, archery, water polo and boules, if clients fancy a change from having cool drinks ferried to their poolside lounger.

 

Things to do in Paphos

General manager Christakis Paraskeva says an external company has been brought in to help elevate service standards from four to five stars, but value for money remains key.

 

Repeat customers go back 20 years, but there are hopes of attracting a new audience as well, as more people search for five-star all-inclusives without the price tag of a top-end luxury resort.

 

Coral Bay Beach. Image credit: Shutterstock/aletheia25

If visitors do fancy a taste of opulence, the Unesco-listed Paphos Archaeological Park houses the ruins of plush ancient Greek and Roman villas, including some of the best-preserved mosaics in the world.

 

The archaeological site also sits near Paphos harbour where, if clients can wrench themselves away from Imperial Island Resort’s all-inclusive cocktails, the fresh fish served up will be well worth the walk around the waterfront – perhaps that’s the real secret to eternal youth.

 

Book it

 

EasyJet Holidays offers seven nights from £1,295 per person, all-inclusive, based on two sharing. Includes 23kg of luggage per person, transfers and flights from Gatwick on August 31. 
easyjet.com/holidays