Cynthiana Beach Hotel

Cynthiana is a family-run three-star hotel for divers who like their sea close, their evenings easy and their surroundings a little less polished than a purpose-built resort strip. The hotel sits directly on the coast, with palms, banana plants and the Mediterranean spread around the property rather than hidden behind a road or another line of buildings.

You can choose between a quiet spell on the beach, a swim, a treatment at Planet Spa or a drink with live music later on. It is a practical base for a couple, while family rooms and interconnecting rooms make it workable for a mixed-age group. English and Russian-speaking guests are catered for through the hotel's website, which is available in both languages.

The atmosphere moves from sea-and-sun simplicity during the day to themed dinners, folkloric evenings and cocktails at the Argonaut Bar after dark. Not every evening needs a grand plan; sometimes the Mediterranean has already done the scheduling.

You are in Paphos City, Cyprus, directly beside the sea on a headland with both rocky and sandy beaches. The coastline around the hotel is made up of bays and clear creeks, with the hotel's own beach access leading straight down to the water. Potima Beach is about 0.8 miles away, while Coral Bay is about 2.2 miles away by the most direct listed route.

Paphos city centre is about 4 miles away, and Paphos port is about 6 miles away. That puts the fishing harbour, medieval fort and archaeological area within reach without placing you in the middle of the town's evening traffic. The Tombs of the Kings are about 3.4 miles away, while Paphos Archaeological Park and the Roman mosaics are around 5 miles away.

For a change of scenery, Saint Neophytos Monastery is about 3.6 miles away and Adonis Baths Waterfalls about 4.2 miles away. The Akamas Peninsula lies about 24 miles from the hotel, so a car makes the wider Paphos area much easier to explore.

Most of the room choices are designed for two people sharing twin beds, with either garden or sea views. If waking up to the Mediterranean matters more than having the largest possible room, choose a sea-view category; the balcony or terrace turns the first coffee into a proper look at the coast rather than a glance at the car park. Air conditioning handles the warmer nights, and every room has a private bathroom, television and WiFi access.

For a couple wanting more room to spread out, the One-Bedroom Suite with Sea View is the sensible step up. The separate bedroom gives you somewhere to leave the day behind while one of you reads, sorts photographs or stares at the water with the concentration usually reserved for a dive briefing. Family rooms and interconnecting rooms are available for groups who need beds arranged around people rather than around a brochure photograph.

The Olympian Wing adds a more self-contained feel, with individual entrances, tea and coffee facilities, a fridge, a safe deposit box and its own lagoon-type pool. That is the category to consider if you value a little separation from the main hotel rhythm. Daily housekeeping, a wardrobe and a seating area keep the basics in order, while the sea-view rooms make the changing light over the rocks part of the night-time scenery.

Breakfast is a buffet, served at The Artemis Restaurant and also at The Iris Restaurant in the Olympian Wing. Artemis handles breakfast and dinner, with an air-conditioned interior and a terrace for meals looking over the sea. Dinner is buffet-based, with themed evenings including Cypriot, Chinese, Italian and carvery menus; the Cypriot evening comes with live music and dancing.

Lunch belongs to The Mythos Snack Bar beside the main outdoor pool. You can choose between a buffet lunch and an à la carte menu, with freshly made sandwiches, salads, pasta and cold drinks. That is the useful sort of lunch after a morning in the water: substantial enough to stop the stomach complaining, without turning the rest of the afternoon into a recovery operation.

There are three bars. The Beach Bar stays beside the surf during the day with drinks and snacks, The Olympian Bar serves the pool area, and The Argonaut Bar is the evening choice, with local and international drinks, signature cocktails and live music. The hotel offers breakfast, half-board and all-inclusive arrangements, so check the option attached to your room before booking rather than assuming every meal is covered.

The sea is not your only place to cool off. The main outdoor swimming pool gives you a straightforward pool day, while the Olympian Wing has a lagoon-type pool and a sunny breakfast room of its own. There is also an indoor pool and a children's pool, with sun loungers and umbrellas around the outdoor areas. After a long day in salt water, a chair in the shade can be a perfectly respectable activity.

Planet Spa offers treatments, massages and wellness packages, with a sauna and fitness centre for those who prefer recovery with a little structure. The gym is there for a proper session, although nobody will object if your version of training consists of walking to the pool and back. Tennis, table tennis, volleyball and billiards add options for a more active afternoon, and bicycle hire is available.

When you want to leave the grounds, the hotel can arrange cultural outings around Paphos, including the harbour, medieval fort, Roman mosaics, the ancient Odeon, the Tombs of the Kings, Saint Neophytos Monastery and the birthplace of Aphrodite. Evening entertainment includes live music, karaoke, bingo, dancing and themed nights. You can join in, or remain safely out of range with a drink.

Paphos International Airport is about 11 miles away by road, and Larnaca International Airport about 103 miles away. A car is available to hire, and free private parking is provided on site without advance reservation. The hotel also has a minimarket, currency exchange, a lift, a 24-hour front desk and room service, which covers the practical moments when you would rather not go looking for supplies or dinner elsewhere.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out is by 12:00. Bring photo identification and a payment card for arrival, and tell the hotel when you expect to reach it. Cash is accepted. Children of all ages are welcome, cots can be requested for younger children, and the property has facilities for disabled guests.

Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel, and packed lunches can be arranged for days spent away from the table. The private beach, pool areas, restaurants and bar are all on site, so your daily logistics remain pleasingly short: room, sea, food, bed, repeat.