We did wonder after seeing some of the reviews, but we had an incredible time and it was worth every penny. We've been raving to everyone about our experience and time at this hotel, and we're so keen to go back. For us it was a five star hotel in every way, we felt looked after and attended to whenever we needed it.
Room:
We paid extra for the sea-view room and we're very glad we did. You can hear the gentle crash of the waves on the beach pretty much all the time, which is perfect if you need some white noise. The balcony provided a wonderful opportunity to sit and just enjoy the serenity of the view and surroundings.
The bed was super comfortable, and it was really big too so while it was only me and my partner sharing the double we had plenty of space (which I imagine on the very hot days is super appreciated).
The bathroom was supplied with various toiletries (e.g. cotton pads, shampoo, lotion, bar soap, etc.) and plenty enough towels. Plus two dressing gowns and two pairs of slippers.
The mini bar was well stocked. It had in it two cans of Carlsberg, a pack of peanuts, three cans of various soft drinks, a KitKat and two bottles of water. For all-inclusive anything in the mini bar was free at first. This is until after it gets restocked at 7 days, and then anything used after those 7 days is to-be paid for. We pretty much emptied the mini bar and didn't have to pay anything.
The TV had all sorts of channels too, including UK channels like BBC1, ITV1, etc. Plus other international channels, presumably to appease any guest.
Overall the room was comfortable and a wonderful retreat, easy to relax and sleep in.
Dining:
Being out of season only one restaurant was open, but for us this was completely fine. They had a buffet every night with a different theme. While we were there we experienced: Middle eastern night, Mediterranean night, Greek night, BBQ night, and Chef's night. The day we left there was French night, but we unfortunately missed that. It seemed the buffets were on an 8 day rotation. Every night the food available was vast, but for some people who like the same food things like chips, salad, soup, etc are available every night.
Buffet breakfast was pretty much the same every day. They had things like boiled eggs, fried eggs, omelettes, pancakes, french toast, as well as other salad-y bits and cooked breakfast bits. Plus cereals, pastries, bread, and lots of fruit. We were out every day so didn't get the chance to try lunch, but we went for the afternoon snacks which was also enough to fill us up!
It seemed there was something for everyone at every meal, and choice certainly wasn't lacking. Everything was labelled with allergens, and from what I saw/heard if you needed a specific thing due to dietary requirements they were likely to get something sorted for you and perhaps even cook you a dish you can eat.
We enjoyed the bar too, and enjoyed cocktails (and mocktails!) every night.
Seats were easy enough to find, the only time it was nearly a struggle was when we went for a late breakfast and trying to find a seat in the bar on the entertainment night. But the staff were always accommodating and always tried to help find somewhere to sit.
Staff:
The staff at Coral Beach Hotel were very lovely, and very attentive. Any time I had a question, I always felt like I could ask someone and be respectfully told the answer (small ask but appreciated!). Waiting staff were efficient in cleaning used plates and cutlery frequently during service, if you went up to get more food your old plate would be gone when you got back. If you sat down in the bar they (usually) came quite quickly to ask your order. Some times if it was busy we would go up to get our drinks, but once the order was through drinks would come quick. If we were dining, our drinks order would always be asked and delivered quick.
When we opted to have our room made up on one of the days, as expected the room was made up and fresh towels were delivered when needed.
Pools:
So we only really tried the indoor pool and jacuzzi, and we tried this later in the day. I personally found the pool quite cold, but that was a me-thing and my partner felt completely fine! When we dipped our feet in the outdoor pool it was definitely cold but again, it was late November! The jacuzzi on the other hand was very welcome. It was toasty warm and so appreciated when we felt a bit chilly. You have to go through the spa to get to the jacuzzi (presumably when it's out of season), but this was fine. We did only find this out when another guest told us, but again - totally fine.
If using towels outside your room they prefer you to use a beach towel, especially if it's outside the hotel. We got given a card with a 'license'(?) to hire two towels, with the risk of being charged 20 Euros if we didn't return them. We picked this up from the Spa, which is the same place you return it to when you're done.
The outdoor pool also had some inflatables/pool toys to borrow, and there is a pool bar to enjoy cocktails etc outside.
Entertainment:
This was a bit lacking but it was out of season and we had plenty to do and occupy ourselves with so didn't totally mind. On one of the first nights there we got to hear a pianist in the bar, and we very much enjoyed this. There didn't seem to be any other bar entertainment that week that we saw, but it was still nice to enjoy the bar as is. There did also seem to be an arts & crafts place that ran activities, and also there was a schedule for things like morning yoga and all sorts that we could have utilised if we wanted to. Ultimately though, we didn't find the opportunity to use much of what the hotel had to offer since we spent most of our time exploring the local area.
Location:
The proximity to the beach (and a beautiful one at that) was incredible. It's in Coral Bay which is a bit out of the way from Paphos but this wasn't TOO much of a problem. If we wanted to get into Paphos town we could get to the bus station by the Tomb of the Kings with a very regular bus (615, 2 euros each way, or 6.50 for a day pass) which required a change to get to Paphos harbour but this was also only a 30 minute ish walk to get to from the bus station anyway. There is also the option of taxis. Buses going the other way from Coral Bay were a bit less frequent at once an hour. Bus stops for either direction are directly outside the hotel.
If we were to go again, we would for sure hire a car for a bit more freedom. The hotel seems to offer free parking which is an extra bonus.
The hotel was also directly opposite a supermarket, which is useful both for supplies and last-minute souvenirs.
Going out of season:
We went in late November. It was undoubtedly out of season but we didn't feel like this was a problem. The hotel was peaceful, but still busy in places. It made us wonder what it looked like in high season, to the point where we're seriously considering coming back next year. Yes all the extra restaurants are closed, but there was always still something to eat and the buffet food was seriously so good. You can't always sit outside if it's a bit cold, but on the warmer days they'll open up some of the outdoor seating or the swimming pool bar. Given how holiday locations tend to shut down out of season, we were appreciative of how much was still operational and we didn't feel a big loss for going out of season (especially since it made a significant difference to the cost and we could still really enjoy the holiday).
Overall:
We absolutely loved our stay at Coral Beach hotel & resort, and the moment we left we wanted to go back. We loved the all-inclusive, and the food available in the buffets was something we're still thinking about despite having been home for a couple days already. We miss the view so much already. The sea-view was worth the extra money. The staff were lovely, the location was good. The only thing we'd think we'll do differently next time is go for a hire car and possibly try go during the season to see how it differs. Going out of season wasn't a massive detriment though. The hotel is naturally quieter with less guests and they still operate efficiently and offer the best service they can. If you prefer not to be surrounded by many, many people then going out of season is actually something we'd recommend as there was still plenty to do in the local area.
Would we go again?
100% yes without a doubt, and probably again after that.
Would we recommend?
We already have been recommending it to friends and family. It was such an enjoyable stay and made our first trip to Cyprus all the more amazing.