Makronisos Holiday Village

"I am going to start by saying that I either write reviews if it’s was really good or really not great. We booked Makronisos Holiday Village for a fun family holiday in Cyprus, but wanted to avoid the Ayia Napa party town with my youngest being 5. We arrived on nearing midnight and directed to our room/apartment, we had 2 for our family of 5. Thought the rooms were very basic, but would do. Quickly noticed the many many ants in both rooms first thing the next morning. And upon closer inspection, it’s wasn’t very clean, with mouldy areas around the shower and dirt/hair in all the corners. All tiled wall areas were dirty and very grubby. Off we went to breakfast in the morning and to say it was basic is an understatement! Not impressed and that’s saying something as I within our family will always tell folk to suck it up and even I couldn’t think about eating there everyday. Ended up paying out €60 each day at a great wee cafe close by. The waitress there in our 45 minute breakfast was more welcoming and nice to use than all the staff and Makronisos put together. Had a look around the resort and it’s a ghost town. There were 10-12 folk max around the pool each day. I personally work in sport and leisure and run 6 swimming pools/sports facilities. I had to witness the lifeguard smoke, watching his phone while seemingly lifeguarding the pool. He spent more time at the bar chatting to staff than “watching” the pool and finished just after 5pm even though it was advertised as a lifeguard on duty until 6pm. The crunch factor for me was the staff! It felt like they were getting ready to close up for the season and were just toughing it out until they closed for winter. The lady in breakfast area was lovely along with the elderly maintenance/gardener man. Everyone else looked like they didn’t even want anyone there. The entertainment team did fine, hard gig getting an atmosphere going with so few guest and I am sure this would be better in the peak summer time. There is a lot of what looks like old bungalows that are no longer in use as you can see things stored inside them and the garden area is clearly unkept, making it look like a rundown old unused holiday resort. There was a roof being redone while there and the majority had a bit of a rundown/abandoned feeling. Gym and health suite area is in a basement and in darkness, assuming to such infrequent use and extra payment to use sauna area is required. The surrounding area is very isolated and fairly far from any restaurants, so if you’re looking to eat out, you’re trekking a distance to do so. The Makronisos beach somewhat nearby is pretty, but not a huge amount else nearby. After 1.5 days I asked to get moved and Jet2 arranged this for us and thank god we did as it saved our holiday into Ayia Napa. I have camped, gone on cheap holiday and more expensive and never before asked to leave somewhere due to how poor it was, but mainly the miserable feeling my whole family got staying there. While speaking to a local taxi driver we used a few times, he wasn’t in the slightest bit surprised. He commented on that they don’t reinvest any money back into Maronisos hotel to improve it and this lined up with what I thought given the rundown feeling. I would like to think if money was invested, the hotel could make great improvements. But if I was on holiday for only 7 days I would have been devastated after wasting 2.5 days here before we got moved, luckily we were away for 10 so felt we still had a somewhat decent amount time to enjoy ourselves."

"This is my 2nd visit to the resort, and another fantastic stay. Room is perfect, staff very friendly and helpful. As a solo traveller I highly recommend, I felt safe and comfortable throughout my stay. See you in July next year. Thank you for a fantastic holiday"

"Our stay at Makronisos Holiday Village was absolutely fantastic! From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome- friendly attitude, quick check-in even at midnight, and great attention to detail. The entire complex is beautifully maintained, with colourful gardens, spotless walkways, and a relaxing atmosphere that immediately puts you in vacation mode. Our one-bedroom apartment was spacious, clean, and well-equipped, with a lovely balcony. Housekeeping did a wonderful job every day. The pool area is a real highlight - large, crystal-clear water, plenty of loungers, and a pool bar serving excellent cocktails and snacks. We also appreciated how family-friendly the environment was, yet still peaceful enough for couples looking to unwind. The hotel’s location is another big plus: just a short walk from the beautiful beach and close enough to Ayia Napa for exploring, yet far enough to enjoy a quiet, relaxing setting. Special thanks to our “Cypriot guide” from the reception staff, Desislava, who helped us with communication, recommended interesting destinations, and made our stay truly unforgettable. Overall, Makronisos Holiday Village exceeded our expectations in every way - exceptional service, great facilities, and a truly welcoming vibe. We can’t wait to return. Highly recommended to anyone visiting the Ayia Napa region!"