"We chose Asterias Beach Hotel because we wanted to get married there, and we travelled with our toddler and both sets of parents. Overall we had a lovely holiday and made memories that will last a lifetime, but there were a few things that let it down.
**The wedding**
Maria and Manolita from the wedding team were incredible. They were attentive, reassuring and accommodating, remembered who we were, and were brilliant with our toddler. They made sure our day was everything we wanted and more, and we can't thank them enough. The hotel photographer (Retina Photography) was superb, and we have some amazing photos. The hair and makeup ladies made me, my mum and my mother-in-law feel beautiful. After our ceremony on Makronissos Beach, we had our wedding meal in the buffet restaurant (Oriental night, delicious). The staff decorated our table and put our wedding sign up, and both staff and guests clapped, cheered and congratulated us. It made us feel really special.
**Food and drink**
The food is the best part of the hotel, and honestly the best we've ever had. There's lots of choice, the menu rotates every 2 weeks, and there's really no need to eat anywhere else. It can get a little samey eating in the same place, but it's so good it doesn't matter. The breakfast coffee machines are excellent, the cocktails are lovely and the drinks are strong. We had an Irish cream every night.
The let-downs were the ice cream and the snack bar. The only ice cream is mini choc ices, with no scoop flavours for kids to choose from, so we ended up buying ice cream from the beach shack, which you shouldn't have to do on all-inclusive. The afternoon snack bar was poor too: a few chips, a couple of pizzas and mostly salad, which is not great with a hungry toddler. Tip: the cakes at breakfast are much better than the ones at the afternoon cake and coffee, so grab a couple for later.
**The rules**
This was our biggest frustration. We felt restricted, almost controlled at times, which isn't a nice feeling on holiday.
- **Dress code:** very strict, and stricter than previous reviews suggested. I was told several times I couldn't wear my beach cover-ups, which were all I'd packed, yet some other guests were let in.
- **Where you eat:** you can't take food to the pool, terrace or beach, and you can't sit in the à la carte lunch section unless you've paid for it. The upside is that the hotel is spotless with hardly any bugs, but it's too strict.
- **Coffee:** the coffee machines are turned off after breakfast, so at lunch and dinner you have to ask staff for one.
- **Paper cups:** every drink outside the restaurant comes in a paper cup, including drinks at the pool, at the beach and to take to your room. They go soggy within minutes, spoil the drink and feel cheap. We understand not wanting glass near the pool, but plastic cups or mugs would be far better, and we're grown adults who should be able to take a glass to our room.
- **Water bottles:** you can't fill your own bottle, even a child's bottle. You have to fill the hotel's bottle and pour it across, again and again.
- **Departure day:** our coach was at 7pm, so we couldn't have dinner. The lobby bar refused several times to give my son a sandwich because sandwiches aren't served until 10pm, and the shop only sells crisps, chocolate and biscuits. We had to go to a manager, and only got one after a difficult conversation. It was a disappointing end to the holiday.
**Arrival and room**
We arrived around 10:30pm and had to ask for help with our luggage, which wasn't offered even though we had a toddler. When we asked about an upgrade, the staff member was quite blunt, but they did upgrade us to a superior room, which we were very grateful for. The view was absolutely incredible.
The rooms are small for a family of three, though, and the pull-out bed had been put right in front of the balcony door, so we had to move furniture around the next day. We looked at a family room, but they aren't bigger, they just have bunk beds and a worse view, so we stayed put. The aircon broke, but maintenance fixed it very quickly and helped us move the bed. The cleaners work really hard and the room was cleaned every day.
As the wedding couple, we were allowed to keep our room until 5pm on our last day, which we really appreciated. However, our parents, who were our wedding guests, weren't offered the same. It was near the end of the season and we doubt those rooms were needed, so extending late checkout to the wedding party would have been a lovely touch.
**Facilities and entertainment**
The location is perfect: you can walk straight onto the beach, there are multiple pools, and Ayia Napa is 10–15 minutes away by taxi (about €15–20 each way). The reception staff were really helpful.
The entertainment team was incredible. The Irish chap who runs most of the sessions, and all the girls with him, clearly love their jobs and put so much effort in. The kids' disco was our son's favourite part of the holiday, and he was excited for it every single night. Aquarobics was brilliant, and there's also yoga, volleyball and other sports.
Some facilities could be better:
- **Indoor spa:** the indoor pool was freezing and the sauna and steam room weren't switched on. On rainy days that was our only option with a toddler, so a heated pool, at least when bad weather is forecast, would make a big difference.
- **Games room:** dated, and a lot of the machines don't work.
- **Levels beach bar:** not included in all-inclusive, only 20% off, and it feels aimed more at the public than at guests.
- **Seafood restaurant:** always quiet with no atmosphere. Offering guests one free meal per stay would bring it to life. We'd have loved to try it on our wedding night.
- **Decor:** the interior feels like a UK chain hotel and could do with updating.
For massages, walk out onto the beach, turn left to Golden Sands, and there's a massage place that costs a fraction of the spa price and is amazing.
**A note for families**
This isn't something the hotel can control, but some guests were rude, with staring, tutting and head-shaking if your child is on an iPad or having a tantrum. Just be prepared.
**Overall**
It's the perfect wedding venue, with outstanding food and lovely staff, and Makronissos Beach will always hold a special place in our hearts. But the rules make all-inclusive feel restrictive, and a few areas need improving before we'd rush back."
