What happened when we went to Cyprus with British Airways Holidays

Holiday packages, the choices, the choices. A year ago, a Jess Glynne tune had me curious…but the problem was, I was far from a Jet2 Holiday kind of person (not that there’s anything wrong with one!) Who else could I entrust? Having covered honeymoons for years, I craved the ease that came with a relaxed resort trip, one light on itinerary but not light on culture. British Airways Holidays looked like they took things more seriously, targeting a more discerning traveller seeking quality with their value. So it came as no surprise that it’s the UK’s leading and most trusted tour operator, sans pop tune, with routes linking 100 countries. With my partner, I headed to Cyprus on a four-night package to see if British Airways Holidays could be a honeymoon-worthy experience. 

While this trip was hosted, all thoughts and opinions are our own

British Airways Holidays review

British Airways Holidays at a glance

Product: British Airways Holidays
Provider: British Airways Holidays
Type: ATOL-protected holiday packages
Coverage: Over 600 locations in 100 countries, covering Europe, USA, and worldwide destinations
What it is: A holiday package provider combining British Airways flights and its airline partners with accommodation and/or car hire, transfers and experiences, in a single booking.
What’s included: Return flights, accommodation, a generous checked baggage allowance, ATOL protection on all packages booked in the UK, and access to a 24-hour holiday support line while away. Low deposits and flexible payment options are available on eligible packages when booked far enough in advance.
Optional extras: Depending on the destination and booking, may include airport transfers, car hire, airport hotels, excursions, and attraction tickets.
Key features: ATOL protection; low deposit options; Avios collecting and spending; British Airways Club member benefits; flexible payment plans; extensive global destination network; curated hotel portfolio to suit a range of budgets.
Typical inclusions when flying: Return flights, one checked bag per person on British Airways-operated flights and other airline partners, accommodation, and applicable taxes and fees. Travellers booking Club Europe also benefit from priority check-in and boarding, lounge access, increased baggage allowance, and complimentary onboard dining and drinks.
Best for: Travellers looking for the convenience, financial protection and support from booking flights and accommodation together, particularly couples, families, and long-haul holidaymakers.

What are British Airways Holidays?

A British Airways Holiday is a flight-plus-hotel (and often more) package created by British Airways, combining carefully selected hotels with flights and optional extras such as car hire, transfers and experiences. It offers low deposits, flexible payments, generous luggage allowances and the chance to earn Tier Points and collect and pay with Avios through The British Airways Club. With more than 10,000 hotels in over 600 destinations, and 24-hour customer support, British Airways Holidays is said to be a ‘premium yet convenient way to book a complete trip in one place’. 

The flight experience

For this feature, I travelled comfortably with Club Europe from London to Larnaca. It comes with priority boarding and ample cabin space as the middle seat is kept free. The plane was clean and calm, quite a contrast from some of the budget airlines I’ve taken to nearby destinations in Greece. 

I was pleased that there was a USB charger to keep my phone juiced for the duration of the four and a half hour flight, and I was served lunch around an hour into the air, along with plenty of snacks later on. Not that I was starved…before departure, I had access to the airline’s business-class lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5, which offered a full hot and cold buffet and self-serve drinks. There was also a full bar, but I try not to drink alcohol before or during a flight, unless it’s a very special occasion. The lounge was massive, not too crowded, though I did have to wait a little to find a good seat in a more secluded spot; overall, it eased me nicely into a trip focused on R&R. 

On the way back, in Larnaca, the lounge was operated by Skala and shared with other carriers, so it was a bit more hectic. Still, I appreciated the outdoor terrace for some last-minute rays before returning to cloudy London. Having lounge access is a really valuable perk for anyone starting or ending a honeymoon-style break.

Getting to and from the airport

One of the best benefits of booking with British Airways Holidays was having an airport transfer arranged in advance, taking away stress after landing. From the airport in Cyprus, our driver was waiting in the arrivals hall and took us straight to the hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. No need to negotiate taxis or figure out local transport. The platform also allows adding private or shared transfers, and car hire in partnership with Avis and Budget, so everything runs seamlessly from check-in till your head hits that hotel pillow.

As for the home to LHR portion, obviously, we took the train. I was staying near Paddington before the trip, so for the first time in ages, I took the electric Heathrow Express for a 20-minute journey to T5. I’ve always avoided it as you have to pay extra, but I discovered that booking in advance reduces the price to £10, which is less than the sting of the Elizabeth Line from East London! Plus, my Heathrow Express tickets translate to Avios points. 

Experience of Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Limassol

Hotel Snapshot: Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol

Hotel name: Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol
Location: Limassol, Cyprus
Address: 11 Giannou Kranidioti Street, Pyrgos, Limassol 4534, Cyprus
Number of rooms and suites: 274 rooms, suites and villas
Brand: The Luxury Collection (Marriott International)
Date opened: 2019 (following a complete redevelopment)
Design style: Contemporary Mediterranean luxury with interiors inspired by Cypriot heritage
Family amenities: Dedicated children’s pool, children’s club, playground, babysitting services (on request and at an extra charge), and spacious family accommodation options
Wellness facilities: Kalloni Spa, one of the largest spas in Cyprus, the only Thalassotherapy centre in Cyprus.
Prices from: €350

For our stay, we decided on Parklane, lured by the website landing page featuring a sun-drenched coastline and swaying palms. It did not disappoint.

Our original Lifestyle Sea View Suite was upgraded to a Lifestyle Suite with a Pool. It was spacious and well-designed, with calming neutral tones, a large comfortable bed, a generous marble bathroom and a private balcony and pool overlooking the landscaped gardens and sea beyond. Being in room 004 at the corner was ideal, as it was on the quieter side of the resort. 

The Byredo amenities were lovely to soak in during our stay, and turndown service was thoughtful. For example, one night housekeeping left eye masks for us. The room felt more like a retreat than just a base for sleeping, and we especially liked the pre-loaded (recent) movies which were free of charge, meaning no need to wait for TV channel films or even connect to stream. We watched the Wicked sequel.

Parklane offers multiple swimming pools, direct beach access with attentive service, and a standout spa complex ideal for couples. Dining, which I’ll go into later, is a real highlight here too, with several restaurants spanning relaxed poolside lunches to refined evening dining, all delivered with warm Cypriot service. 

Thanks to its size, a massive 12 hectares, the resort is never noisy or stressful, even when sharing spaces with families. At breakfast we requested to be sat away from the kids in a quieter zone B. The overall atmosphere struck a balance between laid-back Mediterranean luxury and honeymoon-friendly calm, exactly the kind of hotel that justifies choosing a more premium British Airways Holidays property. If you’re travelling with kids, there are plenty of spots for them to run, away from the adults. Win-win.

How was the food in Limassol?

Nóstimo! There are five restaurants and hotel bars on the property with six distinctive experiences. After a long flight, we parked at La Petite Maison (LPM) for champagne (i.e. the Petite Fleur Rosé de Miraval) and a delicious three-course meal, finishing with a decadent Creme Brulee. That joie de vivre vibe quickly caught on.

The next day, we headed inland for lunch at Stou Roushia Platanos in the Troodos foothills. The family-run taverna is all about traditional Cypriot cooking, with generous meze and slow-cooked meats served beneath towering plane trees. We ended up going light on dinner as there was so much food at lunch. The highlight? Their homemade Village Sausage, a local delicacy!

Back in Limassol’s Marina, we also loved Kypriakon, where we had another meze (!). It was such great value for money at 25 euros a person, for a huge spread of food (here, our fave was the kebab meats), that we couldn’t pass up the deal. The team there made us feel so welcome, like we were regulars, and we enjoyed a glass of Cypriot wine watching over the marina.

On our final night, it was all about Nammos. I love the one in London, so I was especially excited to have another whirl on their Aubergine Millefeuille and their big Nammos Chocolate Mousse. The Limassol outpost is situated right on the beachfront, in a chic, minimalist space facing dreamy sea views. The vibes and the music were very Mykonos.

Oh, and breakfast deserves a mention too. It was served buffet style at Lanes on the hotel’s garden-level floor, and the spread was wide and varied, including full fry-ups, traditional items, fresh bakery, and lots of different fresh-squeezed juices and booster shots. 

Want to try LPM or Nammos in London? Here’s how they fared in our best restaurants in Mayfair shortlist

Things we did during the British Airways Holiday in Cyprus

We rented our car from Petsas Car Rentals for two days of the trip to explore more of the island. Our first full day began with an immersive day in Lefkara, a quaint mountain village in the Larnaca District known for its stone houses, narrow streets and rich cultural heritage. We strolled through the village’s charming lanes and independent shops before enjoying wine tasting at Dafermou Winery, followed by an introduction to traditional lacemaking at Rouvis lace and silver. The Rouvis family carries on centuries of Cypriot textile and silver traditions, and their handmade works are exceptional. Works of art. 

On the second day, we set off for the Ancient Theatre of Kourion, a dramatic Greco-Roman amphitheatre that overlooks the Mediterranean. It was a blistering hot day, but we braved on to explore it. We continued to Kolossi Castle, a preserved medieval fortress that revealed fascinating stories from the era of the Knights of St. John, before stopping for photos at Petra tou Romiou, famously known as Aphrodite’s birthplace and one of the island’s most striking natural landmarks.

We explored our own area, Limassol, by bike, riding past the modern Limassol Marina, the historic Limassol Castle and through Limassol Old Town, soaking up the city’s local rhythm and seaside energy. Next Bike is a rental service that’s super cheap, and you can pick up and drop the bikes off in many different locations. It’s a bit like Santander Cycles or Citi Bikes.

And last but not least, Thalassotherapy!  

On our final day (sob), we checked into the Kalloni Spa for a thalassotherapy experience, a restorative seawater therapy exclusive to the hotel. The 75-minute session is guided but leaves couples alone for privacy, and at our time of visit there were no other guests, so it felt like we had the whole complex to ourselves. If you are visiting Limassol and want to properly switch off, this is essential. The facility spans 3,000m2, so we easily found ourselves cocooned till the afternoon, having checked in at 11 am, that I even skipped lunch. 

Overall verdict

British Airways Holidays delivered exactly what we wanted for a short-ish, honeymoon-style escape: a smooth flight experience, stress-free transfers, a quality hotel and the flexibility to add meaningful activities without building a complex itinerary. It felt premium, well organised, and quietly reassuring from start to finish. We’d do it again!

Tips for first-timers

• Book transfers when booking your holiday package or add onto the booking later to avoid arrival-day headache.
• Check how many Tier Points you could earn if you’re working towards status in The British Airways Club. Remember, you earn Tier Points on the FULL value of the trip, not just the flights.
• Plan on adding one or two experiences in advance, as we did with the wine tasting, as they might sell out in peak season. City biking doesn’t need booking as you simply look for bike stands and pay by card.
• Compare available room categories, and note that British Airways Holidays often offers good value on upgraded rooms.
• If your budget allows, consider Club Europe for short-haul routes as the lounge access, extra baggage allowance and extra space are worthwhile and will make the trip that extra bit more special.
• Consult the Visit Cyprus official website for itinerary inspiration.

Frequently Asked Questions: British Airways Holidays