The Sun-kissed Holistic Hedonism of Cyprus and a stay at the Almyra Hotel
Paphos is a seaside town on the south-west coast of Cyprus. It’s a popular destination all year round and especially in the summer when vacationers and sunseekers flock to the coast to enjoy the Mediterranean and the delicious weather, seafood and culture. The center of this seaside town has a bustling waterfront with bistros and pubs in front of the town’s iconic medieval fortress. The beau monde visiting Cyprus seek out the Almyra Hotel, a trendsetting luxury hotel that provides an ideal environment to enjoy all of the riches of this area.
There’s something about the Mediterranean that draws us there. Maybe it’s the crystal-clear water, the ideal temperatures and fresh sea water breezes. Maybe it’s the rich history, culture and traditions created by the passage of conquerors from the Romans, Greeks, and Persians. Perhaps it is the food with olives everywhere as well as the endless bounties from the sea. Paphos has all these things and more and, in fact, was even named the European City of Culture for 2017. It was once the capital of Cyrus and has a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The old town has remains of Roman villas, a second-century amphitheater and the icon and soul of the city, the medieval Paphos castle.
The town comes to life as the sun goes down with the waterfront buzzing with tourists and locals. There are also plenty of bistros for alfresco dining on fresh seafood dishes, tavernas and places to bend the elbow while listing to live Cypriot music. There are also cobblestone walking streets to take in the ambiance or to dip into local boutiques and shops to pick up a keepsake or two.
The Almyra Hotel is the ideal respite to enjoy all that Cyprus and Paphos have to offer. The hotel is comprised of low rise brilliant white buildings set on eight acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Between there are cobblestoned walkways lined with lavender, exotic flowers, fragrant plants and lush tropical gardens.
This is a Cypriot owned hotel run by the Michaelides family. Managing Director, Thanos Michaelides had the vision to create a hotel that would rival the top hotels around the world in terms of design, accommodations, dining and services. They’ve done that and more by creating the quintessential Mediterranean ultra-chic hotel experience yet without the pretentiousness of a snooty hotel. The experience appeals to worldly romantic couples who will love the sexy décor, romantic dinners, the hedonistic indulgence of the AlymraSpa, and sharing the stunning sunsets from their balcony or terrace. The hotel also caters to families, however, with the spread-out accommodations, adults only pool and spa, couples never seem to feel that the peaceful ambiance is disturbed.
In addition to being a Leading Hotel of the World, the hotel’s striking design and interior lead to it becoming the first Design Hotel in Cyprus. With the hands-on involvement of the Michaelides family, the hotel underwent a complete renovation led by French designers Tristan Auer and Joelle Pleot, who had the distinction and honor to have designed one of Karl Lagerfeld’s houses.
The design is stunning with a flair for the bold and dramatic yet manages to remain minimalist and sleek. As you enter the lobby, the room opens into a wide expanse with the spectacular backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea through the floor to ceiling windows. The space has a 70’s retro feel to it with cool Cararra marble floors, posh brown leather ottomans, low Iroko and oak wood tables, and banquette sofas. On one side is the Helios Bar and in the center of the room are welcoming sitting areas as well as facing high-back leather chairs along the windows where couples end the day with a chat and a cushy cocktail while taking in the views.
The centerpiece of the space is just that, an elegant crystal chandelier that makes the statement to let all know that they have arrived at a special place. Surrounding the gargantuan twinkling structure is a spiraling staircase that leads down to the next floor and the all-day dining restaurant. Pléot and Auer took their inspiration for their haute design triumph from the island’s patron goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. This you’ll see through the calming color palette of sharp whites, greys, rich slate and natural wood surfaces in homage to the mythic figure.
The cool and chic design emanates from the hotel’s grand foyer throughout the resort where you’ll find an infinity edge pool with brown slate tile floor surrounded by wide terraces under brilliant white trellises and rafters. The setting is idyllic with sweeping views of the sea as couples relax on chaise lounges under parasols and the shade of olive trees.
The hotel’s 189 accommodations are spread over several buildings with all having views of the gardens or the sea. Indoors are contemporary, chic and with a 70s retro feel with glass, Carrara marble and natural wood materials to create a serene environment. The clean and minimalist décor features custom designed furniture, colorful Mediterranean fabrics and all the mod cons one would expect at a luxury hotel. The rooms range in size and configuration, including connecting rooms and two-bedroom suites.
The Kyma Suites are absolutely exquisite. They are in a separate more private area of the resort grounds and directly face the sea with unobstructed views. The rooms are stylish with an uncluttered design with a color palette of crisp white with splashes of aqua and natural wood.
Although the accommodations are comfortable with all the accouterments one would desire for an upscale resort, the focus is really on the outside. The views are to die for overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and with the sound of the waves crashing against the shore a few yards away. Through the sliding glass doors, guests find a lovely outdoor living space fronted by a lush green grass lawn at the ready for a barefoot stroll. There are two daybeds and parasol on the lawn for sunning or just chilling out.
Each one of the suites comes with its own private rooftop terrace. Through a staircase outside of the building, guests have an open-air sitting area offering an amazing view of the sea, coastline to the port and Paphos castle. It’s the ideal setting for room services of canapes and bubbles or a candlelit dinner. At dusk, this is where you’ll want to spend your time as the sun sets and casts a thousand colors into the sky as the day turns to night. It could not be more beautiful and is simply mesmerizing.
The dining experience at the Almya Hotel offers four restaurants serving a range of cuisine from Cypriot to Japanese and international dishes with wine pairings from their extensive list of Cypriot and international wines. The Ouzeri is the quintessential Cypriot seaside dining experience offering Greek and local specialties al fresco and with live music playing most nights. Notios is another must-try dining experience with creative plates of Japanese and Mediterranean fusion on cozy couches under the stars.
The Almya Hotel also offers its guest a world-class destination spa experience. The AlmyraSpa was twice voted as the Cyprus’ top spa by Spa Finder and it is easy to see why. The setting is tranquil and uber modern with six treatment rooms, three spa suites, a sauna, steam room, Vichy showers, yoga deck, and beauty facilities all supported by a staff of extra talented and friendly spa professionals. Guests can choose from a range of traditional and exotic treatments which use organic and marine-based therapies. After treatments, many guests will relax at the adults-only outdoor infinity edged pool on daybeds or lunch al fresco in their spa café, Eauzone
For those looking for a bit more active pursuits there’s plenty to do including tennis, yoga or a work out in their high-tech gym. There’s also several first-rate golf courses nearby as well as endless options to do on and under the sea. They also didn’t forget about the little ones offering extensive children’s services including a range of age-specific kids clubs, playground, a separate kids pool and menu options tailored to children.
The Alyma Hotel is the ideal resort to take in all that a Mediterranean holiday has to offer. Those looking for an exclusive holiday with excellent accommodations, meals, and experiences will find that and so much more.
