Cyprus luxury holidays
Published 01 September 2019
Luxury holidays to Cyprus that offer culture, scenery and much more
Buried in winter, hunkered against the West Country cold, we tease ourselves sometimes at the Expressions office with thoughts of sun. The Maldives feature regularly in our daydreams, likewise St Lucia, but one place has been popping into our discussions with surprising regularity of late: Cyprus. Why? For a start, Cyprus has a climate to die for. Drifting happily at the eastern end of the Mediterranean on the same latitude as Tunisia and Morocco, the island all but guarantees sunshine and warmth – even in the middle of winter it can get up to 20C. Plus it’s only four and half hours from home: food for thought as we wrap up against the winter gales and icy storms outside our office window. Then there are the beaches: every twist and turn of Cyprus’s coast road seems to reveal a stretch of golden sand or indented cove more beautiful than the last, lapped by a mosaic of cobalt shallows. Favourite beach among our staff with young children is Coral Bay, a large horseshoe-shaped cove flanked by steep limestone cliffs at the western end of the island in Peyia. For wannabe Crusoes, our top tip is Lara Beach on the Akamas Peninsula. A nesting site for green and loggerhead turtles, and a haven for critically endangered monk seals that sometimes sun themselves by the sea caves just along from the beach, Lara Bay permits no lounge chairs or parasols, and is therefore nearly always deserted. A fantastic escape for anyone wanting to maroon themselves for a day. Not that you need journey far from even the developed bits of Cyprus to find great beaches. Just round the headland from Agia Napa, you’ve got the outrageously beautiful yet relatively empty likes of Konnos. Sheltered from the prevailing wind by an amphitheatre of jagged, picturesque cliffs, this Blue Flag beach offers glorious bathing in gin-clear sea, with watersports on offer for those that fancy it, or walks between caves along the coast for those that want to get away. Nor is Cyprus only about sun, sea and sand. Washed by the tide of history, and a strategic outpost for civilisations from right across the European map, Cyprus has Neolithic, Greek, Roman and Byzantine ruins in abundance. Home to vineyards and dramatic gorges, mountain walks and forested nature reserves, Cyprus is a whole lot more than a beach holiday if that’s what you want it to be. Ignore the sunburn-and-sangria fleshpots, and the island offers huge rewards for the adventurous explorer. Smuggled away at the eastern end of Cyprus, Salamis is the island’s best archaeological site. In pre-Christian times the island’s most important city, Salamis not only boasts superb remains – a fully restored Roman amphitheatre, a gymnasium with marble baths and stunning mosaics – it also happens to have one of the island’s best beaches just beside it. Hire a car while you’re here, and the north of Cyprus, in particular, offers glimpses of how the island must have looked when Lawrence Durrell lived in Bellapais and wrote Bitter Lemons of Cyprus. Here, Kyrenia harbour must rank as one of the most beautiful on the Mediterranean, while the road from Kyrenia to Kaplica meanders through mile upon mile of wild, untrammelled olive groves and Artemisia scrub. Bring a picnic, explore the Byzantine castles on the crags above Bellapais, and this northern section of the island offers thrilling glimpses of life in Cyprus before cheap flights and beach resorts. However, perhaps our favourite bit of the island is the Troodos Massif. Here, even in August when most Brits are sweltering on the beach, the mountains offer a cool, pine-scented escape, with spectacular footpaths linking quiet mountain villages and lonely monasteries, and the only noise the occasional Bonelli’s eagle trilling from the summits, or the Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep) hopping about the crags. But we can rave about Cyprus’s beaches and mountains, Roman ruins and pretty harbours all we like – we still know that with the hotels we use, most of you will probably choose not to venture too far from the pool and spa. And who can blame you? The Anassa and Almyra, the Annabelle are some of Europe’s most luxurious hotels, with children’s clubs, water sports, golf, mountain-biking and tennis the standard distractions. All of which explains why our thoughts turned to Cyprus this week. Beautiful beaches and stunning hotels, with a world of fascinating daytrips away from the sun-lounger, the island gets under your skin. Anchored it may be to Europe’s political seabed, but pointing towards Syria and Lebanon only some 60 miles east, this fascinating island has a beguiling hint of the Middle East, offering an intoxicating mix of the ancient and modern, all just a short flight from home. Our suggestions for luxury holidays to Cyprus Littered around the island in the most appealing locations, the following Cyprus hotels offer exquisite natural scenery, proximity to cultural hotspots and beachside relaxation. This combination makes the island as suitable for couples seeking out-of-season, sun-kissed stays as for families looking to make the most of the outdoor lifestyle.
On the northwest shores of Cyprus facing the Mediterranean Sea, the coastal city of Polis is home to the five-star Anassa Hotel. Hugging the hillside above a charming beach, its architecture has been designed to mimic a classical Greek village, with white-washed villas and louvred shutters. With its wide range of accommodation options, a selection of casual and refined dining venues and high standards of luxury, the hotel is suited to sophisticated family holidays and spa retreats. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World group, Anassa Hotel’s stunning Thalassa Spa offers health and beauty treatments that draw upon the rejuvenating qualities of the minerals present in natural seawater. A kids’ club is available six days a week to allow parents to pursue such grown up activities. Prices from £1420 per person based on two people sharing a Garden View Room for five nights. Prices from £6150 for 2 adults and 2 children under twelve sharing a Family Studio for seven nights. Prices include scheduled flights with British Airways London to Paphos, private transfers and bed and breakfast.
Dedicated to making family holidays simple, Almyra occupies an excellent position close to the shops and attractions of Paphos town and claims beautiful views over Paphos harbour. A stylish and contemporary seaside resort, its dazzling white architecture is modern and yet typically Cypriot in style, set within eight acres of landscaped gardens. A family-orientated ethos is central to the Almyra’s philosophy, with a range of services that ensure families enjoy a straightforward enjoyable holiday. By day participate in water sports, such as scuba diving and water skiing or golf at the 18-hole course, and by night enjoy local and international cuisine at four different restaurants. Prices from £960 per person based on two people sharing an Inland View Room for five nights. Prices from £3220 for 2 adults and 2 children under twelve sharing two Inland Garden View Rooms for seven nights. Prices include scheduled flights with British Airways London to Paphos, private transfers and bed and breakfast.
Featuring lush water gardens overlooking the Paphos coastline, the Annabelle resides with hibiscus and palm tree-laden grounds that magnify the beauty of its beachside setting. Modern and unfussy architecture complements the bright colours of the landscape, while interiors are furnished with classical decorations that pay homage to the island’s ancient past. An array of family rooms, a kids’ club and water sports facilities cater marvellously to the youngest residents. Meanwhile, adults can indulge in any of the four restaurants or at AlmyraSpa with treatments such as the Thalasso Oligo, an energising seawater treatment. Prices from £522 per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room for five nights. Prices from £3580 for 2 adults and 2 children under twelve sharing a Family Studio for seven nights. Prices include scheduled flights with British Airways London to Paphos, a private transfer and bed and breakfast.
