Since first discovering Cyprus with their tourist board, I have been eager to make a return visit. With 340 days of sunshine every year and a slightly unpredictable climate elsewhere in Europe this summer, Cyprus was top of mind for a bank holiday break of warmer temperatures and pure relaxation.
Situated just 15 minutes from Paphos airport, the Almyra proved to be convenient and effortless in every way.
Greeted with a chilled welcome drink and local delicacy, we were swiftly checked in and shown to our accommodation for the next few nights – one of the twenty Kyma suites.The Kyma suites are an elegant row of white washed bungalows with their own private sundecks, beach views and a communal roof terrace which is perfect for a pre-dinner sunset drink or as a picturesque location for entertaining and socializing with the rest of your party.Our suite was spacious and modern with a chic Mediterranean décor and all the usual ‘mod cons’ you have come to expect for a comfortable getaway.Arriving late Friday night we made our way the short distance to the hotel’s relaxed Ouzeri restaurant which was twinkling on the shoreline.Aside from the stunning setting, the food was delicious and excellent value for money. Offering a large selection of traditional meze dishes and local wines, we ordered around 8 dishes between us and rolled back to our room just after midnight, following an impromptu coastal firework display which drew our first evening to a close.We woke early the following morning, keen to discover the Almyra by daylight.
Breakfast is served buffet style in the main restaurant, however you can opt to have it in your room, as we did, whilst unpacking.
After a breakfast of eggs and waffles on our terrace we loaded up our beach bags and made our way to the tranquility of the adult only spa pool.Set around a picturesque infinity pool, it is the ideal place to lie back and tackle your holiday read or work on topping up your tan with a cocktail in hand. For those feeling more energetic a fully equipped gym is footsteps away inside the main spa building.With absolutely no intention of exerting ourselves, we grabbed a sunbed and settled in for a morning of soaking up the scorching Cypriot sun; only stirring to accept a slice of watermelon from the pool attendant or to apply a much needed layer of sun cream.
The main pool up on the higher deck is much larger and more family friendly as it is partially covered in the hotter months to offer some level of sun protection.
One of the things I think the Almyra did particularly well was accommodating both families with children and adult only parties to ensure both types of guests had a pleasant experience. Aside from the child-free spa and pool area, there is a whole floor of bedrooms for adults only, meaning those seeking peace and quiet have no risk of being disturbed.Each of the four on-site restaurants have a lunch offering, however in a bid to keep our movements to a minimum we chose something healthier in the shade of the spa restaurant.With smoothies and salads consumed we retreated back to our sloth like positions for a few more hours of dozing and people watching, (giggling discreetly at people in the pool wielding a selfie stick!)We chose to have dinner in Notios, a lounge style restaurant offering a fusion of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine with a specialty in sushi and an extensive cocktail menu.Highlights included the feta and spinach spring rolls and the pork belly with arancini, which we rounded off nicely with some scoops of salted caramel ice-cream and ginger sorbet.
The next day we chose to be slightly more active and take an early morning walk down to the historic Paphos Fort, a short 20 min stroll down the promenade from the hotel. After a couple of much needed iced lattes by the harbor we chose to stop off at sister hotel Annabelle for some sunbathing with an alternative view. As a guest of either hotel you can take advantage of the shared facilities, which can provide a welcome change of scene and an opportunity to choose your favorite as the offerings are slightly different.After enjoying it so much on the first night, we opted to return to the Ouzeri restaurant on the beach for a late lunch, since it had become our favorite spot. We ordered some more fantastic meze dishes including the halloumi salad, baked feta in filo pastry, spicy chicken and a dip of yoghurt and feta, all of which I would insist you order when visiting. Tempted by the plethora of fresh lemonade options we ordered raspberry and apple & mint and instantly regretted not discovering these earlier on our trip as they were so delicious.A few hours of snoozing on our terrace later, we were just in time for sunset and headed to our roof terrace with a bottle of local wine to enjoy the breathtaking views; the perfect end to a super relaxing break.The Almyra is great for families and couples alike due to the choice of the main or adult only spa pool and the great selection of restaurants (especially important as nice alternatives in walking distance were almost impossible to find). It is the perfect place to unwind and escape the rainy British climate with everything you need catered for.
For more information on The Almyra Hotel, Paphos visit their website >
The Luxe Life was a guest of the Almyra – all views my own