5 of the best properties in Cyprus

IT’S no secret that the range and quality of accommodation on Cyprus is what makes the island so popular.

With five-star properties, boutique hotels, village houses, villas and resort complexes, clients really are spoilt for choice.

And with more hotels being built, and others undergoing refurbishment, the only problem is choosing the right one for your client. Travel Weekly lends a hand to find something for every taste.

Columbia Beach Resort, Pissouri Bay

Why: a member of the Great Hotels of the World, this stylish property is all about location. A stone’s throw from Pissouri Bay, the hotel sits near a mile of Blue Flag beach and is one of just two hotels in the area, affording true tranquillity.

The property is made up of 94 suites in 11 buildings, each with balconies and large bathrooms with walk-in showers, double sinks and Molton Brown products. Some also have private plunge pools.

Here, an emphasis is placed on service, including pool-side waiters serving frozen fruit on sticks, cool drinks, cold towels and eye masks. There’s even someone on hand to clean your sunglasses.

Anything else: the resort also has a 1,050sq metre spa with six treatment rooms, an 80 metre lagoon-style pool, three restaurants serving traditional and international cuisine, a gym, squash courts and tennis courts.

Sample product: Abercrombie and Kent offers one week’s bed and breakfast from £675 per person twin-share, including flights and transfers.

See also: the Thalassa in Paphos and The Four Seasons, in Limassol, the latter a member of Great Hotels of the World.

The Anassa, Polis

Why: with an impressive list of accolades, including Best European Spa 2005 by Condé Nast Traveller magazine, and a member of Charming and Leading Hotels of the World, the Anassa won’t disappoint when it comes to pampering.

The thalassotherapy baths, showers and wraps on offer all use freshly pumped, heated sea water, while the 15 treatment rooms carry an array of remedies for body and mind.

The extensive treatment list includes facials, algae and mud body wraps, aromatherapy and shiatsu massages, reflexology, natural and holistic therapies, and E’SPA beauty treatments. There are also steam rooms, saunas and a Roman-style heated pool.

Anything else: the white-washed and terracotta-tiled hotel has been built to resemble a Greek village. All 177 studios and suites face the sea and have marble floors, cast iron furniture and a private balcony or terrace. Some also feature a private plunge pool or outdoor whirlpool bath.

Facilities include three outdoor pools, tennis courts, a squash court, a water sports centre, four restaurants serving local and Asian cuisine, and four conference rooms.

Sample product: Argo Holidays is offering one week from £1,265 per person twin-share in April, including flights and breakfast.

See also: Le Meridien Limassol, winner of World’s Best Spa at the 2005 World Travel Awards.

The Louis Ayios Elias Village, Protaras

Why: a Louis Hotels World Centre property, the Ayios Elias is a village-style complex with 154 self-catering cottages that offer flexibility for families of all ages.

The wealth of facilities include a baby room with cots, changing facilities and a feeding area; babysitting on request; push chairs; baby monitors and sterilising units in apartments; a crèche; a children’s club for three to 12-year-olds; children’s meals in the restaurant; a daily kids’ disco; a separate children’s pool; and a farm with donkeys, rabbits, birds and hamsters.

Anything else: a 10-minute walk from Protaras beach, the complex offers a large pool, bicycle hire, and a complimentary minibus service for parents with baby paraphernalia.

Sample product: Olympic Holidays offers seven nights from £451 per person twin-share in April, including flights, transfers and breakfast.

See also: the Hawaii Grand Hotel, Limassol, voted Europe’s Leading Family Resort at the 2005 World Travel Awards.

Linos Inn, Kakopetria

Why: located just 10 miles from the Troodos Mountains, Linos Inn is a traditional complex of old Cypriot houses.

With a total of 22 rooms, ranging from studios to suites, most with a whirlpool bath and balcony, rooms are large and well-equipped with traditional furnishings. Some also come with a cast iron four-poster bed.

Linos Inn also has a four-bedroom villa with its own garden and swimming pool.

Anything else: the nearby Mesostrato Tavern has a pretty garden for summer evenings and serves a selection of Cypriot cuisine where the local 10-course meze is a favourite. Guests can also unwind in the sauna after a day’s trekking in the Troodos Mountains.

Sample product: Sunvil Holidays offers one week from £713 per person twin-share in April, including flights and transfers.

See also: the impressive Aphrodite Hills Resort near Paphos.

The Londa Hotel, Limassol

Why: re-opened last summer after a multi-million pound refurbishment, and a member of Great Hotels of the World, the Londa is the product of a group of renowned Italian architects who have used a striking combination of white marble and black wood to create a contemporary look.

Guests can take advantage of a personal assistant who can buy them concert tickets, make dinner reservations or organise a babysitter.

The signature restaurant serves morning espressos, silver-service afternoon tea, early-evening cocktails, dinner served on the deck, and a DJ spinning tunes until the early hours. It’s the place to be seen.

Anything else: a spa and fitness centre, business facilities, a swimming pool with pool-side bar, and a patisserie. All 68 rooms, including 25 suites, come with an espresso machine, private balcony and Molton Brown bathroom products. A wireless Internet connection can be accessed throughout the hotel.

Sample product: Planet Holidays offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast in a side-view room from £535 per person twin-share in May, including flights and private transfers.

See also: the Almyra Hotel in Paphos ­ a sister hotel to the Anassa and a member of Design Hotels and Charming Hotels of the World. It also made it into Condé Nast Traveller magazine’s 2006 Gold List.