With nearly 20 major spa resorts in Cyprus, there’s no shortage of choice for clients wanting relaxation in first-class surroundings. Janine Kelso reports
Cyprus’ luxurious spas have earned themselves a world-class reputation, attracting a host of A-listers such as Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall and queen WAG Coleen McLoughlin.
Four and five-star hotels make up a quarter of the island’s accommodation and nearly 20 have major spa facilities, most of which can be found around the tourist hubs of Paphos and Limassol.
Cyprus Tourism Organisation assistant to director Lillian Panayi said: “The spa product in Cyprus has been developing rapidly over the past few years. Our spas use leading international brands as well as organic products, and offer a range of treatments.”
Here’s a selection of five-star Cypriot hotel spas:
Anassa, Latchi
For a generous dose of extreme pampering, check out the Anassa’s recently revamped Thalassa Spa, which offers aromatherapy, massage, body wraps, and other health and beauty treatments.
Other activities: Exercise facilities include a gym, squash courts, two tennis courts, sauna and two freshwater swimming pools. It also has its own sailing boat for private cruising and a PADI diving centre.
Le Méridien Limassol Spa and Resort
This five-star property is home to a palatial adults-only spa featuring whirlpool baths, 34 treatment rooms, two saunas, a hammam and seven indoor and outdoor seawater pools – each with a different temperature and salinity content. Surrounding the spa is a freshwater pool dotted with waterfalls and grottoes.
Other activities: Try beach water sports such as waterskiing, windsurfing, paragliding and jet-skiing. There is also a scuba-diving centre.
Columbia Beach Resort, Pissouri Bay
This five-star hotel’s swish spa recently launched a range of treatments including Phytomer’s Sea Holistic Spa Treatment, which features a massage and facial using Thai techniques.
Other popular choices at the spa are body sculpting, Molton Brown treatments and anti-ageing facials. The spa has five treatment rooms, a spa bath, plunge pool, sauna and steam room.
Other activities: After treatments, guests can chill out on the mountains of pillows and low beds in the Temple Lounge, take a yoga class outside or play tennis or squash.
InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel, near Paphos
Named European Spa of the Year 2008 at the Professional Beauty Awards, the Retreat Spa sits at the heart of this sprawling resort.
The 24 treatment rooms all have sea views, but clients can also choose to have their treatment outside. In a nod to the ancient bathing ritual enjoyed by the Romans, the spa has a central thermae consisting of a series of rooms and pools, which get progressively hotter, interspersed by cooling plunge pools and showers.
Other activities: There is an 18-hole champion golf course, a tennis academy and a choice of bars and restaurants.
Paphos Amathus Beach, Paphos
The Armonia Spa was recently spruced up and now includes a hammam and whirlpool bath. Also on offer are massage, thalassotherapy and other treatments, using top-quality products such as Clinique, Clarins and Decléor.
It might look small compared with spas in other five-star hotels on the island, but its facilities and treatments are certainly on a par with its competitors.
Other activities: Check out new Asian fusion restaurant AsiaChi for sushi and Far Eastern cuisine.
Four Seasons Hotel, Limassol
Visit the Shiseido Spa to try body treatments, massage, facials, manicures and thalassotherapy.
Other activities: Work out in the gym or sample one of the beach water sports. There is also an indoor seawater pool, a whirlpool bath, a steam room and a gym.
Elysium, Paphos
The Opium Health Spa offers hot stone therapy, body exfoliation, full-body massage and reflexology.
Other activities: Eat in one of the hotel’s six restaurants, which include everything from a sushi bar to fine dining at Cava.
Sample product
Argo Holidays offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Elysium Hotel in Paphos for £974 per person in September, including flights and transfers.
Hotels4U.com offers three nights’ bed and breakfast at Le Meridien Limassol Spa and Resort for £267 per person in October.
Planet Holidays offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Anassa hotel for £1,475 in July, including flights and private taxi transfers. Spa treatments are also pre-bookable through Planet.
