Almyra, Paphos, Cyprus

LOCATION: Just a 20-minute drive from Paphos airport and a 15-minute walk from Paphos castle, Almyra is located on the western side of town.

LOCATION: Just a 20-minute drive from Paphos airport and a 15-minute walk from Paphos castle, Almyra is located on the western side of town. Considering it’s in a popular and energetic part of the island, it’s incredible how cool and calm the Almyra is. Clean lines, whitewashed walls and traditional wooden furniture – either varnished brown or painted in oceanic blues – help to create a distinctly spacious and nautical feel that’s entirely fitting for the seaside location.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: It’s hard not to be immediately inspired by Almyra’s slick and contemporary look, courtesy of Parisian designer Joëlle Pleot (also responsible for Coco Chanel showrooms and Karl Lagerfeld’s home).

The enormous spa area – serenity itself – run by the sensitive and thoughtful Ingrid, certainly stands out as a hotel highlight. There’s no doubting that Almyra is a big place, however, not suited to those who prefer boutique-style, hideaway hotels.

A GOOD BASE FOR: Anybody who likes to mix quiet spaces with high-class bustle will enjoy Almyra. It’s perfect for families too, thanks to age-specific kids’ clubs, children’s menus and a ‘kiddie concierge’. Guests don’t need to go far to be entertained because Almyra hosts musicians most nights, and even an occasional pop-up art gallery for local creatives. Evenings can get fairly lively in certain areas of the hotel, as can days on the beach, where waterskiing, parasailing and windsurfing are available. Landbased pursuits include mountain biking, pony trekking and hill walking. There’s even specialist triathlon coaching for the particularly energetic.

THE FACTS: Part of the Thanos hotel group, Almyra is a sister to the slightly quieter Annabelle and the uber-luxe Anassa. Almyra’s 189 rooms come in 12 shapes and sizes, ranging from rooms with land views to two-bedroom luxury suites that allow families and groups to stay together in style. Almyra’s adult-only spa offers a range of treatments including an epic hour-long OSEA Malibu Facial.

As well as the main hotel pool, there are adult-only indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna and steam bath, gym, yoga terrace and floodlit tennis courts. As far as food goes, like everything at Almyra, there’s plenty of choice, with five restaurants offering a wide range of cuisines from Japanese-Mediterranean fusion to European classics, Asian-inspired light dishes, traditional Greek meze and healthy salads and dips.

WOW: They’ve thought of everything in the spa! Honeymooners should try the couples treatment rooms, where the bespoke facial allows sweethearts to be pampered while laying on adjacent beds, looking out towards huge glass windows before stepping on to your private balcony to let your face mask dry al fresco.