Spotlight on Cyprus: Aphrodite’s Sensational Spas

Aphrodite would have loved her island s 21st century temples of relaxation and well-being which offer a cornucopia of amazing spa experiences to enhance any visit to this holiday paradise. ow fitting that the sun-drenched island of Cyprus, where Aphrodite the goddess of beauty and love is said to have sprung from the foaming sea, is now a world class spa destination. Aphrodite would have loved her island s 21st century temples of relaxation and well-being which offer a cornucopia of amazing spa experiences to enhance any visit to this holiday paradise.

Le Meridien Resort and Spa, Limassol
Tel: +357 2586 2000
www.lemeridien.com

The award-winning Le Meridien Resort and Spa is situated by a peaceful beach, a world away from the bustle of the popular seaside town of Limassol. The resort offers all the attractions of a five star hotel in addition to outstanding leisure and children s facilities. Undoubtedly its greatest attraction is Le Spa a fabulous indoor/outdoor 3,000-square meter thalassotherapy spa. Le Spa has four outdoor seawater pools set amid landscaped gardens, three indoor seawater pools, steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools, a hammam, relaxation areas, an extensive choice of all kinds of spa treatments and therapies and 32 treatment rooms. The staff members are friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Dedicated spa guests enjoy the option of gourmet calorie-counted meals in Le Meridien s elegant restaurants and stay in the exclusive Royal Spa Wing, where the rooms and suites have direct access to Le Spa s gardens and pools.

One notable feature of Le Spa is that guests are encouraged to take a unique 90-minute thalassotherapy journey through the outdoor pools, prior to having treatments in the spa. This enjoyable experience softens and conditions the skin and totally relaxes body and mind.

The four outdoor pools (each with a different salinity and temperature) are linked by fragrant herbal gardens and meandering walkways that use the backdrop of the sparkling blue Mediterranean to stunning effect. You start in the sea oil pool, one of only two in the world and developed by resort owner Costas Galatariotis in conjunction with the University of Milan. The pool water smells like fresh seaweed and contains 47 per cent salt, so it is very buoyant. It is also rich in magnesium chloride, which helps relieve joint and muscle aches and pains. As you slip into the slightly viscous warm water, you experience the amazing sensation of weightlessness. You float for ten blissful minutes, shaded from the sun by the plants and trees in the surrounding garden. Floating is great fun, relieves stress and stimulates production of endorphin the happy hormone released through exercise.

After the sea oil pool you move into a second floatation pool, where the salinity is similar to that of the Dead Sea. This is followed by 20 minutes in a seawater pool heated to 37 C and equipped with body jets to massage away any remaining stress or tension. If you are brave enough, you can finish your pool sequence with a dip in a cooler fourth seawater pool, which also has airbeds and body jets. The journey ends with a 30-minute relaxation in the steamy warmth of the domed hammam, where the atmosphere is diffused with essential oils.

The Elysium Beach Resort, Paphos
Tel: +357 2684 444
www.elysium.com.cy

In Greek mythology, the word Elysium means a place of delight and eternal bliss an appropriate name for this modern palatial-style resort, which combines elements of the island s Greek, Roman, Medieval and Venetian eras in its architecture.

Located near the town of Paphos and within walking distance of one of Cyprus s most renowned archaeological sites, The Tombs of the Kings, the hotel has an enviable beachside setting. Sunny terraces, outdoor pools and landscaped gardens surround the building. Access to the beach is along a charming lavender lined path. The hotel s unusual entrance is over an iron drawbridge and through a medieval arch, which never fails to impress the first time visitor. The resort offers unusually spacious public areas set around a dramatic sweeping central staircase, a choice of quality restaurants, luxurious accommodation and excellent leisure facilities.

The Opium Spa is one of the resort s top attractions, offering 11 wet and dry treatment rooms, a hair and beauty salon, gym, aerobics studio, sauna and steam rooms, hydro pool, relaxation area and a Roman-style heated indoor swimming pool. A full range of top quality ESPA treatments and packages is available including facials, aromatherapy massages, hot stone treatments and body wraps, to name but a few. (Note: Additional photos of Elysium are featured on the: top of this page and the issue cover photo).

Columbia Beach Resort, Pissouri
Tel: +357 25 833 000
www.columbia-hotels.com

This exclusive and intimate five star resort is tucked away on Cyprus s southern coast, at sheltered Pissouri Bay, about 20 miles from Paphos. The resort is built around a beautiful 80-meter long lagoon and connects with a large heated indoor pool. A special children s pool is situated at the far end on a lower level, allowing parents to see their youngsters from the adjacent sun deck. Paved pathways lined with colorful flowers wind their way through this delightful resort, where most of the 94 luxurious suites have spectacular sea views.

The Columbia Spa offers well-maintained squash and tennis courts, a fully equipped gym, an aerobics studio with regular workout sessions, steam bath, sauna and plunge pool and a Jacuzzi.

Tranquil treatment rooms overlook the gardens and are filled with natural light and colour. Numerous Decleor products and treatments for relaxing and revitalizing are available, along with holistic therapies from the Far East, including ayurvedic treatments, reiki therapy, reflexology, Chinese Taoist massages, Indian head massage, and lomi lomi massage. The spa also offers Crystal Color Therapy to help balance the body s energy centers, the seven charkas. Several varied one- day to five-day spa packages are also available.

Thalassa, Near Paphos
Tel: +357 26 88 1500
www.thalassa.co.cy

This exclusive new boutique hotel and spa sits on top of a small peninsula with panoramic coastal views on three sides. Catering to a sophisticated international market, Thalassa is the only hotel on the island offering butler service to every guest. All 58 rooms and suites have sea views and are particularly spacious and luxurious with marble bathrooms and many extras.

The landscaped grounds are attractively designed wit
h gardens, sun t
erraces and an outdoor pool. A winding path leads down to an attractive and secluded bathing cove.

Thalassa s light and airy Anagenisis Spa is the first holistic spa in Cyprus. They offer a varied menu of treatments including ancient island therapies that use locally sourced sea salt, organic olive oil, herbs and yogurt. There is even a spa dispensary where you can have your bath salts specially blended to help overcome insomnia or other problems. Anagenisis offers one to seven-day purification, and stress reduction and pampering packages as well as individual spa treatments such as facials, massages and body wraps. This the only spa in Europe to use the exclusive Australian Sodashi products, which are 100 percent natural and organic created from plant extracts, clays and marine products.

Other leisure facilities include a tennis court and a small health club with indoor pool, gym, yoga sessions, sauna, hammam steam room and Jacuzzi.

Anassa, Near Polis
Tel: +357 26 933550
www.thanoshotels.com

With its stunning architecture, friendly ambiance and superb hideaway location overlooking the Akamas Peninsula on the north west coast of Cyprus, it is hardly surprising that the Anassa has established itself as one of the world s most desirable destinations. All Anassa s 177 cool and airy rooms and suites with their white interiors evoke a feeling of calm and peace; most have views  the striking blue waters of the Mediterranean. Guests have a choice of four exceptional restaurants serving fresh produce from Anassa s own farm as well as freshly caught fish from the local village of Latchi.

This idyllic resort, a haven for tired celebrities, also offers great leisure facilities including outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, children s activities, PADI dive centre and many kinds of water sports as well as a luxury sailing yacht.

Adult guests have complimentary use of the lovely Thalassa Spa during their stay, including use of the fitness room, saunas, steam baths, swimming pool and squash court. Thalassa is an authentic thalassotherapy spa, and uses the maritime climate, seawater, algae, mud and sand for therapeutic purposes. Thalassotherapy includes marine hydrotherapy (a wide range of special baths and showers), seaweed and mud body wraps, application of local algae and mud packs, and ionisation as well as supervised exercise in a warm seawater pool with water jets.

As well as thalassotherapy, the spa offers a full range of individual ESPA facials and body treatments, full and half-day spa packages, beauty services and pre-natal treatments. During the summer, you can also indulge in the sublime experience of having a massage or mini facial on the beach.

The InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel, Paphos
Tel: +357 26 829000
www.aphroditehillsspa.com

Aphrodite Hills is Cyprus s newest and most acclaimed golf, leisure and residential development, with championship golf, golf and tennis academies, and a village center with shops, bars and restaurants. The final jewel in the development s crown was the opening this year of the new InterContinental Hotel, creating five star accommodation and facilities and the island s most innovative modern spa, The Retreat.

The Retreat s ultra modern design incorporates indoor and outdoor facilities on two levels. Reception, changing rooms and dry treatment areas are on the upper level; wet treatment areas and outdoor massage pavilions are on the lower.

In the wet (thermae) part of the spa you can experience a sequence of increasingly hot thermal cabins in line with Roman bathing traditions, and then cool off with ice shavings in the frigidarium! In addition to Kneipp foot massage pools and two outdoor massage pavilions, there is a wonderful hammam steam room with three private body scrub/massage rooms. The Retreat has its own outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool bath which enjoy outstanding rural and coastal views.

An extensive menu of treatments, beauty services and hairdressing is available, with a choice of day and stay packages, hydrotherapy and Pevonia face and body treatments.

Catherine Beattie is a UK-based health and travel writer/publisher with a lifelong interest in spas. Her credentials include writing and publishing several consumer guides including Healthy Breaks in Britain & Ireland (the UK's first spa guide) and The Really Useful Guides. Catherine was founding editor of Spa Health & Beauty magazine and contributes to many UK national newspapers and magazines including The Sunday Times, The Express, Here's Health and Harpers & Queen. She is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, Guild of Health Writers and Spa Business Association.