Honeymoon Review: Almyra, Cyprus

Why go?

One for the water babies, with its five freshwater pools and immediate access to the Mediterranean Sea, the Almyra strikes a cool balance between chill time and party time with just a twenty-minute transfer time.

Honeymoon style:

Its size – the resort is spread over eight acres – means it can brilliantly cater for all. Families love the feeling of space; couples will always find a quiet, romantic spot, party groups can let rip without fear of annoying others. Despite being one of the most popular addresses on the island, you’ll never struggle to bag a sun lounger or book a spa treatment.

Set the scene:

From wherever you’re tanning, toning or tucking into something delicious, chances are you’ll be looking at the sea. The resort has been expertly designed with that view in mind. The feeling of space is obvious from arrival as reception opens out into a vast eating and drinking lounge, with a wide spiral staircase that takes you down to dinner, the pools and the promenade beyond. Everything feels slick, polished and sparkling clean, a result of the resort’s multi-million, three-month 2020 renovation. What hasn’t changed is the buzz. Groups of glamorous women sipping cocktails; golf buddies chatting through their day on the fairway; couples planning the next day’s excursion – the place has the sense of something always going on – and it’s usually happening over a glass of Ouzo.

Rooms:

Chic minimalism reigns supreme. You have everything you need (giant bed, power shower, a balcony for sunset watching) with no fussy add-ons to make it look like more. Honeymooners would be mad not to book one of the seafront suites with their own private gardens overlooking the sea (with the addition of private pools coming very soon) and their very own white-washed roof terrace where you can lounge out on giant day beds all day and night long. With temperatures consistently hitting 30 degrees+ throughout June to September you may even want to sleep up there.

Food and drink:

Feel super-smug and take a table under a flowering pergola at the residents-only Ouzeri, the seafront taverna where you’ll feast on fresh fish and seafood and be the envy of passing locals and tourists who can look but cannot book. Go for a meze plate of tiger prawns, octopus, swordfish and seabream and the freshest ‘village salads’ loaded with feta, capers, olives and pomegranate.

Head to the al fresco Notios for plates that combine Japanese and Mediterranean flavours and the finest tuna sashimi and tempura prawn rolls. Want your sushi served even closer to the sea? Take the ten-minute walk along the promenade to Antasia Beach Club for wraparound sea views while you dine. It’s worth a visit for the cocktails alone where classic Japanese flavours of plum, Umeshu, yuzu, kumquat, mandarin and ginger meet all your Cypriot favourites, lemon, olive, basil an honey.

The story:

Considering everything this resort has to offer, it’s astonishing that it also has a reputation for excellent value for money. Managed by the same family-owned company that also count the island’s Annabelle and Anassa hotels in their portfolio, they have over twenty-years’ worth of experience making truly memorable honeymoons.

Family-friendly:

Yes, it is! This hotel takes the stress out of parenting before you even leave home, allowing you to pre-order online all the things you can’t be bothered to lug around the airport with you, car seats, bottle sterilisers, jars of food, even the nappies plus added treats like puzzles and warm milk and cookies at bedtime. The on-site kid’s clubs start from age four months, there are English-speaking babysitters and masses of activities – pottery classes, baking and treasure hunts – with off-site excursions for older children to the local harbour and castle.

Spa:

It’s hard to think of a more perfect start to the day than a small yoga class on the roof-terrace of the spa, the morning sun warming your bones and views of the glistening sea beyond. Utter adults-only bliss. There is a gym, sauna and steam room, PT and nutritional advice sessions, tennis coaching plus indoor and outdoor pools so spending a full day here is more than possible. The treatment menu places a focus on marine-based ingredients, and medical-grade products. If you’ve overdone it in the sun, try the OSEA Aloe Vera Gel Cooler to reduce body heat and take the sting out of sun burn. The beauty salon will sort all your basics: haircut, colour, conditioning treatments, waxing and nail services.

Eco-friendly:

The hotel has some good practical policies in place. It has eliminated all single-use plastic, the gardens are watered with grey water to reduce unnecessary wastage and there is a strong focus on local produce across the different restaurants.

Location:

Situated on the South West coast of Cyprus, just twenty-minutes by taxi from Paphos airport, this resort gets star billing in a long run of hotels that line the coast. It means you have instant access to a vast array of other bars, restaurants and water sports right on your doorstep. Even if you’re not using them, walk the promenade in the mornings for excellent people watching. Expect fitness fanatics, handbag pooches and ripped lifeguards.