Classy Anassa

Brian Telfer on 07 September 2011
Anassa is a five star luxury holiday destination, with a great sense of space, peace and natural beauty. The resort is a serene collection of well-maintained houses and villas, arranged like a traditional Cypriot village and facing the Mediterranean. Anassa is a hotel famous for its cuisine and service, and it certainly lived up to expectations on my visit.

On arrival, we were greeted by Stathis Mavrommatis, the General Manager. In fact, Mr Mavrommatis really set the tone for our stay. He was visible, but never intrusive, and at various times during our stay, came across to check how things were. He made it clear that the success of the hotel was very much a team effort, and it was obvious that the staff were very professional, motivated and enjoyed their roles.

Angela, one of the effective and friendly reception staff, accompanied us to our villa and provided an introduction to the hotel, including its award winning spa and range of dining experiences, which allow you to have a different and exceptional meal each night.

Our suite was very spacious, with a panoramic sea view over Chrysochou Bay, the Polis coastline and the hills of the Akamas Peninsula. It was well looked after by housekeeping. You can choose from rooms and suites located in the main building or in villas set in the hotel’s grounds. Interconnecting options are available and WiFi is complimentary.

Our first evening started with a champagne cocktail reception on the fabulous Sunset Terrace, hosted by the Anassa Management. We had reserved a table at the Village Square, for a traditional Cypriot buffet and music, which was a great start to our holiday. The hotel’s beautiful Byzantine chapel “Ayia Athanasia” is in the square, perfect for weddings.

Our days tended to start with a swim in the indoor pool and a visit to the gym. Then followed a leisurely outdoor breakfast in the Amphora restaurant, where the attentive staff made it a daily event to be enjoyed, with a fantastic view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Akamas Peninsular.

For my birthday and our last meal there, we booked into the Helios restaurant. Flawless service from the staff and a wonderful menu made these particularly special evenings.

One evening, we ordered room service, which included candles for a romantic meal on our balcony. Just sitting there overlooking the Mediterranean, hearing nothing but the crickets, and seeing the sunset on one side and the moon rise on the other, was just magical.

The beach was very well managed by the staff, and has excellent water-sports facilities. Swimming in the sea here was the best I’ve experienced - a beautiful bay setting, clear water and warm. There are also 3 swimming pools, including a lovely infinity pool. There was always plenty of sun beds and a real sense of space.

The Thalassa Spa includes a sky-lit, columned indoor pool, 18 treatment rooms, saunas, steam baths, a seawater exercise pool, squash court, fitness room and hair salon. We did not try the treatments – however, other guests all said they were extremely good.

As usual, for maximum convenience and relaxation, we booked the Sofitel hotel at Gatwick to kick off and end our holiday, together with Meet and Greet for the car in the UK, and private transfers in Cyprus. Next time, we’ll also book the lounge at Paphos airport.

If you are looking for a holiday of calm luxury, lovely scenery and award-winning spa treatments, please contact me for more details.