ANASSA - DREAM LOCATION BY THE SEA I have already written about the many advantages of the island of
Cyprus, which has
11,000 years of history. However, I'm not just raving about the country but also about a very special hotel on the West Coast. '
Anassa' means queen in ancient Greek - and I felt like a king in this five-star hotel. No wonder this hideaway is one of the
'Leading Hotels of the World' and has received several
prestigious awards (including from Condé Nast). Built in a semi-circle around a quiet bay with a sandy beach in the style of a
Cypriot village (with its own chapel), this temple of luxury has a total of
166 spacious rooms (including 40 suites, some with a private pool or whirlpool) in the main building or in one of the pretty white villas surrounded by cypresses, oleander bushes, and olive trees.
After a brief tour of the hotel,
Rabah, the friendly concierge, shows me
my chic room with a large terrace and a magical view of the garden and sea. I particularly like the striped, very comfortable loungers, and the sound of the sea puts me in a
relaxed holiday mood. It's late on the day I arrive - tired from the long journey, I fall into bed and look forward to the next day.
SUMMER IN OCTOBER It's late October, and it feels like summer.
Temperatures around 25 degrees C are perfect for me, and that's exactly what I can enjoy in autumn in Cyprus. Of course,
breakfast is served on the terrace under old olive trees with a view of the Mediterranean, and a few well-behaved
cats keep me company. The
friendliness of the hotel staff is striking - I observe how the staff greets departing guests warmly. All this puts me in a great holiday mood. After a tour of the extensive garden, I must enter the tempting sea.
A QUICK DIP IN THE SEA Turquoise-coloured, well-tempered water and the view of the hills in the bay make swimming in the sea a pleasure. If I had more time, I would spend the day
lazing on the beach. I take some time out on the sun lounger before exploring the surrounding area.
APHRODITE'S BATH AND THE BLUE LAGOON The rental car takes me to the
Baths of Aphrodite, the
Greek goddess of beauty, in just a few minutes. A romantic path leads to a small
grotto,
the favourite bathing place of the beauty who, according to Greek legend, emerged from the sea on Cyprus. From here, there are various
hiking trails high above the sea with breathtaking bay views. A pretty mountain goat crosses my path and poses briefly for a photo. In three hours, you can even hike to the
Blue Lagoon, one of the biggest sights in Cyprus, reminiscent of the Caribbean. I want to take this opportunity to thank the charming receptionist,
Diana, who tirelessly gave me the best tips for my excursions.
UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE AT THE ANASSA HOTEL Of course, I have to take a closer look at the
Anassa. I like the
arched corridors and
opulent staircases with mosaic floors and antiques. On the way to my room, I always pass an old loom. The hotel's high quality is matched by the
small boutiques with chic fashion and handicrafts. However, I resist buying the beautiful blue shirt in the KULT boutique.
PERFECT PHOTO LOCATION The fragrant terrace gardens and pool areas at Anassa offer perfect Instagram motifs. You can let Nikolas Michael, a former model and competitive swimmer, put you in the right light.
DINNER 'AL FRESCO' The evening is still warm enough to enjoy
dinner on the terrace of the Amphora restaurant (one of four in total). The Asian buffet with specialties from Indian and East Asian cuisine also offers
plenty of options for vegetarians this evening. No matter - after all, it's a wonderful way to round off a spectacular day.
HOMEMADE PRODUCTS Incidentally, many of the products at Anassa are
homemade, such as
cheese, bread, patisserie, jams, and sauces. Everything is available
gluten-, lactose- and sugar-free on request.
SPA OR SPORT? Before I leave, I look at the
Thalassa Spa, one of the best in Europe. If the weather hadn't been so nice, I would have spent a few hours in the indoor pool with a sauna and treated myself to acupuncture and a massage. However, the sun was too tempting. Fitness freaks get their money's worth with
tennis, squash, beach volleyball, and various water sports (including stand-up paddling, diving, and windsurfing) or in the
well-equipped gym. 'BESPOKE EXPERIENCES' - CUSTOMISED EXPERIENCES During the
pottery lessons with local artist Avgostinos, you can let your creativity run wild and have your masterpiece sent home. This activity is one of the so-called
'Bespoke Experiences' - customised experiences that will make your stay at Anassa even more interesting. Booking via the hotel's guest services (72 hours in advance).
SUSTAINABILITY AT THE ANASSA HOTEL Sustainability in hotels - is that even possible? Frankly, it's not easy, but a lot can be done
by using natural resources consciously. It may sound banal, but I am always happy when butter is presented in small porcelain bowls, not plastic packaging. Environmental awareness starts with the little things. Sustainability also means
supporting the local population - a point that the
family-run Thanos Hotels & Resorts have prioritized.
'Its location right next to a national park and in largely undeveloped surroundings, as well as the
personalised service, make the Anassa so unique. The bay has one of the cleanest beaches in the Mediterranean and has been awarded a
Blue Flag. The many regular guests appreciate recognition from the long-standing staff, and their wishes are known. Thanks to its spaciousness, the hotel never feels overcrowded,' says
Sebastian Wust, General Manager at Anassa. The Anassa Hotel is closed from mid-November to the beginning of April. My conclusion: * Luxurious yet relaxed atmosphere
- Several restaurants with excellent Mediterranean and international cuisine
- Award-winning Thalasso Spa area
- Best beach location and excursion options on the Akama Peninsula
- Marvellous garden with various pools
ON TO PAPHOS After the unforgettable days at Anassa, I travelled on to
Paphos, where I enjoyed a few more days at the sister hotels
Annabelle and
Almyra.
TRAVELLING TO CYPRUS The island has two international airports, Larnaca in the east (8 km from the city centre) and Paphos in the west (15 km from the city centre). Larnaca is the largest airport and is served by numerous international airlines, including Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, and Swiss. The journey from Paphos Airport to the Anassa Hotel takes about an hour.
WEATHER IN CYPRUS Cyprus has a
Mediterranean climate with dry and hot summers (from mid-May to mid-October) and mild winters (from December to February). In the
Troodos Mountains, it often snows before Christmas. Otherwise,
Cyprus is spoilt by the sun. Even in December and January, there are still six to eight hours of sunshine daily. On the other hand, there is an average of 11.5 hours in the summer months!
July and August are the warmest months, with daytime temperatures of around 24 degrees C in the Troodos Mountains and up to 38 degrees C on the coast. January is the coldest month, with 3 degrees C in the mountains and 10 degrees C in the central plain.
Even in November, the sea is still a pleasant 22 degrees C before it cools to 15 degrees C.
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