In search of the real Greece — one ginger tablet at a time
My goal? Somewhere authentic, somewhere that doesn't involve battling for a poolside lounger at 6am. But about 150 miles into the 200-mile journey southwest from Athens, I am suddenly struggling to keep my breakfast down.
What I haven't anticipated is the bus driver, a chain-smoking oracle of rage, whose driving style could best be described as 'hell-bent with horn.' I tumble off the bus into an uninspiring modern sprawl, and drag my luggage — and dignity — across the bridge, grumbling to my partner about how we should've just gone to Mykonos.
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Times
40 minutes ago
- Times
28 of the best hotels in Cyprus
The choice of accommodation on this jewel of a Mediterranean island is vast, so before you start your search decide on the type of holiday you want: easy and all-inclusive; down by the beach or up in the mountains; close to Unesco world heritage sites or within walking distance of bars and clubs. To make the most of your trip you'll need a car, as the public transport infrastructure on Cyprus isn't as comprehensive as in some destinations. The capital, Nicosia, as well as Paphos and Limassol are always popular; the south and east coasts have beautiful beaches; while the Akamas peninsula, in the northwest, is still untamed and a great place to explore — follow those rugged trails to explore secluded bays where you can skinny-dip and soak up views you'll want to remember for ever. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue £ | SPA | Best for tech heads Map ranks among the top hotels in the capital, despite having opened only a few years ago. Its location — a few minutes' walk from the architect Zaha Hadid's masterful Eleftheria Square — is one of its key attractions. Others include its sleek interior decor, gym, spa and excellent restaurant. The technology is smart and then some, so if using an app to do everything from switching off the lights to drawing the curtains is your idea of modernity, then you've come to the right place. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for bay views Named after an ancient city, the ruins of which stand a short way along the coast, this well-established hotel is a favourite for high-end holidays. In addition to multiple pools, a blue-flag beach, renowned spa and wellness facilities, this luxury property is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, so you can expect the highest standards. The choice of restaurants is outstanding, there's a heated pool for off-season stays and if all that still isn't enough you can upgrade to the even fancier Amathus Residences next door. • Read our full guide to Cyprus £ | POOL | Best for a cultural immersion Lovely Lefkara is one of those time-stood-still discoveries that add character to Cypriot holidays. It is the island's centre for handicrafts, particularly lacework and silverware, and the village is also known for its cobbled streets and Venetian architecture. One former market has been transformed into the Agora: an adults-only boutique beauty dressed with bespoke furnishings and traditional touches that is as characterful as the village in which it stands. Guests can visit the weekly market or pop into workshops to learn about (or try their hand at) pottery, embroidery or beekeeping. It's a world away from the beach resorts, yet just 30 minutes' drive from Larnaca. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for country-club vibes In the hills above Paphos, yet only 20 minutes' drive from town, this refined and indulgent retreat feels far removed from the mega-hotels on the coast. It offers more of a nature-based holiday, surrounded by countryside and golfing greens, with the added advantage of having one of the best spas on the island. Even the entry-level rooms here are suites, decked out in earthy shades and with lovely views of the landscape. Travelling en famille? Upgrade to a two-bedroom, suite or even a larger villa or residence, all with first-rate facilities and five-star service. £ | Best for a peaceful haven Managed by the same family since 1929, this charming heritage hotel — with rooms, maisonette suites and self-catering studios — is a jewel. Near the Kalidonia waterfalls, and surrounded by the pine trees of the Troodos Mountains, its recent renovations have given it a nip here and a tuck there, while keeping its fine features intact. Its natural attractions include the 250-year-old pine tree that grows through the bar, but guests more interested in its facilities and services will be impressed by the quality of the dining — a banquet breakfast, a Cypriot menu drawn from family recipes, and international fare in the gorgeous Veranda restaurant. Snacks, soups, mountain tea and sandwiches filled with locally made halloumi are served in the social lounge. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for grown-up getaways For a country that loves children, Cyprus certainly has a lot of child-free accommodation, with the Cali Resort & Spa adding to the choice of five-star hotels for those who would sooner stay home than go anywhere with a kids' club. You can walk to Coral Bay's thriving restaurant and shopping area in mere minutes, with the blue-flag beach just a few more steps away. All rooms are beautifully furnished and finished — no corners cut here — and the spa treatments are heavenly. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for the eco-conscious Despite its considerable size, this elegant, modern hotel has built its reputation on its warm hospitality, sustainability credentials and first-rate services. These include an award-winning spa, tennis courts, pools (one with a waterslide), several restaurants (one of which is plant-based), and great evening entertainment. An added bonus is that many rooms have a balcony or terrace to make the most of the sea or marina views, and all have tea and coffee-making facilities — something that many new hotels are doing without. The location is fab, too, just 15 minutes by car from Limassol. £ | SPA | POOL (indoor) | Best for spa lovers Anyone travelling this deep into Cyprus's interior could be forgiven for wondering if the winding roads and extra transfer time are worth it. Such doubts are soon dispelled on arrival at this remarkable property in the Troodos Mountains. A collection of traditional houses converted into a spa hotel, it sits next to a Unesco-listed, 1,000-year-old church and monastery complex, complete with Byzantine frescoes. Hiking and sightseeing are popular here, especially at this cooler altitude, but the hotel is no slouch when it comes to luxury. Its spa is outstanding, the rooms are gorgeous, and its diners — Byzantino restaurant, serving traditional Cypriot dishes; Byzantino café, for lighter meals; Pantheon for pizza, pasta and salads, and Loutraki, the grill restaurant — are all excellent. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for fans of boutique hotels With just 100 rooms, this intimate hotel is more focused on seaside relaxation than partying — hence its indulgent spa, which champions organic Greek brand Aegli. Flanking a white, sandy beach, Alion has tennis courts and an outdoor pool ringed by shady seating areas. Among its numerous dining venues are the Deck Terrace restaurant with a Mediterranean menu, poolside Akti serving relaxed lunches, and Symposion, which offers an international buffet that includes an abundance of choice for vegetarians and vegans. Pale-wood and white finishes render bedrooms bright, and there are private balconies. Evenings feature live music performances, cocktail-making lessons and local wine-tasting sessions. • Best places to visit in Cyprus• Best family hotels in Cyprus ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for entertaining everyone When is the Four Seasons not the Four Seasons? Well, when it's in Cyprus. And yet such are the standards at this five-star resort hotel that it wouldn't be out of place in its more famous namesake's portfolio. With access to a blue-flag beach and expansive views of the Mediterranean, it lies six miles east of Limassol but, being one of the largest hotels on the island, often tempts guests to explore no further than its own sprawling grounds. With a kids' club, tennis courts and selection of pools, it's also ideal for families, especially as its five restaurants cater to a wide range of tastes. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for an all-rounder Perhaps nowhere in Cyprus hits the sweet spot of luxury, style and history quite so well as the Columbia Beach Resort. Anyone with a car really doesn't have to go far east to explore the ruins of Kourion, with its ancient Greco-Roman amphitheatre, while to the west you can find Petra tou Romiou, the site where the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, was said to have emerged from the waves. You could be forgiven for not exploring at all, though — this 169-suite hotel has a version of everything, but never lets its standards drop, whether that's in its spa, its quieter adults-only areas or the considerably less serene kids' club. Read our full review of Columbia Beach Resort £££ | SPA | POOL | Best for luxurious experiences Conflict may seem like a strange bedfellow to serenity, but so it is on the Akamas peninsula. Occupying British forces carried out training exercises for so long here that development stalled and left behind a sumptuous national park, home to endemic flora and fauna. On the very edge of this unspoilt land sits the Anassa, one of the finest hotels on the island. Experiences range from professional photoshoots to pottery classes to shamanic retreats, but of course there's the option to simply lie by the outdoor pool with that bestseller you've never quite got round to reading. Read our full review of Anassa £££ | SPA | POOL | Best for celebrity restaurants Opened just before the onset of the pandemic, the Amara has really hit its stride, with its fresh design, clever use of natural light and uncomplicated use of tech proving popular with guests of all ages. All of the 207 rooms and suites have a sea view and two (of the four) restaurants have celebrity-chef names attached: Giorgio Locatelli and Matsuhisa, of Nobu fame. These modern touches are lovely, of course, but what's equally appealing is the location — a 20-minute stroll west will take you to the 3,000-year-old archaeological site of Amathus. Read our full review of Amara £ | SPA | POOL | Best for R&R Despite being in the heart of the Cypriot party capital, the Napa Plaza is an outlier — an adults-only hotel that's a cut above anything else in town when it comes to refined debauchery. Though almost lying in the shadow of Ayia Napa's church and monastery, its Pepper Bar has DJs playing most nights in summer, while offering a wonderfully diverse cocktail menu and shisha pipes galore. The wilder side of the town awaits just outside the property's high walls. £ | POOL | Best for an early flight/proximity to the airport If you don't want to delay your holidaymaking by any more than five minutes, then Larnaca's adults-only Hotel Indigo is for you. Its proximity to the airport is matched by that of Finikoudes beach and its famous, palm-lined promenade that lies a short stroll away through town. The beautiful ninth-century Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Lazarus is even closer than that. The hotel's rooftop pool bar, with superb views over the Mediterranean, is popular before nights out around town too — or if it's one of Larnaca's rare cloudy days, duck inside to the well-stocked wine bar. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for private pools Lying between Paphos and the wild Akamas peninsula, Cap St Georges pulls off the neat trick of being enormous and calm at the same time. With 150 villas and ten bars and restaurants, it is certainly not a boutique hotel, but it's part of a gated resort and everything is well organised and polished. There'll be no outsiders staggering on to the private beach, nor cannonballing in the swimming pool here. Many of the bungalows have their own pools and views of the sea. As the resort faces west, the sunsets over the ocean can be divine. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for couples The Amavi isn't just suitable for couples, it's exclusively for them. That's the only kind of reservation possible here, in the heart of Paphos, making it popular with honeymooners and fraught parents escaping their offspring for a well-earned break. The cocktail bar has an inspired menu, while the popular pool bar is well-staffed all day. Downtown Paphos is just a 15-minute walk away, with its ancient harbour never entirely quiet. The hotel can also lay on day trips to vineyards in the Cypriot interior, should you fancy getting away from the coast. Read our full review of Amavi ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for Greek ruins If you don't mind waking up next to the dead, then this is the hotel for you. Right beside the storied Tombs of the Kings Unesco world heritage site, Elysium sets a lofty standard for the living. The hotel's design takes its inspiration from Cyprus's later Byzantine period, but the spa is thoroughly modern, as are the pool and gym. If you'd like to meet some of the locals, then take tea, or enjoy a cocktail, at the recently refurbished Café Occidental — it has proved a hit with the community. There's also a kids' club and direct beach access, while the sunset views across the Mediterranean haven't changed since the days of the ancients buried next door. • Best villas in Paphos• Best all-inclusive hotels in Cyprus £ | SPA | POOL | Best for an adults-only vibe Sitting atop a promontory in the south west of the island, this hotel is simultaneously conspicuous and private. It overlooks both the Med and a 3,000-year-old Mycenaean settlement, and is a very short walk to the golden sands of Coral Bay. Downtown Paphos will require a 15-minute drive, but many guests choose to relax on site, with romantic sorts particularly keen on the Psari restaurant, with its alfresco tables offering views either side of the peninsula. With no kids allowed in the hotel, the only background noise you should have to worry about is audible swooning from your fellow guests. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for a special occasion One of Southern Cyprus's most exclusive and expensive resorts, Parklane may not take much inspiration from the wider island and its rich history, but it does provide a sense of luxury not easily found elsewhere. It's managed by the behemoth Marriott Group, and a wealth of international experience has created a sleek resort delivering a combination of villas and hotel rooms, multiple pools and sprawling private grounds hosting tennis courts and a football pitch. It's large enough that it has areas reserved for adults, but elsewhere you'll find the excellent Explorers Kids Club. £ | SPA | POOL | Best for an all-inclusive option If you fancy the reassurances of a resort but don't quite fancy deep-diving into Ayia Napa, Protaras grants great access to the historic Cape Greco, powder-soft beaches, and blushing dawns for early risers. Long one of the most popular hotels in this part of the island, Crystal Springs is set in seven acres of gorgeous gardens, but still offers direct beach access as well as its own pools. It has an extensive all-inclusive package for anyone who doesn't want to worry about settling bills at the end, while for an extra cost it can arrange Padi training, too. £ | SPA | POOL | Best for child-free holidays With the closest beach a good 15-minute walk away, the adults-only King Jason may not be the first choice for sea lovers, but it does offer residential comforts for those hoping for a quiet getaway. There's still plenty of outdoor focus here, with three swimming pools (including a hydro contact spa pool), large sun deck and resplendent gardens throughout the grounds. Many of the rooms are in an apartment style with their own kitchenettes, while elsewhere in the resort you'll find a library, as well as bike-hire facilities. The spa offers a wide selection of treatments, as well as its own quiet pool with a big focus on relaxation. Recent renovations have energised the public areas, including the main restaurant, lobby and library, and have upgraded 77 rooms and suites with chic, contemporary furniture and soft lighting. £ | SPA | POOL | Best for nature If you want to be close to some of Cyprus's most satisfying nature but don't fancy the serpentine roads of the interior, Grecian Park may be the perfect choice. Several trails begin from the hotel, including a ten-minute option that leads to the beautifully secluded Konnos Beach. The wild expanses of the Cape Greco National Park lie beyond, so it will come as welcome news that Grecian Park has an excellent spa for recovery after your long walks. Elsewhere around the property you can find a kids' club, tennis courts, a steam room and, if you've somehow got energy left, a small nightclub. Open seasonally from the end of March to November. £ | POOL | Best for solo travellers Offering excellent rates for individual travellers, the Sveltos is a 46-room affair just north of central Larnaca. With the small size comes just one main restaurant, although the buffet-operated Fanari runs themed Indian, Italian, Mexican, Japanese and — with singing and dancing — Cypriot nights in summer; the lounge and pool bars both serve food. Rooms are simple but cheerful and there's a 20m outdoor pool, a smaller children's paddling equivalent and loungers aplenty. Many cafés are within walking distance and the nearest beach is 200m away. £ | SPA | POOL | Best for families Children love this Thanos family-run, 187-room residence on Paphos's bustling esplanade. From the Baby-Go-Lightly service, which lets parents order items such as nappies, wipes and car seats ahead of travel, to a mighty, age-divided kids' club, every consideration has been made. Sleek, interconnecting seafront suites are available, one of the freshwater pools is devoted to youngsters, and restaurant meals can be tailored — be it Japanese-Mediterranean fusion in Notios or waterside Ouzeri's halloumi salads. Adults-only pool and spa areas provide rejuvenation; alternatively, a tennis court or olive oil-making excursions allow for fun family afternoons. £ | SPA | POOL | Best for a budget-friendly break On Cape Greco near Ayia Napa, 243-room Cavo Maris delivers a good standard of luxury at bargain prices. Landscaped gardens front a golden-sand shore with blue-flag status, while a two-minute walk will take you to another pair of coves. Fig Tree Bay, one of the island's most beautiful beaches, is just a mile away. You won't have to leave the estate to find a pool or tennis court, however. Rooms are bright and breezy in style and Argo Burger Bistro is among the à la carte restaurant choices. ££ | SPA | POOL | Best for sporty types This hotel — near Aphrodite's Rock, the birthplace of the goddess of love — covers a large expanse between Paphos and Limassol. Around it you'll find an 18-hole, Cabell B Robinson-designed golf course — look out for the seventh hole's dramatic gorge — plus football, riding, the Village Square's various dining venues, the Tennis Academy's clay and Plexicushion courts, and a grand, Greco-Roman-themed spa. Its plateau setting means most of the 290 rooms or suites have sea views. Children are very well looked after, including in the hotel's restaurants, which feature Asian, Mexican, Italian and Mediterranean fare. £ | POOL | Best for an authentic escape There's such a resolute focus on the Cypriot coastline that its interior often goes unexplored, its traditions ignored. Surrounded by vineyards, the Vasilias Nikoklis Inn will feel like an anomaly to some — a small, quaint property with no beach, and even the idea of a nightclub very distant. Instead, you'll find a local taverna as part of this family-run inn and personalised, friendly service that many of the big coastal resorts advertise but rarely deliver. Hire a car if you can — the inn is off the beaten track — to explore even more of the island's mountainous heart. • Best villas in Cyprus• Best beaches in Cyprus Additional reporting by Richard Mellor, Oliver Berry, James Litston and Xenia Taliotis What's your favourite place to stay in Cyprus? Let us know in the comments
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Molly-Mae Hague jets off to lavish £2k-per-night hotel in Turkey with Tommy Fury and daughter Bambi - after 'out of touch' influencer was blasted for claiming she 'hasn't done one fun thing' all summer
Molly-Mae Hague looked worlds happier as she enjoyed a £2K-per-night holiday in Turkey with Tommy Fury and daughter Bambi on Sunday, after claiming her summer has been 'no fun' - despite spending much of it abroad. To date, the millionaire Love Island star has spent the warmer months enjoying first class trips to Dubai, Paris, Saint Tropez and Wimbledon 's Centre Court, where she was greeted like Hollywood royalty after being invited by tournament sponsor Evian water. But the evidently hard to please influencer has once again ruffled feathers this week across social media by claiming her summer has, thus far, been boring. 'I haven't socialised once,' she told her older sister Zoe in a recent YouTube vlog. 'I haven't done one social, fun thing... I haven't a life.' However, Molly has now once again jetted off on her seventh holiday of the year, this time to the luxury 5-star Regnum The Crown hotel, which has been 'carefully curated to deliver a true family holiday without compromise.' The TV personality has shared snaps from her current getaway on Instagram, as the family enjoyed the hotel's Aqualantis, the newly unveiled water park. Bikini-clad Molly was seen beaming as Bambi, two, sat on her lap while going down a small water slide, at the Aqualantis which also includes a number of water slides, lazy rivers and an immersive themed zones for hours of entertainment for every age. The family looked happy to be spending quality time together at the celebrity hotspot where Jennifer Lopez recently celebrated her birthday and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and actor husband Jason Statham have also holidayed. Other celebrities who have stayed at the hotel's same hotel group, include Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, Jason Derulo and Tom Jones. Molly shared a glimpse at the families huge luxurious room, which is one of 553 spacious suites and private villas at the hotel, as Tommy and Bambi cosied up in bed. The couple also enjoyed a freshly cooked lunch while sitting in a restaurant overlooking the picturesque beach. If Molly and Tommy would like some time alone the hotel also offers 'Bamboo Kids World, a safe, vibrant space where children can explore, learn and create under expert supervision while, parents can enjoy well-earned relaxation, knowing their little ones are in excellent hands.' The mother-of-one looked restless on Thursday as she prepared to board a Jet2 flight with partner Tommy and Bambi after arriving at a busy Manchester Airport. The influencer had her hands full with Bambi's empty pushchair and the family luggage while Tommy walked hand-in-hand with their young daughter. And there wasn't a smile to be seen as she waited at check-in with her family before helpful Jet2 staff came to their assistance. After landing at the Antalya International Airport, Molly only had a twenty minute trip to the hotel which is surrounded by panoramic views of the turquoise Mediterranean. The couple also enjoyed a freshly cooked lunch while sitting in a restaurant overlooking the picturesque beach However, the holiday is the latest in a series of overseas trips for Molly-Mae, but neither the art and architecture of Paris, the sun-kissed glamour of Dubai nor the sweeping Mediterranean coastlines of Saint Tropez have impressed. 'I will get to the end of summer without having done one fun thing,' she moaned while talking to her sister in July. 'Zoe, I haven't socialised once. I am going to get to the end of this summer, I haven't done one social fun thing.' The globe-trotting influencer added: 'I haven't a life. I haven't a life. It's not good. 'It's all kids related, if it's not work and kids I am not doing anything. It's not good. People going for a drink with their friends or to a beer garden. 'Oh my gosh, I don't remember the last time I did my hair and makeup and put an outfit on for something that wasn't work related. 'I don't do anything. Lets normalise it. For the girls that are going to get to the end of summer and not done one fun thing.' However Molly-Mae did accept that her recent trip to Wimbledon, during which she did indeed wear make-up and a £3,000 Dior dress, was a 'fun' occasion. She said: 'No that's a lie because people are going to say "You went to London in your last vlog and had a ball," and I did.' Unsurprisingly, Molly-Mae's latest comments didn't go down well with her two million-plus YouTube subscribers, with many claiming she was 'out of touch', 'tone-deaf' and 'always moaning'. The influencer started strong this summer by signing a seven-figure deal with consumer goods firm Unilever and starring in a new campaign for its detergent brand, Persil and Comfort, in May. She fronted a new 'delicate' fragrance range with her toddler Bambi, who made her campaign debut in a fluffy pink jumper and ballerina tutu. Putting her name behind their 'Heaven Scent' non-bio capsules, fabric conditioner and a scent booster elixir, Molly-Mae said: 'I can be really protective of what I use at home, especially since having Bambi. 'My skin's always been sensitive, so I need products I know are kind to my skin but still leave everything smelling amazing and this range honestly does both.' But it wasn't all work though as Molly-Mae jetted off on her sixth holiday of the year – once again to Dubai. She and Tommy travelled business class to one of the most luxurious hotels in the UAE, the five-star Jumeirah Al Naseem, where rooms cost a whopping £13,897 per night. The hotel has its own private 2km beach, a turtle rehabilitation sanctuary and an infinity pool – which the couple were pictured canoodling in. If that wasn't enough time away from home, that month Molly-Mae also visited private members' club Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds. She's not the first celebrity to be drawn to the £500-a-night retreat, with the Beckhams, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Taylor Swift also fans. Molly-Mae treated herself to a couple of nights in one of the cabins, where members can enjoy spa facilities, country bike rides and tennis. For her final trip in May, she flew on a private jet to Disneyland Paris to celebrate her 26th birthday alongside Tommy, their daughter and some of her best friends. She shared pictures from inside the jet alongside photos complete with birthday cake, balloons and plenty of Minnie Mouse ears. Come June, Molly-Mae told her YouTube followers she was jetting off yet again. First to Germany for two nights for a 'secret project' and then on to the South of France to shoot the summer campaign for her clothing brand Maebe. Basking in the sunshine at a luxury villa in St Tropez, the influencer shared various snaps of herself lounging on sunbeds and dining at luxury restaurants. Later that month, Molly-Mae was whisked back to the Cotswolds for a 'surprise staycation'. This time, she and Tommy stayed at the lavish £700-a-night hotel Estelle Manor which has a swimming pool, four restaurants, spa and farm on site. Basking in the sunshine at a luxury villa in St Tropez, the influencer shared various snaps of herself lounging on sunbeds and dining at luxury restaurants On her Instagram stories she showed off the plush accommodation as well as swimming in the pool with daughter Bambi. July didn't see Molly-Mae slow down either, as a trip to London beckoned. After a day shopping with friends and staying at the luxury Corinthia hotel in London, she attended Wimbledon as a guest of Evian water. On Sunday, she gave a tearful defence of her comments in a separate video. She told followers: 'I don't care who tells me I am out of touch with reality or all this stuff that's going on on TikTok at the minute... I don't care. I'm not going to not talk about it.'
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
My mother-in-law drunkenly let slip a dark family secret. It's ruined the summer vacation: DEAR JANE
Dear Jane, I recently went on my first family vacation with my in-laws – and let's just say that it did not go as planned.
