Cypria

Avra Imperial Beach Resort and Spa - Chania, Crete

The Greek word  “avra” means aura but also the cool breeze from the sea.  As soon as my husband and I set foot in Avra Imperial Beach Resort and Spa located at about 25 km from Chania on the island of Crete, we could feel this unique aura of class and discrete luxury in an amazingly elegant environment.  The minimal decor and colour white predominating all over the hotel won my heart.

The Lobby

The Lobby

Check-in took a minute and immediately afterwards, we were welcomed by Anna – the PR Officer – who showed us to one of the hotel’s imperial suites consisting of a large bedroom, a very comfortable living-room with an espresso machine(!) and a private outdoor swimming pool.   We also greatly enjoyed the Jacuzzi opposite the bed, the fruit and wine in the living-room which was the courtesy of the management and, of course, the swimming-pool! The swimming-pool area is furnished with sunbeds, a couch and a coffee table – all you need to make your stay a memorable one.  Considering the heat wave during our stay, we’d appreciate an umbrella!

Part of the living-room in our suite.-loved the espresso machine!

The living-room in our suite

The Bedroom

Both my husband and I were thoroughly impressed with the excellent housekeeping services and the impeccable cleanliness in our suite. Bath towels and beach towels were changed twice a day. We also got espresso capsules daily. We hardly left our suite as we both looked forward  to relaxing, swimming in our very own swimming-pool for a week and sunbathing for me.  We did try the beach, though, and truly enjoyed the crystal-clear waters, but we didn’t really like the pebble beach. It was so hard to walk barefoot on the hot pebbles. You also need special shoes to go into the sea, which we didn’t have.

Our Private Swimming Pool

The Main Swimming-Pool

The Bridge over the Main Swimming - Pool

We were on half-board terms – breakfast and dinner.  Both the breakfast and dinner buffets are an ode to the palate! The food is excellent!  Quantity never outweighs quality. For just one week, I forgot all about dieting and didn’t worry too much since the Cretan Cuisine is based on olive-oil and a healthy eating pattern. However, the dinner buffet includes a wide variety of dishes from all over the world including cheeses and desserts which are impossible to resist! No wonder I put on weight!  Breakfast consists of everything you should really indulge in to your heart’s content: live cooking (waffles, pancakes,  fried eggs),  a variety of delicatessen and cheeses, a wide range of fresh fruit, desserts, local pies,  rolls, croissants, bread and freshly squeezed orange juice to mention only a few.

The Pool Bar

Al Fresco Restaurant

We also tried the hotel’s Italian restaurant Al Fresco. For starters, we recommend Carpaccio from veal fillet, rocket salad, parmesan and marinated mushrooms, homemade pizza italiana with prosciutto, tomatoes and mozzarella and for main course try their fresh pasta. We had fresh tortellini with spinach and  cheese  in wine sauce.  Congratulations to Manolis – the  Executive Chef.

We would also like to thank a million the General Manager Mr Costas Papachristoforou for doing his very best to make our holiday one of the best we’ve ever had,  the F & B Manager Mr Elias Tsirmbas  who was also very helpful, especially at lunch, the waitress Evangelia  for being so helpful, friendly and polite, the waiter Yiannis and the head waiter Giorgos  as well as the waitress at the bar whose name I forget. There are so many people we’d like to thank from the bottom of our hearts, like all the staff at the reception and the maids who did their best to keep our suite perfectly clean.

Immaculate Cleanliness in Our Suite!

The Cretan Salad - my favourite - on the lunch menu at Al Fresco Restaurant.

Last but not least, considering quality and services, the Avra Imperial Beach Resort and Spa is great value for money. We truly hope that we’ll go back soon.

The Golden Coast Hotel, Protaras, Cyprus

The Golden Coast Hotel - Protaras, Cyprus

The Golden Coast Hotel has been, by far, my most favourite hotel in Protaras since it was built in 1986. Since then, many renovations have been made - the most recent  ones being in 2003 when 56 rooms were added to the main building. Out of 228 rooms there are 4 grand suites, 8 mini suites, 8 family rooms and ...30 kids' suites with bunk beds. I'd personally appreciate some more hangers in the wardrobe!

Wedding Arrangement at the Golden Coast Hotel

The Swimming Pool by Night

 

  Last year, the older rooms and public areas were also renovated. A new, modern design, new furniture with colour white predominating in the public areas mingle playfully with the call from the sea which, I must admit, is irresistible! No where have I seen so many shades of blue merging into an azure sky and ending in glorious sunsets which you can admire from the balcony of your room or the patio of Hesperides Bar.

Sunset from the Golden Coast Hotel

The renovated rooms at the Golden Coast Hotel

This is what you will wake to at the Golden Coast Hotel

 

As soon as you arrive, you will be welcomed by the friendly and very efficient staff  at the reception and you may choose to have your welcome drink outside in the patio or inside in the fully air-conditioned lobby. If you are an all-inclusive guest or on half-board / full-board terms, you will have cold meats, cheese and fruit in your room considering you arrive after 10 pm.

The Golden Coast Lobby

The patio at Hesperides Bar

Breakfast will reward you late-comers! At the Atrium Restaurant, live cooking outdoors includes pancakes, omelettes, waffles, scrambled eggs in addition to an endless buffet  including crispy rolls, croissants, various kinds of bread, jam, delicatessen, cheeses, sweets, cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruit, hot drinks and fruit juices. I truly hope that the French brioche will be added soon...as well as hot croissants!

Relaxing at the Golden Coast Hotel

Red Mullet

...and fried calamari

 

The Golden Coast Hotel is above all a family four-star hotel and a small paradise for children. There are special menus and buffets for children and a cute little restaurant for the very young guests. 

Entertainment for the very young guests

Amongst the various amenities, you can enjoy the health club including sauna, gym and massage in addition to a variety of entertainment which starts soon after breakfast in the swimming pool with activities including water polo or acqua aerobics  and competitions which give you the opportunity to win a bottle of sparkling wine. In the evening, right after dinner, you will enjoy a variety of events , like the amazing fire show last week, at Wood and Deck... right on the beach.

The Fire Show

 

Or you may just as well choose to bask in the sun all day,  somewhere in the luxuriant gardens of the Golden Coast. The golden beach just below is a public beach and if you choose to stay there, you will have to pay €5 for a sunbed and an umbrella as the beach belongs to the community of Paralimni.

The golden beach

Eating at the Golden Coast has always been for me an ode to the palate! Mr Panayiotis Aspris, the executive chef, will go out of his way to adapt his divine cooking to your taste.

Last but not least, at the Golden Coast Hotel you can close your eyes and forget all about worries and problems for a few days while you and your children enjoy a unique holiday in the eastern Med.

All photos by Anastasia Marou

 

Hotel Review : Palazzo del Mare, Kos

Palazzo del Mare is one of the finest hotels on the island of Kos. It is situated at about 10 km from Hippocrates Airport, 25 km from the town of Kos and 1 km from the seaside village of Marmari.

 Upon arrival on Wednesday July 13, my husband and I were welcomed by the friendly staff at the reception and  were immediately shown to the terrace,  elegantly furnished with comfortable, off-white sofas and overlooking the huge swimming pool and the hotel’s luxuriant gardens.  Having enjoyed a welcome drink while completing check-in,  we were shown to our room -  spacious, beautifully decorated and with direct access to the pool! The bathroom was equipped with perfumed, velvety towels and bath robes. Cleanliness in our room was impeccable just like everywhere in the hotel!

  When on holiday, we almost invariably book Bed & Breakfast but did not regret for a minute our half-board terms of stay this time. We loved the food so much that we had lunch out twice only during our stay. Breakfast consisted of a wide range of different kinds of bread, rolls, croissants, sweets, fruits, eggs, pancakes, delicatessen, cheeses, jams to mention just a few of the savoury breakfast options. Dinner consisted of such a wide variety of salads, starters, main courses and desserts that it was impossible to try them all in one week! Lunch was served at Bacco Restaurant which was an à la carte Italian restaurant in the evening. We also greatly appreciated a special treat on the beach across the road where all hotel guests were offered cold melon and water melon.

Entertainment was also a part of our wonderful experience at Palazzo del Mare. The hotel’s home band entertained us every evening from 7 pm till late at night while there was a Greek night on Saturdays.

Considering all the above in addition to fast and efficient service, the hotel is good value for money and I strongly recommend it if you ever plan to spend a holiday in Kos. Finally, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the hotel management for everything they did to make our holiday an unforgettable experience.  

All photos by Anastasia Marou for Cypria

The Coral Bay Beach Hotel & Resort - Hotel Review

The Coral Bay Beach Hotel & Resort is located at Coral Bay at about 10km north of Paphos, Cyprus. Since 1998, The Coral Bay Beach Hotel has been our favourite hotel for a summer weekend away. So, as almost every summer, last weekend we went off to Paphos. That was our 7th or 8th visit to the hotel. Upon arrival, a porter picked up our luggage and soon afterwards, we were greeted by the friendly and efficient staff at the Reception.  Five minutes later, we were enjoying a drink on the private veranda of our suite while contemplating the unique Paphos sunset.

The spacious suite is elegantly decorated in shades of blue and turquoise against an off-white background, thus matching the breathtaking view to Coral Bay. We were delighted to see that a bottle of wine and a large basket of fresh fruit was were placed in the living-room with the compliments of the management. I loved the sparkling white linen napkins placed in navy blue napkin rings!  I also appreciated the tea & coffee corner, fully equipped ,where you could make your own tea or coffee. As for the bed, that was the largest bed I've ever slept in.

Although the hotel was full when we were there, service was simply impeccable! As for breakfast, that was a special treat!  A wide range of freshly baked bread was neatly placed in a wooden cupboard with open doors and equipped with all sorts of knives and cake tongs. The breakfast buffet consisted of a great variety of smoked meats, sweets, fresh fruit, cheeses, pancakes, scrambled eggs, baked beans, sausages and freshly squeezed orange juice. Should you wish fried eggs with bacon, you could order on the spot. They arrive piping hot on crispy toast and garnished with crispy bacon streaks. Not a healthy option, but when on holiday everything is allowed!!!

At the pool bar you can have a light lunch and you can choose out of a wide variety of snacks. We had chicken gyros with chips and loved it! Despite the load of work service was great and waiters and waitresses were fast, friendly, POLITE, and very efficient!

We'll certainly go back to The Coral Bay Beach Hotel next summer.

Egnatia Grand Hotel, Alexandroupolis: Hotel Review

 

We decided to go back to Egnatia Grand Hotel despite the fact that we weren't really very happy on our first stay there in August 2007. The main reason why we decided to go back was the quiet golden beach right in front of the hotel and those amazingly clear waters.

We were very glad to see that the service has improved since August 2007 and we would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts Athanasios and Yiannis at the Restaurant and Efi at the Pool Bar. The food was also D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-s. Congratulations to the Executive Chef.  However, the "light meals" menu for lunch at the pool bar was very limited! I haven't brought the list with me but I can remember it by heart: Ham and Cheese Sandwich, Club Sandwich, Village Salad, Caesar's Salad, Tortilla, Spaghetti, Mixed Grill. Oh yes! And an assortment of cheeses and delicatessen. I'd have loved a rich salad bar including king prawns and smoked salmon.. After all this is supposed to be a 4-star hotel.

Inconsistency in the service, though, was something that we really did not appreciate at a so-called 4-star hotel: I like to have a Grand Marnier after a copious dinner. This was never served in the SAME glass. I really couldn't believe my eyes when my Grand Marnier arrived in a...water glass!!!! If they don't know how to serve a decent Grand Marnier why have it on the list at all? The mixed grill at the pool bar sometimes arrived with a barbecue sauce as described in the list and ...sometimes not! We usually ordered a good red for dinner since both Alkis and I enjoy good wines. Only Yiannis served this pricy wine in the right glass! Thank you Yiannis. On our last night, we wanted to have a special romantic night at what we thought was a ...gourmet restaurant. And I will repeat that yes, we did like the food despite the ...5-star prices of a "4-star" hotel! On Friday night, July 23rd we were celebrating 34 years since we first met. Apart from three people in the outdoor restaurant and us there was no one. There was no Maitre D' to show us to our table and what's worse no one came to take an order!After having waited for 25 minutes, Alkis had to go inside and politely ask if  dinner was still served! A very moody waiter served us in the end. Such a pity Yiannis and Athanasios weren't there!!!  

As for the room which cost us €100 ($130) per night, it wasn't exactly what we'd expect at a 4-star hotel. The air conditioning wasn't working properly and the wash-basin was blocked! We kindly reported the problems at the reception TWICE but until we left nothing was fixed! Neither Alkis nor I are the kind of people who would complain or argue because we refuse to spoil our holidays by so doing. But it seems that arguing, yelling at people, and strongly complaining could have solved the problem. At Egnatia Grand Hotel, good manners don't seem to matter.

Talking of good manners, we were also very annoyed when on our third day at the hotel we found out through Alkis's mobile phone alerts that our credit card had been charged the whole amount of our accommodation - €700 ($910) - by Egnatia Grand Hotel. Surely, we both knew we'd pay this sum of money upon departure but we honestly did not appreciate this terrible lack of discretion. We'd have greatly appreciated if the management kindly informed us in advance that our credit card would be charged before departure day. The management never bothered to do so.

Egnatia Grand Hotel has  been downgraded to a 4-star hotel (3 years ago it was a 5-star hotel) but in actual fact it is an average 3-star with ...5-star prices!!!

The Grecian Bay Hotel - Ayia Napa, Cyprus

The Grecian Bay Hotel is one of the classiest and most prestigious 5-star hotels in the touristy village of Ayia Napa situated at about 40 kilometres east of Larnaca Airport. That's where Alkis and I decided to spend a short getaway last weekend. At this time of year, most hotels are closed in the area and they re-open in April. The Grecian Bay, however, is open throughout the year. What amazed us most was the high standard of services and quality even when occupancy is relatively low.

We arrived at about 1:00 pm last Saturday and soon after check-in which was fast and efficient, we were shown to one of the hotel's finest suites overlooking the swimming-pool and the garden. It was a spacious suite furnished like the rest of the hotel in a modern minimal style. Undoubtedly, less is more! It was still sunny on Saturday afternoon so we enjoyed a beer and nuts on the balcony before going out for lunch. I loved the blinds and the remote control system to get them up or down as well as the many hangers in the  large wardrobes of the suite. Of course we didn't have a lot of clothes this time as we were only there for a night but I'll bear that in mind for a longer, future stay. What I hate most in a 5-star hotel is the limited number of hangers in the wardrobes!

As for the breakfast buffet, it was not only rich in variety but rich in taste as well. Although I always have a big breakfast at home before going to work, I just couldn't resist their poached eggs, their mini croissants and the great variety of local and French cheeses.

 

The bottom line is that staying at The Grecian Bay Hotel in Ayia Napa is a unique experience to take back home.

Golden Valentine's at the Golden Bay Beach Hotel, Larnaca, Cyprus

In the past few years, it's been a tradition for The Golden Bay Beach Hotel to celebrate love by organising a romantic gala dinner on Saint Valentine's Day. Love and Romance were in the air as soon as you stepped into Les Etoiles Restaurant amongst rose petals decorating the floor. Marina, the PR Officer and Nikos, the Assistant Maitre D', welcomed the guests offering a gorgeous red rose to the ladies. Then the heart and soul of the restaurant, Kyriacos - the Maitre D' - showed us to our table. The restaurant was dressed in red and white. Long white linen tablecloths were placed on every table in the middle of which stood a pair of red balloons with white hearts and a white candle in an elegant vase filled with sand and two red hearts. In their hearts of hearts, even the most passionate opponents of Valentine's Day would have given in to romance.

As for the food, it surpassed our expectations. It was an ode to the palate. The first starter - King Prawns and Maki Sushi with soy sauce was followed by marinated duck on Napa exotic salad with honey sauce. The fruit sherbet with calvados prepared the palate for the main course: millefeuille with deer, beef and wild pork on roesti potatoes and a variety of vegetables served with champagne sauce. The dessert was a real work of art : strawberry and rose panacota married to vanilla mousse and coulis sauce. My compliments to the Executive Chef.

And while we were enjoying this divine dinner, the dancers of the group Rythmos - probably the best in Cyprus - were given a big hand. They were truly amazing! And of course we danced away the hours to the love songs of the home band. This unique golden Valentine cost €75 ($100) per person including accommodation for the night.

The Elysium Hotel - Paphos, Cyprus

This was our third stay at The Elysium which proved to

be the ideal place to begin the New Year on our long

weekend away from home. Upon arrival, our luggage was

collected by the porter while we were warmly welcomed by

the efficient and friendly staff at the Reception Desk.

 Soon afterwards, we were shown to the loveliest, cutest

maisonette I’ve ever been to in a hotel- elegantly

furnished in the good old traditional Cyprus style. We

stepped into a spacious living – room including a

bathroom and overlooking the splendid gardens of the

hotel. A wooden staircase with lights on each step leads

up to a cosy bedroom, a second bathroom with a shower

and, to my delight, a walk-in wardrobe!

 We also loved the bar where we enjoyed coffees and

biscuits in the afternoon and after-dinner drinks later

in a dimly-lit, romantically medieval environment while

enjoying the music of the pianist. It was the perfect

place to relax and begin the New Year. But what I really

fell in love with was the huge fireplace and the library

where we spent some time browsing through the books

including some great literature.

Pricing is reasonable considering it’s a 5-star hotel

and the service is impeccable! We will certainly choose

The Elysium next time we travel to Paphos.

Coral Gem

My husband and I live in Larnaca, Cyprus, but we often enjoy weekend getaways to Paphos. The Coral Beach Hotel has always been one of our most favourite Paphian summer resorts. But as we usually spend our summer holidays on the Greek islands, we haven't been to the Coral Beach Hotel for a long time!

This summer, we decided to spend a long weekend there. We arrived just after lunch and all I wanted was a good siesta! So, I was very happy to see that check-in was really fast and we were soon shown to the exquisite suite 1334. The private terrace is furnished with umbrellas, sunbeds for two, a small wooden coffee table and a small outdoor lounge. There's an amazing view to Coral Bay and to Peyia Village as well.

Just before dusk, we were pleasantly surprised by the night maid who placed a bowl on our outdoor lounge table with floating candles resting on sea-shells. She said:."That's for the night...." *wink*

Well...we had fruit and wine as a pre-dinner special treat and later enjoyed some more wine under the stars and an almost full August moon.. We also loved the Romantino Restaurant - hope I remember the name right - where we enjoyed a rocket salad for starters and pan-baked chicken with a variety of vegetables and some kind of roasted potato. I did not like the so-called tiramisu served with....whole coffee beans! Who can eat coffee beans? Not me!

Being used to our golden shallow beaches in the south, I was quite disappointed with the beach. There were huge waves and no blue flag...Alkis , however, braved the waves and swam in deep waters! I decided to remain in .."shallow waters" ..meaning in Paphos that your feet can hardly touch the bottom!

Yet, we both enjoyed the greatest espressos ever at the pool bar and iced-cold mineral water! Our special thanks to the friendly staff there.

I LOVED
- the yellow and orange fresh roses in the bathroom
- the same roses with greens beautifully arranged in a vase on the dining table
- the floating candles on the terrace!
- the fruit
-the wine
- the bed!
-the food!

I DID NOT LIKE

- the beach!

- tiramisu at Romantino

- the fact we had to leave on Sunday!

OVERALL IMPRESSION

A great 5 star hotel that I highly recommend!

The Intercontinental Aphrodite's Hills Resort Hotel - Cyprus

The Intercontinental Aphrodite's Hills Resort Hotel is situated between the picturesque village of Pissouri and Aphrodite's Rock (Petra Tou Romiou) at about 20km from the city of Paphos. That's were hubby and I decided to spend Christmas. Upon arrival on December 24th 2008, we were warmly welcomed by the friendly staff at the reception. Despite the long queue at the reception area, check in was incredibly fast and we were soon shown to our room which looked more like a mini suite with a breathtaking view to the foamy waters from which - according to legend - immerged Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of Beauty and Love. On that freezing winter day, up on Aphrodite's Hills, we both enjoyed the howling of a particularly biting wind. A bottle of champagne and some fruit and sweets were elegantly placed on the table in the cosy living room and we toasted that splendid Christmas Eve before having a short siesta.

We had booked a table for the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner at the hotel's main ballroom, but it was too noisy for us, so the last minute we asked the receptionist if we could cancel and have our Christmas dinner at The Leander Restaurant. We were lucky to have the last table available! We had their lobster menu which was absolutely divine while enjoying the Christmas carols playing as background music. The food was exquisite and the service impeccable.

On Christmas Day, we enjoyed a very festive breakfast and an invigorating walk in the hotel's evergreen premises. In the evening, their home band entertained us till the early morning hours. We can't wait to go back, surely on another occasion.