I DON’T always find holidays relaxing. The timekeeping, the sweltering sun, the feeling that you must soak it all up for everything that it’s worth while you are there and before you know it, you’ve not quite been present.
Family and friends have always sworn by the picture-perfect blue waters of the Mediterranean and when I set my eyes on the shore from my hotel in Paphos, I could understand why.
I was at the Elysium in Paphos. In classical mythology, Elysium is an eternal paradise in originally only for heroes and the gods, and later also for the blessed dead and those who lived a righteous life. I now can attest that you couldn’t find a better name for a place to relax.
Settling into our rooms, which were new suites providing private pools and gardens, I opened my laptop – of course – to tie up any loose ends back home.
Our first evening set an indulgent tone with a relaxed buffet dinner at the Epicurean Restaurant, easing us into the laid-back rhythms of Cyprus. This was in sharp contrast to the newsroom I had left which was neck-deep in Scottish elections coverage.
The hotel, which has undergone a $10 million renovation, is surrounded by the Archaeological Park and Unesco-listed Tombs of the Kings which were fascinating to explore the next day … but not before a trip to the spa and tour of the hotel grounds.
It wasn't until the next morning that I could properly allow the sound of the waves and salt air – drifting up into the grounds as I opened the doors on to the private gardens – to remove any sort of stress or worries as soon. Like magic you could say.
The extraordinary hotel opened in 2002 and is widely regarded as one of the island's premier coastal retreats. It is part of the luxury Hotel Group, Stademos Hotels Plc, and reopened in March 2017, following a stunning four-month refurbishment.
The building features Greek, Venetian, Roman, British Medieval, and Byzantine architecture with a choice of everything from private villas to family rooms, which have varying price points. There are 250 rooms in total.
Stone archways, local materials, water features and warm sandstone caught my eye all throughout our stay, and it gave a real impression of care and home. Home, it turns out, is exactly what this hotel is supposed to convey to those who stay.
While being showed around by staff, who have all worked there for years, one of our group said, “this is amazing” in reaction to one of the rooms, to which the staff manager said without missing a beat: “Of course it is, it’s paradise.”
We couldn’t argue with her having just been at one of the best spas in the world, the Opium Health Spa, for a deeply rejuvenating targeted massage and explore of the tranquil indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and hot tub.
It doesn’t matter how long it is between visits, I always forget just how healing a spa can be and this was no different.
History around Pathos The mosaics of the ancient Archaeological Park are some of the best preserved in the world, with the House of Dionysos alone containing 14 complete mythological scenes. It is undeniably a centrepiece with the triumph of Dionysos, the story of Pyramus and Thisbe (the inspiration to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet) and Narcius looking into the infamous pond all depicted.
The nearby Tombs of the Kings – a 4th-century BC subterranean necropolis carved into the coastal rock – is a short drive or walk along the coast and it is not to be missed. There was an ancient Hellenistic belief held that the afterlife mirrored mortal existence, so tombs were designed like lavish domestic villas.
Cut into the walls surrounding the courtyards of these villas are loculi (narrow burial niches) and larger burial chambers meant for multiple generations of the same family. Walking right through them makes you feel like Indiana Jones in Venice.
The food all throughout the trip was out of this world.
The Elysium hotel has multiple restaurants ranging from international buffet spreads at Epicurean and casual al fresco Mediterranean fare at Mediterraneo to fine Italian dining in the brick-vaulted cellars of Ristorante Bacco.
We were lucky enough to eat at both Epicurean and Ristorante Bacco, enjoying a bespoke Italian set menu out in the terrace. Pasta as a starter? Why not. The tuna was also divine.
Cypriot food is not talked about enough, for its freshness, variety, flavours. How can you eat so much and not feel too bloated for the pool? Genius.
Stademos Hotels had two further properties they wanted to showcase on our trip; the Mediterranean Beach Hotel and AMARA.
If Elysium was a home away from home, the Mediterranean Beach Hotel city hotel is for professionals passing through and AMARA is modern, trendy and luxurious with an edge, as well as the perfect location for celeb-spotting.
In Limassol, we drove down the coast after breakfast at Lemonia Piazza, where we had seaside lunch at Nautica. A spread of tapas dishes was waiting and again, the freshness of food and instant relaxation once you walked through the property doors was palpable.
By mid-afternoon, we checked into the striking luxury of the AMARA. We immediately headed to its serene spa for restorative back and shoulder treatments, followed by time soaking in the exclusive seawater pool.
After an afternoon of free time soaking in the resort's contemporary elegance, our culinary journey reached new heights in the evening with dinner at the world-renowned Matsuhisa, savouring legendary Japanese-Peruvian fine dining with a 10-course menu.
At the premier outpost of world-renowned celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the flagship tasting journey is the Omakase (Chef’s Choice).
We went from delicate raw appetizers to rich hot signatures meat dishes, then on to sushi, and dessert. Again, you wonder how you can enjoy so much – but the balance of dishes means you feel satisfied without any discomfort.
Food and relaxation. To stay at any of the Stademos Hotel, that is what you are guaranteed, and I’ll be comparing their hospitality to everyone else forevermore.
Sitting on the balcony on our final morning, watching the Mediterranean tide brush against the shore, I realised how rare it is to return from a holiday truly restored.
I had arrived in Cyprus bracing for the usual pressures of travel – the frantic rush to see everything, the strict timekeeping, the fear of missing out. Instead, wrapped in the warmth of Cypriot hospitality, time seemed to slow down entirely.
It turns out my family and friends were right about the Mediterranean all along. I came searching for a break, but I left with an understanding of what true paradise feels like.
