Spring trip to Cyprus
Word has spread among golfers that this Mediterranean island is too good for a sun, sea and sand vacation, as four varied courses are just waiting to be discovered. Sleeping beauty was yesterday - also when it comes to the new luxury hotel industry. As a golfer, you appreciate not only the always warm temperatures, but above all the great combination of culture and enjoyment.
Spring in Cyprus
Especially in spring, Cyprus is a "fragrant island" - with blooming almond and cherry trees, chrysanthemums, affodils, poppies, tulips, hyacinths, cyclamen and anemones. Daytime temperatures of 26° with blue skies and a gentle breeze. The fact that history and hedonism are inextricably linked here on the island can be experienced around Pafos, where the rock Petra tou Rominou is located nearby. This is where Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love, is said to have emerged from the sea as a foam-born woman. If you swim around the rock seven times in an anti-clockwise direction during a full moon, you are said to look seven years younger.
Fascinating five-star hotels, which are just a stroll away from Greek and Roman ruins, now offer holidaymakers every possible amenity and facility, from wonderful pools, gardens and beaches to modern health centers with thalassotherapy cures.
Almyra, Annassa, Annabelle
Three beautiful-sounding names, behind which you would undoubtedly expect to find three sisters. Yes, but they are three hotels that all belong to the local Thanos Group. As different as they may be in terms of architecture, design and facilities, what unites them is their shared 5-star luxury, their location in and around Paphos and their affinity for golf. On the one hand, this is an advantage, as the best golf courses on the island can be reached in half an hour's drive, but on the other hand, it is only too easy to fall for the charm of the hotels. Almyra, "the scent of the sea", was one of the first beach hotels in Paphos until it was renovated in 2003 and then transformed into a stylish design hotel in 2017. What remains is the enchanting garden in which the snow-white suites are lined up. All with sea views, of course, which you can also enjoy from the luxurious spa suites on the roof terrace of the Almyra Spa.
The "Annabell", named after the daughter of the founder of the Thanos Hotels Alecos Michaelides, is located right next door and is the classic vacation hotel with a large pool in front of the hotel terrace, quiet spots in the six-hectare garden and suites with their own pool. The rooftop bar Ouranos is currently one of the trendiest bars in Paphos and offers the most beautiful panoramic view over the sea and the city. That leaves "Annassa - the Queen", an exclusive dream hotel on the edge of a nature reserve on the Akamas peninsula. Like in a Byzantine village, the whitewashed villas are lined up around the small church as the perfect wedding location. The elegant rooms and suites with their Mediterranean ambience overlook the spacious beach and pool area, while cocktails and fine dining can be enjoyed on the terraces and the Thalassa SPA offers the signature treatments of a "Leading Hotel of the World".
Golf around Pafos
If you really fancy a round of golf, you can take the hotel's own shuttle to Minthis Hills or to the newest and best - the Elea Golf Course. The former was designed by Donald Steel with 18 holes in the historic landscape around the 12th century monastery of Stavros tis Minthis. Fruit trees, vines and now also stylish villas line the hilly fairways at an altitude of up to 550 meters. When you look out over the sea, you really do have the feeling of being "in the mountains". But don't worry, although there are a few ups and downs, it's not a "goat course". In keeping with the altitude and location of the course, the vegetation is sparse and the fairways look like a green carpet lined with olive trees and vines. The course is not very demanding from a golfing point of view, but has undergone some improvements since it was renovated in 2007. The many new villas that are lined up on the hill around the golf course are just about to be completed. With lots of wood and glass, they look modern but not pimped up and blend in well with the all-round green ambience.
The Eléa golf course, which opened in 2010, is currently the best on the island. Built into a former carob tree plantation, it is a challenge for golfers of all abilities. The clubhouse and the first tee offer an impressive backdrop with views of the sea and the old town of Pafos. Many bunkers, some of which are difficult to play, tricky, very fast greens with good run and excellent course maintenance are its trademarks. A typical example of the Faldo ambience is hole 15, a short par 4 (307m from yellow), which is peppered with no fewer than seven bunkers over the last 100 meters. A small drawback is the confusing 17th hole, which you only really master the second time around.
"Kopiaste" - welcome!
But you can also get your money's worth culturally in Cyprus, as the sights are almost a dime a dozen. And the friendliness of the people comes from the heart, no matter what you choose to do here: Culture enthusiasts will love the many temples, churches, monasteries and castles, as well as the old port city of Pafos - European Capital of Culture 2017 - with its royal tombs and archaeological park. Wine lovers know that Cyprus was the cradle of wine production in the entire Mediterranean region. The two most important wine-growing areas are located on the southern slopes of the Troodos Mountains and the south-western foothills in the Pafos district, where the entire range of white and red wines is covered. It ranges from extremely dry to dry and semi-sweet to very sweet. You can get up close and personal with the liquid pleasure on the six wine routes that run through the wine-growing areas - right through the green vineyards, with a stop at the old wineries.
For outdoor enthusiasts, we recommend the spectacular Avakas Gorge with guide Manuel Ioannou, swimming in Lara Bay with the turtles and the fantastic view from Pissouromoutti Hill to Chrysochous Bay. The only thing missing is a traditional meal with meze at the Taverna Neo Chorio, which is highly recommended. But beware, there are quickly around 30 dishes on the table here. Almost always seasonal products that grow or are produced in Cyprus: Grapes and spicy mountain honey from the Troodos Mountains, aromatic olive oil from the region, sun-kissed vegetables and fruit as well as meat and halloumi cheese from nearby farms - a meal that often lasts for hours and tastes best with a group of friends.
More info:
www.zypern.de www.anassa.com www.annabelle.com www.almyra.com www.minthisresort.com www.eleaestate.com
