Situated on a wild beach in northwestern Cyprus, between green gardens and a turquoise sea, the recently underwent a luxury facelift at an investment of about 10 million euros, presenting a hospitality experience that connects nature, spa and culinary at the highest level.
You can go on vacation, and it's always welcome, but there are vacations that manage to do more than that. Not only do they disconnect, but they literally forget the noise outside. That's exactly what happens at Thanos Hotels & Resorts' Anassa, a luxury resort in northwest Cyprus, that manages to create an almost instant sense of calm.
The short journey to Cyprus, only about 40 minutes on a pleasant Arkia flight, quickly and efficiently transports us from a tense reality to rare moments of silence.
The thought that such a peaceful paradise is hidden so far away from Israel is the kind of thing that requires a moment of adjustment. But it's a very short moment. Very quickly the feeling is replaced by almost homely comfort, only with a more beautiful view than the one I looked at from the window of the house.
Soft landing in Cyprus
Anassa Resort is very luxurious, and for all the right reasons. At the entrance to the hotel, you will be greeted with warm and fragrant towels and a cold and refreshing drink, and will escort you to the door of the room. All of these set the tone for the rest of the stay.
The resort is huge and has a relaxing sense of space, and although it may be confusing at first glance, you will quickly understand all the routes. And if not, you can always ask for directions in the lobby. All the hotel staff are very welcoming and happy to assist with any request.
The hotel has recently undergone a significant upgrade, with an investment of about 10 million euros, with an emphasis on suites and villas. The design maintains a clean and soft line, with the use of light tones, natural materials, and plenty of light. The connection between the interior and the outside is particularly harmonious, with some suites and villas offering wide balconies overlooking the sea or paths, and the feeling is of an open and cozy space.
Top notch restaurants
I don't have enough words to describe the culinary experience, but I will do my best. The resort has a number of award-winning restaurants, which are open on a rotational basis at the beginning of the season, and later on, as there are more guests in the hotel, they are also open at the same time. We visited 4 of them, and were left with a taste for more.
All restaurants have labels on the menu of vegetarian and vegan dishes (which pay homage to vegetables and fruits), as well as various dietary restrictions. Of course, you should always ask the waiters.
On the first evening we dined at Helios Restaurant - an elegant chef's restaurant that offers a meticulous fine dining experience, combining French and Mediterranean cuisine. We were given a built-in menu, but of course you can also choose individual dishes. The beauty of the menu is that each meat dish also had a plant-based counterpart, based on vegetables (including a tomato dish that won't embarrass Eyal Shani), and all of them were really impressive in their design. My favorite dish was the mushroom risotto, and visually captivated my heart with the cracker tree; the bite of goat cheese, apple chutney and zucchini leaf and basil; and the apple dessert at the end of the meal.
Amphora Restaurant serves a buffet breakfast - rich, varied, and meets different dietary needs (health, veganism, sugar-free, decadent pastries and more). In the evening, it becomes a grill restaurant "Grill at Amphora" - with meats, fish, elaborate side dishes and a dessert cart of a very high standard. Despite the "simplicity", I really liked the side dishes - grilled corn in barbecue sauce, great onion rings, grilled asparagus, potatoes and more. And desserts are something worth leaving room for at the end of the meal - especially if it's the lemon meringue pie, the crème brûlée with berries, or the rich chocolate cake.
Lunches were rich and varied especially in Pelagos. The restaurant illustrates the magic of Mediterranean and Cypriot cuisine by the pool, with al fresco dining and spectacular views of the gardens and the sea. There are plenty of spreads and mezes, salads, good breads, pasta dishes, fish and meats - and delicious Mediterranean desserts at the end of the meal.
We spent our last evening at Basiliko - a luxury Asian restaurant that offers a particularly intimate and romantic culinary experience, in a candlelit atmosphere and on an open and sunken terrace. I was very excited about going down the stone stairs to the moonlit restaurant, and without a doubt the most luxurious atmosphere here (although the competition was fierce). Of course, the sushi is of a very high standard and so are all the other dishes, but if there is a side dish that you should not miss, it is the vegan broccoli dumplings in spicy sauce - which we all savored.
The beach and activities
But you don't just have to rest and eat. Staying there allows for a connection between calm and activity. Along with a quiet and clean private beach and spacious pools, the resort has an active water sports center that includes sailing, jet skiing and jet skis, along with a professional PADI diving club. For families, there is a kids' club full of activities, while couples enjoy quieter areas for total relaxation.
Directly from the resort's private beach you can go on a cruise to the blue lagoon and the bays of the area, and this is brilliant in my opinion. Another way you don't have to leave the resort area, because it really has it all. I highly recommend booking the cruise, the water of the blue lagoon is clear and refreshing and it is truly an experience of total freedom. When we sailed the sea was completely quiet and the journey went smoothly. For the sensitive - don't forget to apply sunscreen thoroughly.
In addition, there are also playgrounds, including a padel court, where we enjoyed a particularly funny and unifying game accompanied by the local guide, which is an excellent activity for families who come to stay together.
"Ten Thousand Treatment" at the Spa
And here we come to the highlight, for me. One of Anassa's main attractions is the Thalassa Spa complex, which is considered one of the leading in Europe. Inspired by a Roman bathhouse, the building offers a comprehensive treatment experience that includes dozens of different treatments, private treatment rooms and the use of international luxury brands. Staying at the spa creates an experience of complete detachment, aesthetic and healing for the body and mind.
And the first thing that caught my attention, and hadn't happened to me yet at another resort - as soon as I entered the spa, I was given a personal tour of all the facilities. Since then, not a day has passed that I haven't visited the spa complex, and every visit I just fantasized about the next one. From a warm indoor pool, through a seawater jacuzzi with particularly strong massage currents, through a dry sauna that relaxes all the muscles, to the never-ending list of treatments.
I chose a pampering facial treatment, which included a combination of natural and active ingredients and even a unique oxygen mask, and left my facial skin glowing and pleasant. At the same time, I heard from my friends on the trip about the different types of basic massages. And there is also a very well-equipped gym compared to the usual, which is pleasant to work out in, for those who make sure to maintain their routine even during the vacation.
In addition to this, there are also various workshops at the spa, for individuals, groups and couples. I participated in a meditation workshop, with a wonderful facilitator with an angel's voice, who sang us calming mantras and played phantom and other meditative instruments.
The Emphasis on the Small Details
To me, this is exactly what differentiates a resort from a luxury resort. The materials and products used in the rooms and spaces of the hotel are a significant part of the experience. Whether it's the toiletries of the luxury brand Acqua di Parma in the bathroom, the elaborate slippers and flip-flops that are distributed everywhere, the ecological water bottles made of paper or glass, and what not.
The rooms are cleaned several times a day, the floor is completely clean and so is everything else in the room, and of course there is the Turn Down service in which you prepare the room for sleep every evening and leave a flower and a small note on the pillow. All of these, along with the team's constant interest in your optimal experience, including cases in which the staff solved problems for me that I didn't even know existed - really contribute to the feeling of luxury and calm, that there is someone who cares about you in the ideal conditions.
We also visited the chain's stunning Almyra Hotel, which is located in the city of Paphos itself and ideal for those who don't want to go outside the city limits and right next to it is the Anabelle Hotel, both Group of the Thanos Hotels & Resorts.
Click here to read the article in Passport News.