What Spa?

It was a hard task but someone had to do it. ELENI ANTONIOU tracks down ten of the best spas in Cyprus
Thalassa Hotel
Thalassa means ‘sea’ in Greek, meaning that this particular hotel offers sea views galore. It is situated near Coral Bay in Paphos and the concept of the hotel is built on three pillars: cuisine, spa and service. Thalassa opened in June 2004 and is 20 minutes away from Aphrodite Hills’ Golf course, therefore even offers post-golf spa treatment for those of you who can’t get enough.

Specialises in: Thalassa has the first holistic spa in Cyprus called the Anagenisis Spa and the spa therapies include ancient Greek specialities using organic olive oil, sea slat, fresh herbs and yoghurt. The whole point of the Anagenisis Spa is to relax mind and body. A special face and body product range called Sodashi is used. Sodashi is an ancient Sanskrit word that means wholeness, purity and radiance. Everything is 100 per cent natural, no electrical equipment.

Also available: Men’s treatments, reflexology, osteopathy, life coaching, acupuncture, body wraps, hydrotherapy and massages including stone massage to list a few.

Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort

Waterfalls, stone arches and mosaic tiled pools are what make Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort one of the most private and relaxed getaways on the island. Due to the luxurious features Le Meridien has also won awards for the World’s Leading Spa Resort and Europe’s Leading Resort at the World Travel Awards 2003 held in New York.

Specialises in: An exclusive new signature treatment, Le Spa Journey of the Senses, created by leading British Spa Brand, Elemis. Beginning with the ‘Welcome Touch’, a foot cleansing ritual using warm aromatic lime-infused mitts, followed by massage techniques using warm milk, frangipani oils and hot stones, you are then wrapped in a foil wrap and eventually massaged with a moisturising mask, leaving you refreshed and rejuvenated.

Also available: Shiatsu Massage, Thai massage, Supervised Thalassotherapy programme, Kinjoy Relaxation experience, wrinkle control facial and many other services to chose from.

Columbia Beach Resort

The resort is a sight for sore eyes, with the 80m swimming pool/lagoon and its paved pathways. Not only is it a beautiful sight, but Columbia Beach resort is equipped with one of the best spa retreats in Cyprus as well. The spa offers numerous therapies for relaxation and revitalisation. The beneficial properties of local herbs collected from the mountainsides of the island feature in many packages.
Specialises in: Decleor Specials, which includes Aroma Body Envelopment, Aroma Relax Body Envelopment and all kinds of other envelopments, which basically means you get to be cocooned in soft and warm creams.
Also available: Really good packages with either two, three or five-day programmes. Massages of all sorts, even in the comfort of your own suite and facials including the Vitaroma total are again just a few this resort has to offer.

City Spa

City Spa is completely into the whole spa movement without the plushness of being housed within a five-star hotel. Whether you want to relax, de-stress or promote wellness, City Spa has something for everyone, whatever your need. CitySpa came straight from Greece, where they have several outlets around the country.
Specialises in: Brilliant anti-ageing treatments such as Cosmecanique, Microdermabration, Oxygenating and Collagen Treatments. And not forgetting our body, they have brilliant advanced technology methods such as Endermologie and Somafit treatments. Doctors supervise all treatments, as City Spa is a medical centre more than anything.

Also available: CitySpa covers all areas that are in need of some extra attention. They even have laser treatments to get rid of dermatological disorders and conditions, vascular lesions for those horrible spider veins and photo-rejuvenation for refreshing facial skin. But most popular is the laser treatments for unwanted hair, which alas gets rid of waxing as well.

The Elysium Hotel
A five-star hotel with a lot to offer including the Opium Health Spa, set beside the Ancient Kings Tombs in Paphos. The hotel gives an impression of royalty as it is built in palatial style influenced by the Byzantine era. How best to experience the luxurious spa?

Specialises in: The Opium Health Spa is proud of the fact that all products are natural. However, you should definitely try the total holistic body care, which involves hot stones and a deep body, face and scalp massage. Also the Opium body care is famous for its Indonesian massage with people leaving more relaxed than ever.
Also available: Products that are deeply relaxing, anti-stressing oils, revitalising seaweeds, cleansing mud, exfoliating sea oils and therapeutic herbs are all used for the several treatments that are available.

Aphrodite Hills Resort
Probably one of the most specialised and certainly the newest spa in Cyprus, The Retreat at the Aphrodite Hills is influenced by mythology and modernisation at the same time. The Retreat offers galleried hallways that lead to elevated pools overlooking the Mediterranean; meanwhile personal havens, views, scents and textures are everywhere.

Specialises in: Its not exactly a treatment but I couldn’t find it anywhere else and that is: self tanning. 75 minutes means that the Retreat can make you glow without exposing yourself to the harmful rays. You are scrubbed and the Pevonia tanning spray is applied.

Also available: I don’t really know where to begin because there are so many services and treatments. Facial treatments including three different ones for the eyes, lips, neck and bust, holistic therapies, a hammam, Pevonia Stone therapy, hydrotherapy and amazing packages.

Jacques Dessange
This guy is an internationally known hairdresser who decided that beauty isn’t all about hair so he came up with a day spa. Brilliant idea, as Jacques Dessange Day Spa is loved by men and women all over Cyprus, who flock to the premises for relaxation. They created total beauty and they follow all the trends and must haves.

Specialises in: They do something no on else does: Thalassotherapy but with an ingredient very unique. They use therapeutic water from the Dead Sea, which automatically means obtaining a healthy state, organically, physically and sentimentally. It is also called the floating therapy as one floats and due to the very high salt content, immediately feels elevated.

Also available: Well, everything really. Hair, face and body including local anti-cellulite treatments and clay treatments for the face. Manicures, pedicures and even aroma spa manicures are also on the menu.

Hammam
The recently refurbished hammam in Nicosia is becoming very popular as it has much to offer. The Hammam Omerye is set in the Old town of Nicosia and is known for its traditional Turkish steaming baths that do you a hell of a lot of good.

Specialises in: You should definitely try to Body peeling with ethereal, aromatic oils as a good scrub gets rid of dead cells and is brilliant for the circulation.

Also available: Hot Stone Massage, classic facial treatment, relaxing massage in the steamy area and also in the cool area.

Day Spa
Set in Limassol, the Day Spa has established a unique and effective solution: an elegant beauty sanctuary in the middle of the noisy city. Medical science under the supervision of doctors is available, so like other Spa centres, they know their job.
Specialises in: Slimming and toning treatments using the Endermologie Cellulite treatment but best of all is the Roman Steam Bath. You could also try the body salt glow and massage, leaving you relaxed inside and evidently glowing on the out. And last but not least, a special smokers treatment.

Also available: There are a million facial treatments you could try. I
ntral balancing, purifying balancing, haute couture fundamental lifting treatment, Intensive Stimulskin Treatment are just a few.

Poseidonio
Experts in what they do, Poseidonio knows all about fitness and health. Set in Paphos, the centre offers more than one could expect with helpful staff and the latest equipment ready to make you look like a star.

Specialises in: Although they do everything so well, they are the experts when it comes to therapeutic massages. Medical background is used to relieve you of stress, migraines, drowsiness, insomnia and muscle pains.

Also available: Thalassotherapy, Hydrotherapy and a new innovative unit that bathes you with hydro and infrared heat to soothe away all the worries and troubles in the world.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.