Time to unwind
If you aren’t taking a summer holiday, why not spoil yourself with a spa treatment attached to a weekend away. ELENI ANTONIOU reviews some of the places you may like to go…
Columbia Beach Resort
Signature treatment: The Molton Brown Celestial Maracuja Body Polish is a delicious, skin-brightening body therapy with Amazonian Maracuja passionflower, organic raw sugar and rosa mosqueta oil (a thoroughly moder skin care treatment for stretch marks). And just so the men don’t feel left out, there is also a Molton Brown regenerating facial for men, which is a reviving and toning facial therapy with warm African Lifetree and Hungarian carrot oil.
What else: Treatments are divided into four journeys: renew, regenerate, replenish or radiance. There’s also a Temple Lounge for clients to recline and relax in after treatments furnished with low beds and mountains of cushions. A Cocoon seating area surrounded by white drapes is used for discreet consultations before therapies commence and a retail area that is dominated by a heated swimming pool that flows into the outdoor lagoon style pool.
What’s it like: Cosy, quiet and private in a utterly luxurious environment, the Columbia Spa is equipped with top of the range products and professional therapists. The 1,050m² facility boasts five treatment rooms, a spa bath, plunge pool, sauna and steam room. Recent refurbishments to the spa have occurred to coincide with the new partnership deal with Molton Brown, the modern luxury goods company.
Contact: 25 833765, Pissouri
Elysium Hotel – Opium Health Spa
Signature treatment: The Aphrodite’s Secret Fountain of Youth is especially designed to increase skin’s elasticity, leaving it hydrated, smooth and silky soft. This ritual can benefit anyone who wants to replenish their youth while balancing the harmony of mind, body and soul. If you sign up for this soothing treatment, three hours of massages, body envelopment, hydro baths and facials will have you feeling like royalty.
What else: The Indonesian Deep Tissue and Relaxing Massage is a ‘must’ as well as the Balancing Healing Acupressure Therapy and the Renewing back, face and scalp hot stone therapy. No matter what you pick it will definitely be a personal journey of indulgence and ultimate pampering.
What’s it like: The E’SPA range of products and treatments have been selected so that the Opium brings you a truly inspired spa experience. It’s a collection of exceptionally natural, high quality skin care products, deeply relaxing and anti-stress oils, revitalising seaweeds, cleansing mud, exfoliating sea salts and therapeutic herbs.
Contact: 26 844513 Queen Verenikis Street, Paphos
Aphrodite Hills – The Retreat
Signature treatment: The Retreat’s signature treatments are the Thermae Experience and the Hamam Rituals; both highlight the benefits of traditional Greco-Roman Bathing. The first experience includes heat provided through a stove and heated ceramic walls and benches initiating a detoxifying process. It can also help to benefit the respiratory system and soften the skin while cooling showers are taken in between the heat room and the frigidarium, which provides ice shavings to enhance the cooling process, stimulating circulation and refreshing the body between heat experiences.
What else: Thai Massage treatments are performed on a traditional mat on the floor in a dedicated Thai Suite. There’s also a variation called Royal Thai including aromatherapy oils. But if the idea of a massage being enjoyed in a beautiful relaxing garden sounds even better then outdoor massage pavilions are at your feet. With Pevonia Botanica skincare products, containing the most effective natural source ingredients, couples can even enjoy treatments together in the dedicated couples suite. Other treatments include facials, body wraps, exfoliations, massages and hydrotherapy.
What’s it like: With a total of 23 treatment rooms, the luxurious spa facility at the Aphrodite Hills provides soothing treatments for mind, body and soul. The Retreat capitalises on the unique environment that focuses on experiencing and appreciating the culture and history of Cyprus. The outline concept of The Retreat is that of a monastery built on ruins of Roman thermae. This explains the design of the spa area, which is truly monastic, spacious, with galleried hallways and a overuse of stone. Enjoy the edge pool and private balconies.
Contact: 26-828100 Near Aphrodite Rock, Paphos
Hamam Omerye
Signature treatment: Full body massages but unlike anything you are used to. In the actual hamam environment, you can enjoy a 50-minute body massage with essential oils or a Chinese remedy; both are performed on the marble beds. Masseurs are trained physiotherapists capable of unwinding, relaxing and detoxifying you at once.
What else: Hamam Omerye’s face and body treatments are made to tie in with the atmosphere. Due to the fact that while in a hamam your pores open, skin and muscles are more supple and blood circulation is highly activated, the application of certain products, all organic, can work wonders on the skin and well-being. You can try anything from the Body Scrub, Body & Face Peeling and Body & Face Dead Sea Mud Mask. They also offer small massages for the back and head and you can get foot reflexology and hot stone massage.
What’s it like: Just being in a hamam, one of the oldest ways of cleansing the body and mind, can be a refreshing experience. Getting rid of toxins while lying on hot surfaces can leave one feeling calm and at the same time leads to a glowing figure. And contrary to popular belief, in the summer, due to the heat and the tendency to down loads of fluids, you can actually achieve a higher level of detoxification compared to the winter.
Contact: 22 460570 8, Tyllirias Square, Old Town, Nicosia
Anassa – Thalassa Spa
Signature treatment: The Organic Pharmacy anti-ageing body ritual is a must. A beautiful treatment using skin treats of crushed rose petals, Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and rose hip to nourish and rejuvenate. You can begin the journey with Cleopatra’s Body Scrub; an infusion of honey, rose petals, salt and sugar to exfoliate. A deeply nourishing massage with antioxidant and Omega 3 rich Rose and Jasmine body oil will leave you feeling reborn. The journey will be completed with an indulgent Rose Plus Body Wrap.
What else: With the aim to provide guests with tailored therapies specific to their needs as well as to re-educate on lifestyle techniques such as nutrition, the Anassa spa is an experience that will stay with you. The spa area has been extensively re-designed to fit in with the Organic Pharmacy’s 100 per cent natural product line complemented by an expanded Thalasso programme of holistic and therapeutic lifestyle consulting, acupuncture, spa cuisine and natural treatments using local produce.
What’s it like: The management of the family-owned Thanos Hotels has opted for the holistic approach to well-being and even brought in internationally renowned spa consultancy Raison D’Etre, responsible for the best spas in the world including Six Senses Spas in the Far East and Indian Ocean. You have the option of either indulging in a one-off treatment or a 4 to 10 day detoxifying programme.
Contact: 26-888000 Polis, Paphos
Londa Hotel
Signature treatment: The oxygen therapy is one of the most effective skin treatments especially designed for anti-ageing needs. The treatment helps restore elasticity, so once the appropriate serum is applied to the skin, the oxygen is pushed into it, helping to restore depleted moisture levels, leaving you with a sense of well-being and amazing skin.
What else: With a fully equipped gym plus one aerobics room for pilates and yoga and an indoor swimming pool, Londa also boasts another appealing feature. There is
an in-house personal trainer available five days a week, who can personally assess your requirements. Londa Spa also offers a skin analysis, so your facial is specifically designed for you with France based Darphin products, a company owned by Est?e Lauder.
What’s it like: Londa Hotel is tucked away on Limassol’s main road, the beach front but nevertheless possess every ounce of style and relaxing qualities as any other resort. The Spa area consists of a Jacuzzi, plunge pool, sauna, steam room and a jet shower room, while you can take it easy on the terrace and deck overlooking the sea and even get a complimentary hand and foot massage by the pool.
Contact: 25 865561, Limassol
Four Seasons Hotel – Thalasso Spa
Signature treatment: Spa officials recommend The Mud Bath Experience for two. The treatment takes place in a specialised steam room covered with beautiful blue mosaic tiles. Two heated seats facing each other and tiny fairy lights twinkling from the ceiling assure the sense of magic. After you are given three types of mud, you can choose to either apply it by yourself or with a second person; cover your face, front and back. Chromotherapy lights and aromatic infused steam commence the treatment for 15 minutes allowing the mud to work out the toxins from your body. A truly wondrous experience.
What else: The Thalasso Spa has much to offer but the new treatments are out of this world. Try the Ayurveda Massage, which is a full body massage using several distinct aromatic oils designed to penetrate deep tissue and relax the muscles. It is then followed by a unique therapy designed for complete relaxation of mind and body. And if the Gold Body Mask Wrap treatment sounds interesting to you, then give it a go. What is it? It involves a floating bed and the Aromasul mud therapy.
What’s it like: Well, the Thalasso Spa is actually the first Thalassotherapy Centre in Cyprus and is quite unique in itself. Thalassotherapy uses seawater and seaweed both of which contain minerals and vitamins in high levels for treatments not just for beauty and of course for total body rejuvenation and relaxation.
Contact: 25 858000 Limassol
Azia Resort – Asphodel Spa
Signature treatment: Bliss Treatment is what Asphodel Spa’s speciality is all about. Using Elemis products, you can enjoy a stress-a-way deep tissue massage for two, overlooking the sea in the warm sunshine. You can experience this treatment in a beautiful Gazebo, after which you can relax in the warm breeze for 30minutes with half a bottle of champagne.
What else: Try acupuncture, the Asphodel Spa way or take your kids with and enjoy a ‘Mother and Daughter’ ‘Father and Son’ package treatment. The Amethyst Steam Bath and Phototherapy Wellness Room are just two of the great spa experiences you could enjoy. In addition, the spa employs Elemis and Thalgo products specialising in anti-ageing treatments and advanced facials.
What’s it like: The Asphodel Spa is a hymn to nature, intriguing the senses yet calming your mind. The sound of falling water, the fine essence of ouzo and anise, the breeze in the garden rooms, and the rich natural textures are enough to make you want a massage now! After all, British mag Grazia named the Asphodel Spa second worldwide and it isn’t any wonder.
Contact: 26 845100 Akamas Avenue, Paphos
Le Meridien – Le Spa
Signature treatment: Journey of the Senses. Doesn’t that sound unwinding? From the Mediterranean shores of Cyprus, warm, volcanic stones are used to give balance, energy and relieve tension. Cypriots traditionally use the riches of the island to protect, nourish and moisturise their sun-kissed bodies, conditioning their skin with the most exotic aromas and textures imaginable. At Le Spa and through the Journey of Senses you can drench yourself in the natural nourishment and sensuality of milk and frangipani scented oil and take your senses on a journey of pure indulgence.
What else: The Supervised Thalassotherapy Programme is a unique programme offering the curative effects of mineral enriched seawater. The supervised session takes you through four outdoor or three indoor pools each with a different temperature and salinity content. As a treatment that can be enjoyed as a group or a couple, Thalassotherapy induces relaxation as the support from the high-density salt-water pools allows the body skeletal frame to relax completely whilst floating.
What’s it like: Well, with a exotic coconut wrap, a lime and ginger salt glow and a chocolate and ginger wrap, the 3000m² spa area has more than anyone could need – 34 treatment rooms and 31 packages ranging from 1 to 6 days not to mention over 110 a la carte treatments, Le Spa gives you the opportunity to lay back and take it all in.
Contact: 25 863100 Le Spa, Limassol
