Reviews
Find first-hand spa reviews about the InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort below. Submit your own spa review here
Paul F, January 2011
A very pleasant stay
Thank you.
Amanda, March 2010
"Have been meaning to call you since we got home from Cyprus. I would like to say that we had a wonderful week, the weather was perfect but more to the point, the hotel and resort were absolutely superb!
As I mentioned to Emma when I booked our holiday for October, we spent last New Year at the Sofitel in Agadir and I found myself constantly comparing. Aphrodite Hills was beautifully and tastefully furnished and produced an instantly calm environment. I was extremely impressed by every member of staff I met, they were so helpful and polite and nothing was too much trouble, everyone seemed to be genuinely keen to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable.
The hotel was quiet as they said it was not their peak season, for me that added to the charm, no rushing down to the pool to claim sunbeds at 6am! The views over the golf course and sea were spectacular and the room was spacious and very comfortable. As we were were both unable to take part in much of the sports we tended to take advantage of the spa, which although very expensive, was excellent.
The cost of food in the restaurants for a 5* hotel I thought, was not too scary and the quality superb. We didn't sample the buffet as we prefer to order off the menu but there was plenty of choice of different types of food and we didn't get bored with the choice. We had one night were we were informed of a problem with the drains and that we couldn't use the bathroom so they offered us an identical room for the following 24 hours until it was fixed. This was all organised very smoothly and didn't inconvenience us too much. In particular, they dealt with it very courteously, were very apologetic and delivered a bottle of wine to apologise.
All in all I would definitely recommend the hotel and of course Tots Too/Essential Escapes. Thank you for making the booking process so quick and easy and for all the information you were able to provide in advance. I am very much looking forward to trying the Abama in October!"
Emma, March 2010
"I consider myself to be fairly well travelled and on top of that, fairly well pampered. This could have something to do with the fact that I have spent the last ten years making the decision between what makes a spa good or not into my profession and life’s mission.
When I arrived at the spa at the InterContinental Aphrodite Hills on a hot day at the end of September; I knew I was in for a treat (my wallet sadly was not!) the smell of a beautifully fragranced candle, soft melodic tunes playing discreetly in the background and exceptionally friendly staff are the first welcome you receive and you are made to feel instantly relaxed. My choice of treatments was more limited given I was pregnant but I still needed expert guidance in helping me choose which would be best for me. expert guidance received, I decided upon the Marma Kodo Massage and the Plantomyr Facial (for starters), the rest I would choose if I felt I needed more. After a tour of the spa and a meeting with the exceptionally experienced and talented George, the Spa Director, I learnt that most of their therapists had been at the spa at least four years and were very well trained. They use organic products to clean the toweling and robes you will use and I even had the pleasure of visiting the laundry room by way of proof. It is clear from George’s physique that he understands about nutrition and fitness and makes it is life mission to educate guests seeking healthy enlightenment. There was so much to take in, I was almost lost in it all but totally sold on the concept and more importantly, their execution of what is a fantastic spa set up.
So now for my treatment…..the warm foot ritual at the start, the warm towels and the soft body pillow I was told to hug as I lay on my side and the most relaxing massage I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing was exactly the tonic I needed. My therapist instantly recognized where I collected all my tension and although it was not standard for the massage to entail a deep tissue style of approach, with my approval, she set about working on dissolving my knots and what a job she did! I felt totally comforted by the fact that she seemed to know exactly what she was doing and those expert hands almost made me make her an offer there and then to be employed as my full time personal therapist…if only. The end of the massage was a scalp treatment and a hair mask application, all of which I was told would leave my hair with a renewed gloss and shine. There was no rushing at the end, I was told to stay as long as I liked in my post massage zombie like state and there was lemon water with my name on it when I did emerge from the room. The spa could have won an extra gold star if they had found a way to instantaneously transport me back to my room but I settled for the comfy sofas in the relaxation area. Good products in the shower (always worth noting) large spacious changing rooms and very powerful hairdryers, all things I think are part of the whole experience after the treatment. My facial was equally as good. The products were pregnancy safe and diluted to make sure nothing was too strong for my overly sensitive skin, just one of the joys of my condition. I wasn’t allowed the normal steam and extraction that I would have opted for but it was very relaxing nonetheless and having commented about how nice the hair mask was I had the day before, I was without hesitation offered another one which I gratefully accepted. Again there was no clock watching at the end; if they had needed the room for the next treatment, I wouldn’t have known and I was told to relax as long as I needed and to take my time. I never do stay too long for fear of falling asleep and snoring but nonetheless it was nice to know I could lie there for a few minutes extra and savour the last of the lovely smells the room seemed to be filled with.
aphrodite hills spa
I didn’t opt for extra treatments as I did think the pedicures and manicures were a little on the pricey side, I also wanted to conserve some of my budget for the products, particularly the LI’ITYA oils and I was definitely getting one of their candles. I think the pregnancy menu is very good but the spa aficionado in me screamed for more things to choose from, only because I couldn’t get enough of the place. This is not the first time I have indulged in pregnancy treatments. In my previous two, I enjoyed some in the Maldives, Tenerife and Italy, but this is the first time I’ve felt it wasn’t just about the treatments being safe, it was about thinking what the mother to be really needs and adapting an experience to suit.
I’ve chosen to highlight the spa over the rest of the resort as it’s this sanctuary which makes the whole Aphrodite Hills such a pleasurable experience. The wonderful food, spacious rooms and delightful staff are just a bonus a top. This place will suit every type of traveler from the solo spa seeker to the honeymoon couple, to the stressed out mother who just needs a little bit of time in a capsule of pure peace and calm and a candle to take home as a memento of truly heavenly experience.
Best spa in Europe? – It gets my vote."
CY, September 2009
"Thank you very much for sorting out our holiday to Aphrodite Hills. Everything was perfect. The service at the hotel was excellent. Everything there was excellent. We would definitely go back."
Deborah of Essential Escapes, May 2009
"The hotel is set within a larger resort: home to the self-catering villas, the spa (more on which later!), the tennis academy, championship golf course and the various eateries. It’s a 30 minute or so taxi ride from Paphos airport but is pretty secluded. You would need a car or a taxi to visit the nearest village about 10 minutes away. I didn’t really leave the hotel much because I spent most of my time in the spa or by the pool but it was nice to know that there was so much to do within the resort if I wanted it.
I was allocated a deluxe pool and garden view room on the ground floor so that I could open the French doors to my terrace and within several steps be in the pool.
The hotel has an intimate feel – everything is within easy reach. My room was generously sized yet cosy with everything that you would expect from a 5 star hotel – flat screen TV with satellite, modern design and luxurious bathroom well stocked with Korres products. I was travelling on my own and it was important to me not to have a room that I rattled around in.
The spa is a 5 minute walk from the hotel reception and is set, in its own building, over 3 floors. It’s called The Retreat and this is exactly what it is. There are several relaxation areas to enjoy in between treatments, including an outdoor infinity pool overlooking the surrounding countryside. I would definitely recommend taking the Thermae experience before each treatment. This is a session of going from very hot i.e. sauna to very cold i.e. the Frigidaire, and is designed to relax the muscles making your subsequent treatment all the more effective. The spa café offers healthy, low calorie snacks and juices.
The spa menu is extensive with either a la carte treatments or packages. If you don’t find something on the menu to suit, they will help you put together a bespoke package following a consultation. The treatments are mostly about relaxation and wellbeing and are not medical. They use Li’Tya and Pevonia products. The staff are extremely helpful and couldn’t do enough for me. The Spa Manager is definitely worth chatting to. He helped to build and design the spa and has many years of experience in the industry. I was also particularly impressed with my therapist during the Kodo Massage. She picked up straightaway on my back problem and recommended some simple exercises that I can do at home to ease the problem. Every treatment was explained from start to finish so that I knew exactly what to expect and what to wear.
Attached to the spa is the gym dedicated to personal training. There is a health club in the hotel with the usual gym equipment and an indoor pool. But the gym at the spa is for serious training and work out. The British Olympic Team was based here for training before the Athens Olympics in 2004.
During my short stay, I spent most of my time either in the spa or by the main pool. The main pool is split level with the lower level being closer to the kids pool and kids club. I therefore tended to sit on the upper level which was peaceful although in fairness, the hotel was generally pretty quiet despite it being about 65% full. In the evenings, there was some light entertainment. One night there was a dancing show on the terrace and one evening they had a pianist in the bar.
A special mention must be made of the food as I thought it was excellent. I had an amazing meal in their Asian-Fusion restaurant. The spa explained that if I wished, they could devise a slimming menu for me and provided that I gave them half a day’s notice of which restaurant I planned to eat in, they could instruct the chef accordingly.
All in all, I think this is the perfect spa get away for 5 to 7 nights. It’s easily accessible and so a shorter break is perfectly manageable. I would recommend taking a 3 or 4 day spa package, most of which include the Thermae experience for each day of the package. It’s also worth considering taking a Half Board meal plan as aside from the various eateries on the resort, you’d need to take a taxi to go to a restaurant outside the resort.
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