June 2009
June 2009

NEWS FROM CYPRUS!


 

Dear partners and friends,

We are delighted to bring you the June issue of the Aeolos newsletter. We include some news about Cyprus related topics, including plenty of product news, plus the usual arrival statistics. We wish you find our newsletter both informative and enjoyable and look forward to receiving your comments and suggestions.

We wish you a happy read!

Cyprus has best record in EU beach rankings

Cyprus’s beaches are the cleanest in Europe, according to a European Commission and European Environment Agency’s report on bathing water quality released recently. Some 111, or 98.2% of Cyprus beaches meet high EU criteria on the presence of chemical substances and bacteria or lack of it. A 109 of those beaches were described as ‘exceptionally clean’ for swimmers for the fourth year running. Behind top-of-the-table Cyprus was Greece with 97.7% clean beach ratio, France 96.3% and then Malta 94.3%. Popular resorts as Ayia Napa’s nissi beach, Larnaca’s Mackenzie strip and Pissouri Bay are amongst top Europe’s best seaside jaunts.

 

Amarakos Farmhouse

Amarakos Farmhouse is an old family Agro tourism establishment, situated in the Paphos District. Amarakos provides, 7 traditionally renovated rooms fully furnished to accommodate up to 25 clients.  The Farmhouse dominates the central square of the rural village of Kato Akourdalia, which offers tranquility and magnificent views to the surrounding herbal area and over to the sea coastal beaches of north Paphos. Kato Akourdalia is 9 km from the nearest sandy beaches of Polis, 30 minutes drive from Paphos airport and 2 hours drive from Larnaca airport.

Guests at the Amarakos Farmhouse have a great variety of Special interest programmes, as the area offers, apart from its botanological variety, many interesting sites and view points. Byzantine churches, old mills and houses, wineries, and many important archaeological sites and museums. Amarakos provides, a large open swimming pool, open and indoor restaurant and bar.

Exceptional traditional Cyprus and Mediterranean dishes, many vegetarian specialties and selective local wines and liqueurs. Meals are prepared every day in small quantities, to be always fresh and cooked by the lady of the house, Mrs. Angela. Fresh ecological products are from the village and most of the vegetables and fruits are from its own gardens. Always guests will enjoy fresh fruit and home made sweets.

S e r v i c e s:  Car hire, bicycles, horse riding and horse carriage
wagons, Internet services, secretarial, diving, water-sports and various special interest excursions and visits all over Cyprus.

NEW! The Library Hotel


THE LIBRARY HOTEL – Wellness Retreat, Kalavassos

 

Opened its doors to guests this month.

This masterfully restored, stone-built mansion whose traditional features blend with green architectural design by the environmental Architect Mrs. Antonia Theodosiou. The resort is situated in Kalavassos village square facing the 19th century church. This beautiful 19th century mansion consists of 11 uniquely styled suites named after poets, thinkers and writers from all over the world. The suites open to the courtyard with beautiful and pictures views of the village and surrounding mountains.

The main attraction of this mansion is an impressive library lounge with an open fireplace and a collection of interesting books on various subjects with an emphasis on history, philosophy, culture and civilization. House guests can elevate their spirit while experiencing wellbeing of body and soul at the Potamonde Wellness Baths designed for total self care accompanied with healthy gourmet dining at the Mitos Mediterranean Restaurant.

The natural healing spa resort has welcomed its first guests

 

This unique spa resort opened its doors last month and has already welcomed its first guests.

If monks and nuns had known what their home would eventually be converted into they wouldn’t have left. Once a stately Church-owned property, Ayii Anargyri Monastery in Miliou village, Paphos, has been renovated and expanded to house a state-of-the-art boutique hotel spa with 56 rooms, many of which have healing sulphur water on tap. A stunning complex of typical 17th century ecclesiastical architecture complete with traditional archways, wooden ceiling and limestone walls, the recently-opened Ayii Anargyri Spa Resort aims to fill a growing market niche for healing holidays.

Alexander the Great just got greater

Kanika Hotels announces the completion of their latest renovations, which have significantly upgraded the facilities at the Alexander the Great Beach Hotel in Pafos.  Each change was carefully conceived and professionally executed, aiming to satisfy the contemporary traveler’s high expectations.  A brief overview of what has been achieved:

Revamped Restaurants
Café Royal and Roxane’s Restaurant, have been completely refurbished. Guests will enjoy an entirely new interior décor, from furniture and carpets to lighting and wall decorations.
Italian Inspiration
They are particularly proud to present Garibaldi Ristorante Italiano, the new exclusive restaurant, which offers fine dining with an Italian signature.

Public Areas Inside Out
Extensive floor areas were replaced with new premium marble floors, while the restrooms in the public areas have been redesigned to provide luxurious space, comfort and privacy. Also new modern elevators have been installed throughout. New landscaping of outdoor areas now underlines the natural beauty and rich rainbow colors of the lush Mediterranean gardens that surround the hotel.

Precious Sleep 
Existing mattresses in the guest rooms have been replaced with new orthopedic pocket mattresses for deeply relaxing sleep. Having examined the needs, requests and comments from their guests, they now also offer a choice of pillows to match every sleeping habit and preference, as well as cozy new duvets.

St Raphael Resort - Limassol

Apart from the 10 million euro renovation and extension work carried out in 2006, the last 3 years has also seen continuous upgrades and investments. Most recently the complete renovation of their unique Panorama Hall was finished, now completely modernized with quality furnishings. This transformation has been well awaited in the hall which has been a classic favorite of conference organizers, wedding couples and event coordinators. Repeat guests have also been pleasantly surprised with the new wooden parquet flooring in all standard rooms.

PAX ARRIVALS TO CYPRUS BY COUNTRY

Pax arrivals per country Jan-May 09 vs Jan–May 08

(Source: CTO)

COUNTRIES

Jan-May  2009

Jan-May    2008

Change Jan-May
09/08 (%)

UNITED KINGDOM

301,750

345,266

-12.6%

GERMANY

52,101

47,084

10.7%

GREECE

47,791

49,745

-3.9%

SWEDEN

26,602

31,955

-16.8%

NORWAY

11,327

13,982

-19.0%

FINLAND

10,152

10,153

0.0%

DENMARK

6,622

10,138

-34.7%

FRANCE

11,214

15,229

-26.4%

SWITZERLAND

10,116

9,197

10.0%

NETHERLANDS

10,363

8,665

19.6%

BELGIUM/LUXEMBURG

9,912

9,659

2.6%

AUSTRIA

7,257

8,257

-12.1%

ITALY

5,096

4,614

10.4%

IRELAND

3,508

6,353

-44.8%

SPAIN

1,452

892

62.8%

RUSSIA

36,796

37,291

-1.3%

BALTIC COUNTRIES

1,341

1,743

-23.1%

POLAND

3,477

5,482

-36.6%

HUNGARY

1,944

1,847

5.3%

CZECH REPUBLIC

2,731

2,759

-1.0%

BULGARIA

3,425

4,106

-16.6%

ROMANIA

6,874

7,642

-10.0%

SLOVAKIA

730

1,149

-36.5%

UKRAINE

2,163

2,237

-3.3%

SERBIA

1,035

1,351

-23.4%

OTHER EUROPE

4,805

4,660

3.1%

LEBANON

4,725

3,824

23.6%

JORDAN

1,375

1,124

22.3%

EGYPT

1,558

1,398

11.4%

U.A.E.

5,080

3,611

40.7%

SAUDI ARABIA

871

1,114

-21.8%

BAHRAIN

1,013

726

39.5%

KUWAIT

226

1,603

-85.9%

OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES

2,236

2,176

2.8%

ISRAEL

9,552

8,660

10.3%

USA

5,601

6,550

-14.5%

CANADA

1,680

1,915

-12.3%

AUSTRALIA

2,742

3,320

-17.4%

SOUTH AFRICA

1,588

1,658

-4.2%

OTHER COUNTRIES

3,236

3,477

-6.9%

TOTAL

622,067

682,612

-8.9%

ETC……

 

Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort announces the appointment of Alexander Haeusler as General Manager.

Le Meridien Limassol is the only 5-star international chain hotel in Cyprus situated on the beach nestled in 100.000 m2 of beautifully landscaped gardens. Voted for three consecutive years as the “World’s Leading Spa Resort” and the “European’s Leading Resort”, the multi-award winning Le Meridien Limassol has obtained a series of accolades and trophies in recognition of its unparalleled facilities and legendary services.

Closure:

The Avanti Hotel & Avanti Holiday Village, Paphos
would like to inform you that they will be closed
from 2/12/09-20/3/09 inclusive






Published monthly for travel partners & friends by:

Aeolos Travel
6, Zenas Kanther Street
CY-1065, Nicosia
P.O. Box 21236, CY 1504
Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel:00357 22 881281
Fax:00357 22 671522

www.aeolos.com

www.bookcyprus.com