Situated on a small peninsula 20-odd miles from the mythological birthplace of Aphrodite, this 58-room hotel salutes ancient civilization in highbrow style with a resident archaeologist and a dedicated butler for every room. Trained by Frederick Broodryke, a former manservant of Nelson Mandela, the 58 multitaskers do it allstarting with a pampered airport pickup from either Paphos (35 minutes) or Larnaca (90 minutes) that includes pillows, slippers, and appetizers. Serene contemporary rooms have polished-wood floors, plush suede sofas and chairs, locally handcrafted wood furniture, marble bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and terraces overlooking the azure sea and the 1250 b.c. ruins of the first Mycenaean settlement on Cyprus. Thalassa's innovative Anagenisis Spa offers ancient Byzantine, Greek, and Roman therapies. For dining under the stars, there's the intimate seafood restaurant π, and Cypriot and Mediterranean cuisine at Ambrosia.
When to go: Spring or fall for temperatures in the seventies and eighties.
Which room to book: Demetria, a corner suite with sunrise and sunset views
Amenities:
Bar/lounge,
Beach,
Gym,
Pool,
Spa,
Wheelchair-accessible