St Raphael Resort

St. Raphael is a 5-star resort on the south coast of Cyprus, just east of Limassol. Its location is very scenic, with the nice, compact St. Raphael Marina off to one side of the Blue Flag-awarded, sandy beach, with a large grassy area with sun beds for those whom sand is not their thing.

The resort is an ideal destination for both couples and families with small or not so small children, as there are many options for all age groups to be entertained, to be active, and to explore and learn in this ancient land. St. Raphael has 216 rooms in its main building. Its Executive Wing has 56 rooms configured with separate bedrooms. In addition, there are 7 suites which break down as follows: 2 Presidential Suites, 4 Admiral Suites, and a Founder’s Suite which takes the pole position in space and luxury.

There are 2 pools (one with a pool bar), a kid’s pool, a Kid’s Club, a game arcade, 6 restaurants and 3 bars, a world-class spa, a fitness center, a full entertainment program, water sports, a dive center, and much more.

Guests particularly liked the clean rooms, the kind and friendly staff, the wonderful breakfast, and the quick response if any problems with rooms came up (one guest was upgraded to a better room free of charge due to some minor problems with her room).

Rooms

Because of the way the hotel is configured, the majority of rooms have a sea view. In room decor pastels predominate, as well as a lot of nice, saturated indirect lighting, giving rooms a cosy appeal. Bathrobes are soft and fluffy and emblazoned with the resort’s trademark, a seahorse encircled by red. The motif is repeated on some of the wall surfaces.

Parquet flooring, anatomically designed furniture, high thread count sheets, and comfortable beds complete the picture and ensure a pleasantly restful stay at Raphael Resort.

Standard amenities include, amongst others, private furnished balcony or terrace, air-conditioning or heating depending on season, Bath Amenities including bathrobes and slippers, marble-clad bathrooms, coffee and tea makers, free WiFi, satellite TV with movie and sports channels, iron and board, pool towels, safe deposit box, and more. Beds are either queen size or double twins, depending on your preference.

Twin Rooms Inland View / Sea View Room

Twin rooms are spacious and light-filled, even the Inland View rooms, which are found on the north side of the resort’s main building, which look out across the highway to the hills and mountains. The Sea View rooms look out to the east or west over the sparkling southern Med, and the nearby St. Raphael Marina. Room layout includes an ample work area, a reading nook, and a seating area, and queen or two twin size beds.

Family Inland View Room

Family rooms are more spacious than Twin Rooms, and are on the resort’s north side. View is of the hills and mountain range north of Limassol, and the well-kept north gardens. Family Rooms include bunk beds for kids, work area, and a seating area. Note: These rooms don’t have balconies.

Marina View Room

Room has bunk beds, a queen (or double twin beds). The furnished balcony provides a great over view of the grounds, the beach, and the St. Raphael Marina.

Executive Rooms

Executive rooms are considerably roomier than standard rooms, and come furnished with king size beds, and bunk beds for two. Sleeping spaces are divided by a sliding door for quiet and privacy. Bunk beds are foldable, if you desire the extra space to use the room as a single or double executive room. Inland View gives a nice view of the grounds, and, in the distance, a beautiful mountain range. With Marina View, the bobbing boats in their slips command the view from the furnished balcony. Pool Level has a furnished terrace, off of which is a short foot path leading directly to the pool.

Imperial Marina View Room

These rooms, on the 6^th floor give you a fantastic, panoramic view of the Med, of the Marina, Limassol, and of the beautiful grounds. Rooms have been recently renovated, and have a king size bed, and are perfect for couples.

Presidential Suite / Admiral Suite

Both these suites are on the upper floors, providing you with magnificent views seawards, of the St. Raphael Marina, and of the grounds. There’s lots of room for gatherings in both suites. One difference between the two is that the Presidential suite is on a corner, giving you views in two directions, and lots of additional sunlight. There’s a separate lounge area from the bedroom and dining area.

Two Bedroom Family Sea View Room

The Two Bedroom Suite Family Room is laid out for the maximum number of guests, with two bedrooms divided by a pocket door. Each room has its own bathroom. There are two private balconies to minimize cross traffic between the two rooms. Rooms come with a queen size bed and two singles.

Two Bedroom Suite

Stay at the Two Bedroom Suite (interconnecting – Admiral Suite & Sea View Room) to give your family more space to relax. Contemporary in design, with two spacious bedrooms, separate living areas, and bathrooms, make yourself at home and enjoy breathtaking views.

Perfect for family or group getaways, these spacious, naturally lit suites with 103 square meters interiors, have one king-size bedroom and a second bedroom with an optional king-size or twin bed. Both have magnificent ensuites. Enjoy your secluded paradise with two terraces to relax and unwind.

Food and Drink

There are 6 restaurants at St. Raphael Resort, 2 of which offer al fresco dining. There are 3 bars, as well. Special consideration is extended to people with dietary restrictions or food allergies.

The Sailor’s Rest Lounge Bar Restaurant at the Marina has both indoor and terrace seating, giving diners a pretty good view of the watery surroundings regardless. Cuisine is modern, with Mediterranean influences. Meat, seafood, and plant-based meals are all on offer.

The Golden Monkey Thai Restaurant is decorated with various accoutrements from Thai culture included hand-carved artefacts and a very large golden statue of the Buddha. Head chef is a Thai native, with a staff of Thai nationals. You can enjoy such dishes at the Golden Monkey Platter, which has, instead of monkey, a mixture of shrimp, and chicken in different permutations. The venue is indoor-outdoor and is the first fine dining Thai Restaurant in Cyprus.

The Palladium has an interesting ceiling; the 12 gods of Olympus are painted there. Which makes one wonder whether the artist painted vertical panels which were then mounted, or, Michelangelo- style, flat on his back. Probably the first. Warm lighting and the yellow cast of some of the furniture give it a nice lemony glow. Its format is themed buffet, with a different cuisine presented each night.

The Octagon is the place for breakfast and lunch, buffet style. Menu is Mediterranean-heavy, with such offerings as souvlaki and Greek salads.

Alakati offers fine dining under the stars, on a patio with planter islands growing sage and other local plants, with a stone well at its center, and some surrounding palms. The menu is traditional Cypriot, which does its own version of Mediterranean.

Ristorante Dolce Vita offers an al fresco Italian menu and outdoor dining on those warm summer nights.

Additionally, there is a unique all-vegan restaurant near the San Raphael Beach. The Seashells Healthy Living restaurant allows you to choose from a wide range of vegan menu items and enjoy them by the seaside. Restaurant has a kids playground to keep the youngsters busy while you eat, if they prefer a different sort of diet.

Bars

Captain’s Bar and Terrace is a family-friendly bar on a deck not far from the St. Raphael Marina and overlooking the beautifully maintained grounds and gardens of the resort.

You can imbibe in all kinds of refreshments, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and order from a wide-ranging menu of snacks as you enjoy the sight and smell of the sparkling Mediterranean. Several times a week live music is laid on.

The Splash Pool-Side is both a bar and restaurant situated by the side of the outdoor swimming pool and offering various street food choices, a salad bar, and desserts, as well as all kinds of liquid refreshment.

The Amphibion Pool Bar is a swim up pool bar offering you the opportunity to refresh yourself at poolside, sipping whatever you desire in the shade of your umbrella between refreshing dips in the pool.

Spa and Wellness

The Serenity Spa has specific goals with respect to customer service and its support of local traditions and of nature. The trained staff is dedicated to giving you the most pleasant and fulfilling spa experience possible. Locally sourced, organic products are a priority for spa treatments. Products have been pre-tested and certified natural and organic. You’ll find the Serenity Spa experience, as its name implies, a place where you regain your serenity and balance, where you’ll rid your body of toxins accumulated over the past year of work and stress, and you’ll feel new, rejuvenated, and years younger.

Treatments are tailor made for your needs. The Spa staff stands ready to help you craft the treatment regimen that will best benefit you. All kinds of massage therapies, such as back, leg, foot or face treatments know as a Partial Massage, Slimming Massage, Ancient Greek massage, and others are available. In addition, there is a whole range of body treatments such as Body Polish, an exfoliation treatment which removes dead skin cells followed by a moisturizing massage. Face care treatments, hands and feet treatments, and even makeup and hair salon services are available.

Other items on offer at the Serenity Spa include a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a steam bath, a towel service, and kids club and playground.

The Spa’s Fitness Centre has modern gym equipment, free weights, and cardio machines. Use of the fitness centre is free to all resort guests, but limited to those guests over 16 years of age. In addition, guests have free access to the sauna, steam bath, Jacuzzi, and indoor pool. Trainers are on site and able to guide you on your fitness journey.

Activities

There’s something for everyone at St. Raphael Resort. For sports and recreation, there are two outdoor freshwater swimming pools to choose from. These free-form pools are located near the Executive Wing (main pool), with a smaller splash pool for kids at the Amphibion Pool Bar. There is a heated indoor pool at the Spa for cold weather swimming.

There are lots of games on offer; table tennis, darts, French bowls, archery, the fully equipped gym, beach volleyball, badminton, two tennis courts with ball and racquet rental, scuba diving (see below). There are tons of water sports at the Blue Flag St. Raphael Beach, including wakeboard, water skiing, wakesurfing, kiteboarding, windsurfing, stand up paddle, flyboard, and sailing. Lessons are available for water sports for kids as young as 4, and special instructions for guests with disabilities.

In addition, there are self-drive boats and jet skis, inflatables, and pedal boats and sea kayak rental.

The Dive Centre at the Marina offers instruction for scuba diving, starting with test dives in the swimming pool. In addition to scuba training, there is power boat training as well.

Fun for Kids

The Eden Gardens Games Room is a playground paradise for younger guests, with its wide selection of arcade games, table tennis, footsie tables, card and board games, air hockey, sofas, bean bags, and snacks and drinks vending machines.

There are lots of entertainment options for the young, the young at heart. There is a daytime entertainment and activity programme for 4-12 year olds, including Happy Bees, the kids club. There is a kids disco and daily games.

For kids and adults, there is the daytime entertainment programmed for families, as well as live music at the Palladium Restaurant, and live music at the Captain’s Bar several times a week. Evening shows and programmes include Fireshow, Illusionist show, acrobatics, and more.

In the Area

Diamantides Charter, at the Marina, offers chartered cruises in the area aboard their luxury yachts. Tours are tailored to your desired destination to make your day trip an unforgettable experience.

Day tips to Limassol and the wider area can be both fun and educational. Limassol itself has a beautiful Molos seafront promenade, giving beautiful views of the sea, and lined with colourful cafes and restaurants. The palm tree-lined walkway is 1.2 km long, and easy, level walk for everyone. The walk is lined with playgrounds, various water features, well-tended lawns, and sculptures.

Kourion is a UNESCO-protected archaeological site just west of Limassol. Some 6,000 years old, Kourion did not reach its peak until the Roman era, and is mentioned by ancient writers such as Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy. Just west of Kourion is the Sanctuary of Apollo Hyates, one of Cyprus’ most significant ancient places of worship, dating from as early as 700 BC.

The Limassol Castle is a Crusades-era fortification built on top of a blockhouse dating from the Byzantine times. Castle has displays of weapons, coins, pottery and other artefacts from its history.

The Limassol District Archaeological Musuem is one of the best of its kind on the island. A companion piece to the Limassol Castle, the museum displays artefacts dating from prehistory up to the end of the Roman occupation.

Limassol’s Fasouri Watermania is large enough to warrant an all-day family event. It has 22 attractions, ranging from high-speed slides to a kiddie pool for toddlers. Sun beds can be rented, and even a massage booked for adults.

A bit further afield, the Golden Donkeys Farm is one of the largest donkey farms in Europe. The farm, in the village of Skarinou, hosts over 200 of these docile, friendly animals, many of which are rescues. The farm features a stone olive press, an olive orchard, a farm house with wax figures in period costumes, and other educational indicators of life on Cyprus before the Industrial Revolution.

The Mazotas Camel Park at Mazotas village hosts a wide range of native and non-native species such as camels, ponies, deer, goats, ostriches, and kangaroos. Kids can feed the camels with carobs. There is a pool where you can relax on a swim break, a pool bar, and a games room with bumper cars, trampolines, mini golf and lots more.

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