Amathus Beach

SITTING on an expanse of sun-bleached decking I am looking out at a vista of magnificent palm trees set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea.

The palms sit in my private garden with a stream and waterfall so the only sound is of the trickle of water.

Between the decking and palms is a swimming pool and Jacuzzi just for me.

Nothing unusual in this if it’s a villa holiday perhaps, but in this instance the pool, the palms, the stream and waterfall are all part of the hotel room I am staying in just outside Limassol on the island of Cyprus.

And while a handful of other hotels around the world might have rooms with private pools I have yet to find one which offers the other special features to go with it.

Even at the five-star Amathus Beach Hotel these rooms are special - numbering just nine of the 239 at the beach front property. While bustling Limassol is just seven miles away I have my own tropical oasis, with not a soul in sight.Both Limassol and the hotel have been changing dramatically in the last four years with millions - 30 million euros to be precise - spent on new facilities at the hotel and who knows how many billions spent on the new facilities and infrastructure of Limassol.

Trip Advisor says Limassol is the number one “destination on the rise” in Europe and number 3 in the world.

If you think you know the area but haven’t visited recently you are in for a shock when you see the town. And the hotel.

Half a billion euros has been spent on a spectacular new marina which has put Cyprus on the yachting map of the world.

Some of the most expensive super yachts ever built now tie up at Limassol as super stars and billionaires head for Cyprus.

There are 650 berths, with smaller cruisers closer to shore and the larger ones further out, away from prying eyes. But just as spectacular are the multi-million pound villas that make up the waterfront properties that surround them.

For holidaymakers it all adds up to sightseeing fun, which can be combined with the attractions of the new designer shops and stylish coffee bars which have been integrated into this spectacular new project.

Walk from the new marina through the old port where traditional fishing boats line the quayside and you will come to yet another new development, the Promenade of Limassol.

This ocean side walkway with its cycle paths, shaded park areas and interesting sculptures is popular with both residents and holidaymakers who want to take the air in the cool of the evening.

And while modernity can sometimes spoil an established area things have been done sympathetically, mainly because close by is the old town with its quaint streets and old buildings which have changed little over the decades.

The enhanced appeal of Limassol, one presumes, has had a bearing on the decision by Muskita Hotels, the operators of Amathus Beach - and its nearby sister hotel the Four Seasons - to also make some dramatic changes.​

The hotel already boasted some stunning features, including 4,000 square metres of beachfront gardens, a vast outdoor swimming pool plus the largest indoor swimming pool on the island - now with seawater - and a superb gym, but wanted a host of new touches to give it even more appeal to guests, many of whom return year after year.

And where better to start than with creating two new eateries to broaden the vast choice of dining experiences already available.

At the new Limanaki fish restaurant you dine al fresco to the sound of the waves breaking on the shore just a few feet away. So near in fact that if the tables were any closer your feet would be in the ocean.

Opening only in the evenings it’s a spectacularly romantic setting as light fades over the water and diners gather at their candle lit tables.

Manager Nikolas Moustras showed us a display of the ocean’s bounty from that day to help us make our choice before perusing a menu that would have delighted Poseidon himself.

Looking down on the Limanaki is the hotel’s new Lighthouse Bar, an ideal spot for a cocktail before dining.

In complete contrast the Grill Room tends to specialise in meat. If you like your steak this is the restaurant for you as you can select the finest cuts from around the world.

Corn-fed premium Black Angus beef from America, Wagyu beef from Australia and award-winning grass-fed Aberdeen Angus beef from Scotland are just some of the choices.

Whatever you opt for it’s cooked to perfection in a Josper oven, the “new toy for chefs” which uses charcoal to give the meat a slightly smoky taste but at the same time keep it dry, with a unique texture.

If you dine there place yourself in the hands of Alissa, a young sommelier from Estonia who is a past winner of the prestigious Cyprus National Sommelier Competition.

We asked for advice on local wines and she produced a superb white and an equally good red, both of which came from vineyards just 40 minutes away from the hotel.

A new Dine Around Experience introduced at the Amathus allows guests to eat at the two new restaurants as well as at the Vivaldi Italian restaurant and the Seasons oriental restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel where affable Hong Kong chef Kenny Keung will advise you on some of his culinary masterpieces from the Far East.

Away from the restaurants the Amathus Beach, a member of both the Leading Hotels of the World and Leading Spas of the World, has also created a new concept for junior guests with its new family friendly zone.

While not set in stone the property has loosely been split into two, with one half for adult-only guests and the other for families with children.

This means young visitors get their own swimming pool complete with slides and water tubes as well as an outdoor activities area and the Pelican children’s club where they can join friends while mum and dad get a few hours to relax and do their own thing.

And when they join up there is a special family-friendly beach set aside for the youngsters, perfect because of its shallow waters.

So while Limassol and Amathus beach have always had massive visitor appeal both are now embracing change to boost that appeal even more.

Don’t forget, however, away from both Cyprus still has some spectacular historical sites to visit - like the great amphitheatre of Kourion - , wonderful beaches and a great climate.

If you get too hot - it hit 38C when we were there is May - with a hire car you can always take a drive to the cooler heights of the Troodos Mountains to visit Mount Olympus.

But even here, among the 9,300 hectares of state forest we found changes. A new visitor centre has sprung up where you can learn about the island’s environment and the fascinating project which is engineering the return of the Eurasian Griffin Vulture to the island where Aphrodite was born in a period now lost in the mists of time.

FACTBOX

Prices at Amathus Beach start from 255 euros per night for a superior inland view room, 360 euros for a superior sea view room and 465 euros for a junior suite with sea view.

To book a holiday at Amathus Beach call 00 357 2583 2000 or visit http://www.amathuslimassol.com

Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, operates year round flights to Larnaca from Birmingham and several other regional airports.

For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit www.monarch.co.uk

Carrentals.co.uk searches up to 50 car hire websites including Alamo, Auto Europe, Budget, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Sixt and Thrifty in over 2.5 million searchable locations worldwide and quickly compares prices to give customers the best deal possible.

Prices for a week's car hire at Larnaca Airport, when we visited last June started from £7.60 a day