Alasia Hotel

Housed on historic grounds dating back to 1878, Alasia Hotel is an upscale boutique hotel with contemporary, minimalist styling and lots of references to the sport of polo, a passion of the property's owner. It's located where the first racecourse in Cyprus once stood (although the owners didn't know of the equestrian connection when they bought it), and over the years the area has served as an army airport terminal and a schoolhouse. Today, few traces of its past remain, and the five-story property is decidedly contemporary, particularly in the stylish lobby with recessed lighting and light-beige marble flooring that complement a light-wood reception desk and matching wall paneling. White retro chairs and soft beige sofas situated around sectional coffee tables complete the look. A light but unobtrusive fragrance creates a calming effect that's only slightly interrupted by a curious choice of music (think crooning soft-pop renditions of late '90s rock songs). Guests are often greeted with a welcome drink. The Polo Bar and Restaurant has a similar scheme, but with the addition of horse decor. A slight majority of the guests here are business travelers from elsewhere in Cyprus or Europe (especially Scandinavians), but there are usually plenty of vacationers staying here, too, especially in summer months. 

Alasia Hotel is located in the Cyprus city center, directly inland from Limassol Castle, the Old Harbour, and other Old Town attractions (a 25-minute walk or five-minute drive away). The hotel itself is on a quiet residential street, but there are a few shops and restaurants within the immediate vicinity, accessible within a few minutes' walk. It's about a one-hour drive to both Larnaca and Paphos, each of which has an international airport. The capital city of Nicosia and Mount Olympos take just over an hour to reach.

Rooms at the Alasia mix classic decor elements, such as elegant upholstered chairs and thick, rich draperies with more modern touches, including parquet floors and desks with multiple outlets and USB ports built into the walls. All rooms come with minibars, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, kettles, and free safes. The hotel also offers a handful of Executive Suites, corner units with separate living and sleeping areas plus whirlpool hot tubs on the balconies decorated with candle lanterns. Added perks in these units include espresso machines and jetted tubs in the bathrooms.

Standard bathrooms are elegant and earthy, with brown stone tile on the floors and walls and big countertops. All have shower/tub combos. Makeup mirrors, robes, hairdryers, slippers, and all-natural Greek toiletries are provided. While inland and city views are available, only some rooms have balconies. 

Without a doubt, Alasia's best feature is its gorgeous subterranean spa, a beautiful dark-lit space with an ozone pool that's heated to body temperature and used for hydrotherapy treatments, along with a whirlpool hot tub and a number of treatment rooms. There's a small window at the top of the spa with views into the hotel's main outdoor pool, so spa guests can watch people swim by like fish in an aquarium. There are also steam and sauna facilities that are free for hotel guests, but reservations are required. A tiny gym with a couple of treadmills and a cross-training machine is also available, and while the equipment is modern, there might not be enough variety for a full-on workout. There's also an outdoor pool that stretches along one side of the hotel building before opening up to a lagoon-style section, making it an equally good option for lap swimming and splashing about. 

Dining here is upscale and chic, but not overly formal. Guests can order drinks in the lobby throughout the day or head into the adjacent main Polo Bar Restaurant, which serves Mediterranean food along with wine and cocktails. Right by the pool is a bar/restaurant, the Terrace, with indoor and outdoor seating and service for all three meals. Room service is available around the clock. There's also a conference room with audiovisual equipment just behind the Terrace. Other features include free and fast hotel-wide Wi-Fi and free on-site parking.