TUI Sensatori Resort Atlantica Aphrodite Hills

Sensatori Resort Aphrodite Hills is an upscale, contemporary resort hotel located on the larger Aphrodite Hills resort complex, which is also home to a number of privately owned villas and condos, many of which are used as vacation rental properties throughout the year. The grounds are sprawling, with an 18-hole golf course that runs right by the hotel, plus lots of hilly gardens and wild open spaces filled with local foliage like carob and olive trees. Best of all, it's high up enough that there are uninterrupted views out over the sea.

A good portion of the rooms are housed in a main cream-colored stucco building where many of the facilities and restaurants are located, with additional lodging spread across four more similarly styled buildings. The lobby is large and spread out, with a regularly stocked selection of local sweets and beverages on offer, plus a small gift shop. The majority of guests are package tourists from the UK, including families and a decent number of wedding guests. While the ambience is generally quiet and laid back throughout the year, it can get a bit noisy with kids in the summer, or any time a plane passes overhead on its way into or out of the nearby airport in Paphos. 

The resort is spread out over an expansive hilltop, just southeast of Paphos on the main A6 motorway that traverses the southwestern reaches of the island before turning into the A1 around Limassol (a half-hour drive away). The nearest airport is a 15-minute drive away in Paphos, though there are considerably more flight options in Larnaca, about an hour and 20 minutes away by car. The nearest site of interest is Aphrodite's Rock, a small sandy beach area that looks out over a rock outcrop where the legendary goddess of love is believed to have emerged from the sea -- it's only a three-minute drive from the resort's main entrance. Archaeological sites of interest in the area include the Paphos Archaeological Park and the Hellenistic Tomb of the Kings, both about a 30-minute drive from the resort by car. Cyprus's capital city of Nicosia takes about 90 minutes to reach by car, traffic permitting. 

This property offers a variety of room types, from entry-level Deluxe Double Rooms with views out over the pool or the hotel grounds up to Family Suites, some with private whirlpool hot tubs. There's also a solitary Presidential Suite, with its own sauna, whirlpool hot tub, and private pool as well as a number of Family Rooms, which are basically Deluxe Rooms but with partitioned-off sleeping areas for up to two children. Decor is modern and bright, with light-finish tables and chairs, tile floors, and recessed lighting, plus pastel accents including cushions and bed runners. All rooms are air-conditioned and have, at a minimum, balconies or terraces (some of which lead out to semi-private pool shared with neighboring units) along with free minibars, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are huge, with separate walk-in showers and soaking tubs. While quality toiletries are provided, conditioner is oddly lacking. Note that some rooms are in a special adult-only section, which makes for a quieter stay (particularly for those with rooms facing out on a shared pool). 

This resort hotel offers a huge variety of facilities just for its guests. There are multiple swimming pools, including an adult-only pool, a main pool, a family pool with a splash park and slides, and a lovely indoor/outdoor pool next to the large, well-equipped TechnoGym fitness center.

The vast majority of guests here are of the all-inclusive variety, and most bookings come through tour operators. Restaurant options abound, and include a variety of seasonal (May to October) and year-round restaurants, some of which operate on rotation during the winter months. The main Eleonas Restaurant is open for all three meals, with buffets and themed nights, plus huge dessert bars and small sections featuring all sorts of Cypriot treats. For something more upscale, the adjacent adult-only Fig & Olive serves Mediterranean fare in the evenings and serves as a quieter adult-only dining room during other meal times. Other dining options include the sophisticated Stone Grill Terrace (not included in all-inclusive rates), Jasmine (with pan-Asian cuisine at dinnertime), and the poolside El Sabor Mexican Restaurant, with huge portions at lunch and dinner. There are also plenty of bars, including the sea-facing Sunset Bar, the casual Carob Lounge in the lobby, plus a beach bar -- Zias -- down at the hotel's beach. 

Guests of the hotel can also head up the road to the Village Square, which features a number of restaurants frequented both by hotel guests and those staying in the numerous vacation rentals on the resort's property. Options include Zimi Trattoria, with Italian food, a beer garden, a Costa Coffee, a Haagen-Dazs, a kebab restaurant, and an Indian restaurant. There's also a supermarket with a bakery and all sorts of souvenirs. A glorious spa -- The Retreat -- is complete with its own mini-spa for kids (with manicures and basic treatments), gym, tepidarium, juice bar, and gorgeous infinity pool. Along with an 18-hole golf course (under renovation until 2018, when its slated to become the first PGA National Course in the country), there's a tennis academy for children and adults. The kids' club is open in summer months. Horseback riding lessons are also available. 

The hotel isn't on the beach, but there is a beach accessible via a free shuttle, where the hotel keeps free sun beds and towels for guests. There's a ton of free indoor and underground parking at this hotel, along with free hotel-wide Wi-Fi.