Columbia Beach Resort in Pissouri, Cyprus, our memorable time at this 5-star getaway
Updated: Mar 31
Overlooking Pissouri Bay on the southern coast of Cyprus, this incredible 5 star resort offers a classic Cypriot architectural style, fantastic gourmet cuisine, brilliant service and an all round awesome experience!
It was back in 2019 that we met, online on Instagram! After a few months of talking we met in Sydney, Australia for a brilliant Royal Caribbean Cruise (more on that in a future blog post). That was in April of that year and we followed that with a trip to Scotland and England. Our first date lasted 1 month! Jenn had to go back to Canada but we were back together in June, when we headed to Cyprus with Leon's family for a week's stay on the island.
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Our first impressions of Columbia Beach Resort
It was here in Cyprus that we got engaged at Aphrodite's Rock (we will get into more detail about the actual engagement in an upcoming blog post). To celebrate we checked in to the Columbia Resort, a short drive away from Paphos in the quaint and secluded area of Pissouri Bay, not far from Limassol. It is fair to say that we were pretty speechless from the start with the beauty of this resort and its wonderful service!
We were greeted immediately upon arrival and our bags were kindly taken to be escorted to our room after check in. We had driven here and only really had an overnight bag as we were staying for just the one night. It was still lovely to have the service and it made us feel special right from the off. Read on for all you need to know about this fantastic resort.
Check-in experience
Ever had to check in and stand at the desk for what seems like an age as the receptionist books you in? Well we have just a little bit of experience with that! Even though we appreciate that there is a process it can be a tad annoying. Needless to say here was one of the first places where we were ushered to an outdoor seating area with a beautiful view, offered a complimentary welcome drink AND snacks and told to rest there while things were being taken care of. We had a small form to fill in but that was it! First major tick in the box - excellent check in experience! (Not to mention the chauffeur driven golf cart drive to our room!).
The room
So it is fair to say we were already impressed. Excited to be engaged and mesmerized by the view, we were then told that we were being given a free upgrade to one of the Eagle's Nest Sea View Suites. It already sounded good, but honestly beyond our wildest dreams we could not have imagined just how wonderful it would be!
The room was absolutely fantastic! Leon had ordered some roses for the room prior but it came with flowers anyway! It had a beautiful bathroom (with a bath / jetted tub, always a plus in a hotel stay in our opinion), a great kitchenette with coffee (super important!) and a gorgeous queen sized bed.
But the defining feature of this incredible room is the magnificent wooden shutters that sit just in front of the bed and look out onto the pool. They could be opened halfway and slid aside to reveal the stunning view and really made an impression on us! The balcony was perfect too, overlooking the resort and also offering a beautiful view of the sea.
We absolutely loved our room and would book this again in a heartbeat! It had all we needed and offered more than just the luxury of a 5 star resort in our view. It had character, a traditional style that we knew was unique and that extra touch that felt like everything had been thought of. A big Jen and Leon Travel thumbs up!
The pool & spa
One of the best features of this beautiful spa is the way the pool seamlessly flows from the outside to the inside. You can literally swim right in and it really is lovely! The decorations and feel is calm and relaxing as you make your way through and there is plenty on offer. This award winning spa hosts a steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, tennis / squash courts and even a gym! We couldn't wait to try it out, especially as the steam room and sauna came included with our package and they are our favorite!
The main Jacuzzi / steam room / sauna area was beautifully decorated and had lounger beds for relaxing between visits to each area. We loved the lighting and the peaceful nature of it all! The plunge pool was a highlight for Leon as he had never tried the hot cold spa experiences in the past. This is one of Jenn's favorite types of spas and one we have enjoyed together multiple times since! It yet another first for us as a couple and we thoroughly enjoyed it!
The Hebe Spa is open daily from 9am to 8pm and treatments are available by appointment only. There a beauty salon and nail studio too! It is a cornerstone of the resort and it is easy to see why it has won awards. We only wish we could have spent more time here!
The restaurant and food
There are no less than three restaurants here offering a variety of Michelin Star cuisine in classy settings. We tried the Cape Aspro and Bacchus Restaurants which specialised in seafood, cocktails and breakfasts.
The service and food lived up to its billing and was absolutely delicious. We loved the atmosphere and flavours and could not have asked for more really. We tried a variety of different dishes as you can see, along with breakfast in the morning. The fish was exceptional and we thought the presentation was great too.
There is another other restaurant called the Apollo Tavern. We were not there long enough to try it but we know on this evidence that it would be good! Maybe next time...
One of the things that made the dining experience more memorable for us was the accompaniment of our furry friends as the island of Cyprus is well known for its cat presence. There were many of them milling around!
Our package included breakfast and dinner but there are a variety of different options available based on your needs / requirements. Tap the link at the end of the post to find out more about them!
The beach at Pissouri Bay
The Mediterranean Sea is literally on the doorstep of the resort and there is a small stony beach which leads up to the grassy area where most of the loungers are located. There are beds on the beach too and a cool floating dock which you can walk on. The waters of the bay were calm and warm and we had a lovely time relaxing here with a cocktail or two... or ten!
There are plenty of activities to enjoy here and courtesy of the Water-sports Centre you can try all sorts of things including boat trips, surfing, water skiing, wind surfing, paragliding and more. We did not try any of them but they sound great and would be well worth a go!
You can also experience scuba diving, golf and cycling. We were really impressed with the plethora of options on offer and with a longer time here would certainly have tried one or two! It all looks super fun and while we can't recommend from personal experience, we would still very much advise you to try if you come here for a longer stay.
Our Columbia Beach Resort experience rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
This is a 5 star resort and our rating is 5 stars too! We literally have nothing but praise for it. We loved every moment of our short stay and will definitely come back here again. The facilities, décor, food and service were all on point and we were completely comfortable at all times. We felt really valued by the staff and this is an experience that will forever be cherished among our memories!
** photos of the Hebe Spa area were kindly sourced from the Columbia Resort website
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