Constantinou Bros Athena Beach, Paphos: a break at your own pace

After the dank, grey days of winter, it’s time to count down to the next dose of Mediterranean sun, so the rays can work their magic, promoting physical and emotional wellbeing and the production of vitamin D.

In Paphos, the cultured gateway to the western tip of Cyprus, you can rely on brilliant sunshine for more than 300 days a year, but the rays are at their most brilliant in summer, when the sunscreen practically sizzles if a drop spills on the sand. 

On a British Airways Holidays break to the Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel in Paphos, you won’t have to wait to recline under nature’s sun lamp (suitably protected with Factor 50, of course). British Airways flights can speed you from London to Paphos in four and a half hours, and it’s less than 30 minutes from the Arrivals lounge to the sand.

With the British Airways promise of smooth service and 24-hour support, expect to arrive fully rested and ready to ease into doing nothing at all. 

Or doing a lot – Paphos is a resort with layers. It’s easy to sit back and spend the whole day by the surf, only vacating the sand at sunset for a delicious dinner on the terrace. It’s also no problem to fill days with culture and history in the ancient Greco-Roman ruins and tombs of Paphos, or set off by hire car for wilderness adventures in the secret hills of the Akamas Peninsula. 

Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel gets new arrivals straight into the holiday mood, with bright, airy rooms and suites dressed in Hellenic blue and white. Natural wood tones add warmth; interconnecting rooms for families mean more room to relax, more privacy for mum and dad and a space for kids to call their own.

Family fun extends to imaginative kids’ club activities, a children’s pool with two waterslides and spray toys, a tots’ playground and games room for teens, and healthy menus oriented towards small palates.

Meanwhile, adults-only spaces maximise peace and privacy, with an adult-only pool with swim-up bar and sunbathing area, and a stylish new rooftop bar where grown-ups can make the most of the views with a long drink after dark. 

A major revamp has lifted standards at the Athena Beach to new levels. Interiors gleam, public spaces sparkle, and the beachfront looks better than ever, with its sheltered sweep of sand melting into the Med. That's backed by three outdoor pools (one adults-only) and lawns dotted with palm trees and sunloungers. 

For maximum relaxation, bank on time in the Elixir Spa, a sleek space offering everything from Thalassotherapy to saunas, steam baths and massages.

Mealtimes are similarly refined – eating at the Athena is an indoor-outdoor experience, with six restaurants, some covered, some open, spanning multiple cuisines, with an emphasis on summery menus from the Med. 

Elite class guests get extra perks such as fresh fruit and chilled wine waiting on arrival and extended hours for breakfast – handy if you played too hard and stayed too late the night before. But with so many amenities, and the bright lights of Paphos within easy strolling distance, everyone can feel like a VIP. 

Block out a day of your trip to explore the shorefront ruins of ancient Paphos – a wonderland of rock-cut tombs and mythology-themed mosaics that look as vibrant today as when they were laid 1,800 years ago.

Then contrast the ancient with the medieval part of Paphos on the hillside. Order a small, strong Cyprus coffee – ideally metrios (half bitter, half sweet) – and ease into the laid-back way of life that first drew holidaymakers to the Med. 

All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected and come with a 24-hour holiday helpline. Secure your 2024 Cyprus holiday to Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel now with a low deposit*

*Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply. ^Where available