Alasia Hotel

The Alasia Hotel is a city base for divers who want the practical side of a trip to work properly: a central address, a pool, a spa, a restaurant and a bar, all under one roof. It has 61 rooms across four floors, with the sort of facilities that matter when your main ambition for the evening is to shower, eat and sit down without further logistics.

English-speaking staff can help you get things organised, alongside German-, Russian- and French-speaking staff. The atmosphere is more polished city hotel than barefoot beach lodge, with a garden, terrace and lounge areas adding somewhere to pause between outings.

The address is 6 Haidari Street, in central Limassol, Cyprus. That puts you within walking distance of the Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol Castle and Marina Beach, with the city itself close enough for an evening stroll rather than a taxi mission.

The beach is accessible on foot, while the hotel also has free parking if you arrive with a car. A lift serves the building, and the central location makes the hotel useful for a stay that mixes diving with restaurants, town and a little sightseeing.

The room choice is less about collecting categories and more about matching the bed and facilities to the way you travel. The simple double rooms suit solo stays or a straightforward night’s sleep, while the double rooms with a proper double bed fit couples who want to keep things uncomplicated. Interconnecting or adjacent rooms may also be available for a group travelling together.

Superior rooms are the sensible step up when the details matter after a long day: selected categories have air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a television, coffee-making facilities, a safe and a hairdryer. The superior double with twin beds is the practical choice when two divers would rather not negotiate one mattress after a full day out.

Room facilities vary by category, so check the individual room card rather than assuming that every room carries the same kit. Depending on the room, you may have a minibar, bathrobe, slippers, shower or bath, toiletries and a flat-screen television; soundproofed rooms are also available. Room service runs around the clock, which is useful when the day starts early or dinner has been postponed by the usual combination of tired legs and wet kit.

Breakfast is a buffet served from 7.00 am to 10.30 am, giving you a defined morning window before the day gets moving. Breakfast can also be taken in your room, and the hotel can prepare a packed lunch when the day’s plans call for something portable.

Dinner has a proper home at The Polo Restaurant, where the cooking is Mediterranean and the setting is described as sophisticated. It is the kind of arrangement that lets you stay in for the evening without reducing dinner to whatever happens to be available at the bar.

There is one bar: The Lounge Terrace Pool Bar. It sits by the pool terrace, while the snack bar and room service cover the less formal end of the appetite scale. The hotel also offers bottled water, tea and coffee facilities, and dietary menus on request.

The adult-only outdoor pool is the obvious place to let the day slow down, with a sun terrace and pool facilities for the hours when you have no interest in sightseeing. A garden and terrace give you other places to sit, while the Lounge Terrace Pool Bar keeps the drink within reach without turning relaxation into an expedition.

The Spa is the more convincing answer when shoulders and legs need attention. It includes massage, facial treatments, a jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath, with Temple Spa products. Massage and spa treatments are available by reservation, so arranging them before arrival is the sensible move rather than hoping the timetable will take pity on you.

There is also a fitness room for anyone who still has energy to spend, plus bicycle hire and assistance with excursions through the hotel. For a quieter evening, the combination of pool, spa and dinner does the job without requiring a programme of organised entertainment.

The reception is open around the clock. Check-in runs from 2.00 pm to 11.30 pm, with check-out by noon, and express check-out is available. Free Wi-Fi covers the hotel, while concierge services, luggage storage, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing take care of the less glamorous parts of travelling with dive gear and ordinary clothes in the same bag.

Airport transfers are available through the hotel, either as a private service or a shared shuttle, and should be arranged with the hotel. Car hire, parking and excursion assistance are also available. The hotel has a business centre, conference and event facilities, an accessible lift and air conditioning in the building.

The hotel accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and Diners Club. Cyprus uses 230-volt electricity with Type F and Type G sockets, so pack the appropriate adaptor if your chargers use something else.