St Raphael Resort, Cyprus - Cranley Report

The Cranley Report®: St Raphael Resort

St Raphael Resort, Cyprus

Hotel Address

Amathus Avenue
PO Box 51064
3594 Limassol
Cyprus

Cranley Rating

St Raphael Hotel

Photo 1 of 27. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category	Resort Hotel
Awards Won	2006 ACTE Health and Safety Award 2006 ACTE Quality Award

Hotel Opened	1987
Refurbishment	2006

Cranley Summary

St Raphael Hotel is located in the Amathus area of Limassol which is approximately 11 kilometres from Limassol's main town centre. Standing six storeys high, the hotel sits above one of the largest beaches in Limassol and is set within large beautifully landscaped gardens with magnificent views over the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel has just undergone a total renovation and has had an addition of fifty-six bedroom executive rooms. The two hundred and seventy-two guest rooms are bright and airy, tastefully decorated, have modern amenities and all have balconies except the standard inland view rooms. The St Raphael Resort's six restaurants and two bars are located in the main building and resort surrounds and offer a wide variety of culinary options ranging from International themed buffets, Mediterranean and casual dining at the pool side. There are two large outdoor freshwater swimming pools, a small shaded children's pool, indoor heated pool, gym, spa and an abundance of land and water sports including yacht charter available at the hotel's private marina. St Raphael is very much a family hotel and caters for children of all ages. There is a full animation team offering indoor and outdoor activity programmes for both adults and children.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

St Raphael Resort is located on the south coast of Cyprus and is just 11 kilometres from Limassol. The hotel has convenient access to the island's modern road network providing easy access to all areas of Cyprus with its coastal towns, mountain villages and tourist areas. Shops and restaurants are within a short walking distance of the hotel. Larnaca Airport is approximately 55 kilometres away and Paphos Airport 70 kilometres from the hotel.

Airports
Distance	55 km
Airport Transfers	Taxi transfers available.

Cities and Sights
Distance	11 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi and local bus transfers available

Hotel Layout

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Layout Description

St Raphael Resort's main building stands six storeys high and is set in landscaped gardens with views over the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel's two hundred and seventy-two rooms are located off the main lobby area. All rooms have recently been renovated and fifty-six Executive rooms have been added in the new wing. The St Raphael Resort's reception is directly opposite when entering the main lobby with the shops, lounge and seating areas, Captain’s Bar and Terrace all in the lobby vicinity. The lobby stairs and lifts (serving all floors) lead down to restaurants and out to the pool and gardens which lead to the beach area and marina. The spa is also located on the pool level.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours.
Languages Spoken	Greek, English, German, French and Russian
Payment Methods	All major credit cards. Cash accepted.
Foreign Exchange	24 hours.
Taxis Arranged	Taxis arranged. There is a 24 hour taxi booth outside the hotel.
Tours Arranged	Tours arranged.

Guest Relations	Standard services.
Concierge Services	Standard services.
Medical Facilities	Doctor on call twenty-four hours with a typical response time of twenty minutes according to the hotel.
Parking	There is space for approximately two hundred cars in the underground and lobby level car park.

Cranley Comment

On entering the marbled inner atrium lobby area, the reception desk is directly opposite. The large seating area around the spacious lobby has soft furnishings in bright, sunny colours surrounded with palm trees in terracotta pots. There are two panoramic lifts in the lobby area serving levels B1 to 6 in the main building, a clothing boutique, souvenir shop and jewellery shop. The business centre and Captain's Bar and Terrace are located on this level. The lobby staircase leads down to the restaurants, spa, gym, pools and beach. The entrance to the St Raphael's new wing is located just off the reception desk with two elevators serving all floors.

Shops & Amenities

Description

There are three shops located on the lobby level near the stairs:
Outfit Clothes and Accessories Boutique,G & M Jewellery Shop and a shop selling books, cigarettes, toiletries and souvenirs.

Cranley Comment

The hotel's three shops are located just off the main lobby area. Outfit Clothes and Accessories Boutique sells a small range of designer labels, with Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Boss being just a few. There is a jewellery shop and another shop selling magazines, books, toiletries and souvenirs. Within a five minute walk from the hotel are several restaurants, bars and shops and approximately 5 km away the tourist area offers many more shops, bars and restaurants. There is a bus stop directly outside the hotel with a daily regular service going into Limassol which is 11 kilometres away offering a wide variety of shops, banks and other facilities.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	6
Total Rooms	272
Elevators	4
Rooms per Elevator	68
Total Staff	200
Staff per Room	0.7

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	According to availability.
Smoking Rooms	Designated smoking rooms.
Room Service	Room service 24 hours.
Laundry Service	No service available on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. On Saturdays only, pressing is available from 09:00 to 15:00. Regular service items received between 08:00 and 09:30 will be delivered on the same day before 18:00 Express service items received between 9:30 and 11:00 will be delivered on the same day before 18:00 with a 50% additional charge. Golden service is available from 11:00 to 15:00. Items will be returned within two hours. There is a 100% additional charge for this service.
Unique Features	No

Club or Executive Facilities

Cranley Comment

St Raphael's two hundred and seventy-two rooms and suites include Standard, Executive, Executive Pool Rooms and Admiral Suites with either sea, marina or inland views. All rooms are equipped with 26 inch flat-screen TVs with satellite television, pay movies on demand, play-station games and complimentary coffee and tea making facilities. The bright, spacious rooms are decorated in cool pastel shades, have double or twin beds, a desk and seating area and most have a balcony with breathtaking views over the Mediterranean Sea, gardens or mountain.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Standard Sea View	162	Sea	Air conditioning Alarm clock Balcony Shower over bath Coffee/tea making facilities Dial Up Internet Access Internet Access via the Television Hairdryer Iron-ironing board on request Mini bar Radio Refrigerator Safe Seating area 26 inch plasma television with premium channels for a fee Telephone-direct dial for a fee VCR for a fee Voice mail	3 adults or 2 adults and 1 child	27

Cranley Comment

Standard Sea View rooms are located on the east and west side of the main building and are approached along carpeted corridors looking down into the atrium lobby. All Standard rooms are in the main building and are decorated in soft pastel shades with colour co-ordinating soft furnishings. These bright, airy and spacious rooms have queen-size or twin beds, a desk, table and chairs and an ensuite bathroom with a shower over the bath. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors lead onto the balcony which is furnished with a table and chairs and has a sea view. Interconnecting rooms are available for families needing more space.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Standard Marina View	36	Marina	As per Standard Sea View	3 adults or 2 adults and 1 child	27

Cranley Comment

These rooms are identical to the Standard Sea View rooms except they have a direct sea view over the Marina and a larger balcony.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Standard Inland View	12	In-land	As per Standard Sea View rooms with the added benefit of: Larger room Bunk beds for two children There is no balcony in these rooms	3 adults or 2 adults and 3 children	35

Cranley Comment

The twelve Standard Inland View rooms are decorated and furnished the same as the other standard rooms but are slightly larger and have the added facility of two pull-down bunk beds making them ideal rooms for a family of four. These rooms do not have a balcony.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive	49	28 Marina 21 In-land	As per Standard Rooms with the added benefit of: Bunk beds for two children Separate children's area with sliding doors Two sun loungers on the balcony	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children	37

Cranley Comment

Executive rooms are in the new Executive Wing which opened in April 2006. Rooms are approached along light airy corridors, are spacious and decorated in pastel shades with colour co-ordinated soft furnishings. Upon entering the room there is an area with two pull-down bunk beds and a sliding door leading into the main bedroom making the room perfect for a family of four. The bunk beds fold up and are not dominant when non-family occupied. The rooms have queen-size beds, a desk, table and chairs and all have parquet flooring. The ensuite bathroom has a shower over the bath. Balconies have either inland or marina views. The Marina View Rooms have larger balconies and have the added benefit of two sun loungers.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive Pool Level	7	Sea	As per Executive Rooms with the added benefit of: Ground floor position Private veranda	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children	37

Cranley Comment

Executive Pool Level rooms are identical to the Executive rooms but are all situated on the ground floor of the Executive Wing in front of the free form new swimming pool and have their own private verandas featuring two sun loungers.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Admiral Suites	6	Marina	As per the Standard Room with the added benefit of: Separate lounge and bedroom 2 Flat Screen TVs 2 Coffee/Tea making facilities Two mini-bars	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children	76

Cranley Comment

The Admiral Suites were all renovated in February 2007. They are located on the corner of the fourth, fifth and sixth floors of the main building and have sweeping views of the sea, gardens, pool, marina and the bay of Limassol from the bedroom's terrace. The bedrooms are bright and airy and have a king-size bed, a desk area, easy chair with foot rest, a flat screen TV and Coffee and Tea making facilities. The lounge area has views to the marina, pools and gardens and is furnished with a sofa and chairs, dining table, Flat Screen TV and tea and coffee making facilities. The ensuite bathroom has a jacuzzi and a shower over the bath. All the suites have parquet flooring.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

St Raphael Resort Hotel offers a wide choice of culinary delights ranging from fine dining, Mediterranean and Arabic cuisine, themed buffets and a fast food outlet which is located in the outdoor Splash Restaurant. The Palladium, Octagon and Phoenician restaurants are located in the main building. Splash is located by the new outdoor pool in front of the new Executive Wing. Sailor's Rest is located in the heart of the St Raphael Resort's Marina which is a five minute walk through the hotel's landscaped gardens. The Beach Bar is only open in the summer and is located below the Amphibion Pool, near the beach.

Palladium

Restaurant Type	International and local cuisine
Restaurant Capacity	350
Opening Times	19:00 to 22:30 After 22:30, snacks are served until midnight
Dress Codes	Casual/smart.

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Designated smoking areas.
Children’s Facilities	Children welcome. Highchairs available. Children's menus available.
Breakfast Options	N/A

Cranley Comment

The Palladium Restaurant is located in the main building on Level B1 and can be reached via the central staircase or lifts in the main lobby area. This elegant bright and airy restaurant is decorated in neutral colours, has tiled mosaic floors and boasts spectacular high ceilings which are hand-painted with pictures of the twelve ancient Greek gods. The floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the marina and the sea. The restaurant serves an International mix of classic buffet favourites and has live piano music several times a week. Palladium is also the scene of speciality theme nights and is an ideal location to indulge in local cuisines especially during the ever popular Cypriot Night.

Phoenician

Restaurant Type	Mediterranean and Arabic fusion
Restaurant Capacity	Total 120 (of which 100 inside and 20 outside)
Opening Times	19:00 to 22:30 by reservation
Dress Codes	Smart

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Designated smoking areas.
Children’s Facilities	Children welcome Highchairs available
Breakfast Options	N/A

Cranley Comment

The Phoenician Restaurant is located opposite the main entrance to the hotel and has a stone staircase leading down into the restaurant area. The restaurant has high carved wooden ceilings and is decorated with original mosaic features and genuine antique decorative items from the Middle East. The restaurant's style is a fusion of Mediterranean and Arabic cuisine, served as a meze. This sumptuous treat includes a variety of starters, pastries and grilled meats. There is a small outside seating area and reservations for dinner are required.

Sailor's Rest

Restaurant Type

International/Mediterranean