Isa Hoes in Almyra Hotel on Cyprus

Leaving stress behind

When Isa Hoes boards the plane to Cyprus, she has had a very busy time. She promoted the children's book she wrote with her daughter Vlinder and worked with fellow actress and friend Medina Schuurman on the final chapters of a book about menopause. So it's high time to recharge the battery. Isa: ‘When it has been this busy, I notice that I start to suffer from stress. Getting away from it all is very nice. I recently went to Budapest with the kids, and there I realized again why I hardly ever make those kind of trips anymore. A trip to a metropolis is beautiful, but also busy. We went from hotel to hotel and I had so much to arrange that I couldn't relax.'

So Isa had a clear wish list when she contacted Puurenkuur. She wanted a hotel with luxury and tranquility that would also be fun for children. "I think that's a tricky combination," she says. “If it were just for myself, I would choose something that is boring for children. But destinations that are suitable for the kids, I usually find less so. And then it is nice that you can indicate to Puurenkuur what your wishes are and they will then get to work for you. A godsend if you are as busy as I am! They understood exactly what I wanted and really contributed ideas. Together we eventually chose Cyprus, Hotel Almyra.”

Never too busy

That turned out to be a bull's eye, because exactly what Isa was looking for. Almyra means 'taste of the sea' and from the hotel, within walking distance of the beach and the harbor, you have a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea. Isa: “It really was the perfect place for us. My friend Katinka and her daughter Mare had a hotel room and Vlinder and I slept in a house with a nice garden. Although the hotel was quite full, you never felt that it was busy. There are several places where you can swim, including in the swimming pool of the adjacent hotel, and that variety was very nice for the children. We discovered new spots all week anyway. For example, after a few days we suddenly found a large playground where the four of us jumped on the trampoline. Delicious!' In the town of Paphos, in the heart of which Almyra Hotel is located, there are also all kinds of nice boutiques to browse around. And because the hotel is a member of Design Hotels, each room and suite is modern, sleek and stylishly decorated with designer furniture. Isa: And the beds… Wow, they were really fantastic!

Healthy variety

Although Paphos has all kinds of eateries, Isa simply didn't get around to trying them out. The hotel has four of its own restaurants! Main restaurant Mosaics serves an extensive buffet, restaurant Notius offers Japanese food, Zen Meze has a menu with small snacks to share, and then there is Restaurant Ouzeri, right on the beach. Isa: ‘We ate at the hotel all week and it was really tasty. The large restaurant offers a lot of variety. I love healthy food and could indulge myself in fresh fruit, nuts and yogurt. There were also all kinds of different dishes with egg and of course tasty sweets, which made the children completely happy again. Mare has a gluten allergy and they were even prepared for that: they had everything gluten-free. In addition, I found the service very pleasant. The staff were incredibly attentive; they really treated us like guests. As soon as we sat down they already arrived with white wine and they were also very nice with the girls. The manager came by to check if everything was okay and if we knew what to do, but before we knew it we were in the middle of a personal conversation. On the last evening, the chef had thought of making a nice dessert for us. So sweet and thoughtful!”

Guaranteed relaxation

It was Isa's first time in Cyprus. She actually planned to rent a car to explore the island, but in the end she decided against it. "I was tired, I had worked hard. I just didn't want anything. With a car I would feel obliged to go out again. In hindsight I don't regret it. It was so nice to wake up, read books, lie on a bed, swim with the girls. I just needed this ultimate relaxation. What I do regret is that I didn't book more treatments.'Almyra offers a wide choice in this. In addition to regular beauty treatments, the spa, which was named Cyprus's favorite spa by Spa Finder in 2012, also offers holistic treatments. For example, a kundalini massage, a prana massage and reflexology are possible. Nice for couples: a so-called 'side-by-side massage' where you are massaged at the same time. And the treatment rooms? They are unique because almost all have a view of the sea. We work with organic products from ILA, products from OSEA with ingredients from the sea and cosmeceuticals from QMS, and the spa is also adults only. Children are therefore not allowed there, which guarantees peace and quiet. Isa: ' I really like massages and wellness treatments. The spa looked really beautiful, just as sleek and modern as the rest of the hotel and with an amazing infinity pool. Yes… I should have booked more treatments.”

A small present

Isa, Katinka and the children could also be found regularly on the beach. "There was a lot to do there. The children could, among other things, go on a boat and be pulled over the water with a tire. And here too I noticed that the people were so friendly. There was a small jetty where Katinka and I were allowed to lie down, while Vlinder and Mare went on a boat trip. “You can always lie down here, no problem!” we were told. We also snorkeled a few times. The water around Cyprus is so clear, wonderful to do. In Paphos we walked around a bit and bought some presents. Of course there are tourist shops, but we also found a shop with fresh nuts and all kinds of healthy delicacies. Very pure, I like that.

Our vacation was over before I knew it. If you are tired, such a week is really a gift. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and left a little wistful. But I think we will come back here again. Because no, taking a holiday here is certainly not a punishment.'

For the kids

• 'Every time we came back to our room, there was fruit or chocolate. The kids kept running in, looking for their treat. What a nice and thoughtful extra!”

• 'The hotel has a kids club and on the first day they came to ask Vlinder and Mare if they wanted to participate in the activities. The girls went along well, but drawing and coloring is of course not that exciting when you are 10 and 11. For younger children, however, such a kids club is really a godsend.'

• 'Almyra is a really good destination for a wellness holiday with children. Unless they necessarily want Dutch boyfriends or girlfriends, because relatively few Dutch people come here. The fact that the hotel has a babysitting service is of course ideal if you are on holiday with small children.

About Isa

Isa Hoes became known with the role of Myriam van der Pol in Good Times Bad Times. After that she played in various TV series such as Medisch Centrum West, Vrouwenvleugel and Rozengeur & Vodka Lime and she starred in numerous theater productions. In addition, she is a writer. Two years ago, the book Toen ik je zag about her life with Antonie Kamerling was published, last summer she published the children's book Engel, which she wrote together with her daughter Vlinder. Te lijf, de kunst van het mooi ouder worden, a co-production with Medina Schuurman appeared in the autumn. Currently, Isa stars as Suus Kramer in the fourth season of the TV drama Celblok H.

Almyra hotel: for relaxation ánd entertainment

Where: Almyra Hotel is located in Cyprus, in the heart of the town of Paphos and within walking distance of the beach and harbour.

Specialty: The special thing about this hotel lies in the combination. Here you will find peace, luxury, comfort, stylishly furnished designer suites, delicious food, a beautiful spa, a wide choice of activities and all kinds of opportunities to get to know Cyprus better.

Not to be missed: A jeep safari and an excursion to the impressive ruins from Roman times are fun outings.

Good to know: The spa is adults only. Do you still want to go on holiday with your children? No problem, the babysitting service is happy to take care of them if you are undergoing treatment.