The sun was high in the sky as I settled onto my sun lounger and closed my eyes. The warmth enveloped me, and the stresses of London life momentarily faded away. Then came an enormous splash. My eight-year-old had leaped into the infinity pool, drenching me completely. It was hard not to laugh.
Just five hours earlier, we had boarded our flight from London and escaped to sunny Cyprus. We had booked a house at the exclusive Aphrodite Hills Resort through Jet2Villas.
Perched high above the Mediterranean coastline, just 20 minutes from Paphos, this five-star resort offers an effortless family-friendly break. It boasts a private pool, kids' club, and more on-site restaurants and activities than you could possibly need. I even invited my parents to join us, knowing they could spend quality time with their grandchildren while my wife and I stole a few precious hours to ourselves.
The Villa
Our home for the week was an exclusive elite villa at Aphrodite Hills. The kids spent days splashing in the infinity pool, while we enjoyed views over the Mediterranean from Cyprus's southern coast. There are approximately 150 villas available to rent on the property, each with open-plan living spaces and modern stylings. Our base was a beautifully designed villa, tucked into the hillside just a short walk from the resort's spa, golf course, and tennis and padel courts. Inside, the villa struck a balance between contemporary comfort and Mediterranean ease: cool stone floors, open-plan spaces, and shaded terraces.
Why Cyprus?
Jet2 had not stopped running flights to Cyprus despite the situation in Iran, so we felt safe to go. We bagged a last-minute bargain and enjoyed the quieter beaches that the season would not normally afford. We did not regret it.
Our Week
Our week was simple. Mornings were spent lounging by the pool, followed by long lunches and trips to nearby beaches – including Aphrodite's Rock, the legendary birthplace of the goddess. According to legend, swimming around the rock three times brings eternal youth, beauty, and love. Orange, lemon, and olive trees grow in the gardens and on the golf course. Every day I begged my little ones not to pick the oranges. Every single day they refused to listen. The result? Freshly squeezed orange juice on tap.
We loved the villa. It felt private without being remote – the spa, shops, and restaurants were all a few minutes' stroll. We also had access to the hotel's indoor and outdoor pools. The resort staff could not have been more helpful; they doted on the kids. We were immediately set up on WhatsApp, and everything ran through that. Gone were the morning walks to reception to book tennis courts or dinner reservations. The staff sorted everything, from local advice to booking horse-riding for our five-year-old and a round of golf on the championship PGA National Cyprus for me.
Golf at Aphrodite Hills
The beautiful PGA National Cyprus golf course is carved into the dramatic landscape, combining immaculate fairways with sweeping views over the sea. It has it all: rolling hills, natural ravines, elevated tees, and incredible scenery in every direction. Average golfers beware: there are several daunting shots across the canyon, including a full 240-yard carry on the 3rd. I watched with sad acceptance as my ball pathetically failed to stay up and disappeared deep into the gorge below. After two failed attempts, I trudged off the tee, red-faced and cursing. My brother howled at my failure. The course meanders around the resort like a river. Infinity pools line the 8th fairway, and the par-five 18th, with water lurking by the green, provides a stunning finish in front of the clubhouse. There is also a beautiful par-3 six-hole academy course, great for children, beginners, and anyone intimidated by the championship course. Clearly, I should have stuck to that.
Kids' Activities
While I was off gallivanting, the children spent the day at the free kids' club. I had felt guilty leaving them (within reason), but they loved it, playing in the splash pools, giant sandpits, and doing creative workshops. One of Aphrodite Hills' main draws is the kids' football summer camps. Hosted by ex-Premier League players like Emile Heskey, Louis Saha, Wes Brown, and Jermaine Pennant, they lead coaching camps for children aged 5-16. There are also tennis camps – four clay and five hard courts – and padel is exploding with pristine new courts popping up.
Evenings and Dining
In the evenings, we combined eating by the pool and trying out the array of restaurants, including Italian, Indian, and an American-style bar, as well as an ocean of traditional Greek-Cypriot dining options. Our favourite was Pithari, where the kids ran amok and we tucked into giant plates of chicken and pork souvlaki and grilled halloumi. The girls loved the spa, and the kids chased wild cats around the resort – there are more cats than people in Cyprus – and begged to go to the cat feeding station. In the evenings, while the kids splashed about, we nursed wine and local beers and drank in the last rays of light on the Mediterranean. We will definitely be back.
Travel Facts
The Aphrodite Hills resort can be booked through Jet2Villas, who also handle return flights with Jet2.com. A Jet2Villas package starts from £624 for one-bedroom apartments, based on seven nights self-catering, departing from London Stansted; 22kg baggage allowance and car hire included.
