St. Raphael: 5-star all-inclusive service

‘Das ist fantastisch!’ A burly German man, sitting in front of a huge plate piled high with food — starters and main courses all mixed together — and next to him a glass of murky liquid: Greek ouzo diluted with water. This was at a hotel in Greece. For a long time, this was exactly how I imagined an ‘all-inclusive’ holiday. However, times have changed, and the obvious advantages of this type of holiday have led to the emergence of luxury hotels offering their guests a new standard: Ultra All-Inclusive. St. Raphael was one of the first hotels to offer its guests this type of service. We spoke to the hotel manager, Prodromos Shambulides.

Today, the ‘all-inclusive’ holiday format is in high demand in Cyprus, and many hotels offer this service, but in the vast majority of cases it involves self-service: automatic coffee machines, water dispensers and plastic cups. “That’s understandable,” explains Prodromos, “as labour is the most expensive cost – the labour of service staff, especially in Cyprus, where the standard of living is very high.”

St. Raphael offers a service that costs €20–€30 per person per day more than other ‘all-inclusive’ hotels, however, the service provided is a cut above: genuine, high-quality crockery, waiters, and original imported spirits from major well-known brands. They won’t cut corners here by serving vodka of unknown origin – only domestic and authentic brands such as ‘Stolichnaya’, ‘Smirnov’ and ‘Famous Grouse’. If a guest asks for water, they are given a sealed bottle rather than a glass; fizzy drinks and juices are all served in their original packaging.

‘Our competitors,’ Prodromos continues, ‘are not hotels in Cyprus, but leading hotels in Turkey and Egypt; that’s why we have to compete under the toughest conditions. Wages in those countries are several times lower.’

The vast majority of guests at St. Raphael book the Ultra All-Inclusive package. Food and drink are free everywhere, with the exception of the restaurant located in the marina. And there’s plenty to try here! Italian, Japanese and European cuisine – five restaurants, including a new beachfront restaurant serving grilled dishes – not just meat, but seafood too – it’s all included!

The hotel’s own marina is home to a fleet of boats, some of which can be hired for sea trips (yachts, catamarans, motorboats). This is also home to one of Limassol’s finest restaurants, Sailor’s Rest, which we’ve featured in our ‘Restaurants’ section.

The hotel management pays great attention to creating a comfortable environment for guests travelling with children. The hotel’s newly built wing is the presidential block, comprising 56 ‘family’ rooms. These are comfortable two-room apartments with large balconies.

‘A team of 10 people, including Russian-speaking staff, organises all sorts of entertainment activities for adults and children from morning until late in the evening,’ the manager explains, not without pride. ‘The hotel has a large kids’ club where children can be left under supervision (two outdoor and one indoor play areas). The children won’t get bored! Mini-football, archery, darts, all sorts of games, competitions and contests. For our youngest guests, a personal nanny can be hired for an additional fee. Every evening after dinner at 7.30 pm, a children’s disco begins on the open-air veranda. A little later, there’s a programme for adults.”

The Blue Flag flying above the hotel’s beach – one of the largest in Limassol – is a guarantee of safety and cleanliness. Indeed, St. Raphael has been showered with international awards: for four years running, the hotel has been awarded the prestigious World Travel Award in the ‘Best All-Inclusive Hotel in Cyprus’ category, and for the last three years it has been recognised as the ‘Best Mediterranean Resort’.

‘You have an unusual name,’ I ask our interlocutor, ‘in Russian, is that “Predtecha”? The name of John the Baptist?’

‘Yes,’ smiles Prodromos, “I was born on 7 January, the saint’s feast day, and my parents named me after him.”

Before leaving, I make a note in my digital diary: I mustn’t forget to wish this wonderful manager of this amazing hotel a happy birthday. But, of course, we’ll be seeing each other more than once before winter; we’ll meet up to find out more about the hotel’s services and write about them on our website.