Cyprus?

Skint_Catt

Hi all,

Finally whittling down our holiday choices to Cyprus - but now don't know which resort to go for - must be pregnancy brain but I just can't make a decision!

We'd like a town that has plenty to see & do locally (within a walk of the hotel preferably) with plenty of bars/restaurants but we're not clubbers! We only drove in Maderia last year as car hire was thrown into our honeymoon package but we wouldn't bother normally (we usually do a fair few excurstions though)

The thing that confuses me, I think, is that all the hotels we've been suggested so far by TA's have been 2/3/7 kms from whichever town - we're not really beach people (though enjoy the odd day relaxing) so would spend more time in town and out & about than in a hotel grounds & so far it looks like we'd spend most of our time on buses getting in & out!

Anyway, suggestions please - so far we've been suggested Nissi Bay (even though we told them Ayia Napa was our worse nightmare) & Larnaca.

If you have a recommendation for a hotel I would be grateful too

Thank you, C xx

wallbash

Paphos . Alexander The Great Hotel . Walking distance of harbour.
My fav restaurant , second to last on the waterfront. Best table , nearest to the water , watch the fish at your feet while knocking back a beer.

budgetflyer

Protarus, Fly into Larnaca. Its about 10KM from Ayia Napa but not as loud. Lovely beach at Fig Tree Bay.
If you choose accom around Fig Tree Bay then you will be close to bars and restaurants.Famagusta is a short drive away

wallbash

Protarus ( fig tree ) as suggested wonderful beach , but OP not a beach person.
Pollis another 'beachy' area . Nicer restaurants.
Money no object ..... http://www.aphroditehills.com/
Will have to wait for the Lotto to pay out!

hornetgirl

Nissi Bay is very pretty and far enough from the centre of Ayai Napa for it not to be an issue, but not much to do there.
Coral Bay is lovely, but again not much to do on the doorstep. Paphos is only a very short drive/bus ride, and I think some of the better hotels run their own buses there.

Skint_Catt

Thanks all, Alexander the Great hotel does look good and in the town of Phaphos too

I think Protarus might just be too far away from the sights of Larnaca & Phaphos for us, but thank you.

Wallbash - can't see the website at work but sadly money is a bit of an object so I'll keep playing the lotto too!

Has anyone stayed in Limassol or Larnaca and have any hotel recommendations/comments for those?

Thanks all for replying

C xx

Bronnie

Have you thought about splitting your holiday? Flying into Paphos and out of Larnaca or the other way round?

Car hire is pretty reasonable in Cyprus and driving is a breeze, for obvious reasons! You could see both sides of the island easily then.

A trip into the Troodos Mountains is well worth doing. On the east side, Famagusta is fascinating and haunting.

The Cape Greco National Park outside Ayia Napa is a beautiful area of coastline and well-worth a visit, even if you're not a beach person, it's a beautiful place to relax. There is a lovely chill-out cafe/bar above the beach at Konnos Bay, Cape Greco, just the place for a long shady leisurely lunch or coffee and a read of your book!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/bestbeaches/3072579/Best-beaches-on-Cyprus-Konnos-Bay-Cape-Greco.html

On the Paphos side there are several tourist must-sees, not all of them justifying a day's visit though (;)). Having a car gives you the flexibility to meander around, spending a couple of hours here and there.


I never drive abroad, too much left/right confusion going on in my brain, but I always hire a car in Cyprus. There are several local car hire operations with minimum redtape and an excellent, convenient competitively priced service. Personally would strongly recommend it especially if the weather is very hot and you are pregnant and it makes the choice of hotel / apartment location less critical.



HTH

Skint_Catt

Thanks Bronnie for your post. I think to keep things easy/costs down we will fly in & out of whichever we end up near, but you’ve given me more confidence in driving around. If we can manage Madeira then Cyprus should be a lot easier. Could you recommend any car hire companies out there and anything we should know when hiring a car abroad – the last one was through the TA so we didn’t have to do anything but I never know about these Collision Damage Waiver things etc!

C xx

Bronnie

This is the one I have used a couple of times. They were recommended to me by a Board Guide on Tripadvisor who had also used them several times and recommended them on TA.

http://www.carrentalcyprus.co.uk/

Email them with your requirements and you should get a very prompt email back (in English!) with your quote. They meet you at the airport, do the paperwork and you pay there and then in cash if you want. They don't hold credit card details which is always a relief to me. Leave the car at the airport with the keys under the flap. As easy as it sounds! There are other similar companies I have seen recommended on older Cyprus threads, obviously get a couple of quotes. The vehicles I've had have been fine ( I ususally go for the smallest cheapest model cos it's usually just me!) and you get emergency breakdown contacts etc. Driving in Cyprus is no different to driving at home, as they drive on the same side of the road. If I can do it anyone can!

Personally, I would go to the eastern side of the island if I had to choose I think.

When are you going?

Skint_Catt

Thanks Bronnie - will look into that. We are going Good Friday for a fortnight (depending on package flight times etc).

C xx

Lisa0812

Hi

I would opt for Paphos area. There's loads to do in and around Paphos, ( Avanti Hotel or Avanti Apartments are brill) . Great site seeing, great restaurants. Bus service is good and driving is easy. A trip into the Troodos Mountains and up to Polis and Latchi is a must.

If you change your mind about Cyprus check out Pefkos in Rhodes it is an absolute piece of heaven on earth.