Syndicate
Destination Guides
Search and Book
Cyprus
I visited Cyprus in May 2002 with my friend Mary. It was the
first time I'd gone on holiday abroad with a friend. We chose
Cyprus because neither of us had been there before and it was good
value for money. We were going in mid May, it would be the
first time I'd missed my twin sons' birthday, but that's when we
could get the best deal and the lads were 15 and didn't seem to
mind my absence.
My husband drove us to the airport, it was great to be dropped off at the airport door! We were going on a package holiday as the flight alone would have cost around the same, just over £200 each for the package, a one bedroom self catering apartment in Limassol. I'd been advised that Limassol was not great shakes but is centrally located on the southern coast of Cyprus, which was ideal for visiting different locations in our hire car.
It was quite difficult to find the apartment. We asked the rep at the airport for directions but she couldn't manage this. She said she only knew the way there from the hotel she visited prior to ours on her daily rounds. After a few stops to ask for directions we found the apartments. Our apartment was great for the money we'd paid. It had a large living room with two hotplates, a kettle and a fridge, a good bathroom and a large twin bedroom. The balcony was accessible from either room.
I really enjoyed spending a week with Mary. We have known each other since secondary school. Neither of us is keen on lying in the sun and in fact we found it too hot, even in May. We spent most of the hottest part of the day (from around 11.30am to 3.30pm) in the shade.
We did a day trip to the east to visit Agia Napa and Protaros. Although they were quite commercialised there were still some pretty spots. Another day we went up to the Trodos mountains. It was cooler up there. We'd hoped to visit some monasteries there but they were up unmade roads and the car insurance didn't cover us for this. You would have really needed a four-wheel drive to tackle them in any case. We visited Pafos twice, as we both really liked it. There was a lovely beach and harbour. We did go to the World Heritage Site there and the mosaics were fantastic. We both agreed that Pafos was our favourite place in Cyprus. We liked the municipal café, where you could sit out in the shade, close to the rocky part of the beach.
Overall the holiday was very relaxing and we did see most of island. I wouldn't have like to have been staying in Limassol without a car to get out and about. Every restaurant and cafe we visited (except one in Limassol) served good quality, tasty food in generous portions at very reasonable prices. The driving was a bit hairy at times, but most of the main roads were dual carriageway. I said that if I returned to Cyrus, it would be for a wintersun holiday and that I would stay in Pafos.
Well that is exactly what happened. My husband and I went for a week on half board, in Pafos, from the 18th to 25th February 2004.
Search for a holiday in Cyprus
My husband drove us to the airport, it was great to be dropped off at the airport door! We were going on a package holiday as the flight alone would have cost around the same, just over £200 each for the package, a one bedroom self catering apartment in Limassol. I'd been advised that Limassol was not great shakes but is centrally located on the southern coast of Cyprus, which was ideal for visiting different locations in our hire car.
It was quite difficult to find the apartment. We asked the rep at the airport for directions but she couldn't manage this. She said she only knew the way there from the hotel she visited prior to ours on her daily rounds. After a few stops to ask for directions we found the apartments. Our apartment was great for the money we'd paid. It had a large living room with two hotplates, a kettle and a fridge, a good bathroom and a large twin bedroom. The balcony was accessible from either room.
I really enjoyed spending a week with Mary. We have known each other since secondary school. Neither of us is keen on lying in the sun and in fact we found it too hot, even in May. We spent most of the hottest part of the day (from around 11.30am to 3.30pm) in the shade.
 Walking trail in the Trodos Mountains |
 Mosaic in Pafos |
We did a day trip to the east to visit Agia Napa and Protaros. Although they were quite commercialised there were still some pretty spots. Another day we went up to the Trodos mountains. It was cooler up there. We'd hoped to visit some monasteries there but they were up unmade roads and the car insurance didn't cover us for this. You would have really needed a four-wheel drive to tackle them in any case. We visited Pafos twice, as we both really liked it. There was a lovely beach and harbour. We did go to the World Heritage Site there and the mosaics were fantastic. We both agreed that Pafos was our favourite place in Cyprus. We liked the municipal café, where you could sit out in the shade, close to the rocky part of the beach.
 Aphrodite's Rock |
Another day we headed up the northern coast, stopping at the Aphrodite's Rock. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, is said to have emerged from the sea at this spot in 1200BC. A temple was build 2km inland for worshipping to the pagan cult of Aphrodite. Recent excavations have shown that there was an extensive city round the temple. Next we had a veritable feast at a restaurant in the village square in Polis. The day trip to Nicosia was rather marred by the rain and there really wasn't that much to see. We decided to drive back to Larnaca, it was raining there too. The seafront at Larnaca is reminiscent of the south of France, lined with outdoor tables of trendy cafes and restaurants. |  Larnaca Promenade |
Overall the holiday was very relaxing and we did see most of island. I wouldn't have like to have been staying in Limassol without a car to get out and about. Every restaurant and cafe we visited (except one in Limassol) served good quality, tasty food in generous portions at very reasonable prices. The driving was a bit hairy at times, but most of the main roads were dual carriageway. I said that if I returned to Cyrus, it would be for a wintersun holiday and that I would stay in Pafos.
Well that is exactly what happened. My husband and I went for a week on half board, in Pafos, from the 18th to 25th February 2004.
Search for a holiday in Cyprus