Cyprus

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Participant

Participant

Caporegime
Joined
13 May 2003
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34,695
Location
Warwickshire
Who's been? Anyone else going this summer?

We're off to Pafos in the south west in late July, staying at a hotel for 14 nights. Last time I went I was 9, so I can't remember too much about it, except for the fact that it's very hot and the diving and snorkelling is amazing. I remember there being a couple of bays that blew my mind for quality of sand / water / sea life (Buttons Bay, Akrotiri).

Just looking for some tips as to where to go and for any experiences you had, good or bad!

The water park (:o), Coral Bay and a 4x4 trip up Mt Troodos are already lined up. On the 4x4 subject, is there any reason that I can't hire one myself and take us up the mountain? Or is a guide necessary? Probably try a day excursion somewhere, but to get from the west coast to the east, do stuff, and get back again in one is probably a bit ambitious?

Wouldn't mind learning some lingo, I usually try and brush up before I go on holiday...any recommended websites for learning Greek / Cypriot that have audio files to help with pronounciation?

Cheers.
 
Go to the Keg and barrel nice bar owned by one of paphos tigers players, we recently did a Rugby tour out there two weeks ago and they were great hosts. Just mention Tottonians should get a good reception.

Otherwise most of what you mentioned is a good start. Don't forget to just chill out for a few days.
 
Been there 3 times, east side. Ayia napa and protaras. Very hot, usually 10c hotter than anywhere in Europe.

Car rental is silly cheap. Whole 2 weeks brand new car for just under 200 pounds included full insurance.

Don't bother to learn their language as everybody there speak English very well.
 
I went to Protaras a few years a go, and going there again in 16 days with my GF. :)

Honestly can't remember much about when we were there a part from the Water Park which is awesome.

Not much else a part from restaurants and places to eat but obviously you're on different side of the island so can't help you with that. The Ashes was on so spent quite a bit of time watching that and Everton were playing Vaillareal in the Champions league so quite a bit of time was spent in Piggy's bar. :o
 
Been a couple of times back in the 90's.. For the most part it was fun. I recall a lot of squaddies thinking they were well 'ard and wanting a brawl.
 
Went to Paphos in 2008, stayed in the Louis King Jason apartments. Was alright.

We did the 4x4 trip and visited the monastery. Remember to cover your knees and your shoulders (women), or risk not being allowed in.

I'd give the area a 6/10. Not the best looking, but there's a wicked go karting place not too far so it's not all bad :D
 
Actually one other point make sure you go for a propper mezza meal in a old resturant and not some tourist place it will be immense and the amount of courses of good food.

Plus make sure you have mousaka too love that dish. :p
 
It’s too hot in July/August, car hire is cheap and the locals are great. Language is never a problem. Drive up to Polis in the north and have a look at the coast around there, even drive up to the border. Be warned that Pafos has lost its charm and in the evening is now horrible, packed with noisy bars, clubs, smelly food joints and full of people.
 
I lived there for a few years until 2007. In Pafos as chance would have it. When hiring a car, ask about going anywhere offroad, either in the mountains or accross the Akamas peninsular. As most hire cars will specifically say no to it.

If you just want to go to the top of the Troodos mountains you can do it in a normal car, the roads are fine. If you do go through the Akamas, I cannot recommend the last castle enough, the food is simple but fantastically cooked, and the setting really is amazing. Bombing around in the mountains in a 4x4 is great fun, there's always little quaint little villages around the mountains and hills, and some of the roads can be quite hairy! :D

If you're after pubs and clubs and that sort of thing, Pafos's Bar Street is fine, but if you go to Larnaka be wary of the taxi drivers trying to get you to go to strip clubs, they tend to be very dodgy and run by a somewhat criminal element. There's none of that that I could see in Pafos though.

Try and go to some of the local tavernas away from Kalo Pafos, the touristy places tend to be overpriced and nowhere near as good as the local fare you can get at the more traditional places. That said, Woody's along the tomb of the kings road is a great place for an evening's meal.

If you get a chance, try and do the day trip to Northern Cyprus. You go through a checkpoint and across the UN green line into the Turkish part. It's very much a guided tour, but it's a very interesting day out. I personally wouldn't recommend Nicosia itself, while it's the last divided capital city in the world, and the green line parts and looking into Famagusta (a town that has been untouched since the Turkish invasion in 1974 as it now sits inside the Green line. You can see the shops with their 36 year old displays still in the windows) are interesting, there's little else to do and the city isn't very nice. Plus it's so far inland that it's far far hotter than the coast.

Be careful of any resources that teach Greek using audio, as Cypriot Greek pronunciation can be quite different from Greek as spoken in Greece, and you're likely to get giggled at before they speak back to you in perfect English. ;)

If you're into your history, there are some nice archaeological sites surrounding Pafos, such as the Tombs of the Kings and the Church of St Paul the Apostle. Not to mention some stunning mosaics, however they are sadly left exposed to tourists and the elements, so get in there before they're destroyed for good! :(
 
I have been to Cyprus 3 times, stayed in Paphos at the Paphos Amathus Beach Hotel , then in 97 & 98 stayed in Limassol at the Limassol Amathus Beach, both are 5* and expensive but it was worth it. I did a couple of Island tours into the Troodos mountains where it is much cooler than the coast. Overall its a lovely Island & a great place to holiday.
 
I was in Cypus last week ( Nissi Beach ), was OK, drinks are resonably priced but food seems to have got quite pricey

bars and restuarants seem to be staffed by Poles/Hungarians and Romanians with very poor English
 
Moredhel said:
I personally wouldn't recommend Nicosia itself, while it's the last divided capital city in the world, and the green line parts and looking into Famagusta (a town that has been untouched since the Turkish invasion in 1974 as it now sits inside the Green line. You can see the shops with their 36 year old displays still in the windows) are interesting, there's little else to do and the city isn't very nice. Plus it's so far inland that it's far far hotter than the coast.
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I thought Famagusta was on the coast?
 
Rotty said:
I was in Cypus last week ( Nissi Beach ), was OK, drinks are resonably priced but food seems to have got quite pricey

bars and restuarants seem to be staffed by Poles/Hungarians and Romanians with very poor English
Click to expand...

nissi beach as a hotel or the beach? there is a hotel called nissi beach which located on nissi beach which confused many people. i stayed in aktea apartment which next door to nissi beach (hotel)
 
I'm 1/4 Cypriot and can heartily recommend Cyprus! But I'm biased! ;) I go there every year at least once. I love it. Love the people, love the culture, love the lifestyle, love the weather, hate the fact they're on the Euro now, and that there are so many Russians (silly mistake of the past wrt Visas) and Brits (no offence intended! :o) there, but that aside it's just my little slice of heaven I escape to. However I know nothing about hotels or touristy things as I go there purely as a "local" - but if you need any help whilst out there feel free to drop me a mail. :)
 
I'm off to Paphos in a month, with the missus, but staying just outside it. Thomson Gold holiday which means no kiddies - bliss ;)

Bit worried about the heat tho!
 
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