Located on the south-west tip of the island of Cyprus, Paphos is by far the most popular resort on the island with UK holidaymakers. Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, this purpose built resort of Kato Pafos stretches east from the small port and Ktima Pafos is the ‘old town’ where you will find neoclassical buildings and lively markets. Holidays in Paphos are ideal for people of all ages and all interests. Paphos offers a variety of accommodation to suit all budgets but it is worth noting that most of the accommodation along the Kato Pafos resort strip closes down from January right through to the end of March. The beachfront hotels are separated from the sea by a pedestrian and cycling way.

Paphos

Most of the resort coastline is rocky with a number of sand and gravel coves. For better beaches you will need to travel further afield (about 2 miles) to Yeroskipou beach which although it has a shingle shore, it does have a sandy base under the water. You will find a couple of beach bars and cafes here but beware of the night-time nude bathers (mainly gay bathers) in the summer, especially when there is a full moon! There is a pedestrian and cycling way that runs from Kato Pafos harbour to the edge of Yeroskipou which gives easy access to the whole of the shoreline. Read more »

The beautiful island of Cyprus is fast becoming a golfer’s paradise. Here on the island the ideal Mediterranean climate makes golf a game that you can enjoy all the year round, especially on your last minute holidays.

The island has three international standard 18-hole golf courses all set in tranquil surroundings away from the busy tourist resorts. All of the courses are located in the Paphos area on landscaped hills that are easily accessed from the surrounding areas. Read more »

The Thanos Hotels are a long standing family business who understands the difficulties faced by parents when it comes to travelling with youngsters.

New for the 2012 season, they have launched the Twilight Zone Interactive Babysitting as an alternative to babysitting at the Almyra Hotel and the Annabelle Hotel in Paphos.

Aimed at children over 3 years of age, the Twilight Zone is available from 19:00hrs to 23:00hrs, three nights a week between April and October with prices starting from €18 for one child for up to two hours. Read more »

Date …. Sunday 4th December
Place …. Aphrodite Hills Resort Village Square

Located near Paphos in the southwest of Cyprus, the Aphrodite Hills Resort offers five star facilities and services including an 18-hole

Christmas in Cyprus

championship Golf Course and Golf Academy, Tennis Academy with multi-surface courts, a Greco-Roman retreat spa and an exclusive Beach Club. The resort overlooks the area where it is said Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, emerged from the sea. At the heart of the resort is an enchanting Village Square with restaurants, bars, shops and stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. If you are lucky enough to be on your family holidays to Cyprus at the beginning of December Read more »

Lemesos, also known as Limassol, is a lively Cypriot coast town with lots of old traditional shops and bars along with plenty of tourist-orientated attractions. The older part of Lemesos has a 14th century castle, medieval fort, archaeological museum, many traditional workshops and an exciting market selling jewellery, silverware, leather goods, lace and pottery. Around the old harbour there are some of the town’s best

Lemesos Old Town

restaurants serving both traditional dishes and international cuisine. The Yermasogea area offers a great choice of restaurants and lively nightlife where locals mix with partying tourists. Lemesos offers great value last minute holidays with high standard four and five star accommodation.

Families are attracted to the town for its beautiful sandy beaches including Governor’s Beach, Dassoudi Beach and Armonia Beach. Read more »

2nd – 11th September 2011
“Drink Wine, It Gives You Life”

The Limassol (Lemesos) Wine Festival in Cyprus takes place every year for two weeks from late August into September. The festival which

Limassol Wine Festival Entrance

attracts thousands of visitors takes place in the Limassol Municipal Gardens which are located on the east side of the town by the sea. Entrance to the festival is via three entrances. The south entrance has a giant statue of a Cypriot winegrower in traditional costume. The festival kicks off with the traditional pressing (treading) of the grapes which is a spectacle not to be missed on your direct holidays to Cyprus in September.

Cyprus has been producing wine for over 4000 years hence the festival, which dates back to ancient times, is dedicated to Dionysos, the God of Wine and to Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty and Love.

Scores of Limassol wineries and vineyards display their locally produced wine which can be sampled free of charge. Theatrical performances, folkloric dances and songs are performed to visitors by local and international artistic groups. And of course there is plenty of sampling of the local cuisine and wines such as Muscats, pine-flavoured Retsinas and the renowned dessert wine Commanderia. Other entertainment includes orchestral performances, magic and comedy shows. Visitors on their bargain holidays to Cyprus will not be disappointed by this friendly atmospheric festival.

Limassol

Pissouri is located in the south-west of Cyprus, just a couple of miles from Limassol and about 20 miles from Paphos. If you are looking for a quiet relaxing holiday to Cyprus then you need look no further than Pissouri. A holiday here combines the laid-back picturesque hill village with the quiet resort of Pissouri Beach.

The lovely little village is set on a south facing mountain ridge with amazing views of the coast and the Troodos Mountains. This traditional Cypriot village has a village square, traditional stone-built houses and an Orthodox church. The local people are welcoming and friendly and enjoy a slow pace of life. The village square is always decked with bright flowers and is an ideal place to spend a relaxing evening that often includes some Cypriot entertainment. Spend a perfect evening at one of the family-run tavernas which serve tasty fresh fish and local wines. Apart from the family-run tavernas Pissouri has many pizzerias and restaurants which serve international cuisine. The village also has an amphitheatre that hosts music events, theatrical plays and opera during the summer months.

Pissouri Beach is set in an unspoilt bay with waterfront tavernas and a fishing jetty. The bay is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Cyprus. Stretching for two kilometres, this idyllic beach is sheltered by the white cliffs of Cape Aspro and has been awarded the European Blue Flag. The clean sands and safe crystal blue waters are perfect for families, there are always lifeguards on duty around the bay. Other quiet smaller beaches can be found around the local sight of Aphrodite’s Rock. Water and weather conditions of Pissouri Bay are perfect for watersports with a dive school operating in the bay during the summer months. Other watersports include snorkelling, surfing, windsurfing, paragliding, water-skiing and sailing.

Away from the beach visitors can enjoy a round or two of golf at the Secret Valley Golf Course or take a gentle stroll through the forests, vineyards and farms. There are plenty of places to visit on your cheap holidays to Pissouri including the Cypriot capital of Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos, the quaint village of Omodhos and not to be missed, the Troodos mountains. A walk along the many hiking trails in the cool air of the Troodos mountains with its traditional little villages makes a nice change to the beach.

Pissouri enjoys some great festivals including the annual Wine Festival in September and ten days of parades and parties at the end of February. Enjoy the festivities by booking one of the last minute holiday deals to Cyprus that are always available.

Beach holidays to Pissouri can be enjoyed from as early as April right through to November. July and August see 12 hours of sunshine a day with temperatures around 31C.

Located just an hour from Larnaca, Kyrenia has a long dramatic coastline, a beautiful harbour and a lovely town centre. The resort has a stunning mountain backdrop.

Kyrenia

Holidays spent in Kyrenia are relaxing with plenty of culture and history on hand.

Kyrenia’s coastline features rocky coves and lots of beaches, including Acapulco, Alagadi Turtle, Escape and Sunset Beach. Watersports including scuba diving, parascending, wind surfing, water-skiing and jet-skiing are available at the beaches here.
A trip to Turtle Beach is a must. Reached through sand dunes and olive trees, and backed by the Five Finger Mountains, the beach is best avoided on a Sunday when locals visit the beach on their day off.

Kyrenia Harbour

The horseshoe-shaped marina in the harbour is dominated by a 7th century castle and is the mooring ground for luxury yachts, cruisers and local fishing boats. There is an intriguing ship wreck museum, restaurants and cafes around the harbour which attract many tourists.
The restaurants, tavernas and bars around the harbour are the main focus for the nightlife in Kyrenia. The restaurants serve all different cuisine including local and traditional food, Turkish dishes, Mediterranean food and international food.

There are lots of places of interest to visit whilst on holiday in Kyrenia including the ruins of the Bellapais Abbey which is located in the Five Finger

Bellapais Abbey - Copyright by Martin Liebermann /zeitspuren

 Mountains. The Venetian Castle which once offered protection for the harbour when at it’s peak trading period is a must see.
If you are looking for great days out visiting ancient ruins then you will not be disappointed with Karmi Necropolic, Salamis and Vrysi.

For the more adventurous there is paragliding from the heights above Karaoglanoglu, enabling you to view the stunning surroundings of Northern Cyprus from the air. A little less adventurous is quad-biking, horse riding and paintball which are also on offer here.

Kyrenia enjoys typically Mediterranean weather with hot summers and mild winters.

Kyrenia Beach

If you prefer the weather a bit cooler then the best time to book your direct holidays to North Cyprus is during May or October as temperatures from May till October average the mid 20′s and often reach as high as 30C.

For great holidays to Kyrenia at any time of the year there are always fantastic travel deals available throughout the internet.

Pissouri is located about 30 minutes away from Paphos and Limassol and consists of two areas, Pissouri Village and Pissouri Beach. Both the village and the beach area have retained their traditional Cypriot character despite becoming very popular with tourists during the summer months. The area is well known for growing grapes in the valley that stretches down to the beach.

Pissouri Village

Located on a ridge, the village offers magnificent views of the countryside, the coastline, the Mediterranean Sea and the Troodos mountain range. Although a traditional Cypriot village, it caters well for the tourists who visit. The village has restaurants, tavernas, bars, shops and banks. During the summer the village holds Cyprus nights in the village square where visitors can mingle with and get to know the local people. The village also has a great amphitheatre which offers opera, music and dance events.

Pissouri Beach

Back in the 1980′s the beach area had just a small jetty and a small taverna, today the area has several tavernas, apartments and hotels, and shops. Like the village, the beach area has retained much of its traditional Cypriot character. The safe, sandy and shingle beach is located about 3 miles from the village. Here at the beach there are a number of watersports on offer, including sailing, surfing, windsurfing and paragliding. There are also lots of diving sites nearby and Pissouri has its own diving school. During the summer the green and loggerhead turtles come to the beach to nest and lay their eggs.

Climate

June and July enjoy an average of 13 hours of sun a day and an average of 7 hours in January.
In April and May temperatures average 23-26C, around 27C in the summer and even around 21C in November.
There is very little rainfall, most of which falls in December.

There are lots of bargain holidays around for the whole family to enjoy the enchanting island of Cyprus.

If you are looking for direct holidays to a location steeped in traditional, you won’t be disappointed with Pissouri.

Ayia Napa is one of the most popular resorts on the picturesque Mediterranean island of Cyprus, particularly popular with the 18-30 year olds who are looking for a fun packed holiday with great clubbing experiences.

Ayia Napa, although renowned for it’s club scene, is also a great resort for family holidays, with a beautiful beach and lots of child friendly areas.

For more information why not take a look at this interesting and informative destination guide to Ayia Napa which will give you an insight into this perfect holiday destination.

Trevor Butler set up his first ‘travel’ related business in 2004 and has written many other destination articles with tips and information. I have found these articles both interesting and helpful, hope you do too.

If you are looking for cheap holidays to Cyprus, there are always great offers throughout the internet.