Location, location, location!
Cyprus sits at the furthest eastern point of the Mediterranean sea and benefits from everything that makes the Mediterranean lifestyle so desirable. Great climate all year round – the highest count of blue flag beaches, terrific fresh food and warm hospitality from the residents,
Cyprus has a range of festivals and enough sports and ancient history to cater for all types of interest. The cherry on top? Before you get uncomfortable or the kids become frustrated you will have arrived, because unlike other destinations in Europe, Cyprus is only 4.5 hours from Dubai and 3.5 back. Land at the main Larnaka International airport and Larnaka itself is a mere 10 minutes away. In no time you can exploreits beach and enjoy the promenade for a casual stroll, or even step into the Church of St Lazarus to experience how wonderfully preserved it is while locals pay their respects around you. For a livelier area head to McKenzie Beach where several beach bars are back to back.
Family 4 & 5 Star resorts:
Cyprus has the complete range of hotels on offer for every budget. Superb family premium all-inclusive resorts exist such as the Louis St Elias resort and Water park. This is a village style complex which holds numerous awards and has great children’s entertainment facilities, and separate villas with pools. The St. Elias chapel is a short walk away and provides a great view, all overlooking Protaras bay and it is only a 15 minutes’ walk from Fig Tree beach which is ranked 4th among the 25 top beaches in Europe. Protaras is only 10 minutes by shuttle from the [famous] party capital Ayia Napa which has the best beaches in Cyprus, visit and sit in one of its beach bars to watch a majestic sunset before getting the shuttle back to the resort.
Konnos beach Protaras
Limassol’s old world charms:
Travel west to Limassol for the all year-round destination for its old and new marinas and walk around it old town to discover the network of back streets, each with their own historical charm or just pass the day away by strolling down the beach promenade to your heart’s content. The promenade leads right into the old and new marina. Venture slightly inland you will be greeted with a maze of interesting streets to explore. Most of the restaurants are nestled around the marina and the Castle.
The very long Limassol beach promenade
Limassol has recently added the Park Lane as part of the Marriott’s Luxury Collection. This must be the most luxurious hotel on the island and lives up to its Park Lane moniker. It boasts several pools; a large garden adorned by tall palm trees, al fresco restaurants, a beautiful sea view, and a collection of private villas all with pools with interior decoration by Harrods interiors no less. The overall effect is one of class and impeccable presentation throughout from the moment you step inside. It makes us wonder if it is not time properties in this league where awarded a 6th star.
The Park Lanes adult pool
If you can only pass through Limassol, then dinner at the Park Lane is a must where you can choose from no less than 7 restaurants and a collection of 40,000 bottles of wine kept on the property. We recommend an aperitif in the lounge and then retire to the terrace after dinner for cocktails to soak up the Park Lane atmosphere to sound of the sea gently crashing behind you. Step outside and there are plenty of fantastic local restaurants to choose from too. Of course, you could always chose one of the private villas should you require a little more room to yourself.
The villas offer a supreme level of privacy for the discerning guest
Pafos steals the show‒ here you can see some of the most well-preserved Roman villa remains the world has to offer at the Pafos archaeological park. Marvel at the hilltop amphitheatre high above the sea with fantastic acoustics. Take your lunch down by the traditional harbour and then take a walk along the promenade. Pafos has a great coastal road that is well worth taking the drive to find Aphrodite’s mythical birth place. Aphrodite’s mythical birthplace is an interesting geological formation of huge rocks along one the most beautiful coastlines on the island, located on the southwest coast of the Pafos district. According to the legend, the Ancient Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty – Aphrodite – was born of the sea foam here, that she arose from the waves and was escorted on a shell to this particular beach.
Byzantine History
Petra tou Romiou, the birth place of Aphrodite
Temple of the kings
Kourion Amphitheatre
Round-off the experience by staying in the brand new 5-star (opened 2019) Louis Ivi Mare. The hotel is decorated in a modern minimalist design with a sense of space no matter where you are. Keep walking a little further and the lobby reception opens to large terrace overlooking a beautiful view of one of the longest pools we have ever seen with the Mediterranean right in front of you. The rooms are ample in size , share the same view and come with balcony space to enjoy the sunset and revel in your travels. Take your breakfast on the ground floor overlooking the pool for a magnificent way to start the next part of your journey.
Straight from the reception to terrace at Louis Ivi Mare
The Louis Ivi Mare
Cheese heaven and the Troodos mountains:
If you have time visit Pissouri village (between Limassol & Paphos) to see Haloumi cheese being made, buy it fresh, then travel to the Troodos mountains, marvelling at the vineyards, ancient stone bridges and stunning views, and spend hours in the traditional villages and see Lefkara for the famous embroidery for a truly authentic end to your Cyprus experience. If you don’t have time to do it all, relax and come back next year, it’s only a short flight away
Explore picturesque villages to your hearts content
