To feel so disappointed I can't get in the pool

Had a lovely holiday but lesson learned. Heated outdoor pools only if not going in Summer as although it may not bother everyone it was disappointing for us

Glad it worked out on the whole, @Pikola, but when researching for future holidays do watch out for places which advertise heated pools when actually they mean they're solar heated ... in other words not at all except by the sun, so are pretty well unusable in winter/spring

Admittedly it was some time ago but I've been caught like that myself, and to my mind it's false advertising

For future holidays pick (1) a proper winter sun destination and (2) a hotel with a heated pool

just because it’s sunny now doesn’t mean that’s the norm for this time of year and it was a risk IMO. Just be glad there’s sun and sit back relax on the lounger

I love Cyprus, been there loads of times

I’ve swum in my pool in the Uk when the water is 15 degrees. It’s cold but ok for a quick swim while you are moving. It’s definitely not leisurely though. As others have said - always check whether it’s heated because unless you’re into July/aug abroad, a non heated pool will be very cold.

Performative holidaying at its finest…

Have you got any idea where Paphos is in relation to Nissi Beach ffs?

We had this in Greece once in early April. I hadn’t been abroad for so long I didn’t even think about how cold the pools would be so early in the season.

We even had a swim up room for the first time and barely used it because it was too cold. I did force myself to get in the pools a bit to be fair and I had thought ahead enough to have wet suits for the kids but I don’t think I ever worked up the nerve to put my shoulders in 🤣

My mums pool
In the warmest part of Spain is unusable until mid may (if you're a hardy swimmer!) and end of October so not sure what you were expecting TBH.
But I do find, even on the coldest winters day with the sun shining brightly , I've looked at the crystal blue water and thought, 'why not'.

Never been brave enough to try 😝

I agree, the sea at Paphos is lovely, if i remember correctly the beach is called tomb of the kings or something like that.

Book a hotel with a heated pool? Or find one nearby that has one or an indoor one and ask very nicely/pay to use it. The sea will probably be warmer. Our Portugal pool was unusable in September so we went to a nice hotel nearby with an indoor pool they let us use (I have a cute baby I think that helped 😂)

In my experience, pools in southern Europe are hardly ever heated and almost always unusable out of season. It's particular frustrating a bit later into Spring when it might be starting to get really quite warm and it would only take a tiny bit of heating (and therefore little cost) to make them very usable especially if it was eg a air source heat pump. I really don't understand why more hotels/villas in Europe don't want to extend the season of their pools, but there you go.

I'd much rather go in the cold sea than a cold pool.

We had same in Turkey at Easter a few years ago. I managed to swim a bit in my wetsuit. Can you get a cheap wetsuit? Sea was definitely warmer. Have you been in the sea yet?

It will still be too cold to swim . I have pictures of dd on nissi beach as a toddler wearing a fleece jumper and hat 😆

I'm surprised you've even found somewhere with a pool open in feb/early march in Cyprus. I find you can't use pools there except from mid June to end August as the nights can get chilly fast outside of that and the days are pretty short. You will find people swimming in the sea. Mostly Scandinavians though, who are perhaps made of tougher stuff! Maybe head out and start exploring instead. Lots to see and do. You could head up the mountains and maybe even ski or sledge.

Inflatable to float around on while just sticking your arms/legs in.

I think you’d be surprised. I’d categorise my reynaulds as debilitating. So much so they sent me to an and e my hand turns black. They thought my limb was ischemic. They’re unusable when they’re cold which they always are. I’ve been through a battery of tests as they thought it was something more severe. On thermal imaging my left hand stays blue even when exposed to 30 degree heat. So I know what you’re going through. Yes getting in the pool is painful. But once you start moving you warm up. It really improves my symptoms. Swimming is the only thing I can do, my joints won’t allow me to do any other exercise. I was skeptical at first too, but after a couple of lengths you do warm up and it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be. Getting out of the shower/bath at home is worse because you haven’t worked out and got your blood pumping. The pool is actually where I’m warmest (not initially).. from September - May I have to stay under electric blankets most of the day to keep warm even with the heating right up.

I went to Egypt in January and the top temps were 18 degrees. The pool was freezing but I decided to just go for it. The first few seconds were excruciating but once I was in and acclimatised...oh my gosh what a rush! I've never felt so energised. If I could get past that initial discomfort more often, I'd make it a regular thing

Maybe it’s very hot in direct sun but the air temperature is low.

Swimming is good for your circulation and it improves your reynaulds ☺️ I would be debilitated without it. Even on methotrexate, hudroxychloroquine and viagra!

Swimming is good for the circulation.