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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Is Paphos, Cyprus really, really bad for a family holiday ?

59 replies

AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 01:27

Is it full of spewing teenagers and discarded condoms ?

Or ok for a family holiday with a couple of teenagers ? Be honest please, nothing is booked...

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Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 17:02

GetOrf, I also have "issues" with the Middle east Smile

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GetorfsaMotherfuckingMorrisMan · 07/01/2013 17:03

Though - july in Cyrpus will be hot. It was over 40 when I went in August one year. (Limassol - it was a dump, and expensive)

GetorfsaMotherfuckingMorrisMan · 07/01/2013 17:08

You saying Greece has made me look at Greek islands.

I really fancy going there in the summer. Symi, or Santorini. Or Kos. I went to Aegina about 20 years ago but can't find any company which offers that island now (can't be arsed with doing it individually, I don't want adventures).

God I never thought I would say that. I just want to be a dull sheep now on holiday. Someone else can think for me!

SecretSquirrels · 07/01/2013 17:12

Went to Protaras 4 years ago. Beaches crap, small and scruffy. Resort cheesier than cheese. Think "Only Fools and Horses" bar and Tribute acts. The boys loved it

Paphos is very refined compared with Protaras.
I too have issues with Egypt and Turkey.
DH and I used to go to little idyllic Greek islands with nothing to do and only one bar. The kids would hate it though.

Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 17:12

I am going more sheeplike, tbh

I used to book everything separately and always went self catering. Now I want it all done for me, food and drink included Grin

Have never been to Cyrpus, and I keep coming back to it

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bigTillyMint · 07/01/2013 17:12

AF, I am watching this - I too have teens who want AI, and a DH who wants to keep the costs down!

We did Sharm last year which ticked all the boxes for the DC and was very cheap. It was in the 40's but was not unbearably hot as long as you didn't move far from a parasol by the pool or beach and the aircon was great!

Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 17:14

oh noooo, SS, I thought I might have cracked it with Protaras

all the bumf says the beaches along that coast are lovely < grr >

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Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 17:14

not doing Middle east for political reasons, Tilly

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Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 17:16

could reconsider Turkey, I s'pose

teenage dd is 2 years older than last time we went and should be better able to fend off the constant in-yer-face sexual attention she got from the sleazebag blokes

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Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 17:17

I like weather

not hiding away from it in aircon buildings

I am always fucking freezing in air con'd hotels....I end up needing my duffle coast when it's gorgeous outside

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chipsandpeas · 07/01/2013 17:17

protaras is much better than paphos imo, the beaches are lovely and plenty of watersport stuff to do, boat trips as well
plenty of bars and resturants as well from memory the chinese and the indian on the main strip done lovely meals

Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 17:19

I need to stop asking for opinions really, like arseholes everyone has one (but keep 'em coming...)

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MikeLitoris · 07/01/2013 17:21

The beach in protaras is lovely.

I have loads of pics.

It will be busy and very hot in july.

The resort isnt the classiest of places but if you want somewhere chilled but lively enough for teens I dont think you can go far wrong.

Water park nearby too.

BlingBubbles · 07/01/2013 17:22

We went to paphos in the summer with my then 1yr old Dd, we loved it! It is super hot so most days we just spent it jn the pool, the water park is loads of fun and dd loved it. There are some lovely restaurants along the harbour front. We hired a car and drove around the island, it was lovely. DH had been to Ayai napa in his single days and said paphos was nothing like that, I think it's definitely aimed at the family market.

SecretSquirrels · 07/01/2013 17:37

The beach in Protaras is too small for the number of visitors IMO. If it was empty it would be ok.
Beaches nearer the dreaded Ayia Napa are better, esp Nissi beach.
We are actually going there in July, very close to the water park. It is a very good water park, though not as good as Siam park according to DS.

We will be a few miles out of Ayia Napa but I plan to take the DSs there one night to show them the dark side. Actually it could not be worse than Blackpool where I made the mistake of visiting last year.
Cyprus will be HOT in July and August which suits me fine.

HousewifeFromHeaven · 07/01/2013 17:46

Lara beach in turkey is great. A strip of 5 star hotel complexes along a lovely beach. We have stayed at the lara beach hotel, and the concord hotel. I fancy the delphin palace this year, or is it the imperial? Hmm, well no matter they're all excellent.

HousewifeFromHeaven · 07/01/2013 17:48

Oh and I've been to paphos too, we stayed at Athena beach I think...it was nice but turkey trumps it because it's a shorter flight Grin

XBenedict · 07/01/2013 17:48

I lived in Cyprus for 3 years (back in the UK for 3 years now). If I was to go back I would stay in Pissouri (just south of Paphos) and stay in the Columbia Beach Resort or Hotel - they are next to each other.

amillionyears · 07/01/2013 17:50

We also went to a holiday park in Corsica, that had soem sprts activities attached to it.

They did speak more French and less English than we expected.
But the part where we went, and I think the whole island ,is safe. A place where they do not lock their doors.
Your DD may have to be a bit prepared to have French boys oggling her there though.

Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 18:10

Oggling is fine (to a point)

Full on sexual harassment, not so much. And it carried on for months after the holiday as she very naively made FB friends with a few of them. I won't tell you what kinds of conversations, pictures and requests were made of her, probably from men with families back "home" while they worked in the resorts.

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Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 18:11

The budget won't stretch to 5 * Sad

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amillionyears · 07/01/2013 18:22

It was limited to oggling where we were.
Hanging around outside our chalet, or watching her at the pool.
There was a great big language barrier!

Original poster
AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 18:29

The language of sleazy bastards is international Smile

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EnjoyResponsibly · 07/01/2013 18:36

Which appt resort in Paphos were you considering AF?

amillionyears · 07/01/2013 18:37

It took us a few days to notice!
The boys were about 14 or 15 years old.
I thought they must of had a chalet near ours!