Cyprus Advice Please

[Cudz]

I am considering Cyprus for our summer holiday. I've never been before but I'm looking for a nice family resort (dc 10) near a beach but also one where we can venture off for a day or two to explore the local culture and area. I'd like a family hotel as dc is only child so can make friends by the pool hopefully, but if possible I'd like to avoid the mega hotels with the water slides, etc. Would either want all inclusive or half board. Ive been looking online but i cant find what i want and my brain is frazzled. All recommendations welcome. Thank you so much! X

It will be hot, think mid thirties and more.

We loved Cyprus when we went in October, you can do and see a lot but I wouldn‘t want to do this in the heat.

We stayed at the Aphrodie Hills, that is not on the beach and was the only reason we wouldn‘t go again. It‘s part of the Atlantica group, they do have other hotels as well.

We have stayed at The Avanti Village, Paphos, a few times and can highly recommend. We've only done breakfast there, but I think you can do half board as they have a sister hotel right next to it. They have a fab poolside restaurant for lunch and there are loads of places to eat nearby, and the marina is a walk/taxi away and has lots of choice.

It's not a huge resort but very kid friendly with different size pools. There is a small local beach but easy to get a taxi to others.

Can highly recommend Jimmy's Jeep safaris as a way of seeing loads in one day. We've done 2 different trips with him and they are fantastic fun.

Summer will be v hot, but we've been in July/Aug and loved it!

@Ifulikepinacoladas we stayed at the Avanti - the sister hotel to the Avanti Village - and would definitely recommend it

We loved the Louis Phaethon Beach in Paphos. The rooms are a good size and well decorated. There are 2 pools, one with water slides (but not a full on water park) and the food is fabulous.

Protaras is very family friendly. Capo bay is central and the boulevard has restaurants and kids are hinge to do like a Luna park and rides. You can drive off to any village and there will be great tavernas for evening meals. Don't be scared of doing that- it's where the Cypriots would go. Paphos is lovely too, a nice harbour and restaurants. Again, the main strip is touristy so foods will be various cuisines. The beaches are blue water with white sand in Protaras. Paphos has more pebbly beaches.
Larnaca is okay for hotels, still nice but I wouldn't say much to do in the way of touristy things. Cyprus is so safe and good food, so feel free to venture around.

Booked to go mid September, yesterday. Can't wait. Staying just along from Limassol. Can't wait.

Been there at least ten times and with kids / grandparents and multi family groups.

I love Polis and Latchi area the best. There are not that many reasonable places on the beach and I have always opted for a Villa and car as it's been convenient (drive on same side etc) and gets us to lots of different beaches / day trips etc.
Look around Coral Bay a bit further away if you would rather just be beach / Pool and not drive.

Polis is the town for eating in evening, lots of lovely little celebrations locally at that time of year. There is a Facebook page for the area. Latch is also bars and eating but additionally a good place for boat trip or to rent a boat reasonably. We always do and it's simple to drive with an easy to follow map.
Restaurant we love are Moustikalis in Polis, Yannis and Peter in Latchi but there are loads of lovely roadside or hillside villages that all have little tavernas with specialties.

I remember a great set of villas called Olive Grove and if a hotel is for you Souli on Latchi beach is simple but homely and family run.

Thank you all. I've been looking at the Paphos area. Has anyone stayed at Alexander the great hotel? The tripadvisor reviews look good x

My in laws have - vg hotel, good location too.

@ShanghaiDiva oooh excellent thank you. That seems to tally up with all of the good tripadvisor reviews. Was it recently that they went? X

Afraid that we did not rate the Alex, didn't live up to its hype and the sunbeds are practically touching the neighbours! We love the Avanti a lot better. Paphos is nice but the beaches are not up to much, we now stay in Protaras, we love it so much more, the beaches are just beautiful . Maybe look at Sunrise Beach or Oasis hotels.

We are going at end of June, it will be hot, hot, hot, love it😎

We stayed here in Aya Napa, was lovely, but it was 35 degrees in October! So be warned

Atlantica SunGarden Beach in Ayia Napa | TUI.co.uk

Paphos is a much better area for sightseeing than protaras. Lots more to see and do, more history and archaeological sites to explore.

I stayed in fig tree bay and we really struggled to find anywhere that was good to eat out. beaches are a bit better on the east side (paphos doesn’t have mainly pebble beaches, they’re sandy) but it’s incredibly touristy round protaras - not many authentic Cypriot taverns to be found. Perfectly fine if you just want to lie on a beach but Cyprus is a beautiful country with a lot to explore. Next time I go I’ll be heading back to the paphos side.

I second jimmy’s jeep tour too

Feb 2020 I think.