Cyprus - is it a tacky, package hell or are there nice parts?

[artichokes]

dh has 2 weeks off in early april and cyprus is one of the only places where at that time of year we might get lots of sun without a longhaul flight with two kids aged two and under.

i have never been tempted as hate package destinations.

tell me there are nice bits.

well we have only been to ayia napa wooo wooo
lol
bloody lovely beach though
nice food and good hotels
but i bet there are quiter parts

I am like you. Hate package deals. Yuck! Did go to Paphos once though a couple of years back with a friend. Stayed on the outskirts of the town in a 5 star hotel which had lots of facilities.

Went into Paphos once and promptly left again. Typical brits abroad stuff but the hotel was lovely and I'd go back to it. Excellent facilities for children. Will find the name and post again for you.

Amathus Beach.

We are going to Paphos in April to my mil's apartment.

Went 3 years ago to apts near Coral Beach and tbh it was kinda like anywhere in the sun.

The food was really good tho!! People were lovely too.

We stayed in Polis about 10 yrs ago and that was quiet and unspoilt, dont know what t is like now, nearby Latchi was aslo lolvey with a great sandy beach.
Agree very friendly island and plenty to see and do.

Well I've been living in Cyprus for 2 years, with the forces, and I love it here! April is a good time to come as it's getting warmer but not too hot and humid for the kids.
You'd be best to avoid the touristy spots like central Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca but there are plenty of other areas just beyond them that are really nice, plus it's still low season so you won't get the Brits-abroad overload so much.
Protaras, on the east side is nice as is Latchi on the west, with the gorgeous Akamas peninsula. Coral Bay is also nice with some lovely hotels.
Its definitely worth a day-trip to see Nicosia, especially now the crossing between the Greek and Turkish side being open.
Don't miss a chance to drive up to the Troodos mountains, in spring the blossom is amazing and the pine trees smell wonderful. If we've had any rain by then (and thats a whole other issue!) its the best time to catch the waterfalls, although you have to trek a little to find them.
If you're feeling daring, you could even nip over to the North side, which is very different from the cosmopolitan Greek end- much more a taste of Turkey and a reminder that you're just a stone's throw away fromn the middle east.
I highly reccommend you hire a car as public transport is pretty rubbish.
If you like your history, Kourion roman remains are worth checking out (my kids 7 & 3 love running about amongst the old stone temples) and the beach under there is lovely with some cool cafes.
The Tombs of the Kings outside Paphos is also fascinating, but a bit more a child-control nightmare with large pits just begging to be fallen into!
The Cypriots are very laid back about many things, including health and safety issues, so just take care!
Bear in mind, though, that its not cheap to eat and shop out here - Cyprus is a pretty prosperous country anyway, and the strength of the Euro means your pound doesn't go very far. On the plus side, the people are very friendly, especially with kids (if you have blondes or redheads they'll get endless fuss and freebies!) and the crime-rate is incredibly low.
If you need to know anymore, just ask!

Second Polis/Latchi too. Pissouri nice as well. Anassa Hotel very good as is the Columbia Beach Hotel.

Just back from Xmas in Cyprus! Stayed at Le Meridian Limassol, great if you fancy some pampering (incredible spa~) and excellent kid's facilities - pools, kid's club, bowling, crazy golf etc. Limassol is not my cup of tea but we just wanted to relax so stayed in the resort apart from a trip to the troodos mountain - very pretty, and to pissouri bay, also very nice.
Like Aphrodite (love your name!) I found things to be quite expensive with the strength of the Euro.

If you're looking for sunshine at that time of year, malta is nice or you could try the Canary islands?

Coral bay is lovely and not far to transfer from Paphos.

Lovely beach, town has a good range of restaurants but not too big or commercialised.

Thanks for all this advice.

Aphrodite - your description has really made me want to go now! The blossoms and waterfalls and ruins all sound great.

So can anyone recommend a lovely, child friendly place to say in one of the quieter areas? We can afford somewhere quite nice .

Watching this thread with interest as desperate for some sunshine and looking for similar thing at similar time - April, non package, warm/hot, not too far, not tacky.

DD will be nearly 3 and I'll be 30 weeks pg and hoping they'll let me fly.

Was thinking Turkey as we used to live there and know the language but worried it won't really be warm enough....

2nd vote for Protaras

specially if you are going as a family.

it's a nice short journey from aiport. under 1 hr. just book car hire as it's left hand drive and signs are pretty easy.

the bus on a package holiday to cyprus is the trip from hell. over 1 hr to get to anywhere family friendly.

personally you would be aswell getting travel agent to book you flights and hotel accomodation seperate and get car hire.

it's a really gorgoeous little island to drive round in a day if you already have car and kids are getting bored of beach.

there's a moderate priced hotel called anais bay which is right beside a little cove beach. family run. not got loads of big fancy swish facilities. but it does have a super clean pool and walking distance to a few shops and restaurants. and you can drive (if your too lazy to walk) to the centre of Protaras if you want to be in amoung the hussle bussle.

i like the peace and night away from the hussle bussle to hear the waves just outside the window.the staff here will treat you like a memeber of family. amazing service.