As bookings for holidays in Cyprus are 30% down due to the financial problems and the Euro exchange rate, I think you will be OK to leave booking until late. You could always book flights separately and then make a direct booking with the hotel. They will perhaps give you a better offer.
Carol

Hi Steve,

It's all a bit of a gamble on knowing when to chance your arm this year.

We were monitoring prices from January for our holiday in late April on all major operators websites. Nothing really changed for a few weeks, then in February, Thomas Cook suddenly offered 2 weeks self catering at £330 per head at the Seagull in Pernera. Jumped at it. Then within two weeks they were offering other deals (albeit in Ayia Napa) for as little as £230 per head for 2 weeks. of course if we'd have waited knowing our luck the holidays would have sold out. Now prices are back around £330 again.

I would suggest keeping an eye on Olympic, Cook, First Choice (other oprators are available!) and seeing how the prices go. Then hope you time it right!

regards,

Richie

thanks for the replies!

we've been checking prices for months now and they have stayed around 1700-1750 mark each for 3 weeks all inc, for a couple of months

Just checked on Olympic website. They have the Isaac apartments for £824 total for three weeks mid August, 1 bedroom apt,self catering. If you could find reasonable flights that might be an option. There are others on there as well, we always find their prices good. Our daughter stayed at the Isaac last year and said it was fine. Aircon is extra I think and you would have to pay for transfers or hire a car. Good luck with your search, hope you don't have to go for the AI, I really look forward to all the meals we have out. Incidentally there is a good taverna opposite Isaac called Ifalos, we had some great meals there last September.

thanks for that but its still costly...

800 each ?.. plus transfers, plus air con (a must, are they portable units then as I thought under Cypriot rules they couldn't charge if it was built in ?) and then flights which at that time of year cost us 600+ last year... thats something like 1500 each ?... (its late and my maths goes to sleep) so thats 3000 before you spend on 3 weeks of eating and drinking (which at a rough calculation I looked at a receipt from last year, 2 meals, 2 drinks was about 27 euros so call it 30 for a meal (I said this is rough) 2 meals a day makes 60 + 10 for breakfasts, 70 and drinks lets say 10 each (water, pop and beer over the day and night) at €3 a drink so thats another (10x2)x3 €60 (add that to the 70) is 130 a day x 21.... (rough I said.. rough.. averaging out etc, trips, cheaper meals, more expensive)..= €2700 add the 3000..!!

and we can see all inclusive at 1750x2 = 3500 plus a bit of spending for trips and some meals out...

cor that seems a lot... ...

Steve

CY i think you will find its only A class apart hotels and official 4&5 star that have to include A/C in the price

yasus
wizard

No, it's £824 total cost for the accommodation, not each , take a look at the website and others e.g Travelsupermarket, Thomson etc. AI might still come in cheaper, but it's worth a look.

ah right thanks....

I've stayed at the Isaacs a few times, you dont pay for aircon, they just take a deposit off you for the remote control and you get it back at the end of your stay, think it was 10 euros. Great place to stay by the way.

Steve, try Travel Republic - they have a sale on

Marion

thanks for the updates and the new link !...

Just out of interest I had a look at the Travel Republic site.
I can book the same holiday (same flights and same hotel) that I booked with First Choice but it would cost me about £300 more.
Not quite the 'discount' you'd expect, especially bearing in mind that bookings to Cyprus are at least 30 percent down this year. A friend in the industry over there also tells me that UK tour operators are really putting the squeeze on them to lower their rates and Cypriot operators are starting to target the Russian market now in order to try to make up the shortfall from UK bookings

I booked with First Choice last July incidentally, only a few weeks after getting home and in fact they increased the price because of the fuel surcharges in place then which makes it the most expensive holiday I'll have had in Cyprus.

I suspect a 'last minute' deal might be cheaper as the tour operators know if they don't sell a holiday it's gone forever but there's always an element of 'pot luck' and you don't necessarily get the holiday you want.

I'm keeping an open mind this year but I hear that prices in Cyprus are now very high which will probably make for an expensive break.

Being almost sacriligeous, Northern Cyprus is looking VERY attractive in terms of cost!!

i have just spent a good hour on various tour operator websites trying to nail what i would call a fair price for a holiday in protaras. So far compared to other countries its coming out at about £700 more and thats with daft o clock flights. i so want to book but it seems 2 weeks in a lesser property than last years choice (rising star) with poor flight times is almost £1000 more expensive than last year and thats before even discussing the state of the euro i have noticed too having posting on here for 4 years that its never been as quiet and maybe even the cyprus regulars are starting to deflect anybody else noticed this? anyway still hoping for a deal that will take me back as i have been practising lots more karoake songs to destroy and nooooo! i'm not to blame for the demise!

Hi davetraceyuk,
We had been going to cyprus for the last 3 years. We have found prices dear for this year and as you say what with the euro being bad its not good. We are going to turkey this year (no euro) but are hearts are in cyprus. We also thought is has been quiet on the posting front. Hope you can found a good deal and happy holidays

I booked the Med Beach Hotel for the May half term. Itried to add my mum to the booking and Thomas Cook said they only had a sea view room left and it would be 800. instead of 600. Then my daughter decided to come and TC still wanted 850 each for them.

We booked through Future Travel in the end and although they are on a different flight to us by 2 hours we managed to get it for 613.

So it does not always pay to leave it late for school holidays.

Are you sure that your singing isn't to blame Dave?
I'm sure Panikos had the FOR SALE sign up last week.
Trev

Hi Shoestring, I know my singing isn't to blame as Panikos once said to me " when you sing dave, i get strong emotional feelings that make me want to cry, when does your plane leave?" .....obviously he is gutted by the thought of me no longer gracing his stage. I have rang him recently regarding his " for sale" sign. its all a misunderstanding really....he is selling his yacht and the sign should read............... " FOR SAIL"

I Think I Got A Good Late Deal, Booked Yesterday For Saturday 4th July 1 Week, 2 Return Flights With Monarch £152 Each And 1 Week Bed And Breakfast At Hotel Nereus £128 Each, Could Have Got Much Cheaper Accommodation But Like The Look Of This Hotel, Booked Both Through Monarch Website

Just got a last minute deal to the Artemis Hotel in Protaras.

7 nights S/C - £189 pp.

Night flight but not too bothered for the price paid.