A lot of ExPats hit the Pafos areas but they also go all over the rest of the island.

Its more a case of what do you want rather than what can we tell you !

Paphos (Pafos) tends to have a little more going on during the winter months compared to say Protaras, but as I said it depends on what you want in the first place.

Steve

I have read elsewhere that Larnaca is quiet and more residential and Paphos more cultural but I have found a great deal on the San Remo hotel in Larnaca which is swaying me the other way. What is the drive time from Larnaca to Paphos? It's my parents first holiday in 17 years and they have left it to me to organise, the responsibility is killing me

Hi, if you're doing DIY you could always book a week in each. That would give you more choice of flights as well, as you could fly to either airport and pick up a car for the duration. The driving time between the 2 airports is about 1.5 hours and the road is very good.

paphos is best

From my personal point of view:

I don't see Paphos as being cultural other than a couple of rock tombs and some mosaics, there is little of traditional Cyprus left in the tourist resort itself. I find it more like a British seaside resort but with more chance of sunshine, these days. They have almost completed the seafront renovations now and it is a big improvement.

If you want culture and true "life" then you are more likely to find it in Larnaca and Limassol. Limassol has been having the seafront worked on over the last year or so and the whole tourist resort runs for around 15k along the sea. It has a mix of old and new with a pedestrianised shopping area in the old town with the fruit & veg market (close to the bus station). Larnaca has a lovely palm tree lined seafront promenade at Finikoudes with a shopping street just one or two streets back from the seafront.

Limassol is the most central tourist location on the island and is easily reached from either airport by car so is ideal for tourists who want to visit the whole of the island.

A drive to the eastern end (Ayia Napa, Protaras etc) will take a little over an hour at most and to the west (Paphos) is slightly less than an hour.

If you want more laid back in the western end of the island, then I would suggest Polis or Latsi although they too are getting more and more residential.

Don't forget to take a trip into the interior of the island to see the mountain villages carrying on as if there is nothing outside of their little haven. Each village has it's traditional old charabanc bus, the old ladies dressed in black carrying tree branches and God knows what else. I've seen 80yr old women up ladders pulling carobs out of the trees while the men sit in the coffee shops putting the world to rights.

Stop off, say hello to the local residents - get invited in for Kafes....

Have fun!
CwB

Protras

For touring all the island it's got to be either Larnaca or Limassol, Limassol being the more central, but I hate the place so can't/won't recommend it.

We love Larnaca, staying there every time we are over.
We do DIY, a 2 centre DIY to be precise. One week in Larnaca, one week in Pissouri. That could be worth considering.

For touring the island, no-nos would be (IMHO) Polis/Latchi; Protaras/Pernera/Paralimni; Ayia Napa - and probably Paphos, all due to there geographical positions.

Mark

Whats wrong with Pafos, Pernera etc?.. we have driven between them with no problems or are you saying as places to buy property ?

Steve

I'm saying as places to tour the island from.
Pernera to Polis and back, plus having a look around - in a day.
Paphos to Dheryneia and back, plus having a look round - in a day.
Not too relaxing.

Somewhere more central makes sense.

Mark