as a clue to what you like where have you stayed in those countries and liked or disliked

The best beaches are in Protaras & Ayia Napa on the East coast (nearer to Larnaca airport) but I would hardly call either of these resorts "traditional" as they are aimed purely at tourists. Ayia Napa used to have a quiet village square and a nice little harbour but now it's still known as the "clubbing" capital of the island and is a huge resort.

Protaras is a man made resort and the next resort of Paralimni still has some traditional qualities but has blended so much into Protaras, it's difficult to discern where one ends and the other begins.

Dyrenia is still the most traditional place on the Eastern side of the island.

Larnaca is still fairly traditional as a resort but does have a large commercial port and several oil/petrol refineries on the outskirts of the the town centre. Beaches in the south of the island are traditionally dark sand or shingle/pebble beaches with the exceptions of Ay Napa & Protaras.

Limassol (the central part of the island) is easily accessible from either Larnaca or Paphos airports - still has a traditional "old town" with pedestrianised shopping streets, tavernas by the Castle and the old port. Beaches in this area are dark sand or shingle. The resort stretches along the seafront for approx 12km with hotels ranging from 2* to 5* - so you do have a choice of amenities. It's a cosmopolitan location and also an industrial city on its' own merits. It provides both holiday pursuits and a living, breathing city life to support its' resident workers and unlike Ay Napa or Protaras, does not rely solely on tourism to support a daily life.

Pissouri is a traditional village perched high on a hillside and within easy distance from Paphos airport. It has typical village tavernas but also residential estates are escalating from the outskirts of the main village square. The beach is a pebble beach with some sand, but not much. The views from the top of the resort are fabulous and because of the height, affords some much needed sea breeze in the height of summer. There are some smaller hotels in the middle of the resort and more, upmarket hotels heading towards the beach road (Columbia Hotel & Resort in Pissouri Bay).

Paphos is one of the more popular resorts with UK holiday makers, it combines a traditional old town with a couple of tourist hotels in the older part of town but most large holiday hotels are along the lower part of Paphos (Kato Paphos). The hotels line the resort beaches (dark sand and shingle mostly) from the airport side of Paphos to the harbour area with its fort and tavernas. From the other side of the harbour there is Tombs of the Kings Road, which houses hotels and apartment complexes galore, which continues out and along Coral Bay. Beaches are better along Coral Bay but cannot compete with those in Protaras or Ayia Napa. Neither Coral Bay or Kato Paphos can be described as "traditional" in any sense of the word (my opinion).
What once was a small tourist town has now escalated to one continuous resort, all competing to offer karaoke, English breakfast and every football game on offer in the bars.

For traditional Cyprus, you should head into the mountain resorts such as Omodos or Platres where the village lifestyle still carries on - but you aren't going to find any beaches there. Saying that, you can be on a beach within 30 - 45 minutes drive from the Troodos villages.

Polis & Latchi (Latsi) on the NW part of the island are probably the more traditional resorts in the Paphos area but the transfer may take a little while as the road is still a winding one that takes you over the mountain road and back down the other side. (Maybe one to think about if you are arriving on a late flight and considering driving yourself). Seaside tavernas along the Latchi coastline, with resort hotels and aparments and Polis being slightly inland set around a village square with traditional tavernas & apartments. Pebble or shingle beaches mainly to be found here.

It really all depends on what is your main priority when making your choice in Cyprus.

I live and work in Limassol and live on the outskirts - not far from Kolossi Castle and Akrotiri RAF base. I've lived here for just over 4yrs and originally came from a town in the North West of UK, not far from Manchester.

CwB

Hello,
All this depends on individual tastes I guess.

A quite area of Cyprus is the north west coast (Akamas peninsula to Pachyammos village). The beaches have dark sand or pebble and you also get a ragged coast, which I enjoy. On the other hand, for white/golden sand calm waters you should head to the south east area of Protaras-Ayia Napa. Now, besides the major towns/resorts, there are other pockets on the coast that are of interest, eg the Pentakomos beaches which are a combo of white rock and dark/sand pebble. You could even choose to stay in a village not far from beaches. Distances are small, but you would probably need at least a moped.

Have fun.

If you need in depth info on Cyprus nature message me

I think anyone that goes to Cyprus with an open mind ends up loving the place ! I've not spoken to everyone thats been but everyone that I have says they loved it and most have gone back (and back and back.. and back.. )

Steve

I think anyone that goes to Cyprus with an open mind ends up loving the place ! I've not spoken to everyone thats been but everyone that I have says they loved it and most have gone back (and back and back.. and back.. )

Steve

Steve,
We did just that

I first came to Cyprus in 1985, staying near the Eko tower not too far from what was Woolworths on the seafront at Limassol (now Debenhams). We stayed for 3wks starting in November and returning to UK only a couple of days before Christmas. It left me with 2 days to get all the food and the christmas tree bought, but we had managed to buy all our Christmas presents whilst on holiday.

I fell in love with Cyprus on the very 1st night. Arriving around 9pm, being able to stand on my balcony in jeans & a T shirt, listening to the peace & quiet as well as being able to see every star in the sky. BLISS.

I came back to Cyprus about 3yrs later and stayed in Ayia Napa towards the end of July - and hated it.

Not totally put off, I came back with my then partner (now my husband) and did another winter holiday of 3wks and stayed in Larnaca. Loved it!

We took lots more holidays between 1992 and 1999 - when we got married at Paphos Town Hall. We stayed mostly between Paphos or Limassol and talked about moving permanently to live here. In 2001, we made our decision and roughly had a date in mind of early 2004. We had some things to sort out before we could move so we couldn't come sooner. During that time, we decided Limassol was more suitable for us than Paphos as we both needed to work. The tourist industry does not pay very well (I was working with a major UK tour operator at this time) so we knew we needed to look at a place that was also a functional town rather than purely just a holiday resort.

We eventually came here in March 2004 and have not looked back. We haven't even been back to UK since we left there, although we have taken holidays elsewhere.

So, to all of those who are coming out on holiday to Cyprus this year - BEWARE!

It can become HIGHLY ADDICTIVE

Have a great time.
Enjoy!

Regards
CwB

So, to all of those who are coming out on holiday to Cyprus this year - BEWARE!

It can become HIGHLY ADDICTIVE

Thanks for the warning,

Great story, bet its like a lot of people on here !

Steve

good for you cyprus100 ..i think that is what most people to do especially me

have been to both Pafos and Protaras..but travelled all over the island i do prefer pafos end of the island ..but love going into the mountains and all the little villages that are there