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Cyprus is a great place to escape the harsh British spring
To a family who had been in Cyprus for just half an hour, the comparison seemed a little disappointing.
We had, after all, been expecting some winter sun and a whiff of the exotic from an island that actually lies closer to Turkey (which controls the northern part) than it does to the Greek mainland.
Of course, Nigel (the driver) hadn’t meant that we could look forward to power suits, strikes and synth-pop, but rather that we’d be able to enjoy a simpler way of life, with friendly locals and safe family fun during the half term.
Still, our ideas of adventure came under constant attack from hangovers of historic British rule, and, with branches of Costa Coffee and left-hand drive (not to mention Nigel), we still felt close to home in spite of the four-hour flight.
That quickly changed upon arrival at our home for the week in the Aphrodite Hills resort, a sprawling site in the countryside just outside the town of Paphos.
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Cyprus’ atmosphere is akin to that of a more relaxed Britain
A twisting drive took us past crooked olive and carob trees clinging to the hillside, while oranges and lemons spilled from branches in every courtyard.
Thick rosemary bushes studded with powder blue flowers made everything smell good enough to eat, and we quickly found ourselves a long way from Britain of any era.
We stayed in one of the resort’s villas, situated on the same site as a five-star sister hotel, Aphrodite Hills Hotel by Atlantica, complete with an impressive and newly-renovated PGA national golf course and The Retreat Spa.
Opening the door to a cool white marble residence felt like the start of our own Cypriot story, and catching first sight of the pristine infinity pool overlooking the ocean was a moment to savour (or commit to Instagram).
The presence of a full outdoor kitchen and shower gave a hint as to just how hot it gets here in Summer (40°C is the standard, with more than 300 days of sunshine), and, for the months when the mercury is rising, this set-up would be a dream for family holidays.
The Aphrodite Hills resort also has an impressive selection of kids’ activities, including tennis and soccer academies and even a riding school.
It was the riding that provided a memorable afternoon for us, and while our children loved trotting around on the ponies, it was the area itself that impressed my wife and I.
The school lies in the forest of Lakkos Tou Frangou, 10 minutes from the resort along a rocky road that once connected the towns of Paphos and Limassol.
Aphrodite Hills, in the area of Kouklia, is a short drive from both. Our guide described the difference between the two areas as such: Paphos represents the old Cyprus, with Limassol the younger, cooler cousin.
Paphos, he continued, was little more than a fishing village 20 years ago, something that has certainly changed with building work almost everywhere you look.
That’s not to say it’s lost the old charm – it was last year’s European Capital of Culture, no less – and there’s plenty left to discover without venturing too far.
We poked around the Tombs of the Kings, a huge necropolis carved into the rock that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Paphos has apparently been very quickly growing as a town
The 4th-century tombs have bags of Indiana Jones-style excitement for visitors and provide an amazing backdrop for an afternoon of adventures, at just €2.50.
Cyprus also claims to be the birthplace of Aphrodite, ancient Greek goddess of love, and, with just a short drive between the two, you can take in both her temple and her “rock”, a sea stack that makes for some dramatic photos.
After a dash of local history and scenery, the only thing left for the full Cypriot experience seemed to be the food, and we went in search of an authentic taverna.
A tip led us to Agora in Paphos, a restaurant tucked above another restaurant, which seems to live in fear of customers leaving hungry.
The amount of food offered was incredible, and, with no menu (the only question was meat or no meat) it’s hard to say exactly what we ate other than to confirm it was utterly delicious and inexpensive.
So while Cyprus has plenty of flashes of home for any visiting Brits, it doesn’t take much effort to find something more authentic and enjoy your own Cypriot adventure.
Top 10 things to do in Cyprus
1 Book a treatment at The Retreat Spa by Atlantica Hotels. The full body massage will leave you perfectly chilled.
2 Horse around. The Aphrodite Hills Riding Club is situated in gorgeous countryside (aphrodite hillsridingclub.com).
3 Visit the Tombs of the Kings. These underground tombs are impressive and extensive enough for an afternoon’s fun.
4 Head to the Temple of Aphrodite. If you can’t get enough of the goddess of love then visit her rock, too.
5 Have a paddle at Coral Bay. Sandy beaches aren’t easy to come by here, but this one close to Paphos is a beauty.
6 For a taste of local history, visit Limassol Castle. According to legend, Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre here and crowned her queen of England.
7 Make a splash at Fasouri Watermania. This waterpark is huge and, when the heat hits, it’s buckets of fun (fasouri-watermania.com/en/).
8 Stroll round Limassol Marina. It’s the perfect place for a long, relaxing lunch in the sunshine in one of its restaurants.
9 Check out Paphos Castle. With a bridge over the water and sea views, this picture perfect little fort is fun for families.
10 Drive to the village of Omodos, in the mountains for a taste of “old Cyprus”.
EasyJet (easyjet.com) flies daily from London Gatwick to Paphos. Return economy fares start from £120pp. Junior two-bedroom villas at the Aphrodite Hills resort (aphroditehills.com/Aphrodite-hills, +357 26 828000) are available from €250 (approximately £223) per night. HolidayExtras.com offers car hire at thousands
of holiday destinations, as well as a huge choice of travel extras, including UK and international airport lounges. To book car hire from Paphos Airport, from £78.69 a week (fuel full to full), visit holidayextras.com or call 0800 1313 777.
