Planning Our Next Holiday To Cyprus

You may already know that we visited Cyprus in August for the 2nd time and it was amazing. Cyprus was never on my destination list until I won a holiday back in 2014. There was a huge list of places we could choose from and after months of deliberating we chose Cyprus - best decision ever. We stayed at the Malama Beach Holiday Village and it is perfect.

Like I said it wasn't a place we thought we would ever go to as we usually visit Majorca but after hearing so many great things about Cyprus we were really looking forward to it.

When planning a holiday to Cyprus with a family here are the main points to consider.

The Cost

The holiday I won would have cost us over £5,000 for two weeks All Inclusive. To some this may seem reasonable, to others very expensive. Now that I've been to the resort I know how amazing it is and well worth the money. To return again we would have to save for quite some time but for others that may not be an option. Just like car loans and personal loans there are such things as holiday loans which can help you pay for your holiday.

The Flight

The flight time to Cyprus is almost 5 hours. This can be tough with little ones but it can be done. I personally was dreading trying to keep little J entertained for that long, but with the right supplies (iPad, music, books, crayons and cuddly toy) he was great. He slept some of the way to and also we booked a meal onboard. I am not a lover of the food onboard but it does break the time up a little. We flew in to Larnaca Airport which was about 40 minutes drive to our resort.

We booked our flight separately and it was so much cheaper doing it this way than booking a package holiday.

The Resort

I feel we just touched lucky with our resort because we had no idea where it was but it was perfect for families. We stayed in Paralimni which was just a bus ride away Protaras. The whole area felt safe to walk around, most of the local residents speak english which does make a huge difference and it was really clean. Although we were all inclusive we did use local bars and restaurants too which were lovely.

We did visit Protaras a few times which was busier than our resort so was just nice to visit for a day out. Also it had a McDonalds which big J was happy about.

The Hotel

Lots of activities to keep the kids and adults entertained

When booking a holiday with a family in tow I think it is so important to ensure the hotel has enough facilities to keep your little ones entertained. I'm not a big fan of holiday creches as you are on a family holiday so you shouldn't be popping your children into a babysitting service but I think kids clubs are great. They do structured activities which not only allow your children to have lots fun but it also lets them make new friends to.

Attractions

Beautiful Sights

Before you travel do a little google search of local attractions that you can visit. Most hotels will offer trips to the usual such as water parks and shopping but its nice to dig out less popular attractions. We have always found that excursions provided by the hotels or tour operators can be very costly and there is usually a cheaper way to visit.

 There are some fantastic sights in Cyprus and our favourite was just a beach called Fig Tree Bay. It is absolutely stunning and perfect for all ages.

Duration

Cyprus is really hot. When we visited in July/August it was way in to the 40's. Obviously having children we were a little worried about the heat but we managed it well and stayed away from the sun when it was at it's hottest. Having said that when we go next time I would probably just go for 10 nights rather than a full two weeks. Towards the end I know big J and I were struggling a little with the heat but little J and Daddy seemed to love it. The hotter the better. I do think the duration of your stay is important and definitely something to think of if you are travelling with small children or babies.

Are you planning a trip to Cyprus soon?

Do you have any tips?

*collaborative post*