Best Places to Stay For Different Kind of Travellers

With this thought in mind this breaks down travellers into groups, examines their likely requirements and then makes accommodation suggestions accordingly.

Families

Family groups with children in tow will most likely be seeking that elusive mix of fun and activity coupled with peace and relaxation. There are a number of hotels and holiday villages that have been established with the family in mind and they lay on plenty of activities for the excitable children and the more active adults in the group and yet they offer areas for quiet time, beach time and sun bathing peace time.

One of the best hotels for children is Club Acapulco. Located about 15 minutes drive from the main harbour town of Kyrenia this completely self contained hotel and holiday bungalow complex. It has its own beach, pools and sport equipment for children with separate pool and sport areas for parents and adults seeking that little bit of ‘me’ time away from the children.

The complex also offers child care facilities, kids clubs, organised activities for young and old...and then at the end of the day when the little ones are tucked up in bed adults can go out and enjoy the onsite wining, dining, dancing and casino facilities, safe in the knowledge that someone else is keeping an ear and an eye on the children.

Another alternative might be any one of the holiday villages in Northern Cyprus, from Pitoresk to Mountain View, from Almond Holiday Village to Riverside or Pine Bay. All offer fairly standard accommodation on a B & B, self catering or in some cases, even half board basis. They have pool and poolside activities for children, they have bars, restaurants and peaceful sun loungers for the adults.

Couples

For a romantic getaway couples might like to consider any one of the elegant and luxury hotels in Northern Cyprus like The Colony Hotel or The Rocks Hotel in Kyrenia, both of which offer grand five star world-class facilities and accommodation, sumptuous dining and understated and sophisticated entertainment.

For a secret romantic hideaway, couples travelling to Northern Cyprus and seeking best places to stay could consider renting their own villa for the duration of their stay. You can select your ideal location, from Ozankoy to Bellapais, from Esentepe to Edremit and everywhere else besides. You can also request any specific facilities required like hot tub, swimming pool, satellite TV and air conditioning. And you can book the whole thing on line with ease and comfort.

The Business Traveller

Those travelling to the island on business will probably have a set destination in mind from Kyrenia to Lefkosa or even Famagusta. The main towns in Northern Cyprus all offer a range of quality accommodation with the facilities likely to impress the business traveller.

If you need conference or meeting facilities seek one of the five star hotels in and around Kyrenia you have fantastic choice. Consider Rocks, Colony, Jasmine Court or the Dome, alternatively Merit Crystal Cove and the LA Hotel in Lapta also provide the business traveller with a range of first class conference facilities coupled with resort excellence.

In Famgusta the Salamis Bay Conti Resort Hotel has a wealth of facilities to satisfy even the most complicated schedule and requirement list with 8 meeting rooms and theatres to choose from by day and the world class resort activities and facilities to assist with relaxation and winding down by night.

Retirees

For those with time on their hands who want an extra special break, possibly out of season, the world of accommodation in Northern Cyprus awaits. The smaller boutique hotels in Bellapais and Kyrenia will afford you tranquillity coupled with convenience consider Bellapais Gardens or The Hideaway Club.

Alternatively you might like to pamper yourselves and find the best places to stay in Northern Cyprus are the resorts like Salamis Bay and Palm Beach Hotel in Famagusta, the LA Hotel in Lapta or Jasmine Court in Kyrenia.

In the heat of the summer you will certainly need a retreat where you can sit and relax and hide from the midday sun so the family hotels and holiday villages may not best suit as they are often children and activity frenzy orientated. If you do find yourself at a hotel that is particularly busy by day, get yourself off to Kyrenia harbour, enjoy a stroll along the sea front and then relax at one of the myriad of harbour side cafes and watch the world go by in a tranquil setting.

Back Packers and Budget

Accommodation in Northern Cyprus covers the complete spectrum, with extremes at either end of the budgetary scale well catered for. We’ve already discussed the likes of the Colony and Rocks where a night’s accommodation can set you back as much as a night’s accommodation in a first class hotel in London. But there are very many opportunities for cheap and cheerful accommodation in Northern Cyprus too. Even peak season some of the holiday villages that aren’t jam packed will host you.

There are no youth hostels on the North of the island and no dedicated camping sites, there are however many small hotels offering very low cost accommodation.

If you’re heading out up the Karpas there are two or three tiny cafe’s offering hut-type, very basic accommodation for those intrepid enough to try it. Take your own torch and your own entertainment, alternatively, lie out on the beautiful Karpas beaches watching the stars go by until it’s time for bed.

When it comes to the best places to stay in Northern Cyprus no one could cover all the options. There are so many hotels, villas and holiday villages here in the North that every visitor has a wealth of choice.

Cyprus Border Crossing

Since the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 the rules relating to border crossing in Cyprus have slightly changed and the majority of Cyprus guide and travel books are actually out of date.

When the Lokmaci barrier in the Arasta pedestrian area in North Cyprus is finally removed and if the Greek Cypriots take down their barriers on Ledra Street the heart of old Nicosia (Lefkosia) will one again be joined and the resulting border crossing point will be the sixth in Cyprus.

This particular barricade has been in place since 1958, way before the 1974 troubles in Cyprus that finally divided the island, so you can see how significant the work is to open up the main shopping artery in Nicosia.  Ankara have pledged 500,000YTL to the project and the Turkish Cypriots would like to build a pedestrian bridge to join the two halves of the city.  When the work is completed it will mean that residents and visitors to both sides of Cyprus will have the easiest and most accessible pedestrian crossing point.

In the meantime the most used border crossing is at Metehan in Nicosia (Lefkosia).  To access it by car from North Cyprus assuming you’re travelling from Girne, take a right at the first and main roundabout in North Nicosia and then at the first set of traffic lights take the left filter lane.  Travel to the end of this long road and take a right at the roundabout.  Move into the right hand lane and go straight over the next roundabout.  You will now proceed directly to the Metehan border crossing.

If you have a British passport or are an EU passport holder or you have visa permission to enter the Republic of Cyprus you should present your papers to the Turkish Cypriot authorities at the border, fill in a white visa slip with your name, passport number and nationality and then you will be allowed to pass.

Please note that if you are in a hire car from Northern Cyprus you will not be allowed into the Republic of Cyprus.  You should park your car and walk across the border.

Once you reach the Greek Cypriot side of the border you will have to present your passport again and if you’re driving you will have to buy insurance which can be bought by the month or year.  If it is your first time across you should also get car tax, just ask at the insurance office on the border crossing and they will direct you.  You will then have your tax, insurance and license checked by the Greek Cypriot authorities and you can then proceed to the supermarket, airport or Marks and Spencer.

If you’re travelling to Northern Cyprus from south Cyprus you should drive to Nicosia and follow the few signs that exist to ‘Keryneia’ and you will arrive at the Metehan crossing point.  You will not be stopped until you reach the Turkish Cypriot side.  If you possess a British passport, an EU member state passport or have a visa to enter TRNC you will just have to present your papers, complete a white visa slip and you can proceed.  Please note that hire cars from south Cyprus are permitted to enter Northern Cyprus but all cars have to purchase additional insurance at the border crossing point.

The protocol for crossing the borders in Cyprus is the same whichever crossing point you choose.  There is another pedestrian crossing in Nicosia at the Ledra Palace, and there is another popular crossing point in Famagusta that people use to access Agia Napa for a good night out.

Despite what the guide and travel books say the main crossing points are open 24 hours a day and you are not restricted on the number of times you cross backwards and forwards and you will get stamps on your white visa form not in your passport so those who worry that they won’t be allowed onto the Greek or Turkish mainland with stamps from North or south Cyprus needn’t worry.

Oh, and the tour operators in south Cyprus who advise you to take your own water, sandwiches etc., with you when you travel to Northern Cyprus are slightly out of touch because we do actually have shops and restaurants in North Cyprus nowadays.

Finally, if/when the Ledra Street/Lokmaci barrier border crossing is finally opened it will be an historic day and it should show the politicians on both sides of Cyprus that the majority of the Cypriot people and the expatriate communities on both sides of the Green Line have hope for a solution to the Cyprus problem one day.

Information About North Cyprus For Luxury Holidays

A perfect climate

North Cyprus lies about 70 miles south of Turkey and enjoys a fantastic eastern Mediterranean climate with long hot summers and short temperate winters, the average sea temperature is above 20C for more well over half the year and North Cyprus benefits from an average of 320 - 340 days sunshine a year making it a year round favourite for tourists.

The coastline of North Cyprus offers some of the finest and safest bathing in the Mediterranean, and the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea brings delights for swimmers, snorkelers, divers, sailors, water-skiers and fishermen alike.

North Cyprus’ rainfall is low and concentrated in December and January  and the rains there are a good thing, unlike the rain in Northern Europe!  The rains bring the wild flowers for which North Cyprus is also renowned, they carpet the island in the spring and varieties are diverse and include more than 38 species of orchid alone!  Add to this the scents of the orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit blossoms and your senses will be struck by the aromatic and visual beauty of North Cyprus.

Information about, its scenery and landmarks

The fertile northern coastal strip is today accepted as one of the most beautiful natural areas in the world in which to live.  It offers lush scenery and behind it is the most spectacular backdrop of the Besparmak Mountains which are also known as the Kyrenia or Girne mountain range. 

The mountains are sheer and breathtaking and decorated with medieval castles, fortresses and ancient ruins.  Covering these rugged slopes are fragrant pines forests, olive groves and carob trees and you will find many a picturesque village in between.

In land, behind the rocky mountain range and the imposing Five Finger Mountain you will find the huge fertile Mesaoria plain.  From here you reach Ercan airport and the island’s capital city of Nicosia or Lefkosa.

If you journey further along the east coast you will find the ancient fortified city of Famagusta or Gazimagosa and close by the ruins of Salamis.  To the north east the landscape turns into small pasture lands enclosed by stone walls and dotted with olive trees and rocky outcrops.  The beaches along the coast here are a blend of rock pools and sheltered sandy bays.

Simply put the contrasting scenery in North Cyprus will take your breath away - from the delicate jewel of Kyrenia harbour to the stunning Besparmak mountains, from the beautiful coastlines to the unspoilt stretches of beach and isolated secret coves, North Cyprus is an incredible place.

You will be spoilt if you visit, and will find you need to keep coming back for more!  When you visit North Cyprus you will find the Turkish Cypriot people to be the warmest, most welcoming and generous people; in fact their friendliness is legendary.  And if you choose to make North Cyprus your home whether permanently or for a few weeks every year on holiday, you will find you are universally welcome.

Accessibility and getting to North Cyprus

Since the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004 the green line between the North and the South side of the island is wide open for EU passport holders, making it easy for EU citizens to visit the North and South of the island freely. 

North Cyprus has an airport called Ercan, you can fly from here to Istanbul and connect with international flights or you can fly from here to the UK and Germany for example.  You can also sail to and from North Cyprus from Turkey.  The airports in Larnaca and Paphos are also accessible if you want to travel to North Cyprus and there are many taxi firms who will offer you a transfer to your destination of choice in North Cyprus.

French Group in North Cyprus

‘We are a French group. We arrived on Friday in North Cyprus and we’ve really appreciated everything we have seen so far. The landscapes are beautiful, people are friendly and we’ve been very lucky with the weather. Within these three days we have visited a lot of places – all being more interesting than others. Our group really enjoyed this part of the country and is looking forward to spending another two days in the lovely Karpaz. North Cyprus has not yet been spoiled by tourism and for that reason we highly recommend to French and European people to come and spend their holiday in Northern Cyprus’ says Christophe Silvestre, the French tour manager.   

Venetian Architecture in Magosa

Within the short time period of about 20 years (1553-1570) the opinion about the strength and might of the walls of Magosa changed drastically from "formidable, thick walls" to "small, thin walls which need a man of valour and high spirits to make up for their deficencies in order to defend Magosa"
This indicated the change in how people percieved the walls during the change of weaponry from airows to canons.Michele Sanmichele 1484-1559 and his nephew Giovanni Sanmichele 1514-1559 are the main architects responsible for the changes of the walls of Famagusta in the 16th Century. Their job was to make the walls cannon resistaned.

Represented the most easterly part of the Venetian Empire, the walls of Magosa feature some very typical Venetian structures, some of which are:
1.)the monumental colums at the Medress next to Cathedral
2.)the Dorian Gates
3.)the Martinengo Bastione

1.) Colums
This colums which have been taken from Salamis are a symbol of power and strength. At the Sankt Markus Square in Venice you can find two monumental colums in place still nowadays - marking the water gate entrance to the city, sporting on top the old patron saint of  Venice St. Theodor and on the other colum St. Markus.
Venice itself was so convinced of its powers that it did not even bother to build any kind of fortifications around his city - convinced, rightfully so, that no enemy would ever dare to approach. In drawing of old times you can see Bregadino (defender of Famagusta against the Ottoman Empire in 1571), bound to a shatterd colum piece, positions at the square itself. There is no proof, but it is possible that the two monumental colums, nowadays integrated in the outside wall of the Medress, have originally been placed like in Venice, at the square in front of the cathedral.

2.) Gates
Many of the gates of Famagusta (See Gate, Palazzo de Provveditore - simmular gate in Venice for example is the Arsenal Gate also by Sanmichele) feature typical late 16. Century features. They are gates that copy the gates of many Venician towns and are typical for City or Military compound gates. Giving the traveller his first impression of the inside of the city to follow, they did greet you with their splendid white marble pediment featuring the St.Markus lion beneath (by the way, the front paws of the lion always rest on land, the back paws a in the sea - you can with luck make out some waves at the back paws of the lion at the Sea Gate. This represents Venice power as a land & sea empire).Many of them show coats of armor of family in charge of the city (Sea Gate coat of Prioli Family).

The tripple round archways are a typical venitian feature and immitate the triump gates of the romans. In this simple fashion the midival city of Magosa received a renaissance look. (By the way, the Palazzo de Prevveditore is thought to have been connected to St Paul & Peter as well as with church of St. Fancis. In the case of St Peter & Paul possibly via a bridge with St Paul & Peter so royal ladies could walk accross from the upper quarters of the Palazzo to the church).A further feature is the Tondo (round shape on top of lion) which many times sported a strong, different colour of marble to catch attention and give contrast (Sea Gate = red).

The architectual details such as the: Doric Colums are typical for venician architecture leaning more towards the older Greek power & designs than younger roman empire & it's designs. Further typical greek style parts of the gateways are the hanging keystone, scoring masonry (not smoove cutting of stone, joining stones), rustication (texture produces to contrast smooth masonry).

3.) Martinengo Bastion
This is a so called "angled bastion with ears". Sanmichele added thickness to the walls and filled the back of the walls with eathware behind to absorb the impact shock of the cannon balls. Cabelyeri (high platforms positions behind wall of M.B, one each left and right to place cannons on high positon) and on one side still intact, sloping Glaces (outside of wall sloping hill towards moat - making it impossible for attacker to shot at wall since angle to steep and very difficult to place any kind of attack machinery such as a tower or cat) as well as Oracies (Ears - curved apron wall left and right of tip point of M.B.- enable crossfire into the moat) compleate the venitian picture of the M.B.
Faced by such forbitting architecture, which was at its base carved out of the solid rock and therefore impossible to tunnel through the attackers of Famagusta had more than their fair share carved out for them.

Notes: Othello Bastion is the oldest part of the wall
          In a travellers report of those times it has been mentioned that the M.B. goes 6 floors below the ground!! but nobody has seen it ...
          Tunnel remains have been found going through the walls, connecting parts with each other.
          Double moat just at the Ravelin in place
          Moat was always dry except for the Othello Bastion which was surrounded by water
          Famagusta has been placed in 2007 to the World Monumnets Fund Watch List of 100 most endangered sites
          It is planned that an expert from the World Monuments Fund (WMF) will be visiting Famagusta in March to make a report.