After hearing fantastic news from one extremely happy holidaymaker informing us she had the best holiday of her life, we at Perfect Getaways thought it was only fair to let the rest of you in on it.

Cyprus has long been a popular holiday destination with many opting to go down the almost traditional all-inclusive route but that’s like driving a Ferrari 30 mph. Cyprus is a stunning island with breathtaking landscapes, the beaches are immaculate when they’re not under attack from the holiday hordes, and the culture and heritage is fascinating. 

The Aphrodite Hills Resort has masterfully entwined all of these captivating facets to create the most luxurious and fun-filled break you could possibly wish for. Overlooking the legendary spot where Aphrodite rose from the shimmering Mediterranean Sea, this fully integrated leisure, golf and real estate development is blessed by its breathtaking natural surroundings intersected by a stunning natural ravine and spectacular olive and carob trees that line lush landscaped gardens and fairways.

The resort has world-class facilities catering for every whim and fancy you could conjure. For those wanting to punctuate the tranquility with sport, there is a fantastic 18-hole championship golf course plus golf academy, competition standard tennis courts with customary tennis academy, multi-purpose sports court where volleyball, basketball or football games can be organized, Aphrodite’s Riding Club, nature and bike trails and an excellent fitness facility. After all that, the state-of-the-art Greco-Roman Spa is the perfect place to relax, with its serene monastic interior, thermae rooms, infinity outdoor pool and fragranced garden, the Retreat Spa is an experience that will leave you fully rejuvenated. Another great way to relax is the sophisticated beach clubs “Zias” and “The Cove” where you can bask in the glorious sun-kissed beaches in tranquility.

The heart of the resort is without doubt the bustling Village Square, which has many bars and restaurants, children’s clubs, playgrounds, mini-golf and shopping arcade. Though there is a hotel on site, at Perfect Getaways we have several stunning rental homes on the Aphrodite Hills Resort that allow you to enjoy the beautiful resort in the comfort of your own home away from home without sacrificing any of the luxuries the Resort provides. There are many different types of villa available to rent directly from the owner ranging in price but not in quality.

 Click here to view this stunning property available to rent from the Aphrodite Hills Resort.

To view some other amazing properties in the Aphrodite Hills Resort simply click here.

Cyprus is a much coveted island and with a bloodstained past, there must be something about this cultural melting pot. With shimmering beaches and transparent turquoise waters it is easy to see why Cyprus was historically a playground for the mythical Greek gods and was the supposed birthplace of goddess Aphrodite.

But surely a couple of beaches aren’t worth 9,000 years of invasion of power struggles. The variety of different cultures in Cyprus due to its geographical location really creates a unique and charming blend, with the balance between western European, Mediterranean, Asian and even Africa cultures curiously beguiling.

Known for its fantastic beaches and thriving nightlife, many people are put off by Cyprus, however the island is a very diverse and flexible nation, going from rowdy clubs to lush tropical paradise in the time it takes an 18-year old to down three shots. Cyprus also has a tremendous history and is littered with reminders of the many invasions and occupancies dotted all over the island. For example the stunning sandstone Venetian walls that surround the old quarter of the capital Nicosia.

Cyprus has an extraordinary variety of archeology, with many buildings showcasing the influences of many of its previous occupiers. There are many buildings preserved since Neolithic times, in addition there are many churches and monasteries built in the Byzantine era, castles and palaces built by the crusaders and Frankish Lusignans. A must see is the Tomb of Kings in Paphos, which is a stunning set of tombs from Hellenistic and Roman times carved out of rock similar to the Egyptian tombs in Alexandria.

Cyprus is a diverse place and this is symbolized by the range of different landscapes, going from golden beaches and sheer cliffs to gentle rolling hills and forest clad mountains. A fantastic example of the country’s natural beauty is the Avakas Gorge; a gorge carved out of limestone and filled with stunning flora and fauna including the endangered native centauria akamantis, a breathtaking purple flower that can only be found in this region.

There is more to Cyprus if you want to find it, however there are also some of the more popular activities to partake in such as the numerous water parks, bungee jumps and cliff jumping for the adrenaline junkies, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, sailing, and fishing for water lovers. There are many of the more popular activities like day trips and boat cruises advertised in many of the major towns on the island.

Click here to view some of our fantastic properties in Cyprus.

The beautiful five star Aphrodite Hills Resort in Cyprus was featured in the popular ITV programme, The Biggest Loser, at 9pm on Monday 21st February 2010.  The programme showed the resort in its finest glory with beautiful villas and apartments nestled on the beaches and surrounding golf courses.   The contestants had to work out and lose as much weight as they possibly could in the gorgeous surroundings whilst finding time to enjoy the idyllic infinity pools with the sunshine beaming down on them.

Aphrodite Hills Resort advertise a large number of apartments, junior villas, holiday villas and exclusive villas on Perfect Getaways.  You can see the great selection of holiday accommodation available at Aphrodite Hills by visiting our properties in Paphos.

Anybody interested in staying at Aphrodite Hills, click this link for more information

Cyprus

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and attracts nearly 2.5 million tourists a year. It is a popular destination for Britons and was a Brittish colony up until 1960, when it gained independence from the UK. The following year it became officially known as The Republic of Cyprus.

In 1974 it was invaded by Turkey who took control of about 1/3 of the island in the North. To this day the north of the island is under military control of the Turks and the country is effectively seperated by a ‘Green Line’ border that cuts through the capital, Nicosia, the only remaining divided capital in the Europe.

Cyprus has a steep history. Legend has it that the goddess of love, Aphrodite, rose out the waters.

Weather

Cyprus has over 300 days of sunshine a year. The hot Mediterranean climate peaks in the summer months with long hot days and warm nights.

Average temperatures in degrees celcius

January 13.6
February 16.0
March 18.4
April 22.8
May 27.2
June 30.5
July 33.3
August 33.6
September 30.8
October 27.3
November 22.9
December 19.2

Culture

The religion in Cyprus is split. Northerners are mostly Sunni Muslim where Southerners are Greek Orthodox. Cypriots are very proud of their 9000 year old cultural heritage, but they do tend to be more concerned by events of the last 20 years!

With a history so long, Cyprus is remarkably rich in culture and nine of the Islands Byzantine mountain churhces and the entire town of Kata Pafos have been honoured by UNESCO in its World Cultural Heritage List. No matter which town or village that you visit, you are reminded of a strong Cyprus tradition that is kept alive from generation to generation through many events which are celebrated. The biggest event which takes place is in Larnaka which involves a joyful procession to the sea where people sprinkle each other with water. No one is sure whether this is in memory of Noah’s survival of the flood, the coming ashore of resurrected St. Lazarus or a celebration of the birth of Aphrodite, but no one can argue that this is not a spirited and uniquely Cypriot Festival.

Food and Drink

The north/south divide is also reflected in the food, with cuisine in the north being typically Turkish and in the republic, Greek. These are however, some of the popular dishes from all over Cyprus:

Kleftiko – Oven baked lamb

Mezedes – Dips, salads and other appetizers (there can be 20-30 dishes included)

Fruit – Cyprus is famous for its fruit (the government bans imported products) which include strawberries, stone fruit, melons, prickly pear, citrus and grapes.

Drinks include:

Brandy Sour – made with Cyprus and brandy and local lemon juice

Greek Coffee – always served with a glass of cold water.

Beaches

The beaches in Cyprus are beautiful with many having white sand and lovely blue sea. You could even find a secluded strech of sand that you can have all to yourself. Water sports are very popular and you won’t be far from a water sports centre where you can have a go at snorkelling, water ski-ing, and many more!

Shopping

There are plenty of shops in Cyprus and if you take a visit to the capital Nicosia, there are are British chain stores such as Woolworths and Marks & Spencer.

Some of the things to look out for are:

Handicrafts (ceramics, basketry, weaving, wood carving, silver and copper products.

Although there is rather less on offer in the North, the visitors can find extensive range of consumer goods and services available here.

Many of the popular imported brand names are readily available and can be found in local supermarkets.

Things to do in Cyprus

Visit the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos

Visit the 10 UNESCO listed Byzantine churches in Troodos mountains - most famous is Agios Nikolas tis Stegis at Kakopetria

Go to Famagusta Gate - Nicosia. One of 3 restored gates of entry through the ancient city walls built by the Venetians

Take a trip to the ghost town of Varosha, Famagusta which was invaded in August 1974, and to this day stands empty with cars still standing in car salesrooms, washing left hanging on the line and breakfast pots still laid on the table.

Swim around Aphrodite’s Rock - between Paphos and Limassol

Attend the summer opera held at Paphos mediaeval fort

Take a boat trip along the Akamas peninsula

Get high! - Visit Mount Olympus at the top of the Troodos mountain: You can’t get to the summit as it is an army restricted zone but the views from just below it are spectacular

Visit the Baths of Aphrodite on the Akamas peninsula

Beaches at Ayia Napa and Protaras - wonderful sandy beaches