Self Catering Accommodation in Larnaca, Cyprus Blog

Commandaria is the oldest wine in Cyprus and the oldest wine brand name in the World; it was first drunk by the ancients at festivals celebrating the life of Aphrodite and has been drunk throughout the ages by Kings and peasants alike. Richard the Lionheart described it as, “the wine of Kings and the king of wines”. It is so named after the place where St. John of Jerusalem (who bought the island of Cyprus from Richard the Lionheart) had his headquarters, near Limassol, in a place aptly named, Commandaria.

Commandaria is made using two grape varieties, Xynisteri (green grape) and the Mavro (purple grape), which are left to over-ripen before picking, left to stand in the sun, then pressed, left to ferment and matured for at least two years in oak barrels before bottling.

The wine is traditionally served as a dessert wine as it is very sweet and quite alcoholic with an alcohol content of up to 15%. However, it is not as simple as that! The production of Commandaria is limited in various ways to keep it as traditional as possible and to limit the production so that it remains sacred to one particular area of Cyprus. It can only be made using the two afore mentioned grape varieties and they can only be picked from vineyards that have been planted for at least four years and watering the vines is banned. Further restrictions apply, only allowing the fermentation process to take place within the fourteen villages in the Commandaria region of the island. Once produced the wine has to age for at least two years, although this can take place outside the region itself.

Commandaria is acknowledged by countries all over the world as a fine dessert wine and a speciality of Cyprus. Tempted? Why not look into finding a bottle for your next dinner party and see if Cyprus can tempt you into a visit to its shores…

If we are all honest I bet the majority of us love the idea of a Mediterranean Island holiday – relaxing in the sun, on a beach or by a pool, sipping a drink, reading, sun bathing – doing whatever you feel like. Sounds good doesn’t it?! For many people the purse strings are very definitely beginning to tighten because of the credit crunch and the threat of recession and although nice, the thought of next years summer holiday seems a long way off. However, the dream can easily become a reality!

It is perfectly easy to have a relaxing, fun and luxurious holiday without the vast expense. Imagine a stylish private apartment with a private garden or terrace, facilities including a pool and tennis courts and a beach down the road, set in a popular tourist resort in Cyprus. Sound good?

Self-catering apartments make a great holiday destination and are a lot cheaper than hotels without losing the luxurious, relaxing feel that you get from a hotel. The self-catering apartments in Larnaca are all built and maintained to a very high standard and the differences in prices between staying in a hotel or renting a villa are phenomenal and the difference in standard is really not noticeable.

The apartments in Larnaca are stylish, affordable and suitable for all types of holiday, whether it is a romantic getaway or a family retreat, so why not look into booking your next holiday in a stylish private apartment rather than in the generic hotel down the road.

The production of Zivania, one of Cyprus’s traditional alcoholic drinks, dates back to the end of the 14th century.

Zivania is produced by distilling pressed grape residues in special stills or cauldrons using a simple, age-old tradition passed proudly from generation to generation in the island’s wine villages. The traditional technique helps to separate ethanol from zivania’s distinctive aromatic ingredients. Truly a drink for the brave, the alcohol content of this white spirit can range from 40% to 99%. It usually accompanies a good meal such as meze or is served with dried fruit and nuts, and is best enjoyed in good company.

ZIVANIA

Have you come across the local drink in Cyprus called Zivania? The drink is building in popularity and is an after dinner tipple not for the faint hearted.

Ouzo the traditional drink in Greece is much more mellow and can be drank with mixers, whereas Zivania is definitely an end of the evening drink.

Zivania is made from local grapes grown throughout the island and its heritage dates back centuries.

The drink is best drank straight back and is served in a small shot glass, there is no distinctive taste but when the drink hits the back of your throat you know its ZIVANIA.

Zivania is mainly drunk by local Cypriots but good hosts always offer a Zivania at the end of a meal, it is taken as an insult if men refuse to drink, a sign that they haven’t enjoyed their meal.

Zivania is a great way to finish your meal especially after local meze which is served in lots of the traditional restaurants around Larnaca.

One of the best know restaurants for Meze is Militzis whose location is on the Larnaca seafront, the restaurant becomes so busy that if you have not made a reservation you will struggle to find an empty table most lunchtimes and evenings.

As a British citizen it is hard to ignore the phenomenal success of the smash hit film ‘Mamma Mia!’ over the summer. This award winning film, originally a stage show, is the story of a young woman trying to find her Father, which could be one of three men, to give her away on her wedding day. A heart-warming comedy follows with great performances from an array of big Hollywood names and great songs by Abba that fit into the story surprisingly well.

The film is set on a stunning fictional Greek Island which is meant to be the birthplace of the Greek Goddess of love, Aphrodite. In the actual legend it is believed to be Cyprus that is the birthplace of the goddess. It is said that Cyprus rose up from the spot where Aphrodite was born. Aphrodite literally means ‘born of foam’ and Aphrodite’s rock (on Cyprus) is supposed to mark the place where she came out of the sea and was appointed by Zeus as Goddess of the human interrelations of love and wedlock.

Aphrodite’s rock (local name ‘Petra tou Romiou) is located on the south coast of the island and it is said that if you swim around it three times then you will be blessed with being forever happy in love.

The Island of Love is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway and holiday apartments are a great way of having more privacy and personal time than a hotel can offer, for a completely relaxing short break or longer stay. So why not see if Aphrodite’s spell works on you and take your loved one away to the ultimate romantic destination… the island of love!

Had enough of the dismal autumnal weather in the UK? Fancy a last minute family break for half-term to give you and the children a few days away in the sunshine after a long term at school? Why not book a few days away in Cyprus for half-term?

Self-catering accommodation is a great way of spending a family holiday with the kids which is cheaper and more informal than a hotel break. Holiday apartments in Larnaca have a really luxurious and stylish feel with private terraces, air-conditioning and spacious living areas as well as great facilities on site such as swimming pools and tennis courts. The self-catering apartments on the resorts in Larnaca are easily suitable for children of all ages as there is plenty to keep everybody entertained…

Larnaca itself and the surrounding area is full of great sites and things to do to keep everyone happy – stunning blue flag beaches, a world class marina and great historical and cultural background – with attractions from Larnaca Fort to the Water World Park there is fun for all the family in and around Larnaca!

Why not surprise the kids with a break from a boring autumn in the UK and visit sunny Cyprus to brighten up the school holiday? Half-Term provides the perfect opportunity to get away for a few days to relax before the Christmas rush starts in earnest!

It is becoming more and more commonplace for young people to take off for the entire summer and live and work abroad having fun in the sun and enjoying life to the full! We can all appreciate that the Mediterranean way of life is very relaxing - the amount of holiday makers that make it their first choice prove that! So why not try living there for a few months or a year! Cyprus is a great country to go and live in for a few months, the summer is hot, the winter is mild, the coastline is stunning and the Mediterranean way of life is so relaxing and laid back that you can’t help but feel like you are on holiday the whole time you are there.

Planning a longer trip is essential particularly as far as accommodation is concerned. This is why Larnaca is a particularly good resort to have an extended stay in as it is accessible from the airport and relatively close to towns such as Ayia Napa which has a good nightlife for those looking for bar or restaurant work and enjoying themselves.

Self-catering accommodation is particularly convenient when looking at staying somewhere for a longer stay. The flexibility and freedom that it gives you is a great bonus if you are working (or partying!) late into the night and, for a longer period of time it works out much cheaper than staying in a hotel.

I would thoroughly advise giving living abroad a try before it really is too difficult to let go of commitments at home and the chance will be gone for good…

The festival of Christmas is celebrated in a traditional manner by Christians in Cyprus; the season starts on the 6^th December and lasts until the 6^th January. There are various traditional feasts and celebrations throughout the month long festivities including: the feast of St. Nicholas, New Year, the feast of the Epiphany and, of course, Christmas itself. There are many traditions in Cyprus associated with the season including kalanda, Kalikantzari and Ai-Vasilis.

Kalanda are traditional carols that are sung at candlelit services; they date back to the Byzantine times and can be heard all over the island during this time. Kalikattzari is the tradition of Sprites that prey on people during the twelve days of Christmas. Ai-Vasilis is the Cypriot equivalent to Father Christmas who visits on New Year’s Eve. The tradition goes that you leave a cake and a glass of wine out and Father Christmas comes and drinks the wine, blesses the cake and leaves presents for the children. In the morning you eat the cake and open your presents. These are only a few of the varied traditions that happen in Cyprus during Christmas time.

As far as food goes, Turkey is a popular choice during the festive time although it is traditionally prepared slightly differently to an English roast; it is normally stuffed with rice, nuts and raisins. Christmas cake is popular in Cyprus as well as all sorts of home-made cookies and sweets.

Cyprus is the perfect place to go to for a Christmas holiday because not only does it celebrate with special traditions as well as a certain amount of conventionality but the average temperature in December is 15°C making it a very mild Christmas away from home.

If all this talk of Christmas has put you in a festive mood why not look into self-catering accommodation for a holiday over Christmas so that you can have a more personal Christmas than if you were in a hotel but still enjoy the luxury and relaxation of being on holiday, away from all the hassle of Christmas at home.

Larnaca, Cyprus is the ideal location for older people to go for relaxing trips; either as a couple, with family or on your own. Travelling out of season when the resorts are quieter and beaches are less busy is particularly popular. Self-catering apartments are a cheaper way of having a luxury holiday without having the inflexibility of a hotel’s structure and the deadlines of a group holiday company’s itinerary. Larnaca is one of the smaller resorts on the island and so is quieter both during peak and off-peak seasons. It is a very culturally and historically rich area of Cyprus for those interested in the more traditional aspects of the island.

As well as offering more flexibility for your holiday in Cyprus, self-catering accommodation offers a great opportunity for older people to explore the island out of peak season when the weather is still good but the place itself is infinitely less crowded. This can provide a much deeper insight into the culture, history and way of life of Cyprus and its people.

Self-catering accommodation is generally known as being of a poorer standard than hotels but that simply isn’t the case anymore. Particularly in Larnaca the type of accommodation available is modern, stylish and very affordable. Larnaca, Cyprus is already a very popular tourist destination amongst all ages, but, it can suit retired people particularly well as somewhere that is attractive, cultural and hot outside the peak holiday season.

The largest amounts of tourists visiting Cyprus each year come from the United Kingdom. During 2008 already over 693,000 Brits have visited Cyprus. Considering the next highest was Russia with 94,000 the UK’s dominance of the market is obvious. In July alone the number of visitors exceeded 187,000 people. Just less than 50% of those stay in hotels and the next largest bracket of accommodation is holiday apartments and tourist villages, the remainder choosing to stay with family or friends. The dominant sector of the market is, of course, hotels but self-catering apartments also occupy a large chunk of the market. Larnaca is a very popular resort for self-catering accommodation as it is slightly smaller and quieter than the larger resorts like Paphos.

The main hotels and self-catering complexes in Larnaca are situated along Larnaca Bay. Hotels in Larnaca offer a full range of options at all levels and costs. There is only one five-star hotel but there are a lot of other options from four-star through to budget both in and around the town.

If you are looking for self-catering accom­modation then there is plenty on offer both within the town and on the outskirts. It is normal with self-catering accommodation to be able to tailor accommodation to certain needs such as different sizes of party and any kind of budget. So, you can rent any number of apartments in purpose built self-catering complexes which normally have there own on-site facilities such as swimming pools and tennis courts.

Another advantage of using self-catering accommodation is the freedom that you get without having to fit into a hotels schedule and with self-catering you get more of an experience of feeling what it would be like to own a property in the area as more and more people are purchasing apartments or villas after several years of visiting.