Wish you were here – falling in love with Cyprus
SOMETIMES, if you are very lucky, what happens outside your holiday bubble is
as significant as a single grain of Cypriot sand.
Your hotel, your pool, your beach, your food, your sneaky mid-day tipple, is
so utterly perfect that it’s as if you are living on a different planet,
never mind a different resort, to other holidaymakers.
The world and their auntie could be having the time or the nightmare of their
lives as long as they don’t step on your flip-flopped toes.
It makes no difference to you. It’s neither here nor there.
HERE is where I am — ice-cold Mojito in hand, sun streaming down on
turquoise waters, beachside tavernas with lobster and fish stew on the go,
kids and wannabe kids splashing round pools, squealing down water flumes and
rolling effortlessly round our own lazy river.
People order sushi by pool My God, there are people ordering sushi and
Champers from their pool loungers! All this with a 5-star hotel as my
backdrop.
HERE is luxury. HERE is the kind of bliss you spend 50 weeks of
your year dreaming about. HERE is the Adams Beach Hotel in Nissi Bay,
Cyprus.
THERE is about 500 yards away.
THERE has bouncing beachside bars, teeming with the young European
beautiful people, slamming afternoon cocktails and hypnotised by the DJ.
THERE is where the Ayia Napa party people get their afternoon kicks on
the most beautiful stretch of beach on the east coast of Cyprus.
THERE is a different world. Because we are holidaying in the HERE
and WOW.
Adams Beach Hotel sits on its own little private cove 3 miles south and a
million holiday miles away from Ayia Napa.
It has grown steadily over 20-odd years and with the addition of a deluxe
wing, private pools and fine dining restaurants, it is a holiday resort in
all but name.
The accommodation is as stunning as the setting — and not just because we were
upgraded to a King Suite on arrival and treated like royalty for the rest of
our stay!
Dinner is a lavish affair in the buffet restaurant where the majority of
guests take their meals.
But you can easily opt for the sushi restaurant, full poolside restaurant,
beach tavern or fine dining in The Glasshouse.
The glorious beach walks along the coast (yes, even past the young crowd)
cannot be missed.
Nissi Bay is only 40 minutes from Larnaca, it’s an hour to the capital Nicosia
and closer by there is the gorgeous resort of Protaras which has been a UK
favourite for years.
Luxurious beachfront hotels, a glorious promenade and a beach that’s the envy
of every other resort on the island (oh, except ours!).
Loads of boat trips and sea cruises pull in here, including a replica of the
Black Pearl ship from Pirates of the Caribbean which always provides a
riotous day for those on board.
That Mojito is waiting for you Another excursion you have to tick off is to
the Waterworld Waterpark which sits just 10 minutes from the hotel.
Greek Mythological rides galore and, again, the layout means you are not
queuing for hours on end or taking part in the 10am dash to grab a sun
lounger.
There are bus tours around the most picturesque of local villages.
And don’t miss the guided tours round the ancient city of Famagusta and the
ghost town of Varosha which was once the largest holiday resort on the
Island of Cyprus, but has been uninhabited since the troubles of 1974.
Don’t let that scarred past fool you though.
Varosha has a stunning beach where you can swim and turtle-watch and enjoy the
kind of lazy day you will hold dear for a very long time.
And of course that Mojito is always waiting for you when you get back to
Adam’s Beach.
Out THERE you can make your trip as action-packed, boisterous and
downright jumping as you like.
Back at Adam’s Beach the emphasis is very much on style and relaxation.
HERE’S to it!