Expensive Cyprus

Just returned from Cyprus, stayed at the Paphian Bay Hotel in Paphos which I could not fault, the staff were the most helpful and friendliest I%26#39;ve ever come across, made the hotel 5 star instead of 3. My biggest complaint in Cyprus were the prices of everything especially drinks and clothes which made the UK seem cheap, on average I was paying 3.50 Euros per pint and in the hotels it was 4, a pint of Guinness was over 7 Euros. I was there 10 days and just about melted with the heat which was averaging 33 in the shade, it wore me out, I felt drained,even the locals were complaining and this is June, god knows what it will be like in July and August but all in all I had a lovely holiday but because of the high prices of everything I would not return but I would highly recommend the Paphian Bay hotel, just wonderful.

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We are just back - had no problems with the heat - drank loads of bottled water

we were staying in a 5 star hotel and felt the prices of drinks were reasonable - a glass of wine foe 3.20 and a large beer for 3.50 euros -

Never go clothes shopping on holiday

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We found Cyprus comparable to the UK.

Obvioulsy, imported beers will be more expensive than locally produced.

The same goes for the food and if you eat out in the Harbour or try something a little more traditional.

I hope you noticed the price of fuel - Eu 1.20/litre - Bargin!!!

Local Bottled Water from the supermarkets is very inexepensive.

As for the temperatures, 33C is average for July %26amp; August. The Summer months, June - September are relatively comparable, just that the temeprature hardly drops in the evening during August.

Looking forward to our trip in May 2009.

regards

Stewart

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also just back from Paphos and agree that generally it was expensive compared to the UK - especailly for eating out.

I appreicate good food and dont mind paying for good quality but I%26#39;ve had better, fresher and cheaper food in glasgow.

Granted i was only there a week but most restaurants we visited were dissapointing. My only memorable meal was a delicious salad in the village of Polis one day.

Maybe we%26#39;re spoiled in the uk but I expected more.

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It%26#39;s definitely much more expensive than pre-euro!

Also the Cypriot bar owners seem very reluctant to actually display prices. We were recommended Moulia for fish and chips near to the harbour, and the menu was written on a board outside, but without prices.

When we asked, the waiter hustled us into chairs and parked a pot of tea on the table, and only then gave us the menu with prices (13 euros) which wasn%26#39;t too bad for reasonable fish and chips, though the chips seemed frozen.

other places gave us bread or olives we hadn%26#39;t asked for and then charged 5 euros, and the set menus were much more expensive. Many had set menus at 30 euros.

The small supermarkets charge almost double what papantonio charges, even basics like bread and water.

You just need to remember that at the moment 12 euros is £10, that helps to work out what you are paying.

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omg i thought it was expensive when we went last october,so its worse now, great thats all i want to know,theres no reason why it should be more expensive,i will deffinately watch what im doing when im there as im not prepared to be ripped off by anyone.

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HazelDurham, there is a very good reason why it is more expensive and that is because Cyprus adopted the Euro in January this year. The Euro is performing very well against the pound at the moment and it is making everything more expensive.

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I agree , we went S/C in a private apt. It was quite a trek from the harbour, about 30 mins. Luckily there was one restaurant on the way, Pambis, and it was very reasonable .

Carling, Keo, Carlsburg, Gunness all at 2.40 eu.

Meals were really good value and nice, Stifado / chips or rice 8.95.

Grilled chicken and same 6.70, four huge fillets.

In fact it could not be faulted, and friendly people.

The parrot is a bit noisy though.

Anyway, when we did go to the harbour are we were amazed at how much more things cost.

I know that the prices have gone up everywhere, but I must admit I was very dissapointed with Paphos, you could be anywhere hot.

The whole area away from town was just a concrete jungle, unfinished buildings, and scruffy wasteland, not my idea of `nice`

I know this is going to put the cat among the pigeons, but it`s my honest opinion. I think it`ll be the Greek islands again next year, OK it will cost but at least I`ll have nicer surroundings to get bankrupt in.

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yamahaa, i think thos food prices you just qouted are decent, i was getting a bit worried that when we eat out it will be costing me a bomb,but thats not bad at all, hope the prices in nissi bay are the same,we never go to posh restaurants anyway, as long as it looks clean and decent and the prices are not throught the roof, then thats fine by us.hope we all dont melt in the heat though, ha ha

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Im giving Cyprus a miss this year, Skiathos for me in August.

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Yamahaa

So glad to hear that you enjoyed the food in Pambis -it is my local, and you are right the prices are much cheaper than in the harbour.

I have to agree that your walk to the harbour was like a concrete jungle, just four summers ago you would have been walking through melon fields to get to the harbour. Pambis tavernas was just a tiny take away kiosk which only consisted of the bit where the parrots are now. There has been so much development and unfortunately they have just dug up the roads around some areas recently to lay new drains to put the houses and apartments onto mains sewage, as well as all of the harbour works, so it is dusty, messy and untidy in parts.

I also am a greek island fan, I have been to many over the years - the smaller the island the better for me (Spetse %26amp; Santorini are my favourites) however some islands change too, the worst changes I have seen were Zante in 1990, returning in 1997, Rhodes in 1978 and 1981, it%26#39;s what happens with progress.

As for the prices I think it doesn%26#39;t really matter where you go in Europe now, the rate against the £££ is so poor everything seems very expensive.