Your ‘Welcome Guide’
Welcome to Villa Maria! This guide contains all of the essential information you need for a smooth, relaxing and enjoyable stay. Inside you'll find details about the villa itself, our house rules, the local area, restaurant recommendations, and more!
We hope that you have an amazing stay!
For any problems during your stay, please use the following numbers via phone or WhatsApp:
Local Agent: Stacey - +357 96 232530
Owner (Escalations Only): Lisa – +44 7814 406195
If you notice anything wrong, please let us know and we will be pleased to address it. We always strive for a 5-star review and, as such, welcome the opportunity to address any problems as they come up so that you can have a 5-star stay!
House Rules
Please respect the neighbours by keeping noise to a minimum, especially after 11pm.
Use air conditioning responsibly — ensure windows and doors are closed whilst it’s running.
Do not leave the BBQ or Pizza Oven unattended and clean them and their grills & utensils after each use.
Pool: Safety First: no diving, no running around the poolside, and supervise children at all times.
Only plastic glasses may be taken into the pool and around the pool area.
Dispose of rubbish regularly to avoid pests. The main bins are green and are situated at the entrance to the villa complex beside the main road and are marked “Astra Villas”.
Keep doors and windows locked when leaving the property.
If the wind picks up strongly please take down the parasols and strap them up as they can often be ‘taken’ by high winds causing damage to property and risk to individuals.
No smoking or vaping inside the property.
Take care of the house keys at all times and leave them safely locked in the key box at the end of your stay, after having locked all doors and windows.
Call out fees for our agents are chargeable and deductible from the deposit for exceptional requests, for complaints received from our neighbours or to address faults or damage caused by our guests.
All possessions are left at your own risk. All activities inside and around the villa are undertaken at your own risk. The owner of the villa accepts no liability for loss or damage to property belonging to our guests or for the safety and wellbeing of our guests.
Villa Amenities
Access
There is no access to and from the villa from the side of the property parallel to the main road. The perimeter side gate remains locked permanently for security reasons. Access to the villa is via the front of the property only.
Air Conditioning
Each air conditioning unit has a handheld unit in a holder within the same room. Please switch them off when not in use or when leaving the property unattended.
PLEASE ENSURE, WHEN ANY AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IS ACTIVE, THAT ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE CLOSED. EXCESSIVE ENERGY CONSUMPTION UNFORTUNATELY HAS TO BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR DEPOSIT GIVEN THE HIGH COSTS OF ENERGY AND IS MONITIRED VIA A SMART METER.
Feel free to use the air conditioning for your ultimate comfort in any (and all) rooms if all doors and windows remain closed, thank you we appreciate your support in this matter.
Air conditioning temperature can be adjusted to suit your comfort, to cool select the icicle symbol with the word “cool” or the “auto” function.
The air conditioning is also twice as effective if blinds remain closed during the day as these blinds reflect heat back outside of the property. Do not keep the blinds closed if doors or windows are open though as this will damage the blinds.
The air conditioning doubles as a heating system in the Winter – select the correct heat setting marked with a sun symbol and the word “heat”
Alarm System
The alarm system is not active for your stay and should not be used or interfered with please.
Please do not unplug the ‘Yale Alarm Router’, any plugs/sockets marked “leave on” or make any adjustments. There are plenty of extension leads to use for your convenience.
BBQ & Pizza Oven
A gas barbeque is provided for your use. Please clean this and the grills after each use and at the end of your stay ready for our next guests (our agents do not clean the barbeque, leaving these dirty will lead to additional charges).
A pizza oven is provided for your use. It is very worthwhile watching ‘YouTube videos’ as to how to use these effectively to avoid burning your pizzas as the heat is very intense and cooking is much quicker. Please clean this after each use.
Both of the above are supplied by gas (orange gas bottles). We do not supply the gas free of charge and kindly ask that, if you use this up, then replace the gas bottles accordingly for the next guests. If you walk or drive up to the convenience store on the same side of the road, up towards Pernera past the Maris Grand Hotel, then a gas bottle can be swapped for another at a much lower cost than buying a new bottle alone.
Please take care when swapping gas over.
Please leave the BBQ & Pizza Oven where you find them as moving them can cause damage and damage is chargeable.
Beds
In bedrooms 2 and 3, whilst the single beds can be pushed together or apart, the drawers underneath and their wheels will get damaged if not removed first.
CCTV
CCTV Cameras are installed on the outside of the property (and one in the internal kitchen area above the cupboards). For your privacy these cameras are NOT active during your stay and are only live when the villa alarm system is active when the villa is not occupied and/or out of season.
Coffee Machine
The coffee machine takes Tassimo capsules.
Cleaning: The plastic plate is inserted instead of a capsule when the machine needs to be cleaned. Use this when the water is filled at the back and place a cup underneath. Run/flush the machine and then discard the water. Then the machine is clean and ‘good to go’ with a sachet. Store the orange plastic plate back safely in the cutlery drawer.
Cot & Highchair
A cot and a highchair are provided. These are stored in the cupboard in Bedroom 2.
Dishwasher
Please replace the dishwasher rinse aid, salt and any tablets used for the convenience of our next guests.
The best setting to use is 70 degrees, simply press this and then the “start” button after adding cleaning tablets.
Please do not use the dishwasher to clean champagne & wine glasses (as these will break); also no pots, pans, blender jugs or the BBQ grills as it is not effective and can damage these items and/or the dishwasher itself.
If any other glass is broken please carefully check the filter and remove any broken glass before operating the dishwasher again.
Dust
Cyprus is a beautiful island, but the hot dry climate makes it prone to dust and wind. If the external area of the villa becomes too dusty please let us know and we can arrange for it to be cleaned. Keeping doors and windows closed will also prevent dust inside the house.
Food blender
Please handwash the jug from the blender after use as opposed to using the dishwasher.
Fridge/Freezer
A fridge/freezer is provided. Please leave this on at all times, keep the doors closed and leave the temperature settings as they appear. These are set at 4 degrees for the fridge and -22 degrees for the freezer.
Furniture - Indoor
The indoor furniture is fabric-based for your comfort. As such please cover the furniture with towels should you use the indoor furniture when you are wet or when covered in sun cream, oils etc. This keeps it in superb condition for future guests and avoids chargeable damage.
Furniture - Outdoor
The cushions for the outdoor furniture are located in the large black storage box right next to the outdoor shower. The cushions are resilient but will get damaged if left out overnight or during prevailing weather conditions. It would be greatly appreciated if guests could store them in the storage box each night and place them there at the end of their stay. Please cover the cushions with towels when in use.
Garden
The trees and plants in the garden are operated by a timed irrigation system, please do not interfere with these or remove them from the taps as the plants will die. Damage and repairs/re-installation of the equipment or to the plants is chargeable.
Heating Inside The Villa
Heating is available via the air‑conditioning units during the cooler months and a mobile electric heater is provided downstairs. This can be operated as a radiator or with the option of switching on as a heating fan too.
Hotel Next Door
The hotel next door will sometimes lose their discipline of storing their own bins in their designated bin room, feel free to visit their reception and remind them of their obligations should their bins be left in the access road.
Immersion Heater & Showers
The immersion heater is not typically required between 1st June and 31st October and is purely suitable for the winter periods where there is too much cloud cover for the solar system to work. Regularly running them together can damage the equipment. However, if you prefer hot early morning showers in the summer and there is not enough hot water then you can switch the immersion on, via the timed switch on the landing. Repeat the process as necessary as the switch only permits 30-minute bursts.
During the colder months, showers in the morning would need to be preceded by using the immersion heater as the tanks cool during the night. Showers in the evening still benefit from some solar coverage but may also need boosting in the Winter.
Keys, Doors & Gates
The key to access the property via the front door is available in the key box on the external fence by the pedestrian gate.
The pedestrian gate will be unlocked by our agents before your arrival and will stay unlocked for the duration of your stay so that our maintenance team can access the pool and grounds as required.
Please take care of the key as surcharges apply if keys are lost or damaged.
The side door to the villa, and its garage, is permanently locked, as are the garage shutter doors. These areas are not accessible to our guests.
The key to the upstairs balcony is left in this door please and should remain in the villa at all times.
The vehicle gate is locked to avoid wind damage and as such we prefer it to stay locked during your stay and for vehicles to be parked outside on the road. If you do need particular access with a car to the driveway there is a key located in the key bowl inside the villa, in the kitchen. Please close and lock the vehicle gate at all times to avoid wind damage.
PLEASE LOCK THIS VEHICLE GATE AND RETURN THE KEY TO THE KITCHEN PRIOR TO VACATING THE VILLA ON DEPARTURE.
The lock to this gate operates in reverse motion.
The drive is narrow so please take care not to damage the gate or fence when entering & leaving, as damage has occurred before.
Cars and rental quads, buggies & scooters can be parked outside of the property.
Location
We do know that if you are reading this then you know where the villa is! 😊. However if you need to inform others, like Taxi Drivers or Delivery Drivers then here are the details:
Google Maps: If you search “Villa Maria Protaras” you will find us (it shows the address below). This pin can then be shared with others. The google maps results show: “Villa Maria, Astra Villas No.1”
What3Words: hankies.unwind.orders
Directions: We are on the main “Protaras to Kavo Gkreko” [that is: Protaras to Cape Gkreko] Avenue. We are just opposite and a bit further along from “Nick’s bottle shop”.
If driving towards Protaras from Pernera we are just past the Maris Grand Waterpark Resort Hotel which is on your left. We are the villa just past the hotel, on the left, on the corner of the access road.
Postal address:
LEOFOROS PROTARA-KAVO GKREKO 311, VILLA MARIA, ASTRA VILLA NO.1, PROTARAS 5296, CYPRUS. Tel:+357 23 721 835
Microwave
The microwave is operated by simply selecting the output level (usually selecting “high”) on the top dial and then the time required on the bottom dial.
Motorbike
The owner’s motorbike is chained up, please do not touch this.
Noise Policy
Protaras is a lively resort and, as such, noise is to be expected. Please respect our neighbours as you would normally respect yours at home.
The adjacent hotel has entertainment each night and this is clearly heard from the villa. This tends to conclude by 11pm. Furthermore, as advertised in the villa’s description, the main road is also noisy and busy in the peak periods.
As such, unlike other villas in the area, all bedrooms at Villa Maria are equipped with quadruple glazing and high-quality internal doors for your comfort.
By closing the internal doors (and the bathroom doors) at night the noise is significantly mitigated and should cause you no issues.
For light sleepers we provide complimentary ear plugs.
Outside Lighting
The outside lighting uses solar power (2 units at the back and 1 unit at the front) which charges the units during the day, the lights come on automatically at dusk and go off at dawn.
Additional powered lighting is available at the front and rear using the light switches inside, beside the front and back patio doors. Please switch off after use.
Oven & Hob
The oven is electric and the hob is an INDUCTION hob. Pots and pans in the villa are suitable for use but others brough from outside may not be.
Please do not attempt to heat the oven pans and tins on the induction hob as this will not work.
Please be aware that the “B” boost button on the hob will heat pots & pans extremely quickly and may burn food – use with caution as it is usually used to bring liquids to the boil quickly.
Parasols
The parasols are secured using sturdy bases. However please take down the parasols in very windy conditions to avoid damaging them or causing injury to others. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN DOWN EACH NIGHT as the wind can pick up at times.
Pests
The only thing we tend to encounter, like everywhere else in Cyprus, is ants. Ants can be prevented by wiping the floors, surfaces and bins regularly (and emptying kitchen bins daily) as they are predominantly attracted to food and drink. The ant spray and powder stored in the kitchen cupboard can be used outside of the house along the bottom edge of the house (particularly the rear of the house) and is extremely effective.
The ant spray can be used carefully inside the house too when sprayed on the floor edges and lasts some time. Please replace any suppliers for the comfort of our next guests.
Pool Cover
The pool cover is locked in place and should not be used or interfered with please as this can cause damage to the mechanism and a health & safety risk if moved from its position.
Pool Heating
For a surcharge (for stays between 1st October and 31st May only), pool heating is available when pre-arranged before arrival but only for long-term stays and where clients are prepared to use the pool cover each night themselves. The system takes a number of days to heat up and is not effective for stays of up to a week.
Pool Maintenance & Cleaning
The pool is cleaned and treated twice per week in the summer and once per week outside of the main peak season.
PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR POOL CLEANERS & GARDENERS WILL LET THEMSELVES INTO THE GARDEN & POOL AREA SO PLEASE DO NOT BE ALARMED!
There is a pool net for your convenience as the pool cleaners do not attend outside of their regular days unless there is a fault with the pool. The pool pump and lights are on a timer so please do not touch any of the essential controls within the pump room. Please do not treat the pool with any chemicals stored in the pool room/box as this can affect the important chemical balance of the pool which is monitored for your health and safety.
Please report any incidents with the pool.
Pool Rules
NO DIVING: The pool is not deep enough for diving. Diving will result in certain injury. Please take care when jumping in.
NO GLASS OUTSIDE: Plastic glasses are provided for your safety and enjoyment. Damage caused to the pool filter system is chargeable. Additional charges also exist for cleaning external areas where glass or crockery has been dropped.
BALL GAMES: We want you to have fun so please enjoy yourselves! There are several lights, cameras and decorations around the pool so heavy balls such as normal footballs etc. are not permitted as damage to the property or lights, fixtures & fittings is chargeable. Please take care of them.
FILTER & PUMP SYSTEM: Please do not open the pump room/box, all equipment is set to the right standards. Chemicals within the pump room are dangerous/hazardous and should not be touched in any circumstances.
POOL HEATING SYSTEM: Please do not touch the black Fairland unit adjacent to the pool room, all equipment is preset to the right standards.
Printer
For those guests unfortunate enough to have to work on holiday there is a printer for your use! Also this can be handy for guests wishing to print their boarding passes. However, this is difficult for us to maintain and so there may be times when there is no paper or ink available unless guests replace it themselves at their discretion.
Instructions: It is also not the easiest to connect to. You need to be on wi-fi: “Villa Maria Cyta”, look for the “HP DeskJet 2800 Series” and hope that your PC already has the drivers! You can decide to download the “HP Smart” App as well which makes printing from mobile devices easier.
Replacements: Cartridges are “HP305 Black and HP305 Colour”, paper is standard A4.
Both are available at Stephanis in Paralimni.
Safe
There is a safe in the master bedroom for your use. The instructions are as follows:
To lock - Insert a 4-digit code of your choice followed by #
To unlock – Insert the same code, followed by #
Please remember your code as regrettably there is a surcharge when calling out the agents to access the safe when codes are forgotten and/or the safety lock kicks-in after multiple failed attempts.
Security
Please ensure that all windows and doors are locked when leaving the villa at any time and when retiring to bed. Protaras is generally an extremely safe area but the security of all personal belongings remain at the risk of our guests.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms are installed and checked regularly. It is the responsibility of our guests to assure themselves of the operability of the smoke detectors by testing them as required. There is a fire extinguisher, fire blanket and First Aid kit in the kitchen.
Smoking
No smoking or vaping is permitted inside the villa at any time.
Storage
External:
Certain storage boxes outside are always locked as they contain equipment for maintenance or to store belongings for the owners. These boxes are (1) the large one at the side of the villa by the side fence and (2) the tall storage unit in the enclosed garage area.
Guests may use any unlocked containers for their convenience. In the storage boxes outside under the ‘side kitchen window’ you will find useful appliances or equipment, including items handy for the outside area such as barbecue accessories.
The storage box at the front of the villa is very useful for you to store your empty suitcases if you wish to keep them out of the way. We do! But this is obviously at your own risk.
Internal:
The cupboards at the top of bedroom 2 are chained shut as they include items belonging to the owners for when they come to stay. The long cupboard in bedroom 3 remains locked as it contains equipment & supplies for our agents.
There are storage drawers under all beds should there be insufficient space within the wardrobes and drawer units.
Sunloungers & Outside Furniture Cushions
Ample sun loungers are provided for your convenience. Please take care if removing any sun loungers from the balcony through the property as damage is chargeable; and be sure to return them to the balcony at the end of your stay.
To preserve the life of the outdoor furniture cushions it would be really appreciated if you could store them in an outside storage box at the end of each day, at the end of your stay and in the event of prevailing weather conditions.
Sun-lounger cushions can remain outside at all times and can be wiped clean when required.
Towels can be blown from sunbeds so clipping them in place is always a good idea.
Telephone
There is a landline telephone for use in an emergency. Other than in this case, charges will apply.
Television
The main TV remote is the small one – leave it upside down with the solar panel facing upwards to keep it charged up!
Turn the TV on first. Here on the ‘home menu’ you can access your own accounts for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and YouTube etc. Be sure to log out at the end of your trip to ensure that other guests cannot access your accounts.
CYTAVISION is an App that is provided by us for your stay. Please click on this to enjoy a wealth of International TV channels, Movies, News & Live Sports. If you get logged out the details are as follows:
Cyta Vision:
User name: 31785650
Password: Cyta2160
Please do not buy movies or subscribe to channels on our account otherwise we need to withdraw a large admin fee from your deposit to deal with this and cover the minimum subscription term. We allow guests the access to our accounts so that they can enjoy unrivalled premium entertainment as standard, for free with their stay.
In addition we also provide an entertainment service via Cosmos. This is the larger of the 2 remote controls with a red circle in the middle. The Cosmos device is the one beside the TV also with a red circle on it. Sometimes it helps if you unplug the black wire and plug it back in to this box.
ENSURE THAT THE TV SOURCE is SELECTED TO HDMI 1 to use Cosmos.
Use the larger remote to select from an amazing range of channels internationally.
Towels
One small towel and one large towel are provided per guest per week. For stays of over a week we will arrange for fresh towels to be provided and for the villa to be cleaned after each complete week.
Beach towels for the outside loungers are not officially provided but several are kept around the downstairs area for your use. Please leave these to be washed by our agents at the end of your stay.
Washing Machine
A washing machine is provided for your convenience. Please replace any washing powder/tablets used for the convenience of our next guests.
Water
The water in Cyprus is not safe to drink but is safe to clean teeth with, shower, wash etc. Bottled water is available in the local shops.
Wi-fi
Ample wi-fi options exist including ultra-high speed broadband:
Cyta (fastest):
“Villa Maria Cyta” : Password: 35703570 This is the best coverage & overall speed
“Villa Maria Cyta Premium” (5Ghz devices only): Password: 35703570 Best performance
Cosmos (good coverage):
“Villa Maria”: figtree21
Downstairs TP Link Unit:
“Villa Maria 5G”: Password: 35703570
HOW YOU COULD LOSE YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT
There is an inventory inspection and general inspection between all rentals. Please report any damage or missing inventory to our agent immediately upon your arrival otherwise we regrettably have to assume that you caused it during your stay.
To keep the villa in great condition for all guests, the security deposit may be withheld (fully or partially) if any of the following occur:
Property Damage
Broken furniture, fixtures, fittings or appliances
Stains or damage to sofas, beds, or soft furnishings
Damage to walls, floors, doors, or windows
Damage to the outside of the property by persons, vehicles or such like
Misuse or damage to the air‑conditioning units
Pool & Outdoor Area Damage
Damage to the pool or pool equipment
Broken sunbeds, umbrellas/parasols or outdoor furniture
Glass items taken around the pool area (strictly prohibited for safety)
Excess Cleaning Required
Leaving the villa excessively dirty beyond normal use
BBQs / Pizza Ovens left dirty or full of ash
Rubbish not disposed of, attracting pests and any associated rectification charges
Dirty dishes left throughout the property
Smoking or Vaping Indoors
Smoking or vaping inside the villa (strictly not permitted and results in the loss of the full deposit)
Unauthorised Guests, Parties, Behaviour
Hosting parties or events
Exceeding the maximum number of guests stated on the booking
Attracting complaints from local residents or the authorities
Breaching the booking rules regarding single gender groups or minimum age groups
Negligence or Misuse
Leaving doors or windows unlocked resulting in loss or damage
Misuse of appliances or equipment
Leaving air‑conditioning running whilst doors/windows are open, resulting in excessive energy costs
Items
Loss, damage or removal of towels, linen, keys, remotes or any villa items
General
Failure to follow any guidelines stated herein
LOCAL AMENITIES & RECOMMENDATIONS
(Part of the fun about Protaras, Pernera & Kapparis is exploring the range of excellent restaurants, bars & entertainment for yourselves. We’ve shared some of our recommendations to hopefully help, but sometimes things can change season-to-season so don’t totally hold us to it! 😊)
From here you will need a taxi or car to get to Pernera, Kapparis, Paralimni or Sotira.
Note: not all are open for the entire season and this will vary particularly in the months of March, April, October & November.
FOR RESTAURANTS, PRE-BOOKING IS ADVISABLE. It is common to stroll down the strip, just turn up and get a table, the resort is set up for this BUT not always in the restaurant you may plan to visit so always look to book first.
BARS & LOUNGES
Cartel Cocktail Bar
A fantastic, elegant cocktail bar located half-way down the Protaras strip. It is more expensive than the standard bars in the area, but absolutely worth the price for its atmosphere and quality of adventurous cocktails. We can highly recommend trying the Shopping Trolley cocktail — it’s a standout!
Ghetto Bar
Later on in the evening you can guarantee a lively, busy atmosphere with a strong entertainment set-up.
Malmia
Our neighbouring pub (the local!). Cheap and cheerful. Very close to the villa. Cypriot-owned by a lovely family, usually full of Brits. Low-cost snacks and always sports playing.
Q Bar
Q is a large bar offering regular entertainment alongside a great selection of fantastic and reasonably priced cocktails and other beverages. The service is always fast and efficient. Entertainment typically consists of tribute acts and bands whom tour the strip — some better than others, but always fun!
BEACHES & WATERSPORTS
Closest Beach: Protaras Municipal Beach – walk down the road into Protaras, past the McDonalds. Turn left at “Waves Cocktail Bar” and walk down towards the sea. This is about a 15-minute walk from the villa.
Best Beach: Fig Tree Bay (just in front of the Capo Bay Hotel) – 20-25 minute walk. Gets very busy in the peak period but worth it.
Best Watersports: Stavros Watersports @ Fig Tree Bay.
There are countless other great beaches to choose from in the local area and beyond.
CAR HIRE
“Sixt” is as good as any and their office is a short 5-minute walk away, towards Protaras on your left, assuming you have not hired a car at the Airport. Office hours may vary out of the peak season.
LAUNDRY
A serviced laundry (Premier Laundry Services) is located on the way into Protaras from Villa Maria at the opposite side of the road. They will usually take a few days and charge by weight with a minimum charge so it is usually worthwhile loading up a bag!
There are self-service laundries located in Paralimni too, and one in Pernera called “Laundry Station (Windmills) open 24 hours a day.
MASSAGE
Orchid Thai Massage
+357 97 488 558 (thai-massage-orchid.com) Located in both Protaras and Pernera
Sunrise Pearl Hotel Spa
QUAD, BUGGY & SCOOTER HIRE
If you wish to hire buggies, quads etc. we would recommend using Yerimos, usually he is sitting in the shade on the main strip opposite the Malthouse Pub, next to the Vrissaki Hotel. Always assure yourselves of the quality of the rented products.
RESTAURANTS
Asian:
Countless restaurants in the area seem to do Sushi these days so you are spoilt for choice, for broader Asian cuisine there is also:
Hippo Campus (Asian Fusion)
Inamo
Lemongrass
Beach Bars & Food (Great For Lunch) – Find on google maps
Paragka, Agia Trinity Beach
Serena Beach Restaurant
To Kafeneion - Go here at the Cavo Maris for a nice view and a drink, or to the beach bar opposite
Fig Tree Bay Restaurant George Zefkas – On Fig Tree Bar, great for drinks and lunch overlooking Fig Tree Bay
Siko – On Fig Tree Bar, great for lounging around
Cheap & Cheerful, great for good all-round food, great portion sizes, sports:
Cheers
The Love Boat (kids entertainment adjoining)
Cypriot Tavernas, Traditional:
Meraki - Protaras
Located further down the strip, Meraki opened in 2025 and quickly became a favourite amongst both locals and tourists. It’s highly advisable to book, as it gets especially busy and often they host local dancing and traditional plate‑smashing. The Meze is excellent and reasonably priced, and the menu offers many other delicious dishes such as Moussaka, kleftiko, Stifado and other Cypriot classics.
Vangelis Tavern – Protaras (note: not the Vangelis Hotel)
An excellent Tavern with a more adventurous meat Meze and an excellent Fish Meze.
Ifalos - Pernera
A taxi ride away in neighbouring Pernera this restaurant is a traditional Cypriot Taverna with great quality food and a nice atmosphere.
Further afield in neighbouring Sotira village, there is “Mousikos” and “Old Simos Tavern”. Here you will experience the more traditional setting and the local Meze choice is more adventurous! More of a cultural experience.
Family Restaurants
Anatolia
Only a few minutes’ walk from the villa, Anatolia is a lower cost, cheerful traditional taverna that’s consistently popular with families. The staff are really friendly, attentive, and fantastic with children. The Meze is very tasty and excellent value for money and the rest of the menu is also reasonably priced with good solid food.
Fish
Kalamies
A lovely setting in Pernera, one of our absolute favourites. Not just Fish. This place is packed with locals at times so do pre-book. We tend to enjoy long lunches there.
Karas - Kapparis
Great to visit for Fish, more of a dinner venue.
Good Vibes:
Rocas Experience
Good food usually accompanied by a DJ in the evenings and a beautiful beach-side setting. Difficult to get the tables with the sea view but great if you can!
Italian
Just Italian: Kapparis
Marcello’s: Protaras
Il Basilica: Protaras
Pub Food & Broad Range, Great Quality
Knight’s Pub Pernera
SUPERMARKETS
By Car (lower cost and used by local community, broader range of products):
Metro Supermarket Paralimni – very good range, on the way to Paralimni via the Kapparis Island
Poplife Paralimni (lower budget), good butcher
Kokkinos Paralimni – very good range, 3 floors, in the centre of Paralimni
Lidl Protaras – as per the standard Lidl format
Walking (a bit more expensive in resort) – all are around a 10-15 minute walk:
Any “Best Buy” Supermarket in Protaras
PierCo – opposite Bliss Bar/Sunrise Pearl
Upon first arrival, you can either visit one of the convenience supermarkets on the same road as the villa for water and essentials, alternatively the closest walkable supermarket with a large range is PierCo (above).
TAKEAWAYS & DELIVERY
Takeaway/Delivery – You can download and use the App WOLT for takeaway (mostly delivery) which includes all of the popular choices and cuisines delivered straight to the villa.
For Gyros / Kebab - We recommend Masa Fast Food or Vangelis, both available on WOLT
TAXIs
Airport Taxi:
George Taxi: +357 99 450863 (pre-booking essential)
General Taxis:
There are plenty of options and the closest Taxi rank is outside McDonalds in Protaras. Many taxi drivers will share a general WhatsApp number for you to use throughout your stay. All Taxis go to the airport if needed but get a price first.
IDEAS FOR VISITING THE SURROUNDING AREA
Take a 10-15 minute stroll (up a big hill and several steps) to the beautiful Profitis Elias Church on the hill which you can see from the villa. The ribbons on the trees represent personal remembrance and prayer. You can take y our own or purchase one for a small fee in the café at the bottom of the hill. This is a long standing tradition in Cyprus.
Visit the divided town of Famagusta, go into the Turkish side of the island. If you drive yourself don’t forget your passports and you will need to buy extra car insurance at the border or enquire with your car hire company. “Mr John” does day trips in his bus which are worthwhile if you are interested in the history. He parks down on the strip in the evenings to take bookings or you can enquire via phone on google or via Facebook. Alternatives are available. Here in Famagusta on the Turkish side there are shops offering great deals on clothes and items that may not quite be the genuine brands that they represent!
Get a taxi or the bus to Ayia Napa. The party capital of the island with too many bars and restaurants to mention. The beaches are no better quality than Protaras so don’t be lured too much by them, however the atmosphere is a lot livelier.
Go to the Waterpark at Ayia Napa, a great family day out with much fun to be had. Tickets are available on the door or on-line and, again, taxi or buses run there if you do not have a car.
There is Mini Golf just a 5 minute stroll down the road towards Protaras and the Players Lounge for Snooker and Pool just opposite us towards Protaras.
