Ayia Napa is a small resort town located in the eastern part of the European island state of Cyprus. More precisely, this is a tourist village, there are only about three thousand indigenous people there, and mainly these people work as service personnel in the tourism sector.
The number of Russian tourists in Ayia Napa increases every season, so it is not so difficult to find Russian-speaking tourists and even employees of local shops there.
Pros and cons
Residents of megalopolises who want to take a break from the rhythm of the big city will love the atmosphere of Ayia Napa. The whole city is a continuous resort with hotels and hotels, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes, clubs, parks and other entertainment areas.
Ayia Napa is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches with crumbly golden sand and azure coastline. The water there is quite warm by the beginning of May, and it will be comfortable to swim in it even with small children. In addition, the shores there are mostly flat, which testifies to the safety and convenience for vacationers.
At the very shore you can see colorful fish. Different types of water sports are offered for tourists. On many bays there are almost no waves, all beaches are awarded with blue flags.
It is believed that the resort of Ayia Napa is great for youth holidays, some even call this city "the second Ibiza" or "Cyprus Las Vegas". Indeed, there are many noisy parties, clubs and discos during the season, which sometimes scares people planning a family trip with children. However, all these places are located in the very center of the town, and family hotels are located on the edges, on the Mediterranean coast.
If Ayia Napa still seems to be an overly noisy place, Protaras is an excellent alternative for a relaxing holiday, which is only about 10 kilometers away, while it will be easy to get to the excursions and beaches of Ayia Napa.
A small drawback is the complete absence of boutiques, supermarkets and shopping centers, shopping here will not be possible. It is unprofitable for entrepreneurs to work seven months a year, therefore, tourist purchases there are limited to mini-markets, pharmacies and souvenir shops. The nearest city of Larnaca can be reached by buses and taxis, the drivers are always friendly to the guests of the island, baby seats are provided free of charge if necessary.
Hotels with kids clubs
There are many hotels in Ayia Napa resorts that are ready to welcome little travelers with open arms and are able to keep every child with something useful and interesting.
One of the most luxurious hotels in Ayia Napa, Grecian Bay Hotel (five stars), offers tourists an all-inclusive vacation and is positioned as a family-friendly hotel. In addition to the many facilities for adults, the status of a five-star hotel is also confirmed by the care of children. In July and August, during the high season, there is a children's mini-club with entertainment programs.
Adams Beach Hotel (five stars) is always glad to see children from 5 to 12 years old in his mini-club "Bibliosha", and those who are younger are invited to come with a parent or guardian. Not a single child will walk around idle, this club hosts sports and entertainment games, quests, creative and educational lessons. The club starts its work on May 1 and continues it until the end of September every year.
Asterias Beach Hotel welcomes young tourists to its children's mini-club, and also conducts animation events in Russian. Any child will be delighted, and parents will be satisfied with the responsive hosts and high-quality program.
At Tsokkos Paradise Village (4 stars) there is also a kids' club with entertainment programs and animation team. Parents can be calm about their child and spend their free time carefree while their child is busy with exciting things.
Tips for choosing a hotel
When planning your vacation when choosing a hotel, you need to consider several factors. First, the focus of the rest. For those looking for a calm and quiet atmosphere, it is better to look for a vacation spot away from the city center.
Secondly, the company of vacationers.
For those who go on vacation with children, it is worth choosing from those options where special attention is paid to children: not too deep pools, play areas, playgrounds, children's clubs. If the child is still very young, then you need to find out in advance if there are separate dishes for children in the restaurant menu.
Thirdly, the budget of the rest and the corresponding number of stars of the hotel. There are few 2-star hotels in Ayia Napa, but they are good enough for their status. In such hotels, tourists will not be able to eat, so when choosing, you need to take into account the distance from bars and cafes. Three-star hotels already have their own restaurants and showers in each room.
If the budget allows a comfortable stay with maximum amenities, then you need to consider hotels with four and five stars. When choosing, you should pay attention to the proximity of the hotel to the sea, the quality of the beach, systems and diet, reviews of the service and much more.
The best beaches
The sea off the coast of Ayia Napa is shallow, with a comfortable water temperature, the beaches are gentle, sandy.
The most famous and popular of them Nissi will delight you with azure water and turtles, vacationers can do water sports. But you need to be prepared for the fact that there are always a lot of people, especially in the high season, and also due to popularity, prices are significantly inflated. Calmness and serenity can be found on other beaches.
For instance, Makronissos, which is in no way inferior in beauty to the previous one, will give a completely calm atmosphere.
The beach called Ayia thekla also allows you to quietly sunbathe, a small island has formed not far from the coast, which will delight children, because the depth of the sea to it is very small.
Near the beach Grecian bay There are many hotels with a focus on family vacations, which means that you should not be afraid of noisy parties there, but the sand on it is mostly imported, and the best time for a comfortable stay is only in the morning.
Beach Kermia ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in their thoughts and forget about the noise of the metropolis without worrying about the fact that children will disappear from sight. The main advantages of Landa Beach are the calm sea with almost no waves, smoothly increasing depth and a naturally formed pool for kids.
Beach Sandy bay formed by a small bay, impresses with its beauty and is great for families with children - there are separate attractions for them. Lifeguards are on duty at all beaches.
Entertainment
Of course, Ayia Napa, like other parts of the island state, has many attractions worth seeing. On the bay you can visit the Black Pearl pirate ship, which is a copy of the ship from the famous movie. The Thalassa Sea Museum will also delight you with models of various types of water transport. One of the most beautiful places in Cyprus, Cape Greco, is located just a few kilometers from Ayia Napa.
You can go to the stylized antiquity water park WaterWorld with the longest roller coasters in all of Cyprus.
In addition, tourists will always find how to spend their leisure time. The city has a large Luna Park with many fun attractions, which will appeal to both adults and children.
An unusual entertainment is the donkey safari type excursions, in which tourists of all ages are invited to get acquainted with the pets of Cyprus and taste traditional dishes.
You can also choose a sea safari, during which you can enjoy a trip in small boats through the sea caves.
You can always just walk along the embankment, go to a cafe and taste the incomparable local cuisine.
Quads and car rentals are popular activities. Do not forget about the left-hand traffic in this state.
Resort Reviews
The overwhelming majority of reviews about holidays in Ayia Napa are positive and recommendatory. Moreover, both young people, couples in love and free people looking for exciting adventures, as well as mature people with children who purposefully went on family vacations, remain satisfied. Therefore, Ayia Napa resorts can rightfully be called universal and deserving a solid top five.
Watch the following video, in which you will see all the nuances of relaxing with a child in this fabulous place.
