Cyprus is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea found right below Turkey and Greece and above Egypt and Israel. This tiny 9,000 square kilometer island is divided into two separately governed nations. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus that covers the districts of Famagusta and Kyrenia, and the Republic of Cyprus that contains the districts Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, and Paphos. Cyprus is has the third highest per capita GDP and is currently one of the more well-off countries in the European Union. They have a highly developed infrastructure system, an open free market and a booming tourism industry. Cyprus gets an average of more than 2 million visitors in a year, most of which come to enjoy the beautiful beaches of the island.

Aside from the blue waters and find sands, people who come to Cyprus for their holiday vacations can also enjoy its many tourist attractions. They have a number of historical sites that have ancient structures and artifacts that date back to the New Stone Age and Roman Empire. The capital Nicosia is also famous for their amazing decorated Venetian walls that can be found all around the city. When you walk around the capital and its surrounding area you will find a great number of Cypriot tavernas, bars and restaurants that serve exquisite Cypriot cuisine – a mixture of Mediterranean spices and recipes from both Greece and Turkey. There’s also the Troodos Mountains. These mountains reach as high as 3,000 meters – perfect for hiking and mountain biking. These trails also double as ski slopes during the winter season. There are lots of Turkish baths in Cyprus, with the most famous one called Hamam Omerye – established in 14th century historical site.

Self catering accommodation is not rare in Cyprus. In fact, it is one of the more preferred types. There are hundreds of holiday villas to choose from, all of which offer the privacy of self catering accommodations and the luxury of beachfront hotels and waterfront resorts. Like the hotels, most holiday homes in Cyprus are either on the beach or near the beach; and quite a few are found in seaside villages and near fishing harbors. Most villas come in a village-type setting, with all the semi-detached villas surrounding the Cypriot tourist property standard: the swimming pool. Communal pools have sun lounges, bars and barbecue areas. But if you want true privacy there are also detached villas that have their own private pool, complete with sun beds, patio furniture, barbecue grill, showers and outdoor jacuzzi and dining area. Almost all of the holiday homes have gardens and children’s playgrounds. For the adults who want to play golf, there are golf and leisure resorts that offer holidays homes for rent as well. Cypriot vacation rental villas are larger than usual and can have as much as 5 separate bedrooms; they can also sleep as much as 10 people. The homes are individually furnished – they have an enormous living area, fully equipped kitchen and dining room.

Most of the holiday homes are priced on a per week basis. Rarely do you see holiday villas that allow short vacation stays. But there are a few that ask for payment on a daily basis – daily rates are of course more expensive. The cheapest time to book is from the month of November to March, prices go up starting April and peak during July and August. Booking a self catering accommodation will cost the same if not cheaper than your standard beach hotel and resort, but with the privacy and freedom of your own space. There are also villas that offer long-term letting for those interested in staying for more than just weeks but months.