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Have you seen the news on private villa rentals? I hear a well known agent in SOuther nSpain has gone bust leaving several hundred holiday-makers stranded. All their money gone and now no holiday. Why oh why do they do it. Especially in times when clearly many businesses are struggling and likely to be facing the wall. Booking private villas either direct with an owner or through an agent without using a credit card is madness. When people contact us to book and we tell them there is a charge with credit card payments you can hear the sign at the other end of the phone. At the end of the day all businesses have to cover cost and beleive me credit card transactions cost, but with the additional cover it provides to customers we cannot fathom why they select to pay via transfer or cheque. No protection!! Pay with a credit card and you are protected.
That is the drive behind us providing villa owners with the ability to allow customers to pay with cards for their stay in the villa. It provides security and peace of mind to encourage a booking that otherwise might not have happened.
If you are a customer you must always think twice about sending cash via any means other than credit card!!
Take a look at the below forum posts to exemplify my point!
Holiday makers lose their money
10 July 2009
Villa booking system live
11 June 2009
Luxury last minute villas and special deals on your holiday!
Luxury last minute villa holidays and special deals!
We have a huge selection of villas that are still available for this summer. All you have to do is pick the one you want, give us a call and quote VVB1 and we will discount the villa for you! We have discounts as large as 30% so you really need to book quickly to secure your holiday to the sun
Click through to the site and take a look at our Barbados guide. It provides vital information that has been compiled over time by our customers. It recommends restaurants, beaches, bars and excursions that are all worth experiencing. And the best bit. We provide you with direct telephone numbers and website addresses so you can book direct!
29 May 2009
Get rental income from your holiday villa
We can book you out!! We have a range of deals to ensure your villa achieves rental from guests that visit our main website. We have the following benefits to give to you.
- Display live availability with our calendar and booking system
- Get a FREE website to go with the package, This can carry your own domain name
- Bookings highlighted to you via text message and email
- The cheapest rate on the net GUARANTEED!!
- Take bookings live and show last minute deals to our visitors
- Get placement on the biggest websites in the UK for a fraction of the direct cost!
- Go to the site to see how we market your villa for you.
.We can take all major credit cards and payments in three currencies for you!!
Last minute special offer deals on Luxury villa holidays. Book now!
Welcome to the VIPvillasblog!
We are currently developing our booking solution for villa owners and passing on the benefits of this functionality to our valued customers! Through this new system we can offer SUBSTANTIAL savings on luxury villa holidays. Because individual villa owners can show detailed availability on our website we can offer to you last minute special villa holiday deals that will save you, the customer, lots of your hard earned cash!
Take a look at some of our fantastic villa holidays that you can find on our site.
This one is new to the site and is currently being updated by the owner. It is in a small private village on the Western Algarve called Monte Judeu and is close the resorts of Potimao and Lagos. The villa provides impressive accommodation with fresco's on the walls and 2 acres of private gardens to enjoy the sun in. Surrounded by golf courses it is a golfers dream villa! The villa has five bedrooms and five baths.
Porters Court is a luxury private development in St James parish, Barbados. Close to Holetown and all that the location offers the complex provides luxury well appointed accommodation for the family seeking a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of their working life!
Go on line by clicking the image to take a look at Porters Court in more detail. Book today! With two bedrooms and two baths you have your own private space!
24 February 2009
05 November 2008
Blaauwbosch's decision in 2003 to lead the way by re-introducing cheetah to the Karoo and becoming part of the National Cheetah Breeding Programme is reaping results. Recently a magnificent male from Kawndwe was relocated to the reserve and all indications are that two females are pregnant. This means that there should be some excellent mother and cub sightings over the next high season! Clisk the image title to go straight to our Blaauwbosch page and then give us a call to see what we can do for you. Luxury is a click away!!
Samara see's new baby arrivals in the safari season.
Special offer Safari's in South Africa
Lion at Makweti Safari Lodge
29 October 2008
VIPvillas/CreditCrunch
Here at VIP villas we understand this year is going to be financially tight so go to our Credit crunch page and see what offers we can come up with to ensure you get the very best break that money can buy this year!! Take a look at some of our EXCLUSIVE villa portfolio villas below.
04 October 2008
25 September 2008
Naked Barbados part 1
Barbados Naked
Welcome to my Barbados naked series. Here I will provide you with details of things to see and do on the island and recommend restaurants, bars and excursions that I have either experienced myself or had guests tell me just how good they really are. I hope that you find the information useful for your trip or research of the island and would be very pleased if you feel you could add anything to my information. If you do please do drop me a line at Admin@VIPvillas.com and we’ll look to add it to our ‘Barbados Naked’ feature for future readers. Please enjoy reading the articles which I will be posting weekly. The series starts this week with an introduction to Barbados, the main tourist knowledge points, some history and facts and figures.
Next week we’ll find out about restaurants and food on the island. I’ll be supplying details of the best restaurants in each town and district and giving you a flavour (if you’ll pardon the pun!) of what they offer. I’ll also detail some of the local dishes that you should try and while there.
Then comes activites. Barbados really does make the most of it’s weather. There are lots of activities to get engaged in from relaxing on the beach to the more energetic pursuits such as diving, watersports and or course golf.
Excursions follows that with a guide on what to do and when. This guide gives you all you need to know to actually ‘do it yourself’, so standby for a full breakdown of the island with contact details for excursion providers and tour operators.
You really can’t go all the way to Barbados and not sample the nightlife now can you!! Well click through during week 5 of my Naked Barbados series to find out which are hot and which are not. From beach bars to the high life of the West Coast this instalment has it all. Barbados naked it most certainly is!!
I have previously completed the top ten beaches in Barbados. Tune in to week six for an indepth look at the best beaches. I’ll be reviewing nearly all of them on the island so you can feast your eyes on those that the tourists don’t know about.
Week seven provides a calendar of events for 2009. Make sure you don’t miss a thing with an indepth study of all that there is going on in 2009.
And we finish in week eight. A whistle-stop tour of all that is Naked Barbados!! I’ll round off my series for those specialist trips, getting married? Then tune in, fancy a nature trail? Then click through… it’s all here in this last ‘round up’ week.
So with no time to waste here is my opening piece. Please enjoy!!
FLIGHTS/GETTING THERE
Barbados is well connected to Britain and North America, and currently has a limited service from Continental Europe. With so many incoming flights it acts as a hub to other islands within the South Eastern Caribbean. This makes the island an excellent island hopping base if you intend on visiting other islands. VIPvillas.com can organise separate stays in luxury villas on more than one Caribbean island for you.
The following airlines serve Barbados:
UK:
British Airways from Gatwick
Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick and Manchester
Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA) from Gatwick using British Airways codeshare
BMI from Manchester.
Europe:
Martinair from Amsterdam
Condor from Frankfurt
USA:
US Airways from Philadelphia
American Airlines from New York & Miami
Air Jamaica from New York (JFK)
Delta Air Lines from Atlanta.
Canada:
Air Canada from Toronto
Regional:
Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA), Air Jamaica, LIAT, and American Eagle, which have flights across the Caribbean. Flights to the Grenadines are served by SVG air, TIA 2000 and Mustique Airways - the three airlines also operate together as Grenadines Airways.
ISLAND HOPPING
One very useful fact to know is that there are a number of flights from Barbados to the Grenadines, both as day tours and as transfers, that are known as ‘shared charters’. Practically speaking they run every day, but because they are run by charter airlines, rather than scheduled companies, they are not listed on the international computer systems. See below for the airlines that offer shared charter to the Grenadines.
REGIONAL AIRLINES
LIAT
Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA)
Air Jamaica
SVG Air
Mustique Airways
Trans Island Air/TIA 2000
Day trips to other islands:
Grenadines Discoveries
Fly to Union Island and join a Catamaran for a day sail, with snorkelling and swimming stops in Mayreau, Tobago Keys and Palm Island. $640 including lunch and drinks.
One day air tours to the Grenadines, St Lucia, St Vincent and Young Island, and Grenada.
If you would like to charter a plane, then they are available through:
St Barth Commuter
A local airline based in St Barths, which offers scheduled flights from there to St Martin/St Maarten and Caribbean private aircraft charters to islands all over the Eastern Caribbean. They have a fleet of five twin-engine planes and five specially trained (STOL) pilots with permission to land in St Barths.
SVG Air
A local Caribbean airline that offers charters to the Grenadines from around the region, often from Barbados, but also from St Lucia and Grenada, even from as far as Puerto Rico. SVG Air has around a dozen 5-19-seater planes and also offers island hopping and air ambulance services.
AIRPORT
Grantley Adams International Airport (airport code BGI, after Bridgetown, the island’s capital) is located approximately 10 miles/16km south east of Bridgetown city centre. VIPvillas.com have luxury portfolio of West Coast Villas in Barbados for you to choose from; they really are sheer luxury!
The airport has recently undergone a multi-million dollar expansion with the major phase completed in 2007. This included the construction of a new, much larger arrivals terminal which now houses 22 immigration work stations, five large luggage carousels and two duty free shops. The old arrivals hall has become part of an extended departure lounge and houses a new airside food court and retail concourse. Other facilities include a bank and postal services. Approximately four air bridges are part of the next set of improvements and there has been talk of enclosing the check-in area and installing air-conditioning.
PASSPORTS & VISAS
As a visitor to Barbados you will require a passport which is valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry, along with a valid return airline ticket. This now applies to all American and Canadian citizens, whilst British citizens are required to hold a full 10-year passport. American, Canadian, British and EU citizens do not require a visa for short stays. Other nationalities please check with the Barbados High Commission or with your travel organiser for entry requirements
LOCAL TRANSPORT
The bus system in Barbados is a good one and the fleet of blue and yellow buses (BM licence plate) reaches every corner throughout the island on a regular basis. You will need exact change for the buses and they stop only at official bus stops, which are marked either ‘To City’ or ‘Out of City’ in a red and white circle. The destination is displayed over the front windscreen.
The Government service is supplemented by privately operated mini-buses (B licence plate) that are painted yellow with a blue stripe down the side, and route taxis (ZR licence) which are white with a burgundy stripe. These buses do give change, and they also play local music (somewhat loud at times) and can be hailed down anywhere on route. Destinations are usually on a sign placed in the bottom left-hand corner of the windscreen, and routes normally painted on the sides of the buses. It should be noted that ZR vans are an adventure as well as a mode of transport. They tend to stop at the drop of a hat and travel at speeds which are not for the faint hearted. But then they’ll go out of their way to drop a granny with her shopping outside her house. Avoid travelling at peak times when buses are packed to the limit. The fare to any destination is Bds$1.50 one-way. Depending on the routes, during the week buses can operate from as early as 5.30am to as late as 12.30pm.
For more information on the Government Transport Service, telephone Barbados 436 6820
CAR HIRE
Hiring a car is an excellent addition to a visit to the Caribbean, but particularly so in Barbados because there is plenty to do and because the island is surprisingly good to explore. There are some delightful beaches cut into the cliffs of the south east, which make for an excellent day out and picnic, and the Atlantic coast is wonderfully dramatic. Getting lost in the canefields is almost par for the course, so don’t worry when you do. Just stop and ask and someone is bound to help. Finally, there are all the restaurants to visit in the evening. From an island perspective, cars are a vital aspect of local life. The Bajans would prefer to drive a few hundred yards to work than to walk and so there is actually a rush hour each morning and evening. There are a staggering 1719 kms of paved road network on the island.
A local driving permit is required to drive in Barbados. This costs Bds$10 and can be obtained from the car hire company when you hire the car, or at any police station. If you are visiting during the winter season and know that you will want a car then it is advisable to book it well in advance otherwise, due to demand, it will be impossible to get hold of one. VIPvillas can secure excellent car hire rates for you; better than the main car hire companies. You must have held a licence for at least two years to hire a car in Barbados, and be at least 21 years of age and under 75 years of age.
Indicative prices can be found below.
2007-08 Stoutes Car Rentals Rate Guide in US$ per day/week:
Mini Moke Auto (4str) - 61/265
Jimny Jeep (Soft top) Auto (4str) - 69/320
Terios Jeep 1500cc (Hard top) A/C Auto (5str) – 85/420
Vitara Jeep 2000cc (Hard top) A/C Auto (5str) – 95/490
Rates are in US$, subject to 15% VAT and are valid 16 Dec 2007 to 15 December 2008.
Comprehensive insurance is included in the rental rate except for a deductible of US$1,500 in case of loss, accident or damage to the vehicles - regardless of fault.
A collision damage waiver (CDW) is offered to cover this deductible at a cost of US$49/week or US$10/day. Clients are charged for the petrol in the vehicles at the time of hire, and should return the vehicles empty. Child seats and booster seats are available for hire on request. Car hire rates, CDW, petrol, and extras such as child and booster seats are subject to 15% VAT. Payment is made for the hire at the time of delivery.
DRIVING & PARKING
Driving is on the left on Barbados, don’t forget your driving licence!
Generally speaking drivers are fairly courteous and, being quite conservative, they tend to abide by the Highway Code. However do be cautious going around roundabouts, as not all drivers know which lane they ought to be in. You will also need to keep an eye out for Z vans and minibuses which stop in the middle of the road at the drop of a hat. Try to avoid going anywhere during the rush hour, when all of the major roads heading into Bridgetown, Holetown and the South Coast tend to be back-to-back with traffic (the local radio stations have traffic reports during both the morning and evening rush hours). Almost every household on the island seems to own a car, and for those that do not there are plenty of families who have more than one. Some children still walk to school, so as there are very few pavements (sidewalks) you should drive with caution during the start/finish of the school day. Take special care when going around blind corners in rural areas.
Drink driving laws are being introduced so check for new regulations.
Seat belts are compulsory and failure to wear one attracts a fine of Bds$500. The speed limit in Barbados is 37 mph/60 kph except on the highways (55 mph/80 kph) and in Bridgetown (20 mph/32 kph).
PARKING
The parking fee for official car parks in Bridgetown, and at the airport, is currently Bds$1 per hour or part thereof, and $6 for the whole day. Tickets are issued on entering and payment is made on exit.
TAXIS
Taxis are widely available around Barbados (if you can’t find one just walk into the nearest hotel and they’ll find one for you), with taxi stands located at the airport, Bridgetown Harbour, and Bridgetown at Independence Square Lower, Broad Street and Heroes Square, South Coast at Accra Beach - Hastings Rocks, West Coast at Sunset Crest Shopping Centres 1 and 2.
Taxis are not metered. Instead the fares are fixed. However it is always a good idea to confirm the cost of your journey before setting off.
Rates by distance should not exceed Bds$2.50 per mile or Bds$1.50 per kilometre. The flat rate per hour is Bds$32, with waiting time Bds$7 per hour between 6am to 10pm, and Bds$8 per hour between 10pm and 6am.
MEDICAL
Generally the climate in Barbados is pretty benign and there are only a couple of issues that you can encounter here that are not in Europe or the States. Check that your coverage for polio and tetanus is up to date. There is no malaria in Barbados, but there are very occasional outbreaks of dengue fever – another mosquito-borne disease which happens after considerable rain. You should take normal precautions against mosquito bites. If you are susceptible then make sure to use insect repellent during daylight hours and after sunset.
Visitors’ prescriptions can be fulfilled by local pharmacies, following consultation with a local physician.
HOSPITALS
The medical facilities in Barbados are among the best in the Caribbean. There are eight polyclinics throughout the island and two hospitals.
The general hospital is Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Bridgetown which has 600 beds and operates a 24 hour A&E department.
There is also a modern private facility at the Bay View Hospital in St Michael which does not have an A&E Dept., however there is the FMH Emergency Medical Clinic in St Michael.
VACCINATIONS
Vaccinations are not required for entry into Barbados, though you may with to check with your GP prior to travelling. There is one exception, for travellers who have come from areas infected with of Yellow Fever, where a vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one (1) year of age.
ELECTRICITY
Domestic current will operate appliances designated for 115/230 volts AC, 50 Cycles, with 2-pin US style plugs and sockets.
TELEPHONE
Barbados has a pretty good telecommunications system and it has recently been deregulated so that mobile phones from abroad will work (though calls can still be pretty expensive). The networks are Cable & Wireless, Digicel and AT&T Wireless.
The international dialling code for Barbados is +1 246 followed by seven digits. When on-island simply dial the seven digits. If you are staying in a villa do check to see if the phone allows international calls, as some have debars, which will need to be lifted, and for which there is a deposit.
Internet services are available at most hotels, and some villas, plus a number of internet cafes have now opened. Cellular phones can be rented or a roaming feature can be added to your own mobile
Overseas phone calls can be made from any phone booth around the island, payment for which is by credit card or a local pre-paid calling card.
TIME ZONE
Barbados is 4 hours behind GMT and so during the winter it is four hours behind Britain and five behind the rest of Europe, and an hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the States. Barbados has no daylight saving time in the summer so the island is then five hours behind British Summer Time (six behind the rest of Europe) and on the same time as the eastern seaboard of the United States.
TOURIST INFORMATION
There are Barbados Tourism Authority information offices at the airport, between the arrivals hall before Immigration and the Departure Lounge, t 428 0937; at the Deep Water Harbour (where the cruise ships come in), t 426 1718; and at the BTA’s main office on Harbour Road, Bridgetown, t 427 2623.
Outside Barbados you will find BTA offices in the following places:
Britain: 263 Tottenham Court Road, London W1 P 7LA, t 020 7636 9448, btauk@barbados.org
Canada: 105 Adelaide St West, Suite 1010, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1P9, t (416) 214 9880, toll free 1800 268 9122, btapublic@globalserve.net
USA: 800 Second Ave, New York NY 10017, t (212) 986 6516, btany@worldnet.att.net; 3440 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1215, Los Angeles, CA 90010, t (213) 380 2198, btala@worldnet.att.net; 150 Alhambra Circle Suite 1000, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, t (305) 442 7471, btamiami@barbados.org
DEPARTURE TAX & TAXES
Departure tax is no longer payable at the airline check-in desk as it should be included in the cost of your airline ticket - please check your ticket to confirm this. This tax (passenger service charge) is payable by all passengers leaving the island (exempt for stays under 24 hours) and over the age of 12 years. The amount increased to Bds$55/US$27.50 on 1st February 2007.
Hotel and villa accommodation incurs a 7.5% government room tax and a service charge in Barbados, which is normally added to your bill (unless you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel). It can make quite a difference to the eventual price of your holiday, so if you are booking direct make sure you calculate it in when pricing up your trip.
A 15% VAT applies to most services including car hire, tourist attractions, restaurants, retail (apart from Duty Free items), excursions etc, but this is usually included in the published price, except for car hire rates, which are usually quoted excluding VAT so you'll need to add it.
WEATHER
Barbados boasts that it has 3000 hours of sunshine each year. Certainly even within the Caribbean it has an excellent climate. Temperatures vary by just a few degrees across the year and because it is surrounded by sea the island rarely gets too hot, except occasionally in summer, particularly if it is still. Generally though, there is a breeze to take the edge off the heat. The best time to visit is in the winter, when the northern hemisphere is at its coldest in February, though this is of course the high season and the most expensive time.
The rainiest time of year is over the late summer months between August and late October. Often the sun comes back out after a shower, but occasionally a blanket of cloud will spin off a weather system in the northern hemisphere and may cover the island with cloud for a few days.
Barbados lies just on the edge of the hurricane belt, but has not been seriously affected in recent years.
WATER
Most of the water in Barbados is artesian water, rainwater that has soaked into the limestone structure of the land. Generally it is drinkable from the tap and tastes good, but in restaurants you will be offered a choice of bottled or local water. However, with so much pressure on existing groundwater supplies in recent years, a desalination (the largest in the Caribbean) facility is now in operation, which provides water for 20% of the island’s population, currently within the Spring Garden Highway area where the plant is located. Sandy Lane Hotel also has a desalination system.
Piped water was introduced to Bridgetown in 1861, and to commemorate the event an ornamental fountain, made in Britain, was erected in 1865 in what is now Heroes Square.
CHILDREN
In general children are well received in Barbados, but some of the smarter hotels have an age restriction policy at certain times of year, especially during February and March. Others offer special children’s programmes. Most villas are well geared up for children too. It is easy to find babysitters and they cost approximately Bds$20 per hour, plus transport home.
There is not an abundance of playgrounds in Barbados at the moment, however six of the Chefette fast food outlets now have Kids Zones (air-conditioned at Rockley) and each playground has slides, cars and rides and other activities and also cater for parties. Pizzaz pizza restaurant in Sunset Crest in Holetown on the West Coast also has its own playground.
Apart from frolicking in the sea and building sand castles, there are a number of child friendly activities available on island: the Barbados Museum has a dedicated children’s gallery with an exhibition called ‘yesterdays children’ in the Kidd Gallery, Folkstone Marine Park near Holetown is a recreational underwater park with a snorkelling trail, an interpretive centre and museum with marine displays and a saltwater aquarium, there is also a picnic area, tennis and basketball courts and a playground. The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is popular with children for the animals on view, as is Atlantis Submarine and Harrison’s Cave. The Barbados Golf Academy has an 18 hole mini course with special rates for 14yrs and under. There is a Drive-in Cinema near the Sheraton Centre, which also has an indoor cinema. Farley Hill National Park has a picnic and play area. See later instalments of Naked Barbados for further Child friendly activities in Barbados.
Adventure Beach at The Boatyard has kayaks, pedal boats, glass bottom boats, ocean trampolines, a floating rock climbing ice-berg, beach volley ball and snorkelling. Accra Beach in the Rockley area is another popular beach spot and is good for boogie boarding with boards for hire. Batts Rock on the West Coast (close to Calabaza Restaurant) has good swimming and snorkeling, plus a small children’s playground with slides, swings and see-saws. There is a parking area, picnic benches, shower and changing facilities, and drinks machine.
CORPORATE/INCENTIVES
Barbados has excellent facilities for corporate clients in all types of group, incentive and corporate travel and events. The island has good international and regional air links, making it easy to get to. Where accommodation is concerned, some of the VIPvillas larger villas can make ideal settings for smaller groups. Especially those that come staffed with chefs.
For meeting facilities outside of the featured properties note:
Sherbourne Conference Centre, St Michael, t 467 8200
www.bcslbarbados.com
Multi-level conference and event facility with 164,000sq ft of meeting and exhibition space, for trade shows, conferences and special events of up to 1200 persons, seated theatre style in the largest room. Eleven meeting rooms, five break-out rooms, two foyers and two dining rooms, mass media facilities and state of the art telecommunications equipment, infrared Simultaneous Interpretation System
Frank Collymore Hall, Central Bank Building, Bridgetown
The Grande Salle, at 61’x 29’, can be used for exhibitions, art showings and meetings, with five large & eleven small screens. The Meeting Room seats 70 and is equipped with presentation and projection equipment.
WHAT TO PACK
Consider the following items when packing for a trip to Barbados:
Adequate sun protection, high factor sun cream, sunglasses, hat/cap and a lightweight beach-shirt/blouse/t-shirt; suitable beach and walking shoes; mosquito repellent containing DEET suitable for use all day; cream for insect bites. Also consider and adapter plug, film and batteries for camera; toiletries; beach mat/towel; preferred brand of coffee/tea; small torch.
Clothes - lightweight cotton clothing, with elegant/casual attire for evenings. Note that most good restaurants and top hotels require that men wear long trousers and shirts in the evenings, not shorts, flip-flops or t-shirts. During the festive season people tend to dress up and a few of the more exclusive establishments may request jacket and tie. Women may wish to pack a lightweight wrap or jacket during the winter months, as the evenings (Jan/Feb) sometimes feel cool after the heat of the day.
You should be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing in Barbados. It is also an offence to bring in meat products from the UK.
BANKS
International and local commercial banks operating in Barbados include the Bank of Nova Scotia/Scotia Bank, Barbados National Bank, First Caribbean Bank, Caribbean Commercial Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and The Mutual Bank. The Central Bank of Barbados has been in operation since 1973. The island also offers offshore banking and insurance services.
Bank opening hours are Mon-Thurs 8am to 3pm and Fri 8am to 5pm. Most banks are closed on the weekend, but the Mutual Bank has two branches that open until 7pm on Fridays and until 2pm on Saturdays, and the Caribbean Commercial Bank opens from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. ATMs are located across the island, including the airport, harbour, some petrol stations and shopping malls. Note that ATMs will only give out Barbados Dollars (not US Dollars) and some charge for overseas cash transactions.
Banks require customers to show their passports when cashing traveller’s cheques. You will need to show a transaction slip as well if you wish to convert Barbadian dollars back to your home currency.
CURRENCY/CREDIT CARDS
The currency of Barbados is the Barbados dollar (Bds), which is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of US$1.00 = Bds$1.98 (some street/beach vendors may do a straight 2 for 1). All prices on island are quoted in Barbados dollars, with the exception of hotel rates which are in US only, and duty free items where the local Bds$ price is shown alongside US dollar price. US dollars (notes only) are accepted throughout the island, however you will often find that the rate of exchange will not be as favourable in hotels, supermarkets and large stores as that in the bank.
CREDIT CARDS
Most of the major credit cards (including debit cards) are accepted anywhere that deals with tourists on a regular basis. Do not expect local bars or small local restaurants to accept them (if in doubt double check in advance), but you will find that the larger supermarkets often do. It is worth noting that certain credit cards may attract an additional charge.
Next week I’m covering restaurants and food on the island so make sure you click through to read it. I will detail specific restaurants and include contact details for them so put that together with the taxi numbers and you’re on your way!! Tune in to learn all about the island and book your next holiday online at a VIP villa!!
31 March 2008
12 March 2008
Luxury Safari news
Exciting new activities at Samara March sees the launch of many exciting new developments. On the 21st of March Samara will be running it's special “Easter Eggs, Bugs and Bunnies” programme and with this will launch the start of their new child programme. The weekend kicks off with fresh baked hot cross buns, plenty of games and activities and an Easter egg hunt on the lawns of Karoo Lodge. Family travel has been growing steadily at Samara and with this in mind Samara has looked to developing a more comprehensive and exciting children’s programme for our young guests. The programme is being developed in conjunction with Future Nature, it will offer families with children of all ages wonderful opportunities to explore, fuelling enthusiasm for the bush and educating them about the natural environment.
Also launching in March are the”Samara Sleep Outs”, this allows our guests the opportunity to sleep under the stars. Samara provide everything to ensure a comfortable night out in the wilderness. ‘Sleep Outs” provide a great opportunity to sleep under the stars, listen to the sounds of the bush and feel at one with nature. This offers a wonderful “camp out” experience for families who can sit under the stars while roasting marshmallows on the open fire.
Later this year we will be launching the long awaited horse trails on Samara. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the secrets of Samara’s unexplored valleys and plains on horse back, one of the most natural ways to enjoy nature and game viewing. Riding excursions will cater to all riding abilities and will be lead by qualified guides on well trained and cared for horses.
For more details on all these activities please visit our website on http://www.vipvillas.com/ and contact us via the email address.
For those of you who have visited our magnificent mountain plateaus on Kondoa Mountain may find this latest history update amusing.
During WW2, a Karoo farm manager at Kondoa, Ralph Kluegen, was interned as the South African authorities thought him guilty of spying. Most people in the area thought this a bit far fetched, however in 1953, while renovating a building, Douglas Parkes was amazed to find a Transmitter in the stable loft.
Apparently warnings had been heard on the German controlled radio, that those who had joined up to serve with the DMR (the local regiment) and were about to sail for North Africa, would be in danger of that vessel being torpedoed by submarine. This had been given some credibility when it was clear that the Germans had the departure date correct and even the name of the ship! How could this have happened? Eventually it dawned on Graaff Reinetters that a certain jeweller in town who often drove out to Kondoa was the culprit, obviously he and Ralph Kluegen had been the informers.
March Game Sightings. With all the good rains lately the seasons really have been changing and many antelope are dropping young, both the Eland & Kudu have already birthed their calves, about 3 months earlier than expected. Many other antelope species are pregnant so we are looking forward to many more youngsters on Samara. Sibella’s cubs are growing fast and looking big, strong and extremely healthy. As usual Sibella is being an excellent mother, making regular kills, mostly Kudu calves, for her youngsters to feed off. Guests have been awed, going off on foot and getting up close to Sibella and cubs, often viewing the family feeding off a fresh kill.
Buffalo sightings have also been excellent and mostly effortless. They have been spotted many time lately, enjoying the green lawns just outside Karoo Lodge. Now is the time to visit so look to book here!
Croatia; The luxury villa destination?
Croatia is a beautiful mediterranean jewel that remains largely undiscovered. Why not discover and uncover the secrets?
With Ryanair and Easyjet flying in to the country, flights to your holiday home in the sun are cheaper than ever. This makes Croatia an excellent investment prospect with homes still reasonably priced despite recent increases in values. The main tourist area in the country is the northern district of Istria. Here you will find a multitude of destinations providing a range of holidays experiences.
Umag
The coastal town of Umag and its riviera (which is about 20km long) is very popular. The old town in Umag has attractive and narrow, cobbled streets. The coast is full of pretty little bays. Umag is also well known for its marina and the international tennis centre which hosts the Croatian Open every July.
Pula
Close by you will find the area capital Pula.
The most famous landmark here is the amphitheatre. Built during the 1st century AD, the three-story amphitheatre is the sixth largest in the world. It hosts the Pula Opera Festival in the summer and is also used for other events during the year. Other sights include the Triumphal arch of the Sergii, the Temple of Augustus, the Cathedral and the Franciscan Church and Monastery. Amongest the Most notable performers here are Pavarotti and Sting. The amphitheatre stills holds 25,000 for events and is truely a fantastic venue to attend.
Just outside the centre of Pula is the Verundella area - it has a beautiful marina, lots of yachts, pine forests and an aquarium. The aquarium is at the bottom of a 120 year old Austrian Hungarian fortress and takes up five large rooms. There are big seawater tanks with Adriatic flora and fauna and some big open tanks with dogfish, sea urchins, crabs and starfish. It costs the equivalent of £2.50 to get in. The aquarium is OK, but being inside the old fortress is great - dark, gloomy, cold with really thick impenetrable walls. Go down the long tunnel which seems like you are going underground but it leads to a charming cafe and outdoor seating area where we had some delicious ice cream. The aquarium opens daily 9:00 - 10:00 and the website is http://www.aquariumpula.istra.hr./
Porec
This is the most popular holiday resort in Istria and has frequently been proclaimed the top resort in Croatia by the Croatian National Tourist Office. A visit to the old town (Porec is 2,000 years old) is a must, due to its numerous historical sites, particularly the 6th century Euphrasian Basilica which is wonderfully preserved and is well known for its beautiful gold mosaics. The entry to the church is free, although a small donation is much appreciated.
The main tourist areas are two bays south of the town, called Zelena (Green) and Plava (Blue) Laguna (lagoon). They are almost like small towns, with several hotels in each, as well as camping, marina, shopping and entertainment areas. Most visitors stay in one of the two.
Rovinj
This is a charmingly picturesque town with yet more narrow, cobbled streets. It is famous for its St. Euphemia Cathedral with the highest church tower in Istria, at 60 metres high. Rovinj was originally an island, but 250 years ago the narrow channel, which separated it from the mainland, was filled in. It is one of our favourite destinations on the Croatian Adriatic, particularly as it is very lively with numerous cafes and restaurants, galleries and an active fishing port, so in the morning you can watch the fishermen come in as you have your breakfast.
For places to see, definitely go to the cathedral of St. Euphemia (built in 1736) which is the largest Baroque building in Istria, the town's museum and Rovinj Aquarium.
With just this short guide to the Istrian region of Croatia it can be seen the different areas provide a range of differnet experiences to be had. The Country has had a difficult past and many 'saesoned' travellers know this. This can cause an unfair appraisal for what is a beautiful and very cultured destination. Here you can have the delights of Italy with the value of much cheaper destinations. From watching magnificent operas in the Amphitheatre, soaking up rural retreats, enjoying exploring the many islands and bays to enjoying the atmosphere in the more tourist areas Croatia really can fill your holiday time with many varied activites. Accommodation in this part of the world leaves nothing to be desired. From camp sites for those on a budget to luxury private villas the standard rivals any Mediterranean country. Many private properties come with the availability of exclusive and unique trips and added extras. From private chefs to guides to spa treatments these little touches provide that difference to satisfy the most discerning traveller. Croatia is back on the map of destinations. Why not take a look? You can only experience it's beauty.
28 February 2008
Le Quartier Francais; South Africa's finest!
South Africa is a stunning country that defies generic description. How can you describe a country that encompasses all seasons in one day, cultures from all over the world and natural surroundings forming a tapestry of colour and enchantment? From safari's that exude luxury to beach holidays rivaling the very best resorts the country never fails to surprise. Within Cape Winelands is a small boutique hotel that offers not only luxurious award winning accommodation but the very best in cuisine in the world. Welcome to Le Quartier Francais!
What light through yonder window breaks?
Due to the recent electricity shortage well-lit moments are, for most people, few and far between in Cape Winelands, South Africa. This is however not the case at Le Quartier Français. You see they have their very own generator that keeps the lights burning bright, the water piping hot and the air conditioners humming in spite of inconvenient power cuts.
Regardless of what is going on in the outside world they always do their utmost to ensure that your Le Quartier Français experience is one you'll treasure forever.
Neil's Pork Pantry
One to definitely catch is Neil's magical work!
New to Neil's Charcuterie List during the month of March 2008:
Coppa salami lovingly handcrafted from the best organic pork, cured for 18 days, flavored with paprika and dried for 6 months.
Organic pork cured for 21 days, dried for 3 months and then pressed. Stuffed with dry salami, repressed and dried for a further 5 months.
They're available at The Farm Grocer on Môreson Farm or, fortnightly, at Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock.
Go to www.eat-out.co.za to nominate your favourite products, producers and outlets.
Bread Baking Classes
We've all be told that a person shouldn't play with their food. At the award winning Bread & Wine vineyard restaurant, on Môreson Farm, LQF is constantly dispelling this archaic myth through their very own popular bread baking courses.
During each day-long course you'll be taught how to have fun with food, making magic in any kitchen. The courses are all fully booked and the first opening is on the 17th of May. If you're interested go to http://vipvillas.com/ and go to Cape Winelands in South Africa to detail the restaurant.
19 February 2008
Travel purchase on the net; get searching!
Fear not says Simon Williams from VIPvillas.com. “There is no need to worry if you haven’t secured your targeted bookings for this Summer in the January window.” He refers to recent research by Google on the time it takes for a consumer to make a decision about where to book for this summer. Consumers are using search engines in more and more elaborate ways to eventually purchase holidays. The research looked into online consumer behaviour and found some very interesting facts. The look to book process can take as long as twelve weeks with several visits to the computer in the process. With an average of 12 related travel searches, 22 visits and 29 days from look to book the ability to influence behaviour for active travel companies is large.
The research also revealed the average consumer visits a site 2.5 times before purchasing from it, for tour operators this was significantly higher at 3.9. Only 10% of purchases happen at a first visit to a site and 38% of sales occur up to four weeks later. Andy comments on this, “It is important for ecommerce travel companies to realise the days of a quick hit have gone. The building of a relationship is key to a sale. There are many ways to do this but we believe content is king. Any travel company that focuses everything on price is losing focus. More effort should go into marketing the resort and your particular product to secure a sale. People have
a budget and search on that. If your prices fit the budget then it’s the content that will sell it. That is the key for us.”
Generic search terms also appear to be important in the process of search. The interesting finding reveals consumers only search on brand terms 10% of the time for a first search. 54% of searchers started the process with a generic term such as ‘Villas Cyprus’. This is important to Google and effectively backs up their offering; the chance for all companies to appear at the top of page one achieving impressions. The importance of ‘hooking’ your custom at this search stage is very important to smaller companies. The research found that as the consumer goes on their search journey, keywords move towards branded terms at the end of the process. “We recognised this fact early on in our business life. This is another reason we are building content and constantly updating our site. You have to offer the customer more than one of the big boys in the market place. Hopefully if they go on to a large tour operator they will remember your product and come back to you. The fact that consumers are searching on generic terms details an opportunity to be seized upon by all. It’s absolutely key.”
VIPvillas.com provide luxury holidays to destinations around the world. The company is expanding to open up destinations that offer something different from the mass market.
Luxury boutique hotels the way forward
The exclusive hotel in the heart of the Cape Winelands provides a haven of peace and tranquility. The hotel's cuisine has won many awards and you will be rewarded with the very best in gastronomy in the 'tasting rooms'. The resident chef Margot Janse is certainly instrumental in helping this boutique hotel winning recognition and it being voted in the top lists for hotels regularly. The restaurant itself has been voted in the top 50 restaurants worldwide in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Restaurant magazine UK. The hotel has been voted in the top 100 worldwide by Travel and Leisure 2007. 18 February 2008
Barbados; Interesting facts and travel advice.
Luxury Barbados villa holidays
The island of Barbados has eleven parishes and can be divided into roughly five parts:
Central Barbados, including the parishes of St. George and St. Thomas. Harrison Cave, the site of a massive limestone cavern, is the main sight.
Eastern Barbados, the rugged Atlantic side of the island. Crane Beach in St. Phillip Parish, and Bathsheba in St. Joseph Parish are the main sights. Also includes the less traveled parishes of St. John and St. Andrew.
Western Barbados, the calm, caribbean side of the island covering the parishes of St. James and St. Peter and St. Lucy. Holetown, Speightstown are the two main towns.
Southern Barbados, the parish of Christchurch. Includes St. Lawrence Gap, a lively area full of bars and restaurants; Oistins, famous for its Friday fish fry on the beach; and Grantley Adams International Airport.
Cities
Barbados has the following towns and cities:
Bridgetown - 'Capital'
Bathsheba
Fustic
Holetown
Oistins
Speightstown
South Coast -- The south coast is made up of several very small villages strung along the coast. Most of the budget hotels, guesthouses, and apartment are located here. Towns include Hastings, Rockley, Worthing, St.Lawrence, Oistins, Silver Sands and Maxwell.
Culture and History
Barbados has experienced several waves of human habitation. The first wave were of the Saladoid-Barrancoid group, farmers, fishermen, and ceramists who arrived by canoe from Venezuela's Orinoco Valley around 350 CE. The Arawak people were the second wave, arriving from South America around 800 CE. Arawak settlements on the island include Stroud Point, Chandler Bay, Saint Luke's Gully, and Mapp's Cave. According to accounts by descendants of the aboriginal Arawak tribes on other local islands, the original name for Barbados was Ichirouganaim. In the 13th century, the Caribs arrived from South America in the third wave, displacing both the Arawak and the Salodoid-Barrancoid. For the next few centuries, they lived in isolation on the island.
The name "Barbados" comes from a Portuguese explorer named Pedro Campos in 1536, who originally called the island Los Barbados ("The Bearded Ones"), after the appearance of the island's fig trees, whose long hanging aerial roots resembled beards. Between Campos' sighting in 1536 and 1550, Spanish conquistadors seized many Caribs on Barbados and used them as slave labor on plantations. The others fled the island, moving elsewhere.
Barbados was formally settled by the British in 1627. After several failed crops of cotton, sugarcane was introduced, and the colony established itself as a profitable plantation economy. Enslaved Africans were the primary source of labour on these plantations until 1834, when they won their freedom through several years of rebellion, supported by increasing pressure from anti-slavery movements in Britain.
The economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. Though the shackles were removed, much of the repressive labour conditions of slavery remained on the island, until the 1930s, when the educated black middle class fought for universal adult suffrage and took the control of the country's local governance away from the British-descended local aristocracy. The country began a process of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s which led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1980s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. Barbados has developed into a stable democracy with one of the highest rates of literacy in the Western Hemisphere.
Locals refer to themselves as Bajans and things Barbadian as Bajan.
Flights to Barbados, airtickets
Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (IATA: BGI),(ICAO: TBPB) For its size, Barbados boasts a large international airport with dozens of flights arriving in the high season from the UK . The airport is 13km (8 miles) east of Bridgetown. Buses run from a stop across the road from the airport up the coast to Bridgetown, but a taxi is the most convenient way to get to your hotel on arrival.
By boat
Many cruise ships dock in Bridgetown, and in fact the Bridgetown deep water harbour has just been expanded to accommodate even more vessels. Private moorings are available around the island. Note: stiff penalties prohibit the dropping of anchors on coral reefs.
Get around
The bus system is extensive, cheap, and fast - if you're headed to somewhere on the main route - but a car (or mini-moke) is the only way to see many of the out-of-the-way sights. Many of the drivers will hold a bus for you if they see you're from out of town reflecting the typical welcoming spirit. Buses are run by the Barbados Transport Authority (blue buses, quiet), private operators (yellow buses with VERY loud music, and private vans (white minivans, usually cramped and crowded). All charge the same fare (BD$1.50). Yellow buses and minivans will make change and even accept dollars but you need exact change, in Barbados Dollars, for a BTA bus.
There are also more than enough taxis to take you wherever you need to go on the island for reasonable prices. It is best to negotiate the price before you get in but most taxi drivers are honest and you are unlikely to be overcharged.
Mopeds and bikes can also be rented, on the island, to explore sites that aren't easily reached by cars.
Another fun way to get around is to rent a moke available from any number of local car rental agencies.
If you are driving, roads on the island are generally quite narrow, with the exception of the ABC highway. It is advisable to be extra cautious as many roads on the island have sharp turns, steep inclines, and are generally quite bumpy, although most are paved. Many of these proclaimed highways do not have sidewalks, so there can be pedestrians on the street sharing the road. Many bus stops are also on the side of roads where there are no sidewalks.
Talk
The official language in Barbados is English. Locals also speak an English dialect reminiscent of the Scottish highland dialect.....which is referred to as Bajan. There are a few African words interspersed with the dialect. Communication will not be a problem for any English speaker as Barbados has one of the highest literacy rates in the Western Hemisphere of around 99.9 percent.
The local currency is the Bajan dollar, but US dollars are accepted just about everywhere in shops and restaurants. The exchange rate is fixed at 1.995 Bajan dollars to the US Dollar but almost everyone uses US$1 = BD$2. Keep in mind that exchangers in hotels may insist on taking an additional percentage of the exchange (typically 5%). Lots of duty free shops in Bridgetown catering to the cruise liner trade, where you can buy jewelry, etc.
Barbados has a great variety of street vendors. Haggle aggressively. Don't stop until you're at about a third of the original price.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Do flying fish fly?
Yes and no. Flying fish can break through the surface of the water and fly distances of up to 100 yards at about 30 miles per hour, but they do not actually fly the same way as birds, because birds vibrate their wings during flight. Instead, the flying fish gets its power and speed from its tail fin, which it moves from side to side with powerful strokes.
Flying fish -- the icon of the islands is found on coins, bills, and menus. Flying fish is usually served lightly breaded and fried, with a yellow sauce. Be warned: this yellow sauce consists of VERY hot Scotch Bonnet peppers with onions in a mustard sauce.
Pepperpot -- a dish of long tradition and great pride among the Bajans, it is a pork stew in a spicy dark brown sauce. Don't miss this.
Try "Flying fish cutters," a local sandwich.
Visitors seeking fast food will probably be disappointed; the titanic burger chains of the US failed miserably upon introduction to Barbados (Bajans eat nearly no beef). However, chicken and fish sandwiches are wildly popular, so KFC and Chefette are ubiquitous.
Bajan cuisine is a strange mix of spicy, flavorful treats along with bland traditional English fayre. So be prepared for meals where firey stews sit side-by-side with beans on toast.
Every Friday night the place to be is the town of Oistins (on the south coast) for the "fish fry". This is a market where you can buy fresh fish cooked according to local recipes. Locals stay there late and dance until the early hours of the morning. This is now the second most popular tourist attraction on the island, after Harrison's Cave.
There are many fine restaurants on the island with the top two being The Cliff (on the west coast) and The Restaurant at South Sea (on the south coast). Both are quite expensive, but serve beautiful food and a wonderful dining experience, overlooking the sea. Still, you can find many hidden gems if you look hard enough. Waterfront Cafe on the Careenage is an excellent place to sample Bajan Cuisine while sipping the local Banks Beer or a spicy Rum Punch.
Fish cakes, BBQ pig tails, fresh coconut, and roasted peanuts are offered by the many street vendors.
Barbados nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Barbados has some of the purest water in the world. Cruise ship employees are often seen stocking up on their water supplies while docked at the island.
Rum and rum drinks are featured at every bar. Perhaps the most famous domestic brand offered is Mount Gay Rum, which is very delicious. Tours of the Mount Gay Rum factory are available, during which samples of their premium aged rum may be given.
Beer and wine is easy to find as well. Banks beer is Barbados' own beer and very good.
Tours of the Banks brewery are also available. While the tour itself is very hot and only moderately interesting an unlimited amount of beer is provided to those waiting for the tour to begin. Try to show up a few hours early and take advantage of a very good deal.
Sleep
Barbados offers everything from inexpensive guest houses with bed and breakfast from under $40.00 U.S daily for a single in the summer to luxury accommodations at some of the world's best hotels at $1,600 in the prime season.
Barbados apartments and apartment hotels offer the comfort of a hotel room combined with the convenience of your own cooking facilities. Most are located on/near the beach and are especially suitable for families. There is a wide selection of luxury villas and cottages available for rent throughout Barbados. Many of these villas and cottages are located on or near the beach.
Privately owned vacation rentals are often rented at much lower costs than hotel or resort rooms. There is a wide selection of these holiday properties available throughout Barbados and many are located on or near the beach. Vacation properties range from beach houses to condos and apartments.
Luxury Barbados Villa Rentals - Villas in Barbados by VIPvillas.com provide guests with an extensive collection of more than one hundred and fifty of the finest Barbados vacation rentals. Usually fully staffed and generally offering private pools, outdoor dining and other upscale amenities, Barbados villas are ideal for couples, families or groups seeking privacy, relaxation and comfort.
Stay healthy
Beware of the sun, Barbados is only 13 degrees off of the equator and you can burn very easily. It is very important to keep your water intake high. Drink plenty of water or bring an umbrella to shade yourself against the sun, which is commonly done in the country.
During nightfall, it is advisable to put on bug spray, as mosquitoes are often a nuisance to anyone staying outdoors for prolonged periods. This is most prevalent while eating at outdoor restaurants.
Despite, or maybe because of the tropical climate, Bajans tend to dress conservatively when not on the beach. A bikini probably won't be appreciated in town and certainly not in church.
Barbadians are particularly sensitive to manners and saying good morning to people even strangers goes a long way to earning their respect.
Barbados; The ultimate destination
Upcoming festivals in Barbados for the next few months
Holetown Festival February 17–24, 2008
Week long festival celebrates the anniversary of Barbados first settlement at Holetown in February 16-27. For more information visit http://www.holetownfestivalbarbados.com
Holders Season February 23–March 15, 2008
Festival features an array of music from opera, classical, jazz, Caribbean and Latin. Location is Holders Plantation House. Visit http://www.holders.net for more info on this annual internationally recognized event.
Amistad’s Atlantic Freedom TourMarch 28–April 05, 2008
Freedom Schooner Amistad docks in Barbados for the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Atlantic Slave Trade’s abolition. For more information, visit www.amistadamerica.org
Oistins Fish Festival 3/22 - 3/24
Traditionally Easter Weekend & advertised in April - Easter Sunday is March 23, 2008 Oistin fishing village holds its annual two day festival celebrating the local fishermen's contribution to the island. Competitions include crab racing, fish boning, boat racing, and of course fishing. http://www.travel2thecaribbean.com/OistinsFishFestivalBarbados.html
Barbados Gospelfest May 19-26, 2008
Gospel artists from the U.S., U.K. and Caribbean attend this popular festival each year
Celtic Festival May 2008
Exact dates have not been announced yet Two week celebration for Celtic music lovers featuring Scottish folk dancers, and Welsh choir.
15 February 2008
Cyprus; 101 things to do.
Cyprus so much to do so little time!
History and culture
1 Tombs of the Kings - Paphos
2 Paphos Mosaics - including the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus & Aion
3 Kourion (or Curium) - ancient city kingdom of 2nd century AD - Limassol
4 Agia Paraskevi church - Byzantine 5 domed church in Geroskipou - Paphos
5 10 UNESCO listed Byzantine churches in Troodos mountains - most famous is Agios Nikolas tis Stegis at Kakopetria
6 Restored flour mill - Kakopetria in Troodos mountains
7 Kykkos Monastery - founded in 1100. Archbishop Makarios served there
8 Chrysorogiatissa monastery - excellent vintage wine since 1770
9 Byzantine museum - Persiterona village near Polis
10 Cyprus Museum - Nicosia. Antiquities from the Neolithic Age to the Byzantine Age
11 Kolossi Castle - Limassol
12 Famagusta Gate - Nicosia. One of 3 restored gates of entry through the ancient city walls built by the Venetians
13 Agios Lazaros Church - Larnaca. Built in the 9th century, the church was built over the tomb of the patron saint of Larnaca, St Lazaros
14 Stavrouni Monastery - near Larnaca. NB: Women are not allowed here
15 Choirokoitia - UNESCO listed Neolithic settlement between Nicosia and Limassol
16 Paphos mediaeval fort - where the opera is held each summer
17 Panagia tou Sinti monastery on the Xeros river near Paphos - an important building of the Venetian period
18 Museum of Polis
19 Palaichori - Pitsylia region of Troodos - has a "struggle" museum, a former hideout of the EOKA
20 Trooditissa monastery - from the 13th century. Closed to visitors but you can walk/cycle through the gated entrance to take a scenic route to Foini village
Activities 101 things to do Cyprus
21 Walk on one of the many nature trails
22 Dive the Xenobia wreck off the coast of Larnaca
23 Learn to dive Cyprus off the Akamas peninsula
24 Take a boat trip along the Akamas peninsula
25 Hike the long distance E4 path around the island
26 Bungee jump - at Ayia Napa
27 Rock climb - at Episkopi
28 Paraglide - at any of the watersport locations across the island
29 Kiteboard - try this new exciting activity on the water
30 Go horseriding - riding centre at Tochni near Larnaca
31 Hire a mountain bike or take a guided bike tour in the Paphos forest
32 Ski - between January-April in the Troodos mountains
33 Birdwatch - best time is in spring when migratory birds arrive on the island
34 Go-karting - at Paphos, Polis and other locations across the island
35 Get WET! at a water park - great fun for all the family
36 Sail - harbours at Latchi, Paphos, Limassol
37 Play tennis
38 Bowls - especially popular in the winter months for long stay residents
39 Like golf holidays? Cyprus has 3 golf courses on the west of the island and several more are planned
40 Kayak - the Akamas peninsula is especially beautiful early in the morning
Shopping/Souvenirs
41 Pottery - try the famous Savva pottery near Paphos or visit Foini village in the Troodos
42 Lace - at Lefkara near Larnaca or many of the mountain villages
43 Honey - get some runny honey mummy! 1kg local honey is excellent value
44 Cyprus Delight - like Turkish delight only better, plus don't call it Turkish in the South!
45 Hand woven rugs - a mountain village speciality. Try Neo Chorio near Latchi or Phyti near Polis
46 Sweet pastries - like dhaktyla or khateyfi
47 Commanderia wine - sweet but famous!
48 Olive oil - here's where to get it cheap
49 Olives - need we say more...
50 Copper items of jewellery or kitchenware
51 Hand made clothes - visit the old Turkish quarter of the old towns in Paphos or Limassol and get a suit made in a day!
52 Religious icons - replicas are available everywhere but you can buy the real thing from monasteries
53 Zyvania - Cypriot fire water. Drink with caution!
54 Cyprus coffee and a coffee pot for the stove
55 An "I love Cyprus" T-shirt!
Scenery/Beaches/Relaxation 101 things to do
56 Aphrodite's Rock - between Paphos and Limassol
57 Cedar Valley - a 4x4 adventure
58 Akamas coastline - by boat, bike, quad bike, 4x4 or on foot
59 Almond trees in blossom - Yioulou valley near Paphos in February
60 Baths of Aphrodite on the Akamas peninsula
61 Beaches at Ayia Napa and Protaras - wonderfull sandy beaches but packed in summer
62 Lara Bay near Paphos - almost always deserted due to its inaccessibility
63 Take a wine tour
64 Get high! - Visit Mount Olympus at the top of the Troodos mountains - NB: You can't get to the summit as it is an army restricted zone but the views from just below it are spectacular
65 Xeros valley for breathtaking views and the Venetian bridges
Touring/Mountain Villages
66 Lefkara - near Larnaka - famous for lace
67 Omodhos - Troodos - traditional village restored to attract visitors
68 Kakopetria - steeped in tradition in the Solea valley
69 Neo Chorio - old traditional village near Latchi - excellent food and old customs
70 Pano Panagia - birthplace of Archbishop Makarios
71 Anogyra (pronounced Annoy-ra) - restored houses and old olive press
72 Spilia - beautiful old village in Troodos with well preserved stone olive mill
73 Pedoulas - famous in Troodos for cherries
74 Milikouri - in the Troodos. Reached by a delightful woodland route (off road route)
75 Foini - famous for pottery and loukoumi desert
76 Kato Amiantos - home to the restored asbestos mine which marrs the gorgeous scenery in the Troodos
77 Laona villages in the Polis region - restored homes available for Agrotourism.
78 Tochni village - home of several Agrotourism houses, riding centre and bike centre
79 Phyti village - majestic position overlooking the Evretou dam80 Latchi harbour - fresh fish is a delight!
And the last section of 101 things to do in Cyprus:
Things to Eat and Drink
81 Souvlaki - pork kebabs
82 Stifado - slow cooked beef stew
83 Kleftiko - very slow roasted lamb cooked in the "kleftiko"
84 Orektika - selection of dips
85 Sheftalia - herby minced meat sausages
86 Grilled octopus - make sure it is fresh or it will be rubbery
87 Tsipoora or sea bream - most commonly served fish at the end of fish meze
88 Loukanika - Cypriot sausages
89 Karaoli yahni - snails. Yes it's not just the French who like them!
90 Fasolia - haricot bean casserole
91 Meze - either meat or fish, a selection of Cypriot dishes to sample
92 Yemista - stuffed vegetables
93 Tava - pork or lamb stew
94 Afelia - Pork speciality marinated in red wine
95 Moussaka
96 Brandy Sour - THE Cyprus cocktail
97 Pourgourri - pilaff of couscous/bulgar wheat
98 Halloumi - the squeeky cheese, native to Cyprus
99 Avgolemeno - egg and lemon soup eaten at Easter - not to everyone's liking though!
100 Dhaktyla - sticky little pastries
101 Nero (water!) - you will need to drink LOTS of this in Cyprus!
Most people will not have time to cover our 101 things to do during their first visit to Cyprus. So a return stay to a VIPvillas luxury villa is a must!
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