Cheap Holidays in Cyprus
Finding cheap holidays in Cyprus is not as easy as it was 15-20 years ago.
I remember when Al and I first came to the island back in 1998 and we ate out for just a few Cypriot pounds every night. We spent the days exploring and often grabbed a bite to eat in a remote village taverna, astonished at how much food we were given for less than £5 Cypriot pounds.
Summer Holidays in Cyprus
Sadly, times have changed and, when the island joined the EU in 2004 and then adopted the Euro as its form of currency in January 2008, prices for the average British holidaymaker rocketed...not to mention the local ex-pat community, many reliant on their UK pensions paid in GBP sterling to survive.
But we do now have low cost airline flights to the island via Easyjet and Ryanair, and that in turn has meant good deals being available from the charter airlines too. You just need to choose the right time of year to visit.
And here's where I come in. Read on for my cheap holidays in Cyprus tips.
Summer Holidays in Cyprus
It never ceases to amaze me that the vast majority of visitors to Cyprus come in the HOT (think sizzling 35-40 degrees) summer months (mid June to end August) which is the most expensive time to visit the island.
In July and August:
Flights are more expensive - even though Easyjet now fly to Cyprus, a return flight to the UK in July/August will cost at least £280. It's a good idea to check prices from multiple airlines in one go to get an idea of prices for your chosen timing.
Cheap accommodation can be hard to find in August when Cyprus self catering villas cost from £850 a week and even a small apartment will set you back about £450 a week.
If you are looking for a cheap Cyprus hotel in August, you may be unlucky, unless you opt for the now very popular all-inclusive package deal; these might offer a great price, but you then may not have the budget to eat out if you don't like the hotel food.
And as for getting a cheap Cyprus car hire quote in the peak summer months, rental cars are so much in demand, you will really struggle. You can easily spend £200 for a week's car hire in August, even for a tiny economy class car which is no good for a large family.
Tip: Checking flight prices through a comparison site like Skyscanner often gives you cheaper prices than going direct to the individual airline site. That's because companies like Skyscanner get a discount from the airlines for selling their flights.
No wonder some people think cheap holidays in Cyprus don't exist!
How to Plan a Cheap Cyprus Vacation
Here are my top tips to save money on your Cyprus holiday:
Spring Anemones
Families often have no choice but to travel in July and August, but if you don't have kids, avoid those months! They are not the only months with guaranteed sunshine.
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The weather is still gloriously sunny almost every day in May/June and Sept/October, flight and accommodation prices are cheaper and you will often find bargain holidays to Cyprus in these months too.
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Some people like to book their Cyprus holidays well in advance to be sure of a flight from a regional airport or to get the right accommodation choice. But if you normally leave things to the last minute, it's worth thinking about planning your holidays a little more than usual.
For example, take cheap airfares, Cyprus is over four hours flying time from the UK so a difficult destination for many low cost airlines as they tend to stick to flight destinations a maximum of three hours away. While Easyjet of course now fly here, their cheapest flights are on a first come first served basis, though getting the cheap seats really does make your cheap holidays in Cyprus easier.
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But if you want a last minute break and need to book at the last minute, I'd suggest you take a look at some of the charter travel companies as well as checking flight-only prices with low cost airlines like Easyjet.
Look for a cheap Cyprus hotel on travel websites specialising in hotel bookings, like Hotels Combined.
Shop around for the best foreign exchange rates by checking rates at various locations including online currency exchange brokers. Remember also that FREE commission usually means that the actual commission is just hidden within an often poor Euro exchange rate. See my page on foreign exchange currency rates for more information.
If you're planning a special interest holiday in Cyprus like diving, cycling, hiking or fishing, think about asking your tour company for advice on cheap places to stay in Cyprus and/or cheap car rental in Cyprus.
This is especially true if your specialist tour company is based in Cyprus as they will have close contacts with other local businesses and can often get you a great deal.
If you are self catering, don't just head for the nearest big supermarket to get your groceries.
While prices are cheaper for many items, branded goods that you are used to will almost certainly cost a LOT more eg. Flora spread, butter, cheddar cheese or UK branded cleaning products.
Cheap Holidays in Cyprus
Tips for Cheap Cyprus Holidays
My tips for cheap holidays in Cyprus on a self catering basis are:
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Buy the Cypriot brand equivalent - it is ALWAYS cheaper!
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Try something different - buy Cypriot food like horta (leafy green salad leaves), pork (very cheap!), halloumi or feta cheese rather than cheddar.
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Eat lots of fruit and vegetables - stick to seasonal produce grown in Cyprus (look for the Kypros label at the froutaria = fruit market) for the cheapest ingredients.
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Finally, for really cheap holidays in Cyprus, consider travel during the low season months. From November to March there is a greater likelihood of rain, but most of the time, the weather is fantastic and best of all, flights, accommodation and car hire are all very VERY cheap.
Despite the ongoing financial crisis that started in Cyprus back in March 2013, this wonderful island is still a great place to come for a sunshine holiday.
I just did a quick check and you can rent an apartment for around £250 per week, get car hire for around £55 per week for a small economy car, book a bargain flight for about £100 return and all you need is maybe £100 per person for spending money. That means a holiday for two in Cyprus could cost as little as GBP£300 per person!
Now that's what I call a bargain, Cyprus style.
I'll keep a close eye on prices of flights, accommodation and car hire in Cyprus to keep you up to date with the latest bargains. So bookmark this page or subscribe to my RSS feed (click the orange button on the left) so you know when there's a new page added that's related to cheap holidays in Cyprus.
Kalo Taxithi!
You may also be interested in:
Best Foreign Exchange Currency Rates
Cheap Winter Holidays in Cyprus
Cheap One Way Flights to Cyprus
last Minute.com Holidays to Cyprus
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