|
|
Cypriot Odyssey
Air/hotel package for a week on the sun-kissed island where Greeks and Romans left their marks and Aphrodite emerged from the sea.
Thursday, May 3, 2007;
The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare, six nights' accommodations, sightseeing tours, and transfers from $1,749 per person.
When: Depart Dec. 28, 2007; add $20 for Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Dec. 7; $240 for Dec. 14, 21; $380 for May 4, 11; $460 for Sept. 14, 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26; $820 for June 29, July 6, 13, 20, Aug. 31, Sept. 7; $920 for May 18, 25, June 1, 8, 15, 22, July 27, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24.
Gateways: Houston, New York City; add $140 for Chicago and Miami; $230-$290 for Los Angeles; additional cities available.
The Fine Print: Buffet breakfast daily, two lunches, hotel taxes, and fuel surcharges (which can easily top $150) are included. Additional airport taxes and fees are about $137 per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement $599. For general guidelines on evaluating deals, click here.
Book By: No deadline; based on availability.
Contact: Homeric Tours, 800/223-5570, homerictours.com.
Why It's a Deal: In comparison, a recent search on kayak.com yielded a lowest round-trip fare between New York City and Larnaca of $946 per person (British Airways). For about another $800, Homeric Tours covers the airfare as well as the six-night stay, sightseeing tours, and transfers.
Trip Details: The Irresistible Cyprus package includes round-trip airfare on Lufthansa and six nights' accommodations. Three nights will be at the beachfront St. George hotel, set on seven acres (with gardens and 245 rooms) by the cute fishing town of Paphos on the island's southwestern coast.
You'll travel by private bus to Nicosia (a.k.k Lefkosia), where you'll spend the morning visiting St. John's Cathedral, and the Byzantine Museum. After lunch in the historic quarter, you'll head to the mountain village of Lefkara, popular with tourists for its lace and filigree silverware.
The Miramare Beach Hotel and Resort in Limassol (Lemosos) is your home base for the final three nights of the trip. Apart from a day trip that covers the village of Kelokedara, a donkey farm, and the 13th-century Sindi Monastery, the time is yours for exploring Limassol's sights, among them the Folk Art Museum and Kolossi Castle.You can extend your stay in either Paphos or Limassol for about $100 per person per night.
Note that the northern third of Cyprus is administered by Turkish Cypriots (who declare it the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). Americans interested in seeing the area for themselves can typically enter at designated crossing points for up to 90 days without a visa, according to the State Department.
The U.S. doesn't recognize the "Turkish Republic", nor does any other country besides Turkey, but the State Department maintains an office there (phone number 011-357/22-669-965).
While Homeric Tours doesn't offer any trips or extensions in the Turkish part, it will allow you to push back the date of your return flight--whether to visit the Turkish area or elsewhere--for a small additional fee, determined by flight availability.
The Irresistable Cyprus package is by far cheapest for departures during the off-season in November and December. It may not be swimming weather then, but it should still be pleasant for sightseeing: Cyprus is sunny an average of 340 days annually, and early winter temperatures are typically in the low 60s and mid-50s Fahrenheit. For more information on what to see and do, visit the official tourism website of Cyprus.
And for a more personal take on visiting Cyprus, read assistant editor David LaHuta's post, The other side of Cyprus, on our new daily blog, This Just In.
More on the Mediterranean:
Secret Hotels of the Greek Isles
The Perfect Honeymoon in Turkey
Affordable Europe: Ditch the Crowds!