Going, going?.

Advantages: Ruins (and scenery, and wild flowers in Spring)
Disadvantages: Ruined (or on the way to becoming so)

...or being confronted by the unfamiliar, it has probably improved. And if you want to buy a cheap villa in the sun amid hundreds of indistinguishable cheap villas in the sun, it is rapidly approaching paradise. Good luck to those people, one might say; they are entitled to their preferences. But somehow I feel they've been having all the good luck lately, whilst the rest of us are running out not only of luck, but of places that haven't been discovered and engulfed by them. It was saddening to find Northern Cyprus, which we had hoped might be at least to some degree protected from over-development by its diplomatic isolation, beginning to go the same way. * History * Where to begin? From neolithic times, Cyprus has had its fill of history and the resultant indigestion is felt acutely to this day. Practically everyone who...

torr 05.04.2007 (23.04.2007) · Read review
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Review of Northern Cyprus

Globalisation Alert! Mall Rats Invade Cyprus!

Advantages: Good facilities. Well appointed. Light and airey. Air conditioned.
Disadvantages: Eye-wateringly expensive. Could be anywhere in the world

...fraternity. What strikes you about this area is the view out the massive windows towards the mountains in the northern, Turkish-occupied part of Lefkosia. The backdrop is dramatic, but attention is invariably drawn to the enormous red and white flag of the so-called ?Republic of Northern Cyprus? painted into the mountainside. This is a constant reminder that Lefkosia remains Europe?s only divided capital, and I can?t help think it?s a triumphalist two fingered salute by the Turks in the direction of their Greek neighbours. I don?t think the positioning of the food court, and this view, is a coincidence. A subtle reminder perhaps of the simmering tensions between the two estranged communities. There are a fair few fast food places here as well as a TGI Friday if you prefer an extended lunch or some cocktails. All the usual suspects are present...

Hishyeness 04.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Mall of Cyprus, Nicosia

Northern Quarter for the Northern Birds

Advantages: Stunning apartments, very clean, good price, very central
Disadvantages: Nothing!

...I love Manchester, and used to go quite regularly. Unfortunately money is tight so I don't get as many nights out down there as I used. When I do get down, I like to make the most of it. Last time I was in Manchester, we stayed at The Northern Quarter Apartments. The Northern Quarter The Northern Quarter of Manchester consists of High Street and the 'original Northern Quarter' on Oldham Street, which is slightly North of the Arndale Centre and Piccadilly Gardens in the centre of Manchester. There are loads of funky little boutique shops, which are amazing for vintage clothes. There are plenty of coffee shops ( the one next to Pop is quite relaxed and cool) and small sandwiches shops and eateries. The nightlife in the Northern Quarter includes bars like Dry Bar which used to be owned by New Order, the "modern burlesque" club Mint...

MurkyDismal 19.02.2009 (20.02.2009) · Read review
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Review of Northern Quarter Apartments, Manchester

Forest Park Hotel - Platres - Cyprus - Simply Brilliant

Advantages: Family Friendly - Exceptional Service - Great Value and Location
Disadvantages: None

...INTRODUCTION As a frequent visitor to Cyprus during the summer - my father-in-law has a modest beachfront property near Larnaka - we often head up to the Troodos Mountains mid-holiday for a few days to escape the heat. In the height of summer, the temperature is invariably a good 5° to 10° C cooler than on the coast, the air quality is fantastic (scented delightfully by the indigenous evergreen pine trees) and a few days away makes a lovely ?break within a break?. A BIT ABOUT PLATRES Our destination of choice is the popular winter resort town of Pano (Upper) Plátres, which is about a forty minute (about 40km) leisurely drive north from the outskirts of Limassol, and about an hour and a half from our base in Larnaka. It is on the southern slopes of the Troodos mountain range, which gives the place a charm lacking in...

Hishyeness 02.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Forest Park Hotel, Cyprus

  An Insiders Review of Cyprus!

Advantages: Beautiful clear, warm sea
Disadvantages: Locals will wack up prices for tourists

...I know I've written a lot of reviews recently but it's keeping me entertained while I'm not working and milling around the house, so I hope you can all keep up!! My keyboard on my computer is also a bit naff so please excuse the fact that I can't include any pound signs in my review!! I lived in Cyprus for nine months last year so have a load of information to give. So this is going to be a long one so I hope you aren't all bored to tears by the time you get to the bottom but here we go... ABOUT CYPRUS: I lived on the north west coast of Cyprus in a small town called Polis which is about an hour north of Pafos. This area benefits from being relatively unspoilt so you get to see more of the 'real' Cyprus rather than Pafos which is so commercial now it is pretty much like a hot England! Polis is starting to expand however...

louwill23 09.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Polis & the Akamas Peninsula (Cyprus)

Northern Rail

Advantages: gets you from a to b
Disadvantages: overcrowding, delays, cancellations

...I too suffer daily at the hands of Northern Rail. Overcrowding, delays and cancellations are the most common problems. After three years of travelling to work using this company, i am able to say that from experience, there has been no improvement in the level of service for the £300,000,000 tax payers money that is annually chucked their way. The service provided by Northern rail is thrown into sharp contrast by that of Trans Pennine Express who have invested in new trains and actually understand the concept of customer service. I read with interest an interview with the boss of Trans Pennine who explained that, when travelling on his trains, he makes a point of announcing his presence on the train to elicit feedback from his customers. I can only imagine what would be done to the boss of Northern rail if he/she was to follow...

the_tester 19.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Northern Rail, England

Northern Rock are diamonds!!

Advantages: quick service - good customer services - flexible mortgages - will lend over 100% to first time buyers
Disadvantages: hidden costs

...As a bit of background - I bought a house in late 2005 and after visiting an independent mortgage adviser I went through the options available to me. I had already seen the house I wanted to buy (£185,000), had no deposit and needed at least £10,000 on top of the mortgage to pay for building work and basic furnishings. After providing all the details to the adviser he recommended Northern Rock - mainly because they were the only provider who would touch me with a barge pole. Northern Rock were prepared to offer me 95% of the purchase price as a mortgage secured on the property, which meant they would give me £175,750 on a fixed rate for 7 years based upon an interest rate of 4.71%. In addition, they would also give me the option of taking out an unsecured loan or £19,250 that would be tied to the mortgage payments with an interest...

ladyboymondaytofriday 03.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Northern Rock Mortgages

Cyprus with Babies - Limassol. Baby equipment hire company.

Advantages: friendly service, local company, great idea for tourists with babies and cyprus residents
Disadvantages: they only work in limassol

...We found a really helpful company just recently when family came for their holidays to Limassol. We had our grandson coming to visit and needed a travel cot and a high chair. A search on a local website pointed us in the direction of Cyprus with Babies! They hire out baby equipment in the Limassol tourist area, which was great. We hired a travel cot which arrived in a bag and was set up in just a few minutes by the english staff who delivered it. We also got an extra padded mattress, a fitted bottom sheet, a top sheet and a lovely baby blanket. They don't provide pillows. Everything looked brand new and was spotlessly clean. The high chair folded almost flat so could be put out of the way when we didn't need to use it and went into a couple of different positions in case our grandson was sleepy, he could lie back. There were straps...

cyprus100 05.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Limassol (Cyprus)

Can't Wish for More

Advantages: Location, accommodation
Disadvantages: water shortages, but tanks are re-filled on request

...My husband found Pine Grove Villa in North Cyprus independently on the Internet, so it wasn't anyone's recommendation. We emailed a request about the villa availability and got a phone call within half an hour. The villa was available for the period we were looking at. The accommodation is owned by a British couple and all of the arrangements were really easy. We paid a deposit in advance and the remaining amount 3 weeks before the holiday. The owner was very helpful with organising airport transfers and generally very knowledgeable about the country and the area. He advised us to hire a car and he was right. Although the villa is about 10 minutes from the nearest beach, you still need to go to the supermarket and to do any sightseeing. The villa itself comprises a lounge, a dining room and a kitchen, a utility room...

Yelena 06.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Pine Grove Villa, Northern Cyprus

Cyprus highly recommended

Advantages: lovely, lovely people, too much to mention
Disadvantages: long flight 5hrs, the extreme heat in the summer months

...it has some very nice shops and leather stalls etc and M&S, The Bodyshop and some other British shops there. One of the best months to go is May, its windy the first two weeks of May but bearable heat wise this was when we visited Protaras, also we've been to Ayia Napa the last two weeks of May during which time there was a heatwave ant it was 105 and was fairly unbearable. Ayia Napa is definitely for the clubbers or families with older teenage children, we stayed there with a four year old and struggled finding places to go that had something for her to do at night. I would go back, but am restricted with school holidays and am not sure about the heat in August, I can only guess how hot it is. The really only downside to Cyprus is its not cheap to holiday there. The holidays are expensive compared to going to one of the Greek...

Bevdav 05.02.2001 · Read review
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Review of Protaras (Cyprus)