Holidays in Cyprus are always great. Mild climate, snow-white beaches and crystal waves - a fabulous island where Aphrodite emerged from the sea foam.
Cyprus has many hotels for every taste, both in the Greek and Turkish sectors. This article provides information about the reviews of tourists who have visited the Seagull Hotel Apts 3, a small hotel in the resort town of Protaras in the Turkish part of the island.
Protaras
In ancient times, Protaras was an ancient Greek policy (from which small ruins have survived). In 1974, this part of Cyprus was occupied by the Turks, and the active development of the resort industry began in Protaras. Now dozens of hotel complexes, restaurants and entertainment centers have been built here.
The best beaches of Cyprus are located in Protaras, for example, the world-famous Bay of fig trees (fig trees), near which the Seagull Hotel Apts 3 is located.
Protaras has a reputation as a resort for a relaxing and quiet holiday. In search of more active entertainment, you can go to the neighboring village of Ayia Napa (6 km), where a youth audience gathers.
Among local attractions, we should mention the medieval Orthodox Church dedicated to Elijah the Prophet (14th century) andbuilt on top of a hill with amazing views of the sea coast.
Climate and beaches
The climate in Protaras is subtropical (as well as on the whole island) - dry hot summer (25-40 degrees), warm spring and autumn (30 Celsius), not cold winter at all (15 degrees Celsius). For Russian tourists accustomed to the cold, this means that you can relax here all year round - it is warm in any season.
The beaches are almost a continuous strip of sand and are the best in Cyprus. There are no high waves here, the sand is fine and clean, the entrance to the sea is gentle, the water is warm and clear (and the most beautiful shades of blue and emerald) - a paradise for families with children.
From the Seagull Hotel Apts 3 to the municipal beach is only 2 minutes walk. This is a calm bay where you can not only swim, but also go diving and other water sports.
There is no crowd on the beaches, you can always find a free place. The most well-equipped beach is located in the village of Ayia Napa (a neighboring resort). An excellent beach in the Bay of Fig Trees near the Chaika Hotel (you can take a bus for one and a half euros). One of the most beautiful is Konnos Bay, which you have to go down on a great path (it can be reached on foot from the Seagull Hotel Apts, but with a child the transition will be difficult).
There is also a nice beach near Cape Greco and Pirate Caves where tourists have fun jumping off the cliff.
The beaches in Perner Bay (200 meters from Chaika) are very popular, they are often calledchamber for privacy, comfort and tranquility.
Tourists who lived in the Seagull Hotel Apts 3report that on any beaches you have to pay 5-7 euros for a sunbed and an umbrella (depending on the particular beach), and in local stores you can buy a beach umbrella for 10- 11 EUR.
Hotel
Seagull Hotel Apts 3 (Cyprus) is a hotel with "home" apartments, that is, with a kitchenette in each room, where you can cook your own food and do not pay for food.
The hotel has excellent landscaped swimming pools (for adults and children) surrounded by palm trees, a playground, a green well-groomed garden, a sun terrace and free parking.
The hotel has an elevator (convenient for tourists with children and strollers), free Internet access is provided in the lobby.
The Seagull Hotel Apts 3 (Cyprus) provides the following services and entertainment:
- Billiards.
- Table tennis.
- Water sports equipment.
- Bicycle, buggy and car rentals.
- Playroom.
- Transfer to the airport (extra charge).
- 24-hour check-in.
- Exchange office.
- Luggage storage.
- Laundry and dry cleaning.
On request, a baby bed can be placed in the room (no more than one). Parents do not pay for the accommodation of one child under 2 years of age. It is forbidden to bring animals to Seagull Hotel Apts 3 (Protaras).
Numbers
The hotel "Chaika" has 59 rooms, including a studio (one large room,combined with kitchen) and two-room apartments (bedroom and kitchen-living room).
The rooms do not have a TV, but there is a radio, a bathroom with a bath (soap, shampoo, gel, toilet paper are provided), a balcony, air conditioning, a hairdryer and a kitchenette with a set of dishes and household appliances.
No internet in the rooms (only in the lobby). For an additional fee, you can take a safe (10 euros per week), but it is very small, only for documents, and a tablet, for example, does not fit.
Tourists who lived in the Seagull Hotel Apts 3 (Protaras) note that there are no insects in the hotel, the rooms are spacious, but there is nowhere to hang wet swimwear and towels - there is no rope or hangers on the balcony.
Air conditioners are often installed right in front of the sleeping place, so some tourists moved their beds (and the cleaners put them back daily), while others changed the headboard and slept with their feet to the air conditioner.
All studio apartments have balconies overlooking Protaras Street or the parking lot (almost always empty) with mountain and tree views.
Furniture upholstered in dermantine, water is pumped into the toilet with a special lever.
Most tourists are satisfied with their stay at Seagull Hotel Apts 3. The photo below gives an idea of a typical studio room.
Kitchen corner
Seagull Hotel Apts 3 ("TopHotels") is popular for its economical accommodation and kitchenettes in all suites, which include the following:
- Dishes(large and small saucepan, frying pan, cups, glasses and glasses, milk jug, plates and saucers, forks, spoons and knife, colander).
- Corkscrew and cutting board.
- Electric kettles (large and infuser), toaster, coffee maker (without filters, must be purchased separately) and a manual juicer.
- Electric stove with oven.
- Sink with cold and hot water.
- Cabinets, table and chairs.
- Fridge (capacious but weak freezer).
Hotel location
The Seagull Hotel Apts 3is located 2 km from the center of the resort town of Protaras and 60 km from the international airport in Larnaca (the transfer to the hotel takes an hour and a half, since the "Seagull" is at the very end of Protaras).
Near car rental and bus stops, from where you can go to almost any city in Cyprus.
Chaika is located close to several beautiful beaches with a shallow bottom and calm clear water, so there are a lot of children here, and there is always a fun company for tourists with kids.
The town has a large variety of cafes, taverns and shops, as well as a picturesque promenade (promenade) that connects all the beaches of Protaras.
Accommodation
Many tourists report their impressions of staying at the Seagull Hotel Apts 3 (Cyprus). Reviews confirm the good reputation of the hotel.
The spaciousness and comfort of the studio apartments are noted, the air conditioners work well, which cool almost the entire room.
The pool is big andcomfortable, there are bars and cafes in the hotel and on the territory.
The kitchenette is well equipped with everything you need for cooking and entertaining.
Reviews also mention the following shortcomings:
- leatherette covering of sofas and armchairs;
- inconvenient location of air conditioners;
- lack of TV;
- cold floors (tiled);
- noise (loud music from street bar opposite and hotel pool bar).
External stimuli
Irritating noise is noted by almost all tourists who lived in the Seagull Hotel Apts 3. Reviews are full of reports of constant music from two bars - outside on the street and inside by the pool.
In all rooms below the 4th floor, many tourists could not sleep either at night (music plays until 2 o'clock) or during the day (noise starts at 11 am). Closed windows and balconies and running air conditioners did not help.
For the elderly and families with children, the opportunity to sleep well is of great importance, so you should pay attention to this feature when choosing a hotel.
On the other hand, many tourists believe that the music is not very disturbing - with the windows closed and headphones on, they slept peacefully in their apartments. In addition, there are people who stay up late.
Also, one should not forget that loud music in bars is typical not only for the Chaika Hotel, but also for most hotels in many popular resorts. Therefore, the change of place of residence is notalways helps solve the problem.
And finally, proximity to the bar gives one advantage - a good Wi-Fi signal and the ability to safely watch movies on the Internet in your room (with headphones), without paying attention to external stimuli.
Maintenance
The staff of the Protaras Seagull Hotel Apts 3 is always attentive and responsive, but there are no Russian-speaking employees at the reception, although there are maids who speak Russian, and you can always ask them to help when communicating with the administrators.
The rooms are thoroughly cleaned daily (tips - 1 euro - usually left on the table). Very clean in the pool and on the playground, the territory is well looked after.
If vacationers arrive before 14.00 (when check-in begins), they can leave their luggage in the storage room and go to the beach.
At the reception you can ask for an iron or an adapter to charge your phone - the staff will always help you (you have to pay a deposit, which is returned upon departure).
Food at the hotel
The tour price includes only continental breakfast - the same set of products every day:
- tea, coffee, milk, juice (2 types, diluted concentrate);
- yogurt with jam (4 types);
- croutons, toast, margarine (no butter);
- fried eggs, fried potatoes, sausages;
- omelette (once a week);
- canned beans, olives, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers;
- bread, cereal (muesli 4 types);
- processed cheese and inexpensive sausage;
- watermelon.
It should be remembered that there are no pastries, fruits, butter, milk porridge - so many people (especially with children) prefer not to take breakfast at all, but to cook in the room.
Self-catering
There are many grocery stores near the hotel, as well as taverns and restaurants where you can order wonderful Cypriot dishes (portions are very large, so you can take for two), as well as soups for children, seafood, etc.
For example, a hot meat dish with a side dish and fresh vegetable salad costs 6-10 euros (11-14 euros in places with live music). For regular customers who come for the second time, they give a 10% discount.
In restaurants you can have a delicious dinner for 30-40 euros for two (with alcohol).
According to reviews, the surrounding shops have a very limited range of products and high prices, so you need to go to a large supermarket - it's cheaper there.
Interestingly, everywhere in Cyprus there is not very good coffee, even in cafes. Lipton tea bags cost 4 euros. But the pizza is much better than in Russia.
Leisure
Excursions are cheaper to take in agencies on the streets of the town, and not from a tour operator. The duration is the whole day, they give a dry breakfast with you, you need to leave the buses at 6.30 in the morning. The following trips are offered:
- "Luxury Grand Tour" (with tasting of olives, wines, liqueurs and other local products).
- "Sea safari" (10 euros, children under 12 free of charge; from 10.30 to 13.30, ride a boat along the coast, swimming in the lagoon).
- "On land and on the sea" (excursion to the beaches, swimmingin the lagoon).
For those who don't want to get up early and love independent rest, it is better to rent a car, ATV or buggy to drive independently to Paralimni, Famagusta and Ayia Napa, visit the fountain show, water park and other interesting places.
Many playgrounds and attractions have been built for children (near taverns and hotels). At 20.00, the children's disco begins at the Crown Resort Hotel.
Tourist Tips
Here is a list of things to take with you when going to Cyprus to the Chaika Hotel:
- Rope with clothespins (to dry wet swimwear and towels on the balcony).
- Express porridge (for kids).
- Shampoo and gel (sometimes not in the room).
- Slippers (cold floor).
- Earplugs or headphones (noise from the bar).
- Tea and coffee bags.
- English dictionary (you can use it electronically on your phone).
- Handy kitchen knife (usually dull and old in the room).
- Flash drive with movies, books and games (no internet in rooms).
- Beach towels (not provided by the hotel).
- Light blanket (put on a leatherette sofa and use when traveling).
Also, many tourists advise the following:
- Get groceries at large supermarkets: Metro (go towards Paralimni) and Lind in Protaras (on foot for half an hour or by bus for one and a half euros).
- Order a dry breakfast in the evening if an excursion is planned in the morning.
- Buy a beach umbrella in the store (cheaper than paying every day), andthen sell it to other vacationers.
Conclusion
The Chaika Hotel is a quite satisfactory budget vacation option for those who do not want to overpay for relative luxury and towel swans, but prefer to travel more, returning to the hotel only to spend the night or wash.
