Holiday reps — they carry yellow umbrellas, they corral you onto coaches that deposit you at tourist hotspots. They can be too cheerful or not cheerful enough. I arrogantly thought that their knowledge of a destination was comparable to what I could glean from the collection of pamphlets next to hotel reception desks. That was until we visited Cyprus with Olympic Holidays and their rep there sat down with me. (Jenography visited Cyprus as a guest of Olympic Holidays.)
Kirsty had lived in Cyprus for years and was eager to talk about the things to do there. But before that, she asked questions — how old was my daughter? What did we like doing? Did we have a hire car?
We ended up pulling out a Paphos town map that had the wider Paphos area on the back, including the gorgeous Akamas region.
It was such an insightful and fun session — it changed my mind about enlisting the help of a holiday rep on a trip. They can recommend a variety of things to do, see and experience that cater to different ages and interests (a challenge most families experience!). Kirsty gave me an idea of how exciting/taxing the various day trips on offer were, including how many hours we could expect to be gone. We had organised a day trip to Kykkos Monastery on the same evening we were planning on going out for a big dinner. She gently suggested we’d be better off doing them different days. Plus, the best reps, like Kirsty, know the destination inside and out and can guide you to the things that are going to work for you.
Olympic Holidays is one the UK’s leading island holiday companies, Its destinations include Greece, Italian islands, Canary Islands, Madeira, La Palma, Cape Verde, Zante, Corfu, Kos, Croatia, Turkey and more. They have a focus on families, with great deals, activities and family accommodations. Check out where your next great family holiday could be.
And if you’re going to Cyprus, be sure to check in with Olympic, Kirsty and some of her suggestions:
- If you don’t fancy hiring a car, there is a bus system that can take you around Paphos city and further afield. No. 648 Goes all the up to the Akamas, where you can hike, sport bike, and more.
- Sea You Beach Bar, Kissonerga – When we said we liked having an afternoon drink and playing cards, she was quick to mention this bar, perched on the edge of the beach. There’s a bus stop right outside www.facebook.com/seayoubeachbar
- The Shipwreck of Erdo III – This freighter ran aground off the coast of Cyprus near Peyia and now is a stunning site, great for pictures, especially at sunset (check out this image from Location Scout if you’re not convinced).
- The Vasilikon Winery was one of the first local wineries of Cyprus and is a fun outing from Paphos. They have concerts on their terrace, tastings and more. Check out their site and Facebook page.
- In Paphos itself, the Kennedy Square and the Municipal Gardens are a different vibe from the waterfront and its lively scene. Here is a place to wander, have a drink or a bite and see a different side of the city
- Got teens or need to do shopping of the non-tourist type? We were in Paphos over a Cypriot holiday, which meant a lot of things were closed. We loved her suggestion of visiting King’s Avenue Mall (our teen especially). We had froyo from Chillbox and visit the enormous discount store Jumba, which was filled with Christmas ornaments, homewares and toys.
The motto of the story for me was: Don’t let an outdated idea of holiday reps keep you from taking advantage of one of the best resources available when you travel!
Disclosure: Jenography visited Cyprus and stayed at Athena Beach Hotel with Olympic Holidays, which covered travel, accommodation and most meals. All opinions are my own.
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What’s your opinion about holiday reps? Have you had good experiences with them?
It’s good that Kirsty was so knowledgeable. I’ve met reps before who’ve been bussed in just for the season, and who know only a tad more than me. This sort of information is priceless when you want a shortcut to having a good time on holiday.