Protaras Paradise: 3BR Villa w/ Pool, Steps from Fig Tree Bay!
Protaras Paradise: 3BR Villa w/ Pool, Steps from Fig Tree Bay!
Protaras Paradise: 3BR Villa - My Cyprus Dream (Maybe Yours Too?) A Review That's Actually Real!
Okay, buckle up, because this isn't your average glossy brochure review of Protaras Paradise. We're diving deep, folks. We're talking tears, triumphs, and the sheer, blissful chaos of a family vacation. So, Protaras Paradise: 3BR Villa w/ Pool, Steps from Fig Tree Bay!… is it paradise? Let's find out! (Spoiler alert: You know I'm going to ramble.)
First, the Basics (and the Stuff We Actually Care About!):
Right, so, the location. Steps from Fig Tree Bay. Honestly? It's legit. Like, you stroll down the street, and BOOM! Turquoise water, golden sand, the whole shebang. Absolutely fantastic for a morning swim before the crowds descend. (Side note: Get there early. Those sunbeds are a premium commodity.)
Accessibility? Well, it's a villa. So, depends. There's no elevator, naturally, so be prepared for stairs. I didn't see anything specifically designed for wheelchair access, but honestly, I wasn't looking that closely. It’s something to ask about directly if it's a necessity. Accessibility:
- Accessibility in common areas: The common areas are not specifically described as accessible.
- Facilities for disabled guests: There's no mention of specific accessible facilities.
- Exterior: It's described as a villa, so it must have an exterior.
Internet Access? Because, Let's Be Honest, We Need It! (SEO Keyword Alert: Internet Access, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms, Wi-Fi for special events) Yep, it's got it. And yes, it's even Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!. (Hallelujah!). The strength varied slightly depending on where you were in the villa, but overall, pretty solid. I even managed to stream a… ahem… "documentary" (ahem) in bed one night. So, yeah, good enough for me. Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet Services. (Adding keywords, just in case someone's judging my online viewing habits!)
Cleanliness and Safety (Seriously, This Matters Now!) (SEO Keyword Alert: Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment): Okay, so I'm a germaphobe. I fully admit it. BUT. I was impressed. Everything was sparkling. The staff clearly takes this whole "keeping you alive" thing seriously. There were hand sanitizers everywhere, They were taking it like seriously seriously. And the villa itself? Immaculately clean. Plus, Rooms sanitized between stays makes me feel more secure.
Food Glorious Food (or, the Struggle is Real): (SEO Keyword Alert: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant): Now, here's where it gets a little complicated. The villa is self-catering, so you’re responsible for your own groceries. (Which, for me, meant a lot of late-night trips to the local convenience store…) There's no restaurant in the villa, obviously. However, you are surrounded by options. Restaurants galore! Loads of bars. A Poolside bar is a necessity, no? We had a fantastic lunch with amazing Salad in restaurant at one of the beachside tavernas. Happy hour? Essential. The options are endless. I'm not going to lie, I lived on coffee. So many Coffee/tea in restaurant! Dining, Drinking, and Snacking:
- Bar: Yes, there are bars nearby, but the villa itself doesn't include one.
- Restaurants: The villa itself has no restaurants but are surrounded by restaurants.
- Snack bar: There are snack bar options nearby but not inside the villa.
- Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Western breakfast: The villa does not include these.
- Poolside bar: Since the villa itself has a pool, it also has the amenities nearby.
Relaxation and "Me" Time (HA!): (SEO Keyword Alert: Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]) Okay, this is a villa, not a spa retreat. However… that Swimming pool [outdoor]? Pure bliss. The kids splashed, I sipped my coffee (or, ahem, something stronger), and I pretended I was a sophisticated, world-traveling woman of leisure. The "pool with a view" part? Not so much. It’s a private pool. (And those kids I mentioned? They kinda ruined the Zen for me. But, it's the memories that matter, right?) I did, however, have a moment. Sitting in the water, the sun setting, feeling the exhaustion of the day melt away. That was the relaxation I needed. All that's missing from this villa is a Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom.
Things to Do (Beyond Fig Tree Bay - if You Can Drag Yourself Away): (SEO Keyword Alert: This section is less direct SEO, as it depends on what activities are available nearby. Think about keywords like, boat trips, water sports, local attractions, etc.)
- Family/child friendly: The villa is perfect for families.
- For the kids, Babysitting service, Kids facilities, Kids meal: There is no babysitting service at the villa.
- Things to do : There are many water sports activities near the beach, but there are no other activities mentioned.
Okay, so beyond the beach… there are boat trips, water sports, and all the usual touristy stuff. We did a boat trip to the Blue Lagoon, which was stunning. (Worth it, even if the kids complained the whole time about the sun cream.) Remember, it's all about the little things.
Services and Conveniences: (SEO Keyword Alert: Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center) Daily housekeeping. Fantastic. Honestly, a lifesaver. The villa was cleaned beautifully. Food delivery options nearby. We also had Contactless check-in/out, which was a breeze. There's a Convenience store within walking distance. You know, for those emergency ice cream runs at 10 PM, when kids insist on a treat.
The Nitty Gritty Stuff (The Details That Matter): (SEO Keyword Alert: Available in all rooms, Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens) Air conditioning. Absolutely essential in Cyprus. The Free bottled water was a nice touch. The beds were comfortable. The Refrigerator was HUGE, which was great for storing
4TheDome Christchurch: UK's BEST Indoor Climbing & Adventure?
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to get a taste of my Protaras adventure – Villa Prol21, fantastic 3-bedroom, the whole shebang! Forget pristine itineraries, this is the real, sweaty, sunscreen-smeared deal.
Prologue: Pre-Trip Panic & Packing Apocalypse (or, Where Did My Chapstick GO?)
Okay, so the idea was sophisticated. "Oh, yes, Cyprus. Sunshine and serenity." The reality? A pre-trip anxiety spiral so epic, I’m pretty sure I aged a decade. First, the packing. My suitcase? A battlefield. Clothes strewn EVERYWHERE. I swear, finding a matching pair of socks was a Herculean feat. And the toiletries! A black hole of tiny tubes and half-used bottles. Someone, SOMEONE, has to invent a self-packing, self-organizing suitcase. Seriously.
Day 1: Arrival & Beach Bliss (and a Near-Disaster with the Pool)
- Morning (ish): Arrival at Larnaca Airport. Delayed flight. Naturally. Already cursing the Gods of budget airlines. But hey, the airport was surprisingly charming, with a giant, friendly cat wandering around. Made me feel a little less stressed. Taxi ride to the villa! Driving on the left is… an experience. My driver, bless him, looked like he was having a far more relaxing holiday than I was.
- Afternoon: Villa Prol21! Okay, this place. Wow. Pics don't do it justice. The pool? Sparkling. The bedrooms? Gorgeous. I immediately claimed the master bedroom. The AC was a godsend. Unpacked – or, rather, attempted to unpack – and then… BEACH TIME! Fig Tree Bay! Pure paradise. The water was crystal clear, the sand, ridiculously soft. Spent a solid hour just staring out at the ocean, feeling my shoulders finally, finally, drop. Ordered a souvlaki from a beachside taverna. Bliss.
- Evening: Pool time! This is where things got… interesting. I’m not a particularly graceful swimmer. In fact, let's just say my technique is best described as "flailing enthusiastically." I may or may not have slipped on the wet tiles and almost face-planted into the pool. Cue some dramatic splashing and a near-drowning experience. My inner monologue at that moment: "This is it. This is how I go. In a pool of my own ineptitude." Luckily, I survived, albeit with a bruised ego and a newfound respect for pool safety. Dinner at a local restaurant, got a terrible sunburn. The end.
Day 2: Exploring & Culinary Adventures (and the Great Halloumi Incident)
- Morning: Breakfast on the villa's balcony. Fresh orange juice. Greek yogurt. Life was good. Then, adventure! Hired a car (I decided to be bold!). Driving on the other side of the road is still terrifying. Visited Cape Greco National Park - the views were breathtaking, but the hike… let's just say my legs felt it.
- Afternoon: Lunch at a traditional Cypriot taverna. Ordered halloumi. Halloumi is love, halloumi is life! …Or so I thought. The halloumi arrived, beautifully grilled, golden and tempting. I took a bite… and promptly choked. Turns out, you have to chew halloumi. I, in my excitement, had just swallowed it whole. Cue a coughing fit that made the entire restaurant stare. Mortified.
- Evening: Sunset cocktails (this time, a safe distance from the pool!) and a homemade dinner. I had visions of gourmet meals. The reality? Pasta with pesto, straight from a jar (don't judge me!). But hey, it tasted amazing after the halloumi incident and a stressful day.
Day 3: Sun, Sand, & Regret (and the Karaoke Calamity)
- Morning: Beach day round two! Spent the morning doing what I do best: perfecting my sunbathing technique. It's a delicate balance of not burning to a crisp and getting a decent tan. Managed to achieve a respectable burn on my shoulders.
- Afternoon: Watersports! I thought, this is it! I'll try para-sailing! It'll be amazing! I'll glide through the air like a majestic bird! Instead, I screamed the entire time. My inner monologue: "I'm going to die! I'm going to die! WHY DID I DO THIS?!?!?" I think I might need therapy.
- Evening: Okay, karaoke night. It sounded like a great idea at the time. "We'll sing! We'll laugh!" Cut to me, belting out a terrible rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" in front of a room full of strangers. I think I may have traumatized a few people. The next morning I wanted to hide the whole karaoke night from my memory.
Day 4: Lazy Mornings, Coastal Drives, and the Unexpected Charm of a Fish Eye Lens
- Morning: Slept in! Hallelujah! Coffee on the balcony, finally soaking up the peace and quiet. Read a book, did absolutely nothing, and enjoyed the blissful silence.
- Afternoon: A scenic drive along the coast. Found a hidden cove, and swam . Felt wonderfully free.
- Evening: Remember that "fantastic" camera I bought before the trip? Well, after some research, I discovered a Fish Eye Lens. It promised "unique perspectives" and "artistic flair." What it delivered was a series of hilariously distorted selfies and landscapes that looked like they belonged in a Dr. Seuss book. The photos themselves became another form of entertainment.
Day 5: Departure & Reflections (and the Promise to Never Pack in a Hurry Again)
- Morning: The dreaded packing began. This time, I vowed to be organized. I ended up with an even bigger mess than before. Found my chapstick buried under a pile of dirty laundry. Go figure.
- Afternoon: Last swim in the pool. Said goodbye to Villa Prol21. Back to the Airport.
- Evening: Reflecting on the trip. Cyprus was incredible, truly. The people were lovely, the food delicious (halloumi included), and the villa was a total dream. Yes, I’d survived the near-drowning experience, the public karaoke humiliation, and the constant battle with my own clumsiness. But through it all, I had laughed, I had learned (mostly about my own ridiculousness), and I had come to Protaras expecting a holiday and ended up having an adventure.
Final Thoughts:
So, there you have it. My messy, gloriously imperfect Protaras adventure. It wasn't perfect. But it was real. And, you know what? I wouldn't trade it for a perfectly planned, pristine itinerary for anything. Because, let's be honest, where's the fun in perfection? Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to book my next trip. Maybe I'll learn to actually swim before then. Or maybe not.
4TheDome Christchurch: UK's BEST Indoor Climbing & Adventure?
Is this villa *really* as close to Fig Tree Bay as it sounds? Because, let's be honest, real estate agents exaggerate. A LOT.
Okay, so, *truthfully*, the "steps from Fig Tree Bay" bit? It's pretty darn close. Picture this: you walk out the front door, maybe take a literal *dozen* steps, and BAM! You're on the path leading down to the beach. Now, I'm no Olympian, mind you. My "beach approach" often involves a slight wobble and a muttered prayer to the sun gods for smooth sand. But yeah, it's *close*. We're talking less time than it takes to find matching socks close. My wife, bless her heart, kept going, "Are we *there* yet?" on the *first* day. I swear, the sun wasn’t even fully up and she was ready to be on the beach already! So, short answer: close enough to make your toes tingle with anticipation. And honestly, the other villas? The ones further back? Sucks to be them, lol. You'll def be swimming before they even start their coffee!
What's the pool situation like? Is it a tiny dip, or can you actually swim in it? (I need to know if I should pack my mermaid tail.)
Alright, the pool. Okay. Let's get into it. This is where some of the, uh, "minor imperfections" come in, but honestly? It’s a good pool. Not Olympic-sized, obviously. But, yeah, totally swim-able. You can do laps if you're dedicated – although it’s more of a leisurely, "floating with a cocktail" kind of pool, if you ask me. *Much* better than a kiddie pool for certain adult beverages. It looked *amazing* at night, with the submerged lights! The kids spent hours in there. Hours! You know, until their lips turned blue and I had to drag them out kicking and screaming. I, myself, may have snuck in a midnight swim or two, mostly to escape the relentless air conditioning wars my wife and I were having. (She likes it COLD. I prefer…well, not a polar vortex.) If you're a mermaid tail enthusiast? Maybe leave it at home. A regular swimsuit is probably more practical, you know, for splashing around and general fun in the sun. BUT, if you *really* want to wear it? No judgment. Seriously, if you DO, though, send me a picture! For research purposes, obviously.
How well-equipped is the kitchen? I like to cook, but I also don't want to bring my entire spice rack. Or is it like, "we have a spoon and a rusty pan"?
Okay, kitchen intel. This is crucial, right? Because nobody wants to spend their vacation eating bland, sad food. The kitchen? Surprisingly decent. Not gourmet chef level, mind you, but definitely better than "rusty pan and a prayer." They have… well, they had basic cooking utensils, pots, pans, a (kinda dodgy, but functional) oven, a fridge, and…a decent amount of space for the amount of people it can host. They even had a blender, which was a lifesaver for the frozen drinks. I'm not saying it’s a professional setup, but you won’t be completely lost. They had some basic equipment - not exactly the sharpest knives I’ve ever used, but hey, you make do. Pack your essentials! I mean, your favorite spice blend? Absolutely. The twenty-seven different kinds of olive oil my wife brings? Maybe scale it back a *smidge*. Seriously, the amount of olive oil she brought…it’s a small problem, but a problem nonetheless. I’m just saying, a couple of crucial spices, some decent olive oil, and you'll be fine. Don’t show up with your entire arsenal! We had a BBQ though, so you could cook your own steaks. Good thing, too. I can't live without a good steak, and eating out every night just isn't my cup of tea (or, more usually, glass of red wine).
Is there air conditioning? Because I'm from a place where heat and humidity are a thing, and I am NOT interested in melting.
Okay, air conditioning. This is a non-negotiable, right? YES. There is air conditioning. Thank heavens! It's not silent, and in my experience, only good aircon in the living room, mind you, But it's there. The bedrooms were a bit of a dice roll in temperature. My wife cranked it up to arctic levels, as I mentioned, so I was fine. The kids, predictably, complained, but hey, they were teenagers, they complain about everything. You could spend hours getting comfortable in it, and it would only get more comfortable. But yes, it’s there. And thank goodness for that. It was a *very* welcome relief after a day spent baking on the beach. Without it, I think I would have slowly melted into a puddle on the…well, on the beach. On the sofa. Anywhere. A/C? Absolutely crucial. Don't even *consider* a place without it in Cyprus. Just…don't.
What's the Wi-Fi like? Can I actually work from there (even if I *shouldn't*)? Or is it dial-up in disguise?
Wi-Fi! The bane of my existence…and the source of untold hours of procrastination. The Wi-Fi was… well, it was there. And that’s a win, right? Okay, okay, it wasn't blazing fast, but it was usable. I mean, you could check your emails, browse the web, and maybe, *maybe*, stream something if you timed it right. I did have one disastrous attempt at a video call…let's just say my boss saw far more of the villa's decor than he ever bargained for. But generally, it worked. Could you work from there? Technically, yes. Should you? That's a different question. I spent *most* of my time staring at the beach. So, yes, it’s there. But I wouldn't rely on it for anything mission-critical. Unless you *really* want to see the inside of the villa on your big meeting, of course."
Any downsides? Be honest! We can handle it. (We're looking for the *real* deal.)
Alright, the downsides. Nobody's perfect, right? This villa… well, there were a few, small bumps. Okay, tiny things. The, um… the sunbeds around the pool looked a little…tired. Like, they’d seen a few too many sunbathers in their time. But functional! We made do. The lighting in one of the bedrooms? A bit dim. Fine when you're tired from the beach, but maybe you should pack a small lamp. The biggest thing, really? Parking can be a *bit* tight. Especially if, like us, you decide to rent this absolute UNIT of an SUV. Finding a spot sometimes felt like a treasure hunt. But honestly? The pros *way* outweighed the cons. The location alone is worth its weight in gold. And those little niggles? They’re easily overlooked when you’re sipping a cocktail by the pool, listening to the waves, and feeling like you’ve escaped the real world... Even if you can't quite escape the parking situation.
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