Cyprus is becoming unaffordable for me

Sir,

I remember writing to the Cyprus Mail a couple of years ago expressing the thought that Cyprus going over to the euro was, for us in the UK, rather like when we had decimalisation thrust upon us – everything went up in price and people of a certain age still regard it as the “big con”, which is probably why the British government will still not risk having a referendum of us joining.

I did mention Cyprus might come to regret joining the euro and when I read your report that holiday bookings from the UK are well down for this year, I think my point is proved.
With the state of the pound against the euro, holidaying in Cyprus is, simply for now, not worth considering as it has become so expensive.

I have been to my favourite Ayia Napa 26 times since 1995 and have each year witnessed things getting more and more expensive and traders getting greedy. A simple street-side restaurant, where two people could enjoy a meal, a couple of drinks was normally around the £12-14 mark. Last year the equivalent meal was UK£26. In a self-catering hotel, one might say “eat in your apartment” but it really is nice to eat out and enjoy the place at night.

EasyJet flying to Cyprus is good news but booking a flight is far from easy. You get hooked in on what you think is a good price and they then want you to type in all your details, whereupon they start listing “add-ons” which go on and on, as the price goes up and up.

I love Cyprus to bits but can see why so many friends of mine are planning to go to places such as Turkey where they will get value for money plus the sun.

It’s not Cyprus’ fault the banking people mucked up the economy but as things stand I’m sure hoteliers and bar/restaurant owners and the like must appreciate why we are not coming over in such numbers – still, at least I can still listen to Nathan and Chris on Radio Napa for free in my office and dream of being there!

Pete Cross
Waterlooville, UK

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.