Cyprus-Forum.com

[Cypriotatheart]

It is a shame these are getting so popular because the local bars and tavernas are losing so much trade and many are closing. Soon the tourists will be moaning that the areas near their hotels are dead - and it is the tourists who are the cause of it. In the late 80's most hotels were offering half board but most tourists were on bed and breakfast and the tavernas became the evening entertainment. People got to know the Cypriot people both those working in the restaurants and those using them. Now in the hotels it is getting harder to find Cypriots working there, sorry but I prefer the old days when as a registered Alien I found it hard to work in Cyprus because jobs were first for the Cypriots.
My present nationality - dual British and Cypriot - living in UK.

[Hazza]

IF the touristy bars, taverns and restaurants didn't become greedy, they'd stand a chance. How can bars justify a small bottle of carlsberg at £1.50 (Larnaca)?. How can restaurants justify a meze coming on just 1 plate with 4-5 different meats on? (Limassol). How can a restaurant justify a souvlaki being 1 skewer with 4 pieces of pork on it?? (Paphos)

Greed is what is going to close down these bars and restaurants, and rightly so. People don't want to be ripped off. Sometimes when I'm bored at night, I'll pop into the Princess Hotel for a drink where its actually cheaper than some of the bars across the road.

[Sotos]

What I don't understand is why somebody would go to a foreign country just to be locked in one hotel for his whole vacation!

[RichardB]

What I don't understand is why somebody would go to a foreign country just to be locked in one hotel for his whole vacation!

All inclusive Hotels are ideal for couples with families.
All drinks and meals included in the price makes it far easier for budgeting your holiday.
I have friends who come over to visit and always go all inclusive. The hotels arrange tours to various points of interest and provide picnic meals.
They dont just stay locked in one hotel for the whole vacation.
The reason they do it this way is because of the reasons mentioned by hazza above.
I have posted on the forum before about the 'rip off' merchants in the tourist areas. It is little wonder that tourists are coming over 'all inclusive'

By the way hazza you were lucky only paying £1.50 for a small carlsberg.
I was over in Protaras and got charged £2.50 for a small keo!!.

[nhowarth]

What I don't understand is why somebody would go to a foreign country just to be locked in one hotel for his whole vacation!

They're usually in demand by families & alcoholics.

Cheers,

[Hazza]

They are Kleftes in Protaras.

(Kleftes = crooks)

[RichardB]

They are Kleftes in Protaras.

(Kleftes = crooks)

katalavo Ellinika en taxei

[Sotos]

I think the price depends on the place. You can get a small bottle of water for cents at a big supermarket, for 25 cents at a bakery, for 30 at a kiosk, for 50+ at a restaurant, and for more at a night club.

[Cypriotatheart]

Hazza you pick some awful places to eat or drink if you are paying those prices. I have only been ripped off for coffee and drinks round Paphos harbour. In Larnaca in town there are so many genuine places to eat and drink at excellent prices. Obviously more than buying at the supermarket but everyone has to make a bit of a profit. Souvlaki in Pitta I have always had at least two skewers of meat with the salad but this has been in Lemesos and Ypsonas. I refused the price in Paphos and instead of a snack went and had a full meal for less money.

[Biker]

It is a shame these are getting so popular because the local bars and tavernas are losing so much trade and many are closing. Soon the tourists will be moaning that the areas near their hotels are dead - and it is the tourists who are the cause of it. In the late 80's most hotels were offering half board but most tourists were on bed and breakfast and the tavernas became the evening entertainment... .

I agree, but blame the CTO/Government for allowing it.

When I was in The Gambia in 2000/2001 the Gambian government had banned all inclusive holidays and threatened any hotel manager with imprisonment that offered it.

They had tried it in 1999 and realised very quickly that it was NOT in the best interests of the local or national economy to allow it.

Of course Gambia is just a small backward African country with a population about the same as Cyprus... They haven't yet developed enough to have a large expensive bullshit quango like the CTO!