Self catering Larnaca, Mackenzie Beach Cyprus

• Sea and Lake View Hotel

Over the past couple of years we have needed self catering Larnaca and Protaras so that we can be close to our Greek Cypriot friends in Nicosia. We do not like the restrictions of Hotels and in our time have visited many self catering accommodations all over the Island. On our visit to Larnaca (April 2011) we had decided to stay in the Mackenzie Beach area of Larnaca. We had been there on many occasions and it has some of the best restaurants available along the sea front and a very long and sandy beach. A short distance from the beach you have the Salt lake nature reserve where we have seen pink flamingos. We did our research for self catering Larnaca and after digging deep into Google found the Sea 'n Lake view Hotel. We gave them a ring on our broadband telephone and it was so easy to arrange a booking. We booked privately because we had some credit for air flights to spend because of volcanic ash problems the year before. After speaking to them on the telephone and looking at their website we had a definite feeling that we had found some very good accommodation.

On arrival late at night we were met by Michael, part of the greek family that owned the place, he immediately helped us up with the bags and showed us around the apartment. By Greek standards it was big, spotlessly clean and actually had mugs, a toaster, a reasonable sized fridge and even a TV if you really want to watch television on your holiday. The furniture was getting old but was really good solid quality. We immediately felt at home and that night sat on a good sized veranda overlooking the sea eating Halloumi and cucumber and drinking Ouzo.

Over the rest of the week we met some the family that owned the self catering apartments, Dora the mother and Maria the daughter were absolute angels and if you needed anything they made sure you got it. When we asked for a couple of extra pillows they arrived immediately. Maria the maid was very helpful and very friendly.
Sadly Dora's husband had died a few years back, he had been a larger than life character and had insisted on keeping Greek traditions running and his wife and children were really making a good job of continuing this way of life.

This self catering Larnaca hotel has a reception bar and snack area and they made some of the best chips and Brandy sours we have ever tasted, the potatoes were peeled when chips were needed , you did not the food immediately, but oh boy it was worth waiting for. The airport is not far away and from one side of the complex you can see the aircraft coming in to land over the sea, a haven for the aircraft spotter.

Cypriot run Hotel self catering apartments are far and few between now, we have made a very good discovery with Sea 'n Lake and intend to return but it is not an easy time in Cyprus for the Hotel trade. Many hotels are getting a really rough time with the travel agents going bust and others negotiating very poor deals for the hotelier. This is one little place that deserves some private support. If you contact them mention Dot and Dave. They may just remember us.

Update. We returned later that year, had a fantastic time again, and have now booked for a visit in 2012.