Kastambena Apartments

We arrived at Kastambena Apartments late on in the night. We finally got to our apartment which was away from the main complex. The road was being relayed so there were pot holes everywhere. There were no lights on in the apartment block so we had to feel our way about.

We stayed self catering which was the best choice we made regarding this holiday. Everytime we went out we had to dead lock the door from outside but when we were inside we were unable to do that. When we went to bed we had to push the table and the sofa up against the door because it wouldn't lock properly. We went and told the owner who assured us that he would sort it in the next hour. He never, we waited 2 days for him to come and sort it. He said he had but sure enough when it came to shutting the door from the inside it wouldn't. The only saving grace for this place was the resort itself and the fact we had booked a 3 day excursion to Egypt and Israel, and the fact we had a car so we could spend more time away from that place.

We went back to Cyprus and for old time sake went back to see where we had such a terrible time. It doesn't look any different other that they have finally filled in the swimming pool and replaced it with a flower bed. I wouldn't recommend this place.

We totaly agree with brians comments about the kastanbena apartments. we also travelled with Golden sun arriving very tired at 6am with our 3 children to find all the beds had no pillow cases on and the pillows were all old and stained. the smell of the apartments was horrible, a stale damp smell. the floor was dirty and greasy, the curtains were dirty and hanging off the rails. Lights and sockets were hanging from the walls. The shower had green mould on the tiles and the shower mat was dirty and covered in paint.

on looking out of both bedroom windows the view was like a scrap yard, with old gas bottles and smashed-up-sun loungers and old chairs thrown all over the place. The toilet was dirty and the fridge handle was jaggered and very sharp. on seeing the apartment the childern all burst into tears and wanted to go home.

we then decided as a family that we wouldnt be staying in that apartment. We spoke to the Golden sun rep at 9.30am. She inspected the apartment and then spoke to the owner who agreed we inspected our new apartment, which wasbetter than the old one, but not much better, the owner then agreed to clean out the new apartment throughly. We eventually moved in to the new apartment at 4.pm that day. not a great start to our family holiday. The pool was gritty and dirty, and the residents had to clean the pool before swimming in it. the pool toilets and changing rooms were filthy, absolutly disgusting disgusting the smell causing my youngest child to vomit. i definatley wouldn't recomend these apartments to anyone. Cyprus is a nice place but the kastanbena apartments are not!!

The brothers who own the Kastambena Apartments in Kissanerga on Cyprus are wonderfully sociable, resulting in a warm and friendly atmosphere for all the guests. There are special themed evenings twice weekly, with fab food and entertainment. There are also some great little restaurants nearby. The best beaches are at Coral Bay, which can be reached following a short 50p bus ride. Soft, golden sand and beautiful clear water provide a lovely beach ideal for relaxing, which is also very popular with the locals. Refreshments are also widely available here. There is also a huge selection of watersports, suitable for all ages.

Taxis (24 hour) are also reasonable, and if you're looking for lively nightlife it costs about £5 (Cyprus) to reach Paphos, but again only 50p by bus. There are numerous bars, restaurants and a few clubs to choose from. The main nightlife can be found on Bar Street, with numerous offers of free shots to lure you into each establishment.

Along the sea-front, there is a wonderful, authentic Chinese restaurant called Chloe's which is worth visiting, if only to see the way the restaurant has been styled.

Cyprus is a lovely place to visit on holiday, and I would gladly visit again. There is so much to do - we visited the waterpark "Aphrodite" in Paphos which is great fun for kids and adults alike! There was also horseriding, with stables near the apartments in Kissanerga. Even as a total novice, the 2 hour trek was a great experience, and the views were fabulous.

Cyprus is also a great base to visit other countries ie. Athens, Turkey, (Israel and Jerusalem are accessible but currently trips there are on hold), and Egypt. We went on a 3-day cruise to Egypt for £120 (Cyprus) which included all meals and entertainment, and a visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo before continuing on to the Pyramids and the Sphinx. I can't recommend this trip enough, as it was definitely the highlight of our holiday, and a real bargain!