We have our own flat here and do our own cooking, but the majority of residents are British and are here on half board, on sometimes just bed and breakfast. Half board costs considerably more than we pay, and does mean, probably, a less healthy diet, but it's still not a bad monthly amount compared to spending winter in the UK, with heating costs, etc. The climate is warm, the meals are provided - with the addition of a sandwich lunch and whatever drinks are purchased, there's a good supply of books at €2 each payable to the cat protection fund, and (as the young Asian man on the reception desk puts it) if the weather is good that's a bonus. Many pensioners here for the winter. We're not tempted really, but it's clear those who eat together get to know each other much better and there's a fair sense of community.
Actually, management probably loses money on us. It's obvious that everything contributes to guests spending more than we do. Lighting in the rooms is so low wattage that reading after sunset is only possible in bed or on a tablet, and the television reception is pretty well limited to BBC World, a Russian channel with the odd subtitled American movie of the chase and shoot variety, and the more serious of the two Greek Cypriot channels. The Cypriot channels that run to subtitled English language films are, unaccountably, missing. Well, not quite unaccountably. There's free wifi and better reading light in the large pleasant lounge in the main building. And there's a young Englishman providing nightly entertainment in the bar beside the lounge, albeit his starting time of 10 pm is better designed for Greeks than elderly Brits. So, were we a bit more extrovert it would be easy to separate us from a great deal more than the £259 per month that our flat costs (€318, $416). And that`s without considering the notices asking us not to consume our own food and drinks in the happy sun lounger area around the pool, presumably another steady source of hotel income.
Actually, management probably loses money on us. It's obvious that everything contributes to guests spending more than we do. Lighting in the rooms is so low wattage that reading after sunset is only possible in bed or on a tablet, and the television reception is pretty well limited to BBC World, a Russian channel with the odd subtitled American movie of the chase and shoot variety, and the more serious of the two Greek Cypriot channels. The Cypriot channels that run to subtitled English language films are, unaccountably, missing. Well, not quite unaccountably. There's free wifi and better reading light in the large pleasant lounge in the main building. And there's a young Englishman providing nightly entertainment in the bar beside the lounge, albeit his starting time of 10 pm is better designed for Greeks than elderly Brits. So, were we a bit more extrovert it would be easy to separate us from a great deal more than the £259 per month that our flat costs (€318, $416). And that`s without considering the notices asking us not to consume our own food and drinks in the happy sun lounger area around the pool, presumably another steady source of hotel income.
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