Alsancak info. request ahead of holiday

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 15:55

Folks, just booked up for a May/June Alsancak hotel based visit and need some information from any willing local.



All I need is the following:



1. Latest info. on the state and cost of Escape beach in addition to what people think about the beaches further West from there.



2. Just a short list of eateries you can recommend where we can sit down have lunch and/or evening meal as a family. We prefer to eat local cuisine but like the idea of Guido's too.



We will have young teenage children and a grandmother accompanying us.

Just trying to cater for everyone in our group as this is part holiday and part annual visit to see my mum and visit my dad's grave.



Thanks

stevie-d



Joined: 13/07/2007
Posts: 1420

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 16:24

Resturants, Cenap, Alsancak Veni Vechi, Lapta. Punjab, Lapta, Silver Rocks, Lapta/Karsiyaka. Beaches/Bar/Food, Surdunya Bay Karsiyaka. Horeseshoe Bay.

stevie-d

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 16:50

You haven't said which hotel in Alsancak but you should check out the beach at the Deniz Kizi hotel. Last year we paid 6TL for beds/umbrellas and they have a nice restaurant serving kebabs, salads, pasta, etc. Also next door (and part of the same beach) is Golden Bay which also has its own restaurant. Water sports are available.

Further West I would recommend Sardunya Bay which is on the edge of Lapta at the Karsiyaka end. Lovely, quiet little bay, free beds as long as you have a drink in the bar. Restaurant very well priced and good showers/toilets. It is just past Hos Bes supermarket at the end of Sardunya Sokak.

For lunch you should go to Fast Food restaurant in the middle of Alsancak village for the best doner kebab and also Dolphin a little further up the same road.

Pine Bay Club on the edge of Alsancak/Karaoglanoglu does a great set menu full meze and kebab for 40TL. Run by Cypriots a lot of the mezes are made by Huseyin's mum. They also do really good kleftico.

to be continu

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 16:52

If you like fish and don't mind a drive a bit further West then try Sirin Yali in Karsiyaka. Turn right towards the sea at the main square and coffee shop and follow it down to the bottom. Fantastic seafood meze for 25TL plus other kinds of fish and steaks.

Finally, Horseshoe bay which is on the coast road towards Kayalar. Lovely restaurant with picnic area above a horseshoe shaped shingle beach. Cypriot run, kebabs and fish. Nice for lunch.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 17:00

Thanks joandjelly and stevie-d. I will add your recommendations to my list.



We decided on The Almond.

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 17:46

If you want to eat where it has a decent view and away fro the traffic, Sardunya Bay for a really beachy feel, and very reasonably priced,.

Then back towards Girne, opposite the Stonehouse grill, turn left down towards the large hotel, you have the most lovely choice of foods for all tastes you have the Karvan, think thats what its called, but the views looking down onto the bay, especially of a evening is second to none. And the bonus of this place is its not over priced like a lot on the main road.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 18:31

Hi brother, The Almond Village is a lovely hotel and you will be very well looked after. All restaurants mentioned are worth a visit and I do hope you make the time to come to see us at Guidos x

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 20:21

Msg.7: Thanks Lilli we will certainly try to get to Guido's during our stay.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 20:29

Msg.6: Thanks dizzycows, we are intrigued by this one and will look it up during the day to make sure we can find it in the dark on any subsequent visit.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 20:37

One other thing is the strategy on which currency to use for payment in restaurants. Is it best to bring two different types of currency: Sterling/Euros+TL



I'm not too keen on arguing what the exchange rate is every time I need to pay the bill.



Thanks again

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 21:12

Personally I would just bring Sterling and change it into TL as when necessary. There is an exchange place in Alsancak opposite Capitano restaurant.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 21:15

Hi again brother, most restaurants take credit cards,the exception maybe amercian express. Sterling always works xxxxxxxxxx

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 21:18

Almond Village = Excellent.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 21:19

I agree that you should bring sterling.

IbrahimAbi


Joined: 24/10/2010
Posts: 245

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 21:26

what is this sterling thing? the currency here is TL we should pay the bills in TL



enjoy the holiday



Alsancak is wonderful

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 21:42

brother you are staying at our favorite place. The Almond is the best.....ever.

Many places, including The Almond, take sterling.

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 22:06

The Sterling thing is bring Sterling (from the UK as that is where you are from) and change it into TL locally as per message 11. Simples.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 22:07

Gudios excellent must go food to die for Liz please locate east we need you and its nicer

frigata past horse shoe bay lovely lunch and malfi coast type views from on high

Currency bring Stirling change to TL use Nationwide credit card to pay where you can no fees and commercial exchange rate

Visit mavi kosch need your passport as on a base plus 3 tl per head to get into close Mondays

St Hiralion and the Tank run back

Nicosia back of the Han" Meze Bar "food fab meal for two three beers 55 TL(Sea Bass tiger Prawns ) Alp is the manager

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 22:22

Msg.15 IbrahimAbi: It may be that the local population want to keep some sterling due to their own feelings of currency security. Therefore bringing in sterling and paying directly with sterling may be more beneficial to the local economy (providing the exchange rate used is fair)



I can see from all the suggestions so far that the practical idea is to change sterling into TL as needed.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 22:24

Msg.18: I have no idea what the "mavi kosch" is but can investigate once in the island.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 22:26

Thanks to all of you again.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 22:30

Brother. Where did you stay last time you were over here?

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 22:32

No1Doyen, Msg.22: It was private villa in Catalkoy. Why?

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 11:28

Mavi Kosk is near Camlibel and sign-posted from the main road.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 12:31

thanks joandjelly - I have found http://essentialcyprus.com/mavi-kosk-north-cyprus/ and it certainly looks curious.

spanna


Joined: 12/01/2009
Posts: 544

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 19:58

The restaurant/cafe being referred to in message 6 is Kervan - their sign bills them as a pizza place but they do a range of dishes - ALL of which are gorgeous! Lovely people, lovely views - arguably the best on the island and a lovely beach below.



Escape hasn't opened yet this year so I'm not sure what they will be charging - last year I believe they were charging 10TL entry... it does vary. We live directly opposite and they have put in new jetties from the beach to provide sun bathing space- with cushions etc... if you've got teenagers with you, this is probably the most suitable beach for them as they have music etc most of the day.



Have a great holiday.

fosterscan


Joined: 27/02/2010
Posts: 541

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 20:19

Brother how many holidays have you had in the trnc you seam to know alot about the place but not alot in it ?

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 20:57

Thanks spanna - we will probably take a look.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 21:06

Msg.27 fosterscan: re. "how many holidays have you had in the trnc you seam to know alot about the place but not alot in it ? "



Is this the immigration department then



Answers in turn:



1. Not many, perhaps this will be my infrequent 4th time. I was born there and left when I was just 12.

2. Don't know a lot because I didn't go back for a holiday until I was an adult.

3. My memory of the place was when there was a lot less buildings along that coastal road East-West



See you at immigration control then?

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 21:14

Noone has mentioned the Hut yet it is a great place to go for lunch, they don't do evening meals, it is not far from Almond.



You should definately bring sterling with you but change it into TL when in TRNC, the exchange place in Alsancak opposite Capitano is not far from the Almond. Only use sterling if you run out of TL

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 21:21

brother - just to reiterate someone's previous post in that you've made an excellent choice with Almonds.



Try to get to Silver Rocks - not too far from where you'll be staying - either during the day or in the evening.



Have a good holiday.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 22:17

lovingcyprus and @ msgs. 30-31: thanks for your messages too.



we will certainly feel a bit more confident about choosing from all the listed places.

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 22:28

Erm...The Almond serves up good food....

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 22:33

Msg.33,Blackbird: Yes, yes, it's kind of beginning to appear as if I will be avoiding the food there but far from it, we just wanted to have a bit of variety.

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 22:50

brother - with all these good recommendations, and staying at The Almond, a brilliant is guaranteed....

Enjoy!

fosterscan


Joined: 27/02/2010
Posts: 541

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 22:57

Brother make sure you when you visit mavi kosk you stop on the hill and take in the view of the resivoir.While staying at the almond read through there room notes many good recomendations for places to visit but after a night at the bar with ahmet you may need a lie in.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 23:10

Msg.36 fosterscan: Hmm, this is going to be interesting - I tend to favour a quality drink rather than quantity of drink

Markyboy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 228

Message Posted:
24/02/2011 07:04

Hi Brother, after just returning from TRNC and can say all the food places mentioned are well worth a visit. Had a lovely steak at Guidos, our first visit to them and not our last i may add. Saint Tropez is very nice as well though slightly higher prices. I don't think anybody has mentioned Charcos yet up in Lapta village, lovely basic menu but a delight to eat in and service very good.



Ask anybody where it is when you are there and they can direct you.



In fact, i'll be back there May/June myself :o)

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
24/02/2011 11:50

Thanks Markboy, I have printed off all the recommendations to take with us.