ONAR VILLAGE: Uncover Cyprus' Hidden Gem!
ONAR VILLAGE: My Love/Hate Letter to a Cypriot Paradise (and a Few Gripes)
Alright, let's be honest, I went to Onar Village expecting some Instagram-perfect escape. And dammit, for the most part, I got it. This place… well, it's trying to be, and sometimes succeeds, to be the hidden gem everyone's screaming about. But, let's be real, even paradise has its quirks. And as a person who spent a week there, I'm here to spill the (slightly sun-kissed) tea.
First Impressions: "Whoa. That's Green…and Stone?"
Pulling up to Onar Village, you're immediately hit with the "Instagram aesthetic." Think meticulously manicured lawns, stone buildings that look like they've been there for centuries (probably have), and a general air of "well-being". Accessibility? The layout is pretty decent, actually. Wheelchair accessible spaces are available and they seem to try. There's even an elevator, which, after lugging my suitcase through some cobblestone streets, felt like a gift from the gods.
But the internet… oh, the internet! God bless Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! because without it my life would have been a nightmare. I tried using Internet [LAN] for a while, but it was a complete letdown. Basically useless. Thank goodness for the Wi-Fi in public areas, which was at least somewhat usable. So, for those of you NEEDING to work remotely… well, pack some patience. Overall, the Internet services are just…meh.
Diving Deep: Relaxation and Rejuvenation (Mostly!)
Okay, let's talk about the good stuff. They get the relaxation game. The Swimming pool [outdoor] is gorgeous – that's a non-negotiable. I spent hours floating, pretending I didn't have a care in the world. The Pool with view is a winner; who doesn't love a good Instagram-worthy vista?
The Spa/sauna? Yes, please. I indulged in a Body scrub that left me feeling like a newborn baby. The whole Spa experience was pretty top-notch. I even tried the Steamroom – felt like I could melt into the floor. The Massage? Heavenly. Seriously, if you go, book one. The Fitness center isn't massive, but it's got the essentials. And the Foot bath was a nice touch.
Things to do aren't super-abundant on-site. You're here for the chill, not the hustle.
Cleanliness and Safety: Sanitized, but Still Human Error?
Look, in the current climate, safety is paramount. Onar Village tries. They've got all the buzzwords down: Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere. Staff trained in safety protocol (thankfully, because dealing with some tourists could have been a contact sport). They even use Professional-grade sanitizing services. Good to see!
My room was Rooms sanitized between stays, and, to be honest, it felt clean. Room sanitization opt-out available if that's how you roll. BUT… I still spotted a stray hair in the bathroom. Okay, okay, maybe I'm being picky, but after all the intense sanitizing, it felt like a small crack in the facade. More on that later.
They offer Cashless payment service, Individually-wrapped food options, and Safe dining setup. So, all that is reassuring.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (with Hiccups)
The food at Onar Village is… inconsistent. Let's start with the positives: the Western breakfast was solid, with the usual suspects: eggs, bacon, pastries. Breakfast [buffet] had tons of options. The Asian breakfast had a few quirky options, which I loved! The A la carte in restaurant was a great way to choose my own way, but I'm a buffet person after all.
The Restaurants are decent. But then the menu changes and the food gets a little dull. I was hoping to fall in love with the food, but… it didn't quite happen.
The Poolside bar makes a killer cocktail, though. And the Happy hour is a must.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the Luggage Storage
The Air conditioning in public area was a godsend during the scorching Cypriot afternoons. The Concierge was genuinely helpful with tips and recommendations. The Daily housekeeping was efficient. I was grateful for the Laundry service – after a week of swimming, my clothes definitely needed some love. And hooray for the Luggage storage, saved me a lot of hassle!
Other stuff was good too. The Front desk [24-hour] was always there, but they don't speak much, some people, no matter how friendly, can't be truly helpful, which is fine.
The Facilities for disabled guests are available, which is great.
For the Kids (and the Kids at Heart)
I didn't bring any kids, but it seemed like they'd have a good time. The Family/child friendly vibe is strong.
The Takeaway: Is ONAR VILLAGE Worth It?
Look, Onar Village is a beautiful place to be. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation, for the most part it delivers. It’s not perfect, but hey, nothing is. Just be prepared for some minor hiccups (and the occasional stray hair) and you'll be fine. Would I go back? Maybe… if they fixed the internet situation and maybe upped their culinary game. But the pool? The spa? Yeah, those are definitely calling my name.
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into ONAR VILLAGE in Girne, Cyprus. Forget picture-perfect Instagram grids. This itinerary's gonna be a glorious, messy rollercoaster ride. Warning: may contain excessive amounts of sunshine, cynicism, and questionable decisions (mine, not yours… hopefully).
ONAR VILLAGE, Girne, Cyprus: The Unfiltered Itinerary (aka "How I Survived the Mediterranean Sun and Didn't Lose my Mind")
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Villa Hunt (or, Where Did I Park My Sanity?)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Arrive at Ercan International Airport (ECN). Ugh, airports. Always a chaotic symphony of bleary-eyed tourists and stressed-out taxi drivers. Found my transfer… eventually. The driver, bless his Cypriot heart, kept trying to sell me day trips before we even left the airport. "Very good beaches! Boat trip! Very nice!" I just wanted to sleep.
- Morning (10:30 AM - 12:00 PM): The Great Villa Quest. ONAR Village promised "rustic charm." Let's just say "rustic" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Finding the villa felt like an Indiana Jones movie, except instead of a lost ark, I was searching for a slightly less cobweb-filled room. Finally, found my villa. It smelled faintly of lemon and… something else I couldn't quite place. (Mystery scent!)
- Lunch (12:30 PM): First meal at the villa, unpacking, and resting. Sandwiches, crisps, and the overwhelming feeling of being finally free. That sweet, sweet, not having to do anything feeling.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Poolside Nirvana (or, Attempting to Achieve Inner Peace Amongst the Sunbathers). Okay, the pool was glorious. Crystal clear, freezing cold (which was heaven), and surrounded by… other tourists aggressively perfecting their tans. I'm more of a shade-seeker myself. Managed to snag a spot under an umbrella, and spent the afternoon alternating between reading and watching a particularly flamboyant seagull attempt to steal someone's chips. (He failed spectacularly.)
- Evening (7:00 PM): Dinner at a local restaurant in the town. Food was okay, but my stomach was still running on airport food standards. I tried some local Kebab. The friendly waiter recommended. I also ordered a beer, and the waiter asked me if I wanted water with the beer. I laughed, but the waiter was serious. That's not a thing here.
- Night (9:00 PM): Bed. Exhausted, sun-kissed, and probably needing a shower. That lemon scent was getting a bit intense.
Day 2: Beach Hopping and Coastal Confusion (or, When Did the Sun Become My Nemesis?)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Breakfast. Another sandwich. I need to get my priorities straight food wise.
- Morning (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Beach Exploration - First stop Escape Beach. The water was stunning, the sand felt like powdered sugar, and the sun… well, the sun was a relentless jerk. I lathered on sunscreen like it was my job but still managed to turn a delightful shade of lobster. Spent an hour just swimming over and over, the blue water just a wonder.
- Lunch (1:00 PM): A burger at a beachside cafe. Overpriced, but hey, the view was worth it. Plus, I was too lazy to move. Judged myself hard, but it was delicious with the sun!
- Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Beach Exploration - Second stop, Denizkizi Beach. My second beach of the day, it offered more of the same: azure water, sand, sun. The main difference was the slightly more aggressive hawkers trying to sell me everything from jet ski rides to knock-off designer sunglasses. I hid in a cafe, sipping iced coffee and people-watching. The Cyprus people are lovely.
- Evening (7:00 PM): Dinner at a taverna. The food was much better than the previous night. Ordered lamb. It was delicious and a much better experience than the first night.
- Night (9:00 PM): Fell asleep reading a book. Woke up at 2:00 AM sweating. The smell of lemon. It was a bit much.
Day 3: Exploring the Unknown - The Road Trip (or, Did I Really Rent a Car?)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Breakfast. More sandwiches. I'm starting to hate the sandwiches.
- Morning (10:00 AM): Remembered that I rented a car, which I had completely forgotten about. Found it in the parking lot, looking a little dusty. Briefly considered abandoning the whole adventure, but then remembered the promise of exploration.
- Morning (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Driving around. Found a cafe with an amazing view, sat there. The food was bad, but that's fine.
- Lunch (1:00 PM): Back to the villa
- Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Poolside Nirvana (or, Attempting to Achieve Inner Peace Amongst the Sunbathers). The pool was the same as the first day, but the water was a bit less cold. Did more of the same.
- Evening (7:00 PM): Dinner at the villa. I ordered the takeout from the cafe, with a very good view.
- Night (9:00 PM): Planning my next adventure. Decided to go to a Castle.
Day 4: Castle Mania (or, Why Did I Wear That Dress?)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Breakfast. Last sandwich of the trip. I'm done.
- Morning (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Drive to St. Hilarion Castle. The castle was incredible. So many castle visits. Walked around the castle, there were so many views and so many people.
- Lunch (1:00 PM): Left the castle.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM): Back to the villa.
- Evening (7:00 PM): Dinner at a taverna. Food was good, but I wanted to be alone. Ate in silence, then went to bed.
- Night (9:00 PM): Packed.
Day 5: Departure (or, Adios, Cyprus! I'll Miss the Lemon Smell… Maybe?)
- Morning (8:00 AM): Breakfast.
- Morning (9:00 AM): Checked everything, and left just on time.
- Morning (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM): Arrived at the airport.
- Morning (11:00 PM): Goodbye Cyprus.
Quirky Observations, Rants, and Random Thoughts:
- The stray cats in Cyprus are everywhere. And they are adorable. (Except when they're trying to steal your food. Sneaky little furballs.)
- I swear, the sun is actively trying to burn me to a crisp. I went through two bottles of sunscreen in four days.
- I need to learn some basic Turkish. Or Greek. Or… something. My attempts at using basic Turkish got me some weird looks.
- The lemon smell. It's a thing. A very strong thing.
- This trip had its ups and downs, it was beautiful, frustrating, enlightening, and a little bit exhausting. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. Maybe I'll come back next year. If the sun promises to behave.
There you have it. Your unedited, slightly manic, and utterly honest guide to Onar Village. Go forth, fellow travelers, and may your adventures be filled with sunshine, laughter, and maybe a little bit of questionable decision-making. You've been warned.
Luxury Saigon Apartment: Thao Dien Proview's Stunning 351!
ONAR VILLAGE: Okay, Fine, It's Pretty Damn Cool (And Here's the Deal)
1. So, What *IS* This Place, Anyway? ONAR? Sounds... Greek-ish. Are you sure it's not just another tourist trap peddling souvlaki and bad cover bands?
Alright, alright, settle down, cynical traveller. YES, it's in Cyprus. No, it’s NOT a souvlaki factory (though, blessedly, there's delicious food nearby). ONAR Village is, and I'm going to use the dreaded "hidden gem" label here because it's kinda true, a collection of traditional stone houses, each designed with love and, frankly, a lot of character, nestled in the Troodos Mountains. Think rustic chic meets authentic Cypriot charm. And yeah, they *do* have a taverna, but it's actually good. Like, really good. I’m a tough grader, trust me.
2. Sounds Picturesque. But is it actually... comfortable? 'Cause I like my fluffy towels, thank you very much.
Look, you're not getting a five-star resort, okay? You're getting character. You’re getting stone walls that probably predate your grandparents. BUT. The beds are comfy (more on that later, trust me). The bathrooms are modern-ish (thank the gods!). And the little touches, like local art and a fireplace in some of the houses, are just *lovely*. I'll admit, the first time I arrived, I was a bit, "Where's the room service?" (don't judge me!). But then I sipped a local wine on my little balcony, watched the sunset paint the mountains, and a sense of, well, *zen* washed over me. And suddenly, fluffy towels weren't the be-all and end-all.
3. Okay, you mentioned the beds... spill. Bad experience? Horror stories? I need details!
Okay, fine. The first night? I thought I was going to become one with the mattress. It dipped, it sagged, it... well, let's just say I woke up feeling like I'd been wrestling a mountain goat. I whined to the staff the next morning, slightly mortified (I hate complaining!). The lovely woman at reception (I forget her name, but she was a saint) apologized profusely and sent a mattress topper right away. Problem solved! The rest of the stay? Glorious. Lesson learned: sometimes, you gotta speak up. They actually *care* about your experience. That’s a rarity these days!
4. What's the food situation like? I’m a food snob. And I get hangry. Very hangry.
Okay, fellow food snob, breathe. The taverna on-site is a winner. Seriously. I'm talking fresh, local ingredients, traditional Cypriot dishes done right. The *meze* platter? A must. Prepare to loosen your belt; you'll be stuffed. The village itself is also near some adorable, authentic little restaurants. The key is to ditch the tourist traps on the coast. Wander around. Ask the locals. Get lost. And eat ALL the halloumi. My god, Cypriot halloumi is a religious experience. I still dream about it. (Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. But just a little.)
5. Anything to do *besides* eat and sleep? 'Cause I can do that at home. (Though, admittedly, my home isn't quite as picturesque).
YES! Plenty! Hiking trails galore. The Troodos Mountains are stunning. You can visit some ancient churches and monasteries. There are wineries (YES!), and the wine is surprisingly good. You can explore charming villages, and truly get a feel for Cypriot life. One day, I wandered off the beaten track and stumbled upon a local festival. Music, dancing, and mountains of food I didn't understand but devoured anyway. It was pure magic. Oh, and you can definitely sleep. Lots.
6. Tell me about the staff. Are they friendly? Do they speak English? Do they know what my vegan needs are? (I know, I know...)
The staff? Delightful. Seriously. Everyone is super friendly and helpful. English is widely spoken. And they're generally accommodating to dietary needs, although "vegan" might require a bit more explaining. Just be upfront, be patient, and they'll do their best. Cypriot hospitality is a real thing. You'll feel welcomed. Even if you're grumpy, like I am, they’ll win you over!
7. Is it good for kids? Because I’m travelling with the spawn of Satan. (Kidding! Mostly...)
Honestly? It depends. If your "spawn of Satan" is the adventurous type who enjoys the outdoors and isn’t glued to a screen 24/7, then yes, it's great. There's space to run around, explore, and the hikes will hopefully tire them out. If they demand constant stimulation and a swimming pool with a slide? Maybe not. There's no pool (though, trust me, you won't miss it), and the focus is on experiencing nature and the local culture. Think of it as a digital detox for the whole family. I'm guessing the silence will be glorious.
8. What about accessibility? I have mobility issues. Can I navigate the village?
This is a tricky one. The village is built on the side of a mountain, so there are definitely steps and uneven surfaces. It wouldn't be ideal for someone with significant mobility issues. I'd recommend contacting ONAR directly and asking about specific accommodations and access to individual houses. They're usually very responsive and will give you an honest assessment. Better to be safe than sorry!
9. Okay, give me the nitty-gritty. What are the downsides? Because NOTHING is perfect.
Alright, you want the truth? Here it comes:
- The Wi-Fi can be spotty. Embrace the digital detox, people!
- You might need a car to get around and explore the surrounding areas. Public transport in Cyprus isn't exactly reliable.
- It's not a party destination. If you're looking for nightlife, this ain't it.
- Sometimes, the stone houses can be a little chilly, especially in winter. Pack layers!
- And... the stray cats. They're cute, but they're EVERYWHERE. (I'mHidden StayONAR VILLAGE Girne Cyprus
ONAR VILLAGE Girne Cyprus
