| Holidays with children always demand a certain | | | | hire out family-ready bikes and buggies and some |
| amount of planning and juggling. Using a holiday villa as | | | | also have go-kart tracks and other ways to fill an |
| a base can be the perfect solution, providing more | | | | afternoon, while some diving and watersports outfits |
| flexibility and independence than a hotel and letting | | | | run snorkelling or windsurfing lessons tailored to older |
| kids settle into a homelike environment without the | | | | children. |
| loud bars and parties of some resorts. | | | | Tourist areas are well-equipped with entertainments |
| In common with most southern European and | | | | like crazy golf, bowling and paintball, while Limassol |
| Mediterranean societies, children are immensely | | | | has a mini-zoo and Paphos offers a bird park and |
| popular with Cypriots and will generally be welcome in | | | | aquarium. There is also a donkey sanctuary at Vouni |
| most environments. Baby food, nappies and generic | | | | where children can go for rides on rescued donkeys |
| childhood medicines are as easy to come by as in | | | | while adults enjoy the surrounding countryside and |
| any Western country, while in southern Cyprus | | | | tiny cobbled streets of this once-deserted ancient |
| organic and salt-free food and dairy products are | | | | village, now restored. For a small yearly fee, children |
| increasingly available if you're trying to keep your kids | | | | can even 'adopt' a donkey to hear about after they |
| on the healthiest possible diet. | | | | leave Cyprus. |
| Most car rental agencies in Cyprus can supply child | | | | Eating out abroad with kids can often be a challenge, |
| car seats, although it's often necessary to book in | | | | especially if they're encountering new foods for the |
| advance, and the majority of restaurants and hotels | | | | first time, and Cyprus is not necessarily an exception. |
| are now smoke-free, in anticipation of a | | | | Some children will see octopus or strange vegetables |
| recently-voted ban on public smoking which is due to | | | | as an exciting part of the adventure, but more will be |
| be enforced from January 2010. The main dangers | | | | horrified and seek comfort in familiarity. |
| that young children are likely to face on Cyprus are | | | | But in recent years many Cypriot eateries - whether |
| sunburn, jellyfish or insect stings and sea urchin | | | | chains or independents - have made the effort to |
| spines, but as with any destination proper travel | | | | provide child-friendly environments and some, like |
| insurance and, for EU citizens, an EHIC card are | | | | Sienna in Chrorakas near Paphos, are happy to |
| sound investments. Older children are perhaps most | | | | provide off-menu items to please fussy tastes. |
| likely to be a cause for concern if they succumb to | | | | Sienna, along with Sophie's Theme in Peyia, |
| the lure of the island's nightclubs and bars. | | | | Colosseum in Kato Paphos and the Marzano mini-chain |
| Cyprus's expanses of sandy beach and warm sea are | | | | in Larnaca, Nicosia and Limassol, also emphasises the |
| likely to be enough to keep most children entertained | | | | fact that fun, accessible food can also be healthy, so |
| for most of the average holiday, but if more | | | | finding food that the kids enjoy doesn't have to |
| diversions are needed there are plenty of options. | | | | mean resorting to burgers and fries. |
| Destination cities such as Paphos have outlets which | | | | |