Bellapais Monastery Village Review - 7 of 65 Reviews

No wonder the Bellapais Monastery Village is near a village with a Tree of Idleness, you really can chill out here and just relax! The hotel is cleverly constructed up the side of the mountain, to make the most of the fabulous views. From the pool area, (including a shallow round one for children) you can lie back and look across the rooftops (plus the local football pitch, and water tanks) down to the coastline below, and the mountains behind seem to cradle you in their hands. However, this does mean you need to be able to climb steps OK to get around the hotel site, so not a hotel for anyone with mobility issues or 'dodgy knees'!

Our 'mini' villa was lovely, set over two levels, with a clean downstairs bathroom but a very small shower - it was a real squeeze to get inside! Not much wardrobe space either. The maid came very day and you got clean linen every two days, a rare treat. The views at sunset were beautiful.

Eating here was delightful, outside on the terrace with the lights of Kyrenia twinkling below - magical. The food was lovely - wide choice, well cooked and presented, and plenty of desserts! Lunch by the pool was a delight and surprisingly good - no stodgy pizza or dry pasta in sight. Staff were friendly and polite. The Cypriot night on Fridays was fun, with the staff all joined in the dancing, and we didn't get to bed until 1am!

We used the courtesy minibus to pop down into Kyrenia town, but you really need a hire car to go any further into North Cyprus unless you hire a taxi for the day. The hotel is not actually in Bellapais village, and you need a car to get to the village unless you are very very fit and happy for a 45 min hike, which I most certainly was not! Local tavernas provide courtesy cars which you can book at reception, and we went into Bellapais village for two meals, one at Kybel restaurant which is perched over the abbey ruins.

Overall, a lovely hotel in a special location, perfect for relaxing in the North Cyprus sunshine!

Liked — views, food, mountains
Disliked — number of steps!

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