Hotel Sempati Review - 8 of 30 Reviews

The Sempati is not a very big hotel, but that's what I really liked about it. The pool is big enough for a swim but not so large that you feel intimidated sitting beside it and not swimming. It feels more like a villa pool, especially in April when at times it was just me, my book and the sunshine! The little beach nearby is gritty rather than sandy, but great for just watching the waves and feeling relaxed. For a good view to the sea, I sat on the upper terrace above the pool, a drink in one hand and suncream in the other!

The hotel looks a bit like a big villa from the front, with balconies and a modest porch, and out the back there's not a lot of buildings around, so you get the feeling of space, peace and quiet. The hotel curves round, so all balconies overlooking the pool, like mine, also get a slice of the sea view. My room was big, light and airy, and well looked after.

I loved the fresh bread and cakes at breakfast although the poached eggs got a bit repetitive. I was also pleased that the evening menu had Turkish Cypriot dishes like proper kebabs and lachmachun, a delicious Turkish take on pizza. I did try a couple of local restaurants too, Sevkets was best, and bought some cheap water and nibbles at the local supermarket. Not much else around the hotel, apart from some small beaches, but that's rather the point.

My son joined me for three days so he drove me into Kyrenia for lunch and dinner, and also gave me my own personal tour of the places he likes, including the castles in the mountains, Bellapais, Lapta and the west coast, which not many tourists go to. However, the roads seemed quiet so I would have felt happy to drive them myself.

Liked — quiet
Disliked — cats who begged for food

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