Nostalgia Hotel, Kyrenia, Cyprus
Hotel Information
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
Located in the winding backstreets of Old Kyrenia Town, Nostalgia was originally an old Cypriot house, which has been lovingly and carefully restored in traditional local style. A few minutes walk from the picturesque harbour with its many shops, bars and restaurants. loading...
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Nostalgia Hotel Reviews
" This was my first singles holiday. I... "
Submitted By: Ms DD Walker
This was my first singles holiday. I arrived at Larnaca Airport, having flown out on my own, and was greeted by the Travel One taxi driver, who informed me that there would be another two passengers - meaning that there were three single women travelling on the same flight.
This is my only criticism of the arrangements: if Travel One/Hotel Nostalgia knew that they were collecting three single women from the same flight, why couldn't they have notified us? It would have made the flight more interesting, and also allayed fears at the other end. Getting in a taxi with an unknown male driver who may not speak English is slightly stressful!
Other than that, I can't fault the holiday. We were a diverse group, fairly well balanced between male/ female, and on the whole we all got on well. We didn't stick together as a group; some went off alone, some in small groups; we did a couple of organised tours where most of the group chose to come along.
We met up each evening for drinks at the bar before dinner, and then generally wandered down to the harbour for the remainder of the evening.
This is not a resort if you want an exciting night life. It is the resort if you want a beautiful location and a peaceful, friendly, relaxing break. There is plenty of historic interest close to hand; the crusader castles are a must, as is Bellepais Abbey.
Hotel Nostalgia was a delight. Very quirky, and the standard of the rooms (as far as I could see) was acceptable. Some were better than others - I got one of the good ones so I have no complaints - but they all qualified as doubles (no 'cupboards' as far as I could see.)
The staff were friendly, did their best to resolve any complaints and by the end of the holiday guests and staff were all on first name terms. Breakfasts were plentiful and fairly varied. The evening meals were slightly more mixed ... but always acceptable.
The hotel is situated in the old town and really is just two minutes walk from Kyrenia old harbour. It is 2 minutes walk from the main shopping streets in the other direction. You really feel that you are in the heart of the town - and having seen some of the out of town resorts which may be more modern but are a bit impersonal, I would choose Nostalia every time.
As long as you are prepared to accept that the building is an amalgam of several old Cypriot houses and therefore not designed for purpose so a bit of a warren I don't think you would be disappointed. I would go back there without a moment’s hesitation.
This is my only criticism of the arrangements: if Travel One/Hotel Nostalgia knew that they were collecting three single women from the same flight, why couldn't they have notified us? It would have made the flight more interesting, and also allayed fears at the other end. Getting in a taxi with an unknown male driver who may not speak English is slightly stressful!
Other than that, I can't fault the holiday. We were a diverse group, fairly well balanced between male/ female, and on the whole we all got on well. We didn't stick together as a group; some went off alone, some in small groups; we did a couple of organised tours where most of the group chose to come along.
We met up each evening for drinks at the bar before dinner, and then generally wandered down to the harbour for the remainder of the evening.
This is not a resort if you want an exciting night life. It is the resort if you want a beautiful location and a peaceful, friendly, relaxing break. There is plenty of historic interest close to hand; the crusader castles are a must, as is Bellepais Abbey.
Hotel Nostalgia was a delight. Very quirky, and the standard of the rooms (as far as I could see) was acceptable. Some were better than others - I got one of the good ones so I have no complaints - but they all qualified as doubles (no 'cupboards' as far as I could see.)
The staff were friendly, did their best to resolve any complaints and by the end of the holiday guests and staff were all on first name terms. Breakfasts were plentiful and fairly varied. The evening meals were slightly more mixed ... but always acceptable.
The hotel is situated in the old town and really is just two minutes walk from Kyrenia old harbour. It is 2 minutes walk from the main shopping streets in the other direction. You really feel that you are in the heart of the town - and having seen some of the out of town resorts which may be more modern but are a bit impersonal, I would choose Nostalia every time.
As long as you are prepared to accept that the building is an amalgam of several old Cypriot houses and therefore not designed for purpose so a bit of a warren I don't think you would be disappointed. I would go back there without a moment’s hesitation.
- Date of Holiday:Jul 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Travel One
" This was the 5th occasion I chose to... "
Submitted By: Mr M Morgan
This was the 5th occasion I chose to stay at the Nostalgia hotel. This was also the second time I was allocated the same room that resembled a broom cupboard. On the second occasion a double bed had beens installed which made moving around the room very difficult.
Added to this, my room, "The Lawrence Durrell" or Room 1, backed onto a very large chimnney stack coming from the kitchen - thank God I wasn't taking a siesta whilst dinner was being prepared and cooked.
Apart from this, the hotel is small and intimate, very clean and the staff are very charming - a must for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of mainstream hotels. For those who choose the B & B option, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from for evening meals that I consider to be good value for money.
Added to this, my room, "The Lawrence Durrell" or Room 1, backed onto a very large chimnney stack coming from the kitchen - thank God I wasn't taking a siesta whilst dinner was being prepared and cooked.
Apart from this, the hotel is small and intimate, very clean and the staff are very charming - a must for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of mainstream hotels. For those who choose the B & B option, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from for evening meals that I consider to be good value for money.
- Date of Holiday:Oct 2005
- Board Basis:Bed & Breakfast
- Tour Operator:Metak Holidays
" I took the plunge and booked a... "
Submitted By: Miss G Murphy
I took the plunge and booked a Singles holiday. No! not the sex, drugs and rock and roll type, I am well past that. At the time it was very exciting thinking of it as an adventure but nearer the time I began to wonder if I had done the right thing.
The night before I left I hardly slept, worrying if I would meet nice people and if they would like me and be friendly. Just in case I packed plenty of books to keep me occupied and hide behind. On arrival at Ercan Airport I found I was the only person from Scotland being picked up and that the other people coming would all come in from England. The temperature was in the 90's as we set off from the airport. Everything went well until the driver suddenly started to pull over to the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, o.k. so I’ve got a vivid imagination. He didn’t speak much English and I don’t speak Turkish but I managed to understand there was trouble with the front tire, and yes there was a large bulge in it. The driver used his mobile to call for assistance and so began the long wait, not much in the way of conversation going on. Around an hour and
10 mins later help arrived.
On arrival at the hotel I was met by the English speaking receptionist who did not seem perturbed that I had been stuck in the middle of nowhere on my own with the driver. Obviously he wasn’t going to miss me for some time, if ever.
I was taken to my room (cupboard) on the first floor and advised to keep the shutters and little window closed to keep out the bugs. I was assured I would be alright for air as there was an air-conditioning unit in the room.
By this time I was dog tired having been on the go since 3.30 a.m. that morning. This was now 7 p.m. and dinner was at 8 p.m. A quick recon of my surroundings was not very heartening. My room had a double bed and a wardrobe, no chest of drawers. The bathroom (I dare to dignify it) was so small that the toilet had to be installed at an angle. The shower was also a problem in that I could only stand one way, if I turned round my elbows knocked off the walls. The grouting was pretty grotty and the sealant round the drain melted and stuck to my feet. As usual the plug in the washbasin didn’t fit and as fast as the water went in, it ran out.
After a quick shower I went down to dinner and was shown to a table where a young woman sat. She had been in the Hotel for a week and had another week to go. She introduced herself and was exceptionally nice in giving me a run down on the hotel and the staff. After dinner she took me on a tour of the town. She made me feel very welcome and informed me that my room wasn’t the only one that had problems, she was waiting to be moved out of her room. I decided to sleep on it and see how I felt in the morning.
After getting the hang of the air-conditioning I fell asleep only to be rudely awakened at 4.45 a.m. by the "Call to Prayer" from the mosque which was situated in the next street. Amazingly after a few days I didn’t hear him.
After breakfast I approached the Reception to ask if any other rooms were available. I was told no, the hotel was full. I asked to see the manger and had a frustrating ten minutes with him and got the same answer. This was done by me in a very quiet
and modulated manner. Not my usual Glaswegian way of dealing with things.
The hotel has two parts to it. I was in the old building which it was stated had been modernised!! Around the corner was the new building with the swimming pool and pool restaurant.
I took myself off to the pool and settled myself on a sunbed with my trusty book. A little later a lone female entered the pool area and came across. After introducing herself as a fellow traveller with Travel One we started talking. Coincidence, she had the same name as myself, Georgina. Georgina had been with Travel One before and stayed at the Nostalgia. She liked it, she said it had character, It certainly had that. You have to accept that it is an old house converted, perhaps not to our standards but reasonable enough in many ways.
We met the rest of our group at an 11 a.m. meeting. There were seven females and one male. Poor man, but it didn’t bother him at all. After the meeting we retired to the pool and started comparing notes. Rooms featured large in the conversation. We all settled down and got on very well from the start. Various trips were discussed and as most of the group were only there for a week they wanted to see a much as possible. Georgina and myself were there for two weeks so we could afford to take our time.
That afternoon I thought I would try and catch up on some sleep so went upstairs to my cupboard. No luck so I had a shower, got dressed and went outside my room to a little landing which had a table, sofa and two chairs. I decided I deserved a drink so settled down with my book for a quiet read. Shortly afterwards one of the group came upstairs and stopped for a chat. I informed her that I had designated the area as my Cafe "chez Murphy’s" and that it was a B.Y.O.B. Cafe (bring your own bottle) She asked if she could join me and we settled down for a chin wag. Before long we were joined by others from the group and a happy time was had by all. "Chez Murphy’s only operated for an hour each day. Other guests in the hotel (couples) stopped on their way to their rooms for a chat and so we all started to get to know one another. This continued for the rest of the week and a great flow of information and help was passed on.
The rooms in our building were the main topic of conversation. Tours were given of my Cupboard and others told tales of having moved as many as three times trying to get something they could live with. Georgina who has travelled quite a bit on her own said my room was standard for a Single. A Single what? certainly not a woman, a point I made with the manager during my next visit. Suitable for a male, who probably only brought one change of underwear but certainly not for a woman with 14 pair of knickers and the same amount of tops etc. I think this was the Glaswegian outburst that finally got to him. I got a room change for the second week and "chez Murphy’s had to close down.
If you are lucky enough to get in the new building then I think you will enjoy your stay. The problem is with the old building where the rooms are all shapes and sizes.
The night before most of our group were to go home we organised a party in the pool restaurant. It was a great night, even the manager came and joined in the fun and dancing.
We all exchanged e mail addresses and promised to keep in touch.
A new group arrived consisting of two women and four men. At last two from Scotland, one woman and one man. We all quickly made friends and as with the first group Georgina and I went on sightseeing trips with them and had a really great time.
The hotel definitely had a plus side.
The meals were excellent, the staff were lovely. so courteous and helpful. The hotel is situated right in the middle of the harbour area - only 2 mins walk. But be careful some of the streets I am sure are the same ones the Romans walked on. I called them "break a leg alley".
This is not a Beach holiday, this is for exploring castles, monasteries, town and villages. For turning a corner in the town and finding yourself back 300 years.
I loved it. I loved the chance I got to meet so many nice friendly people some of whom like myself were wondering if they had done the right thing. They all agreed they had! and they would do it again.
Would I go back to the Nostalgia - Yes - I told the manager that I would be back providing I could tell him what room I wanted! He told me to ring him a month before I came and He would see to it. Now that’s what I call friendly.
So if you are a single person and are frightened to take the plunge, don’t be. Go on you will have a great time just like I did.
The night before I left I hardly slept, worrying if I would meet nice people and if they would like me and be friendly. Just in case I packed plenty of books to keep me occupied and hide behind. On arrival at Ercan Airport I found I was the only person from Scotland being picked up and that the other people coming would all come in from England. The temperature was in the 90's as we set off from the airport. Everything went well until the driver suddenly started to pull over to the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, o.k. so I’ve got a vivid imagination. He didn’t speak much English and I don’t speak Turkish but I managed to understand there was trouble with the front tire, and yes there was a large bulge in it. The driver used his mobile to call for assistance and so began the long wait, not much in the way of conversation going on. Around an hour and
10 mins later help arrived.
On arrival at the hotel I was met by the English speaking receptionist who did not seem perturbed that I had been stuck in the middle of nowhere on my own with the driver. Obviously he wasn’t going to miss me for some time, if ever.
I was taken to my room (cupboard) on the first floor and advised to keep the shutters and little window closed to keep out the bugs. I was assured I would be alright for air as there was an air-conditioning unit in the room.
By this time I was dog tired having been on the go since 3.30 a.m. that morning. This was now 7 p.m. and dinner was at 8 p.m. A quick recon of my surroundings was not very heartening. My room had a double bed and a wardrobe, no chest of drawers. The bathroom (I dare to dignify it) was so small that the toilet had to be installed at an angle. The shower was also a problem in that I could only stand one way, if I turned round my elbows knocked off the walls. The grouting was pretty grotty and the sealant round the drain melted and stuck to my feet. As usual the plug in the washbasin didn’t fit and as fast as the water went in, it ran out.
After a quick shower I went down to dinner and was shown to a table where a young woman sat. She had been in the Hotel for a week and had another week to go. She introduced herself and was exceptionally nice in giving me a run down on the hotel and the staff. After dinner she took me on a tour of the town. She made me feel very welcome and informed me that my room wasn’t the only one that had problems, she was waiting to be moved out of her room. I decided to sleep on it and see how I felt in the morning.
After getting the hang of the air-conditioning I fell asleep only to be rudely awakened at 4.45 a.m. by the "Call to Prayer" from the mosque which was situated in the next street. Amazingly after a few days I didn’t hear him.
After breakfast I approached the Reception to ask if any other rooms were available. I was told no, the hotel was full. I asked to see the manger and had a frustrating ten minutes with him and got the same answer. This was done by me in a very quiet
and modulated manner. Not my usual Glaswegian way of dealing with things.
The hotel has two parts to it. I was in the old building which it was stated had been modernised!! Around the corner was the new building with the swimming pool and pool restaurant.
I took myself off to the pool and settled myself on a sunbed with my trusty book. A little later a lone female entered the pool area and came across. After introducing herself as a fellow traveller with Travel One we started talking. Coincidence, she had the same name as myself, Georgina. Georgina had been with Travel One before and stayed at the Nostalgia. She liked it, she said it had character, It certainly had that. You have to accept that it is an old house converted, perhaps not to our standards but reasonable enough in many ways.
We met the rest of our group at an 11 a.m. meeting. There were seven females and one male. Poor man, but it didn’t bother him at all. After the meeting we retired to the pool and started comparing notes. Rooms featured large in the conversation. We all settled down and got on very well from the start. Various trips were discussed and as most of the group were only there for a week they wanted to see a much as possible. Georgina and myself were there for two weeks so we could afford to take our time.
That afternoon I thought I would try and catch up on some sleep so went upstairs to my cupboard. No luck so I had a shower, got dressed and went outside my room to a little landing which had a table, sofa and two chairs. I decided I deserved a drink so settled down with my book for a quiet read. Shortly afterwards one of the group came upstairs and stopped for a chat. I informed her that I had designated the area as my Cafe "chez Murphy’s" and that it was a B.Y.O.B. Cafe (bring your own bottle) She asked if she could join me and we settled down for a chin wag. Before long we were joined by others from the group and a happy time was had by all. "Chez Murphy’s only operated for an hour each day. Other guests in the hotel (couples) stopped on their way to their rooms for a chat and so we all started to get to know one another. This continued for the rest of the week and a great flow of information and help was passed on.
The rooms in our building were the main topic of conversation. Tours were given of my Cupboard and others told tales of having moved as many as three times trying to get something they could live with. Georgina who has travelled quite a bit on her own said my room was standard for a Single. A Single what? certainly not a woman, a point I made with the manager during my next visit. Suitable for a male, who probably only brought one change of underwear but certainly not for a woman with 14 pair of knickers and the same amount of tops etc. I think this was the Glaswegian outburst that finally got to him. I got a room change for the second week and "chez Murphy’s had to close down.
If you are lucky enough to get in the new building then I think you will enjoy your stay. The problem is with the old building where the rooms are all shapes and sizes.
The night before most of our group were to go home we organised a party in the pool restaurant. It was a great night, even the manager came and joined in the fun and dancing.
We all exchanged e mail addresses and promised to keep in touch.
A new group arrived consisting of two women and four men. At last two from Scotland, one woman and one man. We all quickly made friends and as with the first group Georgina and I went on sightseeing trips with them and had a really great time.
The hotel definitely had a plus side.
The meals were excellent, the staff were lovely. so courteous and helpful. The hotel is situated right in the middle of the harbour area - only 2 mins walk. But be careful some of the streets I am sure are the same ones the Romans walked on. I called them "break a leg alley".
This is not a Beach holiday, this is for exploring castles, monasteries, town and villages. For turning a corner in the town and finding yourself back 300 years.
I loved it. I loved the chance I got to meet so many nice friendly people some of whom like myself were wondering if they had done the right thing. They all agreed they had! and they would do it again.
Would I go back to the Nostalgia - Yes - I told the manager that I would be back providing I could tell him what room I wanted! He told me to ring him a month before I came and He would see to it. Now that’s what I call friendly.
So if you are a single person and are frightened to take the plunge, don’t be. Go on you will have a great time just like I did.
- Date of Holiday:Sep 2005
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Travel One
All rooms different shapes and sizes. some have 4 poster beds,airconditioned.
Bathrooms in need of modernisation and tile grouting slightly mouldy.
Breakfast basic continental but ok, as many teas or coffees as you want.
pre dinner drinks available.
Evening meal taken in nice outside courtyard restaurnt, small choice of traditional food , but good.
Small swimmimg pool in nearby adjoining building, poolside bar not open.
.
very close to mosque (early wake up call) and 2 minute stroll to harbour with lots of cafes , restaurantsand bars,
Kyrenia castle close by and worth a visit.
Taxi ride to beach.
Hotel staff all very helpfull and friendly.