Pyla Village Resort was completed in February / March 2007. Unlike other resorts that have been built since then, Pyla Village Resort is one of the most spacious. There are eight separate blocks with 20 apartments in each block. That makes a total of 160 apartments. The complex is in a rural area, but how long it stays this way will depend on how quickly the area develops.
Pyla 1 was the original name given to the site, because this was GN Hassapis’ first development on Pyla. Hassapis is one of the most respected developers in this part of Cyprus and anyone looking to buy property in Cyprus can be sure that if you buy property in a Hassapis development you are dealing with a bona fide company and the quality of the construction is insured. .
Since the construction of Pyla 1, Pyla Palms has been built nearby and a third site is under construction next to this complex under the name Pyla Gardens (phase I) and one more complex is planned on the adjacent parcel / field, which will likely be Pyla Gardens. (Phase II). Around the outskirts of the old town of Pyla, there are building sites reserved for new developments where villas and apartments have been or are being built. Larnaca and the surrounding area is a main hotspot in Cyprus for property purchases, as there are many plans to develop the area to attract tourism and investment. Now there are plans for the Russians to build a theme park and I understand that these plans have been approved, but when will construction begin; who knows?
Authorities have long talked about a golf course in the area. There are plans to develop a golf course in Tereseffanou and, although apartments have been built in the area, there is no sign of a golf course. Most likely it will be finished by the end of 2010.
Pyla Village Resort has been built to modern standards. The apartments have been finished to a high standard and the apartments available for vacation rental have been furnished to a high standard according to the tastes of the owners and travel agencies. The water supply in Pyla is very good and remains on most of the time, while other regions of Cyprus suffer from prolonged interruptions in the water supply.
Pyla Village Resort has been built with the disabled in mind and wheelchairs can easily move around the site and all apartments have elevators. The bathroom next to the pool is also designed for wheelchairs. Two years have passed and the complex still looks good, the grounds are managed and generally kept clean and orderly and irrigated with an irrigation system. Unfortunately some of the original tall palms have died and need to be replaced.
The buffer zone: Pyla Village Resort has been built in the “Buffer Zone”. This is an area patrolled by the United Nations peacekeeping force. Being in the ‘Buffer Zone’ does not affect the comings and goings of people when using the resort. You can see to the north, on the raised plateau, the Turkish flag and the army lookout tower overlooking the Pyla area. To the east of the hill you can see the UN flag and the lookout point. You can easily cross into northern Cyprus at the border crossing north of the town.
The other British military base is Akrotiri south of Limassol. The only problem with being in the Buffer Zone is that you are not allowed to take pictures. A UN official told me that the villagers do not like to have their pictures taken. As Pyla Village Resort is in the buffer zone, this means that, strictly speaking, residents should not take pictures of the resort. I don’t think anyone is challenged, although some of the UN staff reside at Pyla Village Resort. It’s not that obvious, especially if you’re driving to Pyla Village Resort from Dekehlia Road, but there are some signs around (some of which are in poor condition) that prohibit taking pictures.
Tensions still exist between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots who live in Pyla village and tolerate each other. The division is still evident as you notice that some buildings have written in Turkish. The division is very evident when you see that there are two schools in Pyla; one for Turkish Cypriot children and one for Greek Cypriot children. They are distinguished by the fact that they have their national flag flying over the school.
Pyla Village Resort may not be located in the most beautiful part of Cyprus; For that, you have to go to the west side of the island around Paphos and the northwest, including the Troodos mountains. For obvious reasons, the north side of the island is not that accessible, although if you go to Nicosia, the border has been opened and you can walk to the north side of the city. The north side of the island is still under Turkish occupation, although visitors can cross but are not allowed to take their rental car there.
The Paphos region has been highly developed and property prices are much higher in that part of the island. Pyla is located about 15 kilometers east of Larnaca, with easy access to the motorway network that will take you to other areas of Cyprus quickly. Ayia Napa, on the east side of the island, is only a 20 minute drive away and easily accessible if you want to go there to be a part of the nightlife. Nicosia is 40 minutes by car and Limassol an hour. Paphos is approximately 2 hours by car.
Larnaca Airport: Pyla Village is only 15-20 minutes from Larnaca Airport when you take the highway route. The airport has been expanded and a new terminal building has been opened that has more than twice the capacity of the old terminal. This is a sign of the planned improvements taking place in the Larnaca area, which will eventually have golf courses and an expanded marina and the ugly oil terminals will be relocated. When all this happens, who knows, but at least there are plans.
Driving in Cyprus: Cyprus is a popular destination for the British. It is good for the British and those from other countries who drive on the left; because in Cyprus the traffic circulates on the left. The road signs are the same as those seen throughout Europe, but what makes driving difficult is that the signs are in Greek. Not being able to read Greek, I find it much more difficult to navigate. UK drivers will find driving in Cyprus relatively straightforward, but care must be taken with Cypriot drivers as the accident rate is quite high.
As the annual mileage of a car is relatively low in Cyprus, cars only need to undergo a technical inspection every two years; another reason that makes Cyprus a country with relatively low prices to live, especially compared to the UK.
Signs of recovery: The entire world has suffered to some degree from the economic recession. The signs now show that recovery is on the way. This means that Cyprus should see an increase in tourism again. It has been particularly difficult for the British, as the British pound has fallen in value against the euro and has made Cyprus very expensive for the British tourist. Now the pound is showing signs of recovery against the euro and this should encourage British tourists to return to Cyprus. Even if the British have been hit hard, this does not prevent visitors from the rest of the world from visiting Cyprus and choosing to stay at Pyla Village Resort.
In times of recession, crime rates are known to rise. One thing about Cyprus is that the crime rate is low. That does not mean that you should not worry about having your belongings stolen, even so you should take precautions and not leave valuables in sight and thus be a temptation for thieves. The fact that Cyprus has a low crime rate means that there is less chance of something being stolen.
For more information on Pyla Village Resort, visit the link: http://www.pylavillageresort.com
