FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

It is perfectly safe to book directly - use this checklist to protect yourself from scams:

 1 Can you pay by secure card portal?  PayPal is not recommended.
Although we prefer bank transfers, we also offer Revolut app transfer. Sorry, we no longer offer card payments due to legislation changes over card fees.

 2 Is there a contact landline number? 
If you can't get us on our UK landline +44 (0) 1923 853113, we're probably in Cyprus! For a quick reply, try our mobile instead. While away we dial in to our landline answerphone regularly, if you prefer to leave a message.

 3 Do a reverse image search.  Right-click on image > search Google for image. Make sure there are no rogue listings.
We have disabled right-clicking to protect against illegal copying of our website content.

 4 Look for an owner's website.  Property on a listing site? Google name, location, tagline and images. Owners who have taken the time and effort to create their own website usually offer direct booking without booking site fees. Check the domain registration.
Nikki registered pissouribay.com in 2006. You can track our website development via the WayBackMachine. (We do not use booking sites, preferring to deal directly with our guests.)

 5 Is the owner active on social media? 
Find us on , , and . See our pics, read our posts and check our guest feedback.

 6 Is the owner knowledgeable about the local area? 
Feel free to ask questions. Even if it's something we haven't come across in our 50+ visits, we'll do our best to find an answer for you.

 7 Read guest comments and reviews on and . 
Our website guestbook quotes visitors from 2006 to date. And we recently started collecting online reviews. Owners' responses can also be illuminating!

 8 Is availability displayed? 
We normally display our calendar with the initials of the lead guest for booked dates, although at times we remove this feature. We use booking software to avoid date clash errors.

Alarm Bells:
  Are you looking at a paid advert?  Scammers lift copy and photos from legitimate sites, then pay to appear prominently on Google, Bing and Yahoo. Look for the giveaway 'Ad' label next to search results. Check out the website you're planning to book through on review sites before paying.

  Only one payment option?  It is often ok to pay by bank transfer. (We prefer this method ourselves). However, it is also a method used by fraudsters, so ask whether alternatives are accepted (cheque, card, etc). Definitely avoid payment by Western Union.

  Rate too good to be true?  Be suspicious if the price is much lower than others, especially if you're offered discounts to pay in one go.

  No bookings calendar?  Scammers tend to avoid showing availability, so that (surprise, surprise) any suggested dates are free.

  Cyprus-specific:  Before booking a company-owned villa, check their financial status
As this depends on the airline, we suggest registering for LowCostRoutes flight alerts

For easyJet, check easyJet flight schedule releases or easyJet on Facebook
On launch day it's even worth getting up extra early to book at the best rates, especially if you plan to travel on a popular route.
Whether it's a honeymoon, anniversary, birthday, reunion, family celebration or another occasion, we are always delighted to learn that our guests are celebrating a landmark during their stay, and do our utmost to help with the planning.

For example we can recommend special restaurants, and suggest places to go for spa and beauty treatments, celebration cakes and floral displays. If you have something in mind, please let us know - we'd be only too happy to help.
The welcome pack enables you to make a cuppa and have a snack or breakfast before you can get to the shops. It includes: local Xynisteri white wine, bread, milk, veg spread, juice, water, eggs, tea/coffee/sugar sachets, toilet rolls, hand soap, washing up liquid & sponge.

In addition we keep a stock of consumables which are topped up on our visits. We ask guests to replace items as they run low (no guarantees): washing powder, fabric conditioner, anti-calc, cleaning products, dishwasher powder/tabs, dishwasher salt, rinse aid, foil, cling film, freezer bags, condiments, spices, olive oil, vinegar.
That really depends what type of holiday you're after...

Pissouri Bay has a small supermarket, a minimarket, 2 dive centres, a jewellery boutique, an art gallery, lots of restaurants, plus the wonderful beach within a short walk. There's a much larger Papantoniou supermarket and more amenities in Pissouri village which is a 2.5 mile walk uphill from the bay or a 5 minute drive by taxi or shuttle bus.

To explore further, you would need a car - which you could pick up and drop off at the airport - or hire locally if you only want one for part of your stay.

More info: Maps page Travel info

If your flight is to Larnaca, it may be more cost effective to hire a car, rather than pay for taxi transfers.
Arriving at Paphos airport, we advise you to pre-book a Pissouri taxi, rather than rely on one from the airport rank. Our preferred options are Loucas Theodosiou or John Pangeras who both offer regular Mercedes cars and 7-seaters, depending on how many are in your party.

Contact details for recommended Pissouri taxis: Travel info

A regular taxi from PFO is €45 - €50 (day / night).
A taxi between Pissouri Bay and village is normally €10 each way.
We have had happy guests with children of all ages, so we'd say yes, although it is important that they are supervised around the pool. The garden is safely enclosed by hedges and gates.

Little ones: high chair, travel cot, stick blender, microwave, plastic dishes and cutlery, access to UK TV including CBeebies, the family bathroom has a bath.

Children: cushions to add to the dining chairs, DVDs, board and garden family games, colouring pencils and sketch book, pool inflatables and noodles.

You should be aware there is only a partial hand rail on the stairs, and the pool is not fenced.
Yes, of course. Lisa, our manager, will be happy to liaise and arrange that with you directly. This consists of a linen / towel change, bathroom clean, beds remade, floors swept and mopped, bins emptied, light dusting. (Additional cost, payable locally).
No problem at all. Your villa keys will be waiting for you in the key safe. Just don't forget to bring the code that we send you. One tip is to have everyone enter it into their phones, just in case.

Lisa, our manager, will pop in on the morning after arrival to introduce herself, check that all is well and answer any queries.
When your flight leaves late in the day, we will try to offer a late checkout, although this depends on our next arrivals and our housekeeper's schedule.

If we have same day arrivals, a late checkout will not be possible, as we need to allow time for the changeover.

For guests without a hire car we can offer luggage storage to give you the freedom to visit the beach and restaurants without worry. That way you'll enjoy your holiday to the max. We also give tips on where you can freshen up and change before your journey home.
With an average of 3300-3500 sunshine hours on 326 sunny days per year, Cyprus enjoys the warmest climate of all the Mediterranean EU countries. Temperatures tend to be around 5-10ºC hotter than the UK year round. There is very little rain between May and mid October.

Monthly average air temps: Mar 21ºC | Apr 24ºC | May 25ºC | Jun 29ºC | Jul 31ºC | Aug 32ºC | Sep 29ºC | Oct 27ºC | Nov 23ºC

Monthly average sea temps: Mar 17ºC | Apr 20ºC | May 22ºC | Jun 24ºC | Jul 26ºC | Aug 27ºC | Sep 27ºC | Oct 25ºC | Nov 22ºC

If you are visiting in spring or autumn, we suggest bringing a few warmer items for the evenings as it can get a little chilly after sunset.
Please either contact us, or our local manager, Lisa.

If it's a problem with the villa, we will try to resolve it as soon as possible during your stay, so that you are inconvenienced as little as possible. Even if this is something that doesn't bother you too much, please tell us straight away to enable us to organise a fix for the next guests. Waiting until you get home before telling us doesn't give us the chance to put it right for you.

For medical matters, we have advice on the guest-only section of the website, also in the printed villa handbook.

Please don't worry about the odd plate or glass - we have a stock of spares. If it's something more significant, we ask that you let us know before the changeover, so that we can organise a replacement.

In the worst case scenario - for example a disaster where you were unable to stay in the villa - we have specialist insurance which would cover alternative accommodation.
Sorry, no. We are really strict about our no smoking policy.
The main supermarket in Pissouri village - Papantoniou - has a huge range of 'free-from' products including gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, low salt...

More detail on our blog: special diets in Cyprus
Sport that is broadcast on UK free-to-view channels can be viewed in the villa.

For sociable viewing, there are two friendly bars a 3-minute walk from the villa in Pissouri Bay with multiple screens showing a wide variety of TV sports... football, formula one, rugby, cricket, tennis, moto gp, etc.
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