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 that way will depend on how fast the area develops.

Stack 1 was the original name given to the site, because this was GN Hassapis’s first development at Pyla. Hassapis is one of the most respected developers in this part of Cyprus and anyone looking to buy property in Cyprus can rest assured that if they buy property in a Hassapis development they are dealing with a company in good faith and the quality of the construction is assured. .

Since the construction of Pyla 1, Pyla Palms has been built nearby and a third site is being built next to this complex by the name of Pyla Gardens (Phase I) and a further complex is planned on the adjacent parcel/field which is likely to be Pyla Gardens. (stage II). Around the outskirts of the old village of Pyla, there are building plots set aside for new developments where villas and apartments have been or are being built. Larnaca and its surroundings is a prime hotspot in Cyprus for property purchase 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 these plans have been approved but when will construction start; 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. It will most likely 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 holiday rental have been furnished to a high standard according to the taste of the owners and travel companies. The water supply in Pyla is very good and remains open most of the time, while other regions of Cyprus suffer from prolonged interruptions in water supply.

Pyla Village Resort has been built with disabled people in mind and wheelchairs can easily move around the site and all apartments have lifts. The poolside bathroom is also designed for wheelchair access. Two years have passed and the complex still looks good, the grounds are managed and generally kept clean and tidy and watered by a sprinkler system. Unfortunately, some of the original tall palm trees 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 army lookout 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 taking pictures is not allowed. A UN official told me that the villagers don’t like to have their pictures taken. Since Pyla Village Resort is in the Buffer Zone, this means that, strictly speaking, residents should not take photos 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 drive to Pyla Village Resort from the 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 reside together in Pyla Village and tolerate each other. The division is still evident when you notice that some buildings have Turkish writing. 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 might not be located in the prettiest part of Cyprus; for that you need 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 you are not allowed to take your rental car there.

The Paphos region has been highly developed and property prices are much higher in that part of the island. Pyla is situated about 15 kilometers east of Larnaca with easy access to the motorway network which will quickly take you to other areas of Cyprus. Ayia Napa, on the eastern side of the island, is only a 20-minute drive away and easily accessible if you want to go there for the nightlife. Nicosia is a 40-minute drive away and Limassol an hour away. Paphos is approximately 2 hours drive.

Larnaca Airport: Pyla Village is only 15-20 minutes from Larnaca airport when taking the motorway route. The airport has been expanded and a new terminal building has been opened that has more than double 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 enlarged marina and the ugly oil terminals relocated. When all this will happen, who knows, but at least there are plans.

Driving in Cyprus: Cyprus is a popular destination for the British. It’s good for Brits and those from other countries who drive on the left; because in Cyprus traffic drives on the left. The road signs are the same as you see all over Europe, but what makes driving a bit difficult is that the signs are in Greek. Not being able to read Greek makes it much more difficult for me to navigate. UK drivers will find driving in Cyprus relatively straightforward. You should be careful 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 pass an ITV inspection every two years; another reason that makes Cyprus a relatively low priced country to live in, especially compared to the UK.

Recovery signs: The entire world has suffered to some extent from the economic downturn. Signs now show that a recovery is on the way. This means that Cyprus should once again see an increase in tourism. It has been particularly difficult for the British because the pound sterling has lost value against the euro and has made Cyprus much more expensive for British tourists. 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 stop 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 your belongings being stolen, you should still take precautions and not leave valuables in plain 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 from you.

For more information on Pyla Village Resort, please visit the link: http://www.pylavillageresort.com