Poll Has Cyprus As Safe Destination For Family Vacations

With some vacation areas such as Egypt and Tunisia having civil unrest recently, many families are putting safety ahead of their wallets when it comes to priorities.

And in a recent poll of British holidaymakers the Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been voted as one of the safest destinations for a family holiday.

Reporting on the poll findings internet site MSN commented about why the island would be popular and safe for UK tourists 'A British colony until 1960, widespread use of English has made this Mediterranean island very popular with British holidaymakers. Familiar customs like driving on the left make driving more appealing too. Cyprus received just under a million visitors from the UK last year - which made up almost half its annual tourist traffic.'

Adding 'Sunseekers love Cyprus' beaches, while explorers nose around Paphos' mosaics and Nicosia's old walled city. Inland, the Troodos mountains have pretty walking and cycling trails, and traditional villages like Lefkara are famous for lacemaking traditions.' Add to this mix the number of good hotels in Cyprus, it's no surprise perhaps that the island made the top three safest destinations in the poll.

The flight time to Cyprus from London for UK holidaymakers is just under four hours, and well known budget carrier easyJet provides flights there as do some of the tour operators, and many of the regional airports have flights to Cyprus also.

Given that the island is divided when you look at a political map of Cyprus with Turkey illegally occupying some of the north, the fact that it is regarded as one of the safest destinations for a holiday is testament to the warm welcome locals give to visitors, but with the UK having intervened to support the Cypriots in the 1970's and having troop bases there perhaps it contributes to the feeling of safety rather than detracting from it, whatever a Cyprus map might show.

Winning the poll was Spain, with MSN observing:

'About 15 million British tourists visit Spain each year,' says Carmen Hernández Gómez from the Spanish Tourist Board. 'They know it really well - most have been coming for decades and nine in 10 have been before, so they feel at home. Hospitals and airports are modern and it's just two hours away from Britain.' With flights to Cyprus taking nearly four hours, it begs the question as to how many British tourists would be visiting the island if Cyprus flights only took two hours.

For those taking holidays in Cyprus and who haven't visited before, what can they expect to find when they visit later this year?

For those who like the Mediterranean and the beach there are some good blue flag ones to choose from, including Nissi Beach which is well known among locals not only great for swimming and relaxing, but also for water sports including are windsurfing, pedal boating and water skiing. Another one which is good for families is Ladies Mile Beach, close to Limassol, an area popular for those who like villa holidays in Cyprus.

Due largely to her geographical position, Cyprus has one of the most intriguing pasts of the Mediterranean islands and makes a fascinating trip for those interested in history. The past is in many ways still very evident in the architect and sites. The historic intermingling of Egyptians and Byzantine cultures provides a unique mix hard to find anywhere else. Signs and relics of the various conquerors who set foot in Cyprus at one time or another still remain today.

Not bad for an island that shows safe doesn't have to mean dull.