T - Akamas Villas

The LUXURY travel guide
The following feature was first published in The Luxury Travel
Guide - Europe Edition 2013, in which Martin Maynard &
Akamas Villas acted as the experts on visiting Cyprus.
To view the Full guide please click here
European Edition
Cyprus
Polis
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Martin Maynard
Owner,
Akamas Villas
artin Maynard is a British entrepreneur and businessman. Currently living in Cyprus, Martin also has a main residence in London.
His interests include travel, photography, sport, networking (personal
and business) and creating and building businesses. Martin worked in
the financial services industry since the age of 16 and set up his own
FS business (Mortgage Next) in 1996, which he subsequently sold in
2004.
He set up Akamas Villas in December 2009, marketing his own villa and
a handful of similar, luxury properties. The portfolio now has more than
30 villas, all located in the Akamas region of Cyprus. Martin aspires
to create a balanced life / work lifestyle in Cyprus, maintaining a very
active business interest. He looks to establish Akamas Villas as the most
respected and professional luxury Villa Company in the region.
Expert Bio
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Polis is rooted with mythical history which dates back 3000 years; it was built on the
ancient cities of Marion-Arsinoe. According to legend, Aphrodite used to bathe in the
crystal clear waters of the Bay of polis, surrounded by picturesque landscape and aromatic, sweet smelling wild flowers – it is here where she met Adonis while he was hunting in
the Akamas forest and fell in love with the God of beauty and desire. The town itself is
centred around a central plaza – Polis Square, where traditional taverns can be found
and due to its extensive past over the preceding 20 years many artefacts have been
unearthed including statues, jewellery and decorated pottery which are displayed in the
local museum.
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yprus has been a popular destination for many years the golden sands and Mediterranean
climate attracts tourists in their numbers, however a relatively unknown, unspoilt region of
Cyprus exists today centring around the beautiful Akamas peninsula – the enthralling towns
and villages such as Paphos, Polis and Latchi are real treats to behold. They are chivalrous
areas which are plush with history and enwrapped in mythology. It is time to get off-the-beaten path
and discover the untouched beauty of the real Cyprus.
olis – meaning ‘town’ in Greek, is situated in the north west of Cyprus. Lying at the
centre of Chrysochous Bay looking towards the Akamas Peninsula – a truly unspoilt
part of Cyprus with vast landscapes of rocky promontories, rugged forests, lush
meadows, sleepy monasteries and quiet beaches comprise the western region of
the island. It portrays a genuine and authentic image of Cyprus with the area being dotted with citrus groves and the beautiful turquoise waters of Chrysochous bay.
Latchi
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he idyllic Latchi is a modest, traditional Greek-Cypriot fishing village, it has grown
considerably over the years, but it has lost none of its unique charm. Stretching three
kilometres along the North West coast of Cyprus right on the edge of the beautiful
Akamas National Park, making it a superb base for exploration. The village today
combines being a bustling, working fishing harbour and a popular – and exceptionally
quiet, peaceful and tranquil holiday destination. Hiring a boat when you visit Latchi is a
must for those searching for rapture, an overwhelming trip along the Akamas coastline, taking in divine bays such as the Blue Lagoon is simply breath taking.
atchi is historically well endowed but there is also a dearth of leisure activities for you
to get stuck in to, particularly water sports. The area is perfect as it has wondrously
clean seas and there are a wide variety of activities to enjoy including sailing, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, jet-skiing and much more. Chartered boats with a skipper and hostess service can also be booked for that special occasion or treat.
All water sports are well catered for in Latchi, with the professionally run ‘Latchi Watersports
Centre’ offering state-of-the art equipment and expert instruction for sailing all the way
through to banana boat rides. The coastline off the Akamas is widely regarded as the
most exciting diving area on the island, with sites like St.George’s Island, The Blue Lagoon,
Aphrodite’s Reef and the Garden of Eden - there are virtually no tides and currents, and
the sea is comfortably warm all year. The wind conditions in the area make it perfect for
sailing, typically in the afternoons, with a prevailing west wind and whether you have the
need for speed or simply want to explore the luxurious coastal scenery, Latchi offers it all.
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Latchi is well known for its fresh fish and in the past it served as a small port for shipping
carobs, the old stone carob warehouses have now been converted into high standard,
excellent seafood restaurants, olives are also grown in the region providing quality local
olive oil and fresh olives. The name Latchi derives from the old Greek word ‘Lakki’ meaning water hole or well, many years ago; local farmers would bring their livestock down from
the surrounding hills en route to the market and stop for coffee at Latchi, where several
‘Lakkis’ were available for their animals to get fresh water, hence how the town came to
be named!
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Water Sports
Paphos
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his coastal city is divided into two and linked by a road artery, the upper escarpment-top Ktíma and the lower waterside Káto Paphos - the location of most of the
resort facilities. Paphos’ is intrinsically linked with ancient Greece, particularly south of
the city, in Greco-Roman times Paphos was the islands capital and in Greek mythology the seaside of Petra tou Romiou is the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess
of love and beauty. Further links to the past can be found at The imposing Tombs of the
Kings - a bewildering sight to behold, although not actually being the holding of any royal
tombs, the site is the final resting place of around 100 Ptolemaic aristocrats from the third
century, it is an impressive large necropolis carved out of solid rock.
s home to the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, Cyprus is
the perfect place for a wedding. A sunny climate all year round, glorious scenery
and the Mediterranean outlook, the island is drenched in romantic scenery –
secluded bays amongst unspoilt countryside are the perfect backdrop for your
special day.
Whether you fancy a resplendent open air setting, a town hall, ancient church, a traditional Cypriot house wedding or a memorable marriage on the beach with a wonderful
reception on a yacht than Cyprus is the place for you. Akamas Villas offer a superb
choice of honeymoon and wedding guest villas so that your wedding in Cyprus is novel
and truly unforgettable. The home of romance and love, the island is the perfect way to
celebrate one of the most important days in your life as you and your loved one become
the modern day Aphrodite and Adonis!
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New Paphos in the west is the one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island
and comes with all the typical tourist traps such as a sandy beach and a great harbour.
Walking around the southern, archaeologically rich part of the island means you are surrounded by over two-millennia of history, in a setting of crisp blue sky with the wild fennel
and caper plants that grow on the edge of the Mediterranean transports you from the
tourist laden parts of the island to peaceful tranquillity.
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Honeymoons & Weddings
Entrenched with history and fantasy, Cyprus offers dreamy landscapes in a romantic and
idyllic setting. The areas amidst the Akamas Peninsula in particular offer a very real and
rustic image of Cyprus which remains delightfully unspoilt; exploring those transports you as
symbols of the past greet you at every turn.
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aunched in 2009, Akamas Villas is a luxury villa company based in West
Cyprus, currently offering 35 bespoke holiday-rental properties. All villas are
situated in and around the un-spoilt Akamas region, with its blend of quality
restaurants, activities and services, set amidst thriving local communities and
scenic, historic villages. Villas are situated in the dramatic and mountainous
conservation areas of Chrysochou Bay, Agarka, Polis, Latchi and Neo Chorio. Akamas Villas’s unique concierge-style team offers guests a villa holiday experience,
with as much, or as little interaction as desired. The unique Akamas Villas loyalty card offers
guest discounts of up to 20% at a luxury Spa Resort, local restaurants, supermarket and
shops, as well as boating and water sport activities.
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Akamas Villas
Akamas Villas boasts transparent pricing, with more affordable luxury villa rental prices than
other popular European destinations, which remain constant up until time of travel.
Akamas Villas has a strong social media presence, being the first company of its kind to
create an iPad app, which includes booking guide, villa images, list of services and local
partner discounts, as well as issuing travel offers and news through its Twitter and Facebook
accounts. This year Akamas Villas also launched its first-ever non-profit, annual ‘Recognition
Awards’– aimed to pay tribute to local restaurants and attractions.
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www.akamas-villas.com
+44 (0) 79 79 813 480
[email protected]
For more information contact us and a member of the
marketing team will be able to assist
T: +44 (0) 121 270 9468
F: +44 (0) 121 345 0834
E: [email protected] W: www. corporatelivewire.com
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