Spring Fling: How We Enjoyed a Week Touring Cyprus for Just £355 Each

zengenxplorers
Mar 30, 2025
3 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

If you think a week in Cyprus is out of reach for your budget, think again. We recently enjoyed an incredible getaway for two, all for under £400 each — and we’re sharing exactly how we did it.

With a bit of planning, a few smart decisions, and a willingness to keep things simple, it turned out to be one of our best-value trips yet.

Choosing Our Accommodation

We found a fantastic self-catering apartment in the Cypriot village of Xylophagou, just outside the popular resort of Ayia Napa.

For just £181 for the week, and with a glowing 9.6 review score, this little gem from Booking.com became our home away from home. The balcony overlooked open fields and a traditional Greek church — the perfect spot for morning coffee in the sunshine.

The apartment had all the essential cooking facilities, which meant we could prepare our own meals and keep food costs low. The washing machine was a game changer too. We packed light and did a mid-week wash, which made everything feel easier and more flexible. (And yes, we’re clearly at the age where watching laundry dry quickly in the sunshine counts as one of life’s small joys.)

Check out our apartment video tour by clicking on the photo below:

Flights to Paradise

We flew with easyJet from Gatwick to Larnaca. The flight was straightforward and affordable, and the timing worked perfectly for a week-long trip.

We booked at the end of January for travel in early March — not even that far in advance — and managed to grab return tickets for just £42 each. Not bad at all for a 4.5-hour flight to the sunshine.

Smart Parking Solutions

To save even more money, we used our Tesco Clubcard points to cover most of the airport parking cost at Gatwick.

These were points we’d built up through everyday shopping and fuel, so it felt great to put them towards travel. After the points were applied, the final parking cost came down to just £20.

Packing Light

To avoid expensive luggage fees, we both travelled with underseat bags only.

This simple strategy:

Saved us money on baggage fees
Made the airport experience much easier
Meant no waiting around at baggage reclaim

We packed just the essentials, which was more than enough for a week in warm weather.

Smooth Travels with Car Hire

After landing at Larnaca Airport, we picked up our rental car, which we’d pre-booked online.

We only needed a small runabout, so we chose a Hyundai i10 with full insurance from Autounion (booked via Booking.com). The total for the week was just £111.

At the rental desk, we were pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to a Citroën C1 with a retractable roof — perfect for cruising around in the sunshine.

Having a car gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace. We visited beaches, traditional villages, and historic sites without relying on tours or public transport.

The Total Cost Breakdown

Here’s what the trip cost per person:

Flights: £42
Accommodation: £90.50
Car hire: £55.50
Parking: £10
Total: £198 each (before food and extras)

Even after adding groceries, fuel, and a few treats along the way, the final cost came to just £355 each for the whole week.

Creating Unforgettable Experiences on a Budget

Our week in Cyprus proved that you don’t need a huge budget to enjoy a beautiful destination. With a bit of forward planning and some smart choices around flights, accommodation, and transport, we managed to explore the island comfortably without overspending.

If you’d like to see exactly how we did it, you can: