We stayed in several amazing hotels in Cyprus but George's Villa was an unending pleasure and a non-stop surprise. His email message on the morning of our arrival was reassuring. George is, if not eccentric, at least an individualist. He has a huge number of solar panels, putting power on and off the grid, and chickens to provide breakfast eggs.
We had expected it to be good because it had rating of over nine out of ten on booking.com. We were a little apprehensive when we turned off the motorway, though narrow lanes across a field, under graffiti-covered pillars of the motorway, twisting turns around more fields, along a narrower and narrower road, past a derelict building, up to the a remote wall with barbed wire on top and a high gate.
However, it was a relief when the gate swung open and a beaming little man raced forward to greet us. Followed by his two dogs and several cute cats. How many cats?
They have about twenty cats - 'I've lost count!' grins George. Two docile dogs.
We parked beside his solar panels. At my husband's request, George gave us a guided tour of the panels and told us how they work and how he sometimes takes power from the national grid and sometimes passes power back to the grid.
A cage of ducklings. Swallows' nests. Arbors of grapes.
The bedroom was up an outside wooden staircase. He helped us carry up our suitcases. His Vietnamese wife, Hana, came running to help us.
Beautiful Bedroom
Bedroom in George's Villa. Photo by Angela Lansbury.The big bedroom has a big bed. More than twenty three pin sockets. Two phone adapter slots. A Tiffany style bedside lamp. Loads of hangers. 34 handles to drawers or cupboards to wardrobes.
The kitchenette area with full size, double door, working cold fridge.
The large glass top desk, big enough for two of us, had a black world map on the top (actually stuck on the underside where it cannot get damaged and showing through the glass).
Best Bathroom
Angela Lansbury in the bathroom beside the spa bath in George's Villa. Photo by Trevor Sharot.When using the Jacuzzi bath allow fifteen or twenty minutes to fill it. You must cover the outlets with water. The top jets send water arching up, so you should fill the bath with water higher than the water jet.
A glass of fresh orange juice was presented to us on arrival.
Hana (think of Hannah) brings a breakfast tray at only 5 euros per person extra, well worth it, for the food and fun. The room had a toaster. Anything missing - butter. No coffee maker, but a kettle and Nescafe. I should have saved the coffee capsules from our one expensive night, the expensive luxurious hotel Indigo in Larnaka, three times the price of George's, and decanted the coffee grounds.
Hana is a nurturer. She is quick to understand complicated questions when you ask and point.
Surprises? Search for the toilet control behind you to flush the toilet and you will set off the single water jet in your behind.
Shower
The shower has six working body level light sprays, activated when you turn one of the knobs. (Another knob is on off for the water shower from the hand held shower fixed on a slider.
I didn't find out what operated the overhead shower. Three kinds of shower in one shower is one up on the two in the other hotels we visited. I read on Tripadvisor that the radio controls worked a few years back. I did not get them working but didn't spend time trying them out.
Noise and Windows
The noise from the motorway is heard on the terrace, but cannot be heard in the bedroom when the shutters are shut.
Insect Netting
The windows are shielded from insects with metal netting - another thoughtful touch missing from every other hotel we had visited.
We though George's villa was a bargain. (In the photo of me beside the spa bath, I am wearing another bargain, a butterfly pattern top bought in Nicosia for three euros. See me in more clothes on my other blog dressofthedayangela.cblogspot.com)
If you google George's Villa you will find that there are several George's Villas around the world. The one which I visited and recommend is the one in Perakhorio, Cyprus.
Useful Websites
https://www.booking.com/hotel/cy/george-39-s-villa-perakhorio.en-gb.html
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g190383-d11788132-Reviews-George_s_Villa-Nicosia_Nicosia_District.html
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