Paphos Life

Does anyone know if they have reopened yet?

They know. Give them a call: 26633269

Pete

No

Imogens in Kathikas is a very nice Taverna (when open). But there are others up there you can try as well!!

Has anyone on here tried the 'Last Castle', up on a side dead-end side track on the left, as you venture into the Avakas Gorge track? Safe to do in a normal 2WD saloon hire car, I've done it loadsa times. On the way out, down the path back to the car park, the Gorge is on your right. Smashing views, photo opportunities, and, in the right time of year, help yourself to plump hot green chillies growing there...

The seeds from these grow quite nicely in YOUR garden next year, if you just treat them as Tomatoes!

Yia Mass! AL

Imogens opened last Saturday

Neil

PaphosAL, please correct me if I am wrong but does taking a hire car 'off road' (which you would do if going to The Last Castle / Viklari) not invalidate your insurance?

Shogun wrote: ↑Thu Mar 30, 2017 6:49 am PaphosAL, please correct me if I am wrong but does taking a hire car 'off road' (which you would do if going to The Last Castle / Viklari) not invalidate your insurance?

Correct

Bizarrely, even 4x4s have that rider attached, tucked away in the small print.

Do the contracts have a definition of what off-road means? Many off-roads i.e. non-tarmac paths, have an official road number here. I was wondering whether some of these off-roads are legally roads for these contracts.

Pete

One contract I had to study carefully had a particular dislike for gravel.

Sorry, but I cannot equate driving on a loose-suface gravel, earth, or concrete track as being any way remotely like being 'off road'. If that were the case, how on earth does the owner of the 'Last Castle' Taberna in the Avakas Gorge (West dead end uphill) get up and down with his daily kitchen and BBQ supplies, may I politely ask?

Throughout ROC, there are thousands of insured trucks and cars using such tracks! I think 'Off Road' means exactly what it says in Insurance terms, surely? Like when my friends and I decicided to abort our 2 jeep safari to Cape Arnoutis in Oct 2003 (as mentioned in Dom's 'Far side of the Akamas' recently)

That's definately 'off road' - as Dominic also discovered, LOL!

Cheers- AL

Footnote: Many roads in Sweden are gravel, to make them driveable in the hard Scandinavian Winter. It's why SAAB (RIP) designed all their brilliant cars with all the brake lines etc INSIDE the car and NOT underneath, as is usual. Their vehicles had a totally clean underbody.

Tis a shame that all cars made these days don't follow the same SAAB design philophosy...

Cheers- AL

PaphosAL wrote: ↑Thu Mar 30, 2017 6:40 pm Sorry, but I cannot equate driving on a loose-suface gravel, earth, or concrete track as being any way remotely like being 'off road'. If that were the case, how on earth does the owner of the 'Last Castle' Taberna in the Avakas Gorge (West dead end uphill) get up and down with his daily kitchen and BBQ supplies, may I politely ask?

Throughout ROC, there are thousands of insured trucks and cars using such tracks! I think 'Off Road' means exactly what it says in Insurance terms, surely? Like when my friends and I decicided to abort our 2 jeep safari to Cape Arnoutis in Oct 2003 (as mentioned in Dom's 'Far side of the Akamas' recently)

That's definately 'off road' - as Dominic also discovered, LOL!

Cheers- AL

You can think what you like, I am just saying what was written in the small print. In reality, the only time we have ever had an issue is when we've used a bargain basement car rental service. Those outfits seem to rely on excess fees to get their money. They try and sting you for everything.

My number one tip is to return the car in good time. If you have a flight booked at 3PM, return the car at midday. Then, when they start arguing, hold your ground. You have time to kill anyway. Sooner or later, another bus load of new arrivals will turn up, and the car rental firm definitely won't want to be seen arguing with you, so they will relent and you will be on your way.

Better yet, stick to the reputable firms. They cost a bit more, but won't try and screw you.

I just found the whole concept of renting out a 4x4 with a clause saying don't go off road a bit of a farce.

Fully agree, Dominic! But some of the reputable firms, like George Nestoros and his good wife Kula running Easy Rent A Car on the side of the Limnaria Centre, opposite Alexander the Great hotel, are far CHEAPER for recommended members, and certainly don't have such 'off road' clauses in their 4x4 rentals! To do so would make a mockery of renting a 4x4 to start with!

Our doubts were largely concerned with that if we did slowly venture over that awful sharp rocky track and suffered a puncture, then how long would it take for poor George to get rescue up there to us?

Cheers- AL

Oh you are right about George. We've had a car from him and it was great, and cheap.