SEMPATI
27 Aug – 5th Sept 2007

I will try and give a fair review, it will be long but hopefully useful.
Booked direct, email confirmation, rechecked details by email & fax before travel – all OK, as confirmed by Erkan Kilim the Manger.
Arrived .. using the Hotels pick up form Larnaca airport, and not a good start … sorry we do not have 2 rooms for you only 1 ! ,…… I showed them emails of confirmation, but told sorry no 2nd room … did we want to have a 2nd room in sister Hotel some Km away !
After threatening to walk away from booking in it’s entirety … they agreed to make 2 interconnecting rooms available the next day and put in a temp 3rd bed for first night, not ideal … but we took that solution.
The next night when we did get the room next door I asked if the extra bed in each room could be removed, as it took up so much room .. and as it prevented interconnecting door from opening … told ‘sorry ees not possible’ (sounds like Manuel response from Fawlty Towers)
Debate went on for a while … then I mentioned, I would move extra 2 beds out onto the rear patio area myself ‘ees possible’ … at which point they agreed and came and moved them straight away !
Once rooms were sorted – we were very happy with them, they were well cleaned daily .. included good free air-con.

Anyway the Hotel … first off the good points, it’s very clean (apart from pool – see comments), reasonably sized rooms, nice pool area, enough sun beds & umbrellas, although you need to reserve with a towel by 0800 if you want any choice.
It is a 3 – 4 star, certainly better than a basic 3 star.
Pool is actually a tad strange with a constant depth shallow pool, adjoined to a larger constant depth deep pool … and there is no wall between them, so you have a sheer drop from shallow to deep …. There is a rope to warn you, but still ‘strange’ … but certainly not inconvenient.
Water was Fresh water and warm … 30 degrees warm !
It would be nice if they cleaned around the pool daily – they don’t … discarded ice lolly sticks, and rubbish seen on first day were still there on our last day … they should be washing down daily !

Restaurant at hotel has a daily set menu (around 30Le) and an a’la carte menu.
Food was not bad, and price not too high.

In the main though we just had breakfast each day … they put on some cheese, meats, pretty poor packet fruit juices, eggs, yoghurt & cereals.
There is bread to make your own toast … but no marmalade or similar … noticed many ‘regulars’ had their own jar of Marmalade & Coffee.
The coffee supplied is a bowl of instant and it’s … well brown that is about all you can say about it.
All in all breakfast was OK … you could eat your fill, and was reasonable in quality – if a bit sparse on choice.
Lunch time snack menu was OK … various sandwiches, salads, pizza & burgers (fior those inclined) … honest basic food, and fairly priced.
They have a weekly ‘themed night’ …. We went to Klefitico night (this is a traditional baked lamb dish), and was the worst Klefitico we have ever had, simply just a piece of roast lamb on the bone (chunk of shoulder I had) … it just tasted as plain roast lamb, whereas true Kleftico is very flavoursome & very aromatic.
The following week they had a BBQ themed night … which my parents advised was much better.
There is entertainment on … a duo, and they were pretty good … right music, right volume.
The Hotel has a bar .. if the ex-pat English bar is your scene you will like it, wide screen football on all the time, pool table and loads of pictures of premier football teams on the walls .. certainly nothing at all in the way of traditional Cypriot style.

OK … the big issue, the location …. It is miles from anywhere !, almost nothing within walking distance … which means catching the Dolmush bus to get anywhere.
This is where the Hotel were useless…. Q. what time is last bus to Kyrenia … Ans. 6pm, … or maybe 9pm, or maybe 7pm …….. they simply had no idea.
As it happens the buses are about every 20 mins (depending on time of day) last one back from Kyrenia is 10pm … cheap and fixed fare … plus they stop wherever you want, just ask.

Asked 3 times about hiring a large 5 seater car … when they eventually came back with price, it was then too late as less than 3 days left !

There is no Hotel beach access … there is a rocky cove about 300m walk behind and to the right of the hotel (Dive School has their jetty there) … but not for the less than able bodied, and it is a climb over rocks to get out of the water.
Water though is clean & deep …. but what could be a nice area … is marred by being used as a tip by locals, rubbish & empty beer bottles & broken glass everywhere.
Assume this is a piece of land owned by a Greek … so not built on and not looked after ……. The dive school could do more to make it better, they use it everyday. (see later)

There is another Hotel behind the Semapti (Sandy Beach) that does have a beach (or created one, and you can pay to go there – sunbeds, umbrellas etc. It seemed empty … so assume it does not do well for guests.

Where to eat … if you want to walk there are only 3 within walking distance …. (that we found), used 2 of them … from Hotel, walk up to main road and opposite if Flippers (minimarket etc) … to left of that is a rough track … walk up this track (no lights at night) … and about 250m up the track there is a Taverna on the left … “ Asmali” good meze …. Seemed to be brining out dishes for ever, main menu is limited, but certainly what was there was good and very cheap …. It’s very much plastic chairs, and simple tables … but welcome was good as was food.
The other near by … at main road turn left … about 50m on left ‘Sveltos’ (sp ?) … simple, good food, again good welcome & great service …… very cheap. About 20 Le per head.

By taxi or Dolmush ….
‘Veni Vichi’ …. Truly superb Italian, about half way between Sempati & Kyrenia. The wild mushroom in Stilton Sauce was sublime. You are paying more … but still only about 40Le a head including drinks.
‘Oleander’ … same area as above … my wife loved the atmosphere there, live music, eating ouside amongst the trees … a massive menu, about 50% of it is Indian with the other 50% covering all of Europe … so loads of choice.
‘Saint Tropez’ … outstanding steak house, on the left about 2/3 of way to Kyrenia, this is air conditioned, lined table cloth, up market … tremendous welcome & service. Superb steaks (as well as plenty of other choices) ……. About 45Le per head.

In Kyrenia itself there are loads of places to eat, many on the waterfront by the castle … of course prices are higher than out of town.

We did not wander much more than that …. Because you would need a car, and you can’t hire less than 3 days at a time … and didn’t want o spend 3 days driving in 40 degree heat !
So can’t tell you much about other areas, only to say … you probably really do need a car the hotel is VERY remote, especially if you were there for 2 weeks – or you would become very bored.

The average clientele who use this Hotel are repeat guests one group had been there 8 times, the problem is most are coffin dodgers, the majority of guests are, or close to retirement. They have their regular chairs, regular sunbeds, staff even deliver them their pool towels by hand each morning.
Not really a hotel for families or those of younger outlook. Certainly nothing put on for kids in way of facilities or entertainment.

Now the reason we were there – Scuba Diving … attached to the Hotel is a PADI Dive Centre (Turtle Bay Divers) Diving, run by a husband wife pair of Scots, Caroline & Drew - who made you feel welcome, and were genuinely helpful .. not only on diving but answering questions on where to go, where to eat – that the Hotel were useless.
One of their relatives was there .. Roberta who was full of life, very pleasant, and great source of information.

My plan was to do 4 or 5 days of diving here (before going to South of Cyprus for some wreck diving) … however after the first couple of dives I reduced this to just 4 dives instead of 10.
All dives are via the centres 6m rib … and there is a walk across fields kitted up, and a pretty steep clamber down rocks to get to the jetty … they have helped by pouring some concrete over the rocks as a walkway and added some wooden steps … but still steep.
Although the setup is great for introduction diving and courses, the actual dives were not that good … and after day one when I did Zephyros Reef and in the afternoon Pete’s Reef …. The next day, was the same again.
To be fair I asked about something else and we did an early morning dive on another site … the reefs are rather drab, and there is not a huge amount of sea life (typical of Cyprus) … I know that they do see turtles, but not on my 4 dives. (they may do others at other times, but I did not want to repeat the same dives)
If you want to do a PADI course then it would be great, but dive sites are not brilliant.
If you have any specific questions about diving please feel free to drop me an email.



The biggest gripe that we had about the hotel … as did several other guests, was regarding the totally disorganized reception staff … ask them a question usual answer was that they did not know, and if you asked for something it became hard work.
The bill is also frustrating .. they just give you a figure … when you ask how for it to be broken down, into accommodation, food, etc. … they can’t do that … just shrug shoulders and say can’t be done.
If you ask for a printed copy so you can check it … can’t be done, or it needs the manager … who is never there when you ask a question.
Several guests found they were being charged for breakfast, when they had already paid B&B rate … when they can’t (or won’t ) explain bill it’s not easy to check.

I don’t think it’s deliberate, just pathetic organization … letting the Hotel down.


In conclusion …. Good rooms, good pool, good value, good PADI dive centre … just too far from any life, and more suited to older guests.
If we go to N. Cyprus again we would stay somewhere closer in towards Kyrenia.

Erkan and his staff work realy hard to make your stay a great one.Even through we only stayed 2 nights (we were staying in the south for three weeks) they could not do enough for us< great accomadation, food and entertainment, you won't go far wrong staying at this hotel. You can email the hotel direct and pay a cheque direct to a uk address, they will even arrange for a taxi to pick you up from either Larnaca or Paphos airports in the south this saves a stop over in mainland Turkey

Our family had a very enjoyable 2 weeks at the Hotel Sempati. Arrangements for hotel and travel were made after one call to Erkan Kilim. The hotel staff are friendly and relaxed which meant that the children (and parents) could relax too. Rooms and the hotel premises were very clean. Only minor hassle was that the facilities were stretched when the hotel was full.

I have just arrived back in the UK from North Cyprus and have had the most enjoyable 3 weeks holiday ever. This was made possible by the organisation and attention to detail by Erkan Kilim the owner of the Sempati Hotel in Lapta, North Cyprus. The hotel is a good quality 3 star and I have never experienced such incredible service for this standard of hotel before. Erkan booked the flight, hotel, taxi from airport and car rental. On top of that he was able to help us with places of interest to visit during our stay. The rooms were clean with a great view of the sea and the air conditioning was cold and welcoming during the heat wave. When we left the room the views of the mountains from the rear balcony were absolutely breathtaking. There was staff in abundance to help and provide the customary excellent service. The food was of good quality and an excellent choice at a very reasonable price. Amazingly, I didn't once have to get out of bed early to get a sunbed as there is a much laid back feel to the hotel. The swimming pool and grounds was spotless and only 60 second walk to the coastline. The chilled beer and a cool lounge was a welcoming relief to the warm weather. Sky sports were put on when requested although I am still in shock from England thrashing Wales in the rugby. Overall 5 star service at a 3 star price. Give Erkan a ring or an email and you'll be shocked at how little you will pay to see one of the little known gems in the world, Northern Cyprus. I highly recommend this hotel to people of all ages.
Ian Morgan