Aimed at the Irish investor market, both developments are in popular tourist spots with almost all-year long rental seasons. Cybarco are hoping to capture a significant proportion of the Irish market, claiming that with three million tourists coming to Cyrpus every year, and the government committed to long-term infrastructural development, the country offers good investment potential. The island will come into the Euro zone in 2008.

Winner of the Bentley International Property Awards for best Cyprus development, Amathusa Coastal Heights is an upmarket beach development comprising 248 villas, apartments and terraced houses. A stylish seafront scheme, 35 minutes drive from Larnaca International Airport, Amathusa is on a well landscaped setting incorporating walkways, common green areas and gardens.

Designed to reflect traditional Cypriot architecture, this is a low-rise scheme, and parking will be underground. Incorporated into the master-plan for the site is a eucalyptus grove to the south and dry riverbed to the east, ensuring that no further development can take place here.

On-site facilities include swimming pools, gym, sauna, Jacuzzi and children's play area, while buyers also get two-year free membership of the health and fitness club attached to the five-star Amathus Beach Hotel.

On offer in this phase are a mix of one and two-bed apartments, three-bed terraced houses and villas.

Apartments range in size from 74 to 113sq m (796 to 1216sq ft), while three-bed terraced houses and villas have a floor area of 155sq m (1,668sq ft). Apartments start from 160,000, while houses and villas are from 344,600.

In Paphos, a range of exclusive homes are selling at the 296m Aphrodite Hills golfing development. Divided into separate areas or 'villages', Aphrodite Hills is a very upmarket scheme where buyers can purchase a plot and build one of four types of large detached villa with private pool and gardens, or alternatively opt for a prebuilt apartment, townhouse or terraced villa.

But prices here are pretty steep, starting from 269,000 for a one-bed apartment, and detached villas costing up to 900,000.

Built and designed to fivestar standards, Aphrodite Hills has some very impressive features.

Set on a 578-acre site, only 8% of which can be developed, Aphrodite Hills is surrounded on three sides by protected forest, while the remaining side of the development overlooks the coast.

The 18-hole golf course has been designed by American course designer Cabell Robinson, and with a length of 6500m, it's the longest course on the whole island.

Other features include a clubhouse, bar, shopping facilities, a Cypriot-style tavern, health & fitness centre, tennis academy and five-star Intercontinental Hotel.

Apartments are located at Adonis Village, a complex comprising 71 units in twostorey buildings designed like a Cypriot village square with communal pool, and all units either have a private garden or terrace.

Access to Paphos until recently was either via London or via chartered seasonal flights, but from next May onwards, Excel Airways have announced direct flights from Dublin.

Further information on both off-plan developments from Cybarco 01-6694614.