WHO IS RADKA HOLEŠOVSKÁ?
Thank you for asking. I’m an enthusiastic Cyprus tour guide. I help travellers experience the best of Cyprus.
How did you get to Cyprus?
I was born in the Czech Republic, in Prague. When I was 23 years old and working as an assistant in a recruitment agency, I realised I didn’t want to sit in an office all day tapping away on a computer. I wanted to travel and I wanted to live differently. Mostly I wanted to live somewhere other than the Czech Republic. I went to the leading travel agency in my country and asked if they would like me to look after their tourist abroad. Preferably a sea destination. And imagine, they wanted me! All I had to do was get my driver’s license, take the Tour Guide course, complete a few more trainings from the travel agency and I was good to go.
What fascinated you so much about Cyprus that you stayed there for more than 20 years?
The sea, the palm trees, the fresh sea breeze, the freedom, the looser pace of life and the nice people. Cyprus welcomed me with open arms. Working in travel industry, interacting with tourists, driving around hotels, airport services, constantly being on the move, I enjoyed it all so much that I am a tour guide and travel rep (online or offline) all the time.
And how did you become a licensed tour guide for Cyprus?
When I was selling tours to travel agency clients, they kept asking me if I would guide them on the trip too. But I couldn’t do that without a license from the Cyprus Ministry of Tourism. And when the next run of the Guide School opened in 2010, I applied.
I had no idea how hard it would be. The school lasted almost 2 years, it was all in Greek and almost all my savings went into it. It was so hard! Later on, I got my license for guiding in English and Russian.
How many languages do you speak?
I have a state certificate in English, I speak German very well, almost perfect Russian and good Greek. I can also understand Cypriot dialect.
Did you marry a Cypriot?
That’s a loaded question! But I’ll tell you. Cypriot men are good, they can take care of their families and they respect their wives. Although there is an apparent patriarchy in Cyprus and men are the head of the family, the women are the imaginary neck that moves everything.
I have many friends who are married to Cypriots and they are happy. I, however, although I once dated a Cypriot, ended up with a different fate.
More than five years ago, an individual traveller from southern part of Czech Republic came to Cyprus and we fell in love. Since then I spend part of the year in Cyprus and part of the year in the beautiful South Bohemia, in České Budějovice. We go to Cyprus regularly and plan to move there soon with my Cypriot cat Mici. I found her in Cyprus in 2013 as a little meowing kitten in the bushes. She is a travelling cat. She flies back and forth on the plane with me.
What do you help travellers to Cyprus with?
▶ I will give you advice before your trip. What area of Cyprus to choose, recommend a hotel and advise and book a program and entertainment. This will save you a lot of time on (or before) your holiday because I will give you the best tips and advice that you won’t find in guidebooks. I can also book
excursions and activities for you straight away so you can just enjoy your holiday and not have to worry about anything.
▶ I can arrange a reliable rental car. With clear terms, no deposit, no credit card required and no hidden fees.
▶ I’ll take you on a private trip. When I’m in Cyprus. And when I’m not in Cyprus, I’ll recommend my fellow tour guide.
▶ I’ll arrange a snorkeling trip with a professional and nice guide. This is one of the best trips you can have in Cyprus. The guide, Jarda, will take you to an underwater sculpture museum and a bay where sea turtles can sometimes be seen.
▶ You can buy my online Cyprus Guide. It’s my masterpiece. I update it regularly for each new season and am constantly adding new places of interest and recommendations.
What do you like most about Cyprus?
Thank you for the interview.
It was a pleasure and I look forward to seeing you in Cyprus!
Radka Holešovská
Your guide to Cyprus
