Cyprus

 

1. Rewind… for some information on Cyprus- since 1974, Cyprus has been divided by the so-called Green Line. Turkey essentially controls the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, while Greece calls most of the shots in the Republic of Cyprus. Most Cypriots in the Republic speak English and many road signs are in Greek and English.

2. The Cyprus Tourism Organization (CTO) has offices in the major towns of the republic.

3. Take medical insurance. Medical treatment is not free in Cyprus and hospital bills (and medical repatriation) can be very expensive.

4. Travel on a return ticket. Bring enough funds with you as bank transfers can take time.

5. In the Republic during summer, banks are open Monday to Friday from 8.15 am to 12.30 pm and on Monday afternoons from 3.15 to 4.45 pm; some large banks offer a tourist service other afternoons. In North Cyprus they are open from 8 am to noon and in winter from 2 to 4 pm also.

6. In both parts of the island a 10% service charge is sometimes added to a restaurant bill, but if not, offer a similar tip. Taxi drivers and hotel porters appreciate a small tip.

7. Bargaining in the markets is not usual.

8. Cyprus is cheaper to visit than most European countries and in North Cyprus costs are still lower.

9. Banks throughout Cyprus exchange cash or travelers cheques in all major currencies.

10. You can get a cash advance on Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, Eurocard and American Express at major banks; ATM's are plentiful.

11. You can make overseas calls from most from all telephone boxes, but they only accept phonecards bought from newsagents, some banks or the Republic's telephone company.

12. Check Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice before traveling.

13. Hiring a car, moped, boat or other vehicle? Do check beforehand: Is it road-or seaworthy? Wear a helmet (legal requirement) when on a moped and drive carefully - even a minor fall can ruin your holiday.

14. Remember you are a guest in the country and respect Cypriot law. Prison sentences have been imposed for crimes.

15. Too much sun - especially if mixed with alcohol - can result in dehydration and lead to health problems.

16. Enter next of kin details into the back of your passport.

17. You should be aware of strong seas and undertows. Always heed warning signs and swim only from approved beaches.

18. Cyprus has the lowest murder rate in Southern Europe (2.5 per 10,000 people).

 

The lifestyle here is easy going; the crime rate is low. All this makes Cyprus sound like a paradise, perhaps it would be, were it not for the long running dispute between the Greeks and the Turks resulting in the partition of the island.

Contacts-Cyprus

 

TIME ZONE

GMT +2 (GMT + 3 from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in September)

TELEPHONE SERVICES
Country Code: 357
IDD: Direct dialling is available
Outgoing Code: 00 EMERGENCY

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

All services - 199

LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION

Cyprus Tourism Organisation; PO Box 4535; 19 Limassol Avenue; Melkonian Building; Nicosia Cyprus Tel: (2) 337 715 Fax: (2) 334 696.

PASSPORT INFORMATION

Passports must be valid for 3 months after date of departure for visitors not requiring visas. Those requiring visas must have their passport valid for at least 6 months from the point of departure. Return ticket is required. Contact consulate before traveling.

VISA INFORMATION

VISAS required by all except: Nationals of Great Britain; Australia; Canada; USA; EU; Japan. Nationals of Commonwealth countries (except nationals of Bangladesh; Bermuda; Pakistan who do require visas. Nationals of Bahrain; Fiji; Iceland; Kuwait; Liechtenstein; Norway; Oman; Poland; Qatar; Romania; Russia; San Marino; Saudi Arabia; Switzerland; United Arab Emirates and Yugoslavia (Consult Embassy if passport as issued before the outbreak of civil war).

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Narcotics.

AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX

C(£) 7 payable in local currency.

RESTRICTED ENTRY

Passports stamped with 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'.

HEALTH MATTERS

Typhoid Malaria Yellow Fever Other Health Risks

FOOD AND DRINK

Water is considered drinkable; normal precautions should be observed with food.

CURRENCY

Cyprus Pound (C£) = 100 cents. Travelers cheques can be cashed in all banks; US dollars; Pound sterling and the Deutschemark are all accepted currencies. All major credit cards are accepted.
ATM availability: Approximately 200 locations.

MONEY WIRING SERVICES

MoneyGram: Available at all Avis Rent-a-Car locations. Western Union: Available.

CREDIT CARD EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Amex: +44 1273 696933
Diners Club: 357 2 446974
Cyprus Visa: (1) 410 581 9091

TRAVELERS CHEQUES EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Cyprus Thomas Cook: 080 91029 Cyprus

BANKING HOURS

Generally 0815 - 1230; in tourist areas 1530 -1730 (winter) and 1630 -1830 (summer).

COST OF LIVING

Slightly cheaper than Western Europe.

LANGUAGES

Mostly Greek. Turkish, English, German, and French are also spoken.

WEATHER

Mediterranean climate. Hot Dry Summers with mild winters. Rainfall is most likely during the winter.

RELIGIONS

Greek Orthodox and Muslim minorities.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

2000: Jan 01; 06. Mar 12; 25; Apr 01; 28- May 01; Jun 19; Aug 15; Oct 01; 28; Dec 25; 26.
2001: Jan: 01; 06; Feb 26; Mar 25; Apr 01; 13; 16; May 01; Jun 04; Aug 15; Oct 01; 28; Dec 25-26.

POST

Approximately 3 days to Europe. Poste Restante facilities are available in the main cities and resorts.

RADIO FREQUENCIES

BBC: 15.07 12.09 9.410 6.180 VOA: 11.90 9.700 9.530 6.060.

WOMEN IN SOCIETY

Traditional roles persist among the older generation. Around the capital city views are influenced by western culture. Usual precautions should be observed.

TRANSPORT

BUS: Services are cheap and efficient.
CAR HIRE: Widely available and considered to be the best way of seeing the island.