About Cyprus
An island of legends that basks year-round in the light of the warm Mediterranean sun. A storied past 10,000 years long has seen civilizations come and go and the likes of everyone from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra stake their claim here – but then, people do tend to get possessive when faced with such beauty. Aphrodite made her home in Cyprus, and travellers throughout antiquity came here just to pay her tribute.
Today, Cyprus is a modern country that effortlessly marries European culture with ancient enchantment. Here you will discover a compact world of alluring beaches and fragrant mountain peaks, vineyards studded with olive trees and ancient ruins that stir the imagination, citrus groves and old stone villages where sweet wine flows as freely as conversations at the local café. A carefree place where a sense of timelessness is magnified by the kindness of its people.
Languages
Greek and Turkish are the official languages. English is widely spoken. French and German are also spoken within the tourism Industry.
Time, Weather, Clothing and Sports
Cyprus is at +2 hours difference to GMT, and the daylight time is 6:20 - 16:45 in November. The weather is comfortably sunny and warm in November, around 20oC (70 F). Bring a light jacket, comfortable walking shoes and your swimsuit. A variety of water sports are practiced on the hotel beach, and equipment rental is available weather permitting. Aside from the beach, the hotel has outdoor and indoor swimming pools, tennis court etc, while a choice of golf courts is available nearby. There are wonderful hiking trails on Mount Troodos – bring your boots and ask for a map at the reception desk.
Currency and Store Hours
The local currency is the Cyprus Pound (CYP). The exchange rate is 1 CYP (Cyprus Pound) = € 1.72 (Euro) = $ 2.25 (USD) = 230 JPY = 2,353 KRW as of January 2005. Currency exchange is available at the airports, the hotel reception and nearby banks. Taxi drivers often accept Euros or US Dollars for the ride. Store hours are Mon, Tue, Thu : up to 19:00 hrs; Wednesday : up to 14:00 hrs; Friday : up to 20:00 hrs; Saturday : up to 15:00 hrs. Except for convenience stores and restaurants, stores are closed on Sundays.
Value Added Tax (VAT) and Tipping
Restaurants (with the exception of alcoholic beverages - 15%), and hotel accommodation are taxable at the rate of 5%. Items of necessity such as basic foodstuffs, medical products, children’s clothing and footwear, books, magazines, newspapers, airfares bear 0% VAT. Bank services, medical and dental services, the sale of immovable property etc., are exempted from any VAT charge. Prices displayed for standard rated items should be VAT inclusive.
Because of the 10% service charge levied in hotels and restaurants, a tip is not obligatory, but small change is always welcome. Taxi-drivers, porters, hairdressers etc., always appreciate a small tip.
Power and Telecommunications
The local power supply is 220V/50Hz, with British-style outlets. Telephone and modem jacks are also British-like and an adaptor is needed. Outlet and jack adaptors are available at the hotel reception, and universal adaptor kits are also on sale at electronics stores worldwide. Wireless communications are carried on the GSM standard, and the local service provider is the Cyprus Telecommunication Authority (CYTA), with the lowest telephone rates in Europe.
Driving
Driving, as in most former UK possessions, is on the left of the street using right-wheeled vehicles. Both gasoline and petroleum (diesel) fuels are available at gas stations. The price of gas is about 0.44 CYP/liter for standard gasoline, 0.37CYP/liter for diesel. The highway network between major cities is modern, while roads inside old cities and on the mountains tend to be narrow and tortuous. Roundabouts (rotaries) abound at intersections – drivers inside the roundabout have the right of way. Driving maps are available at the reception desk.
Food
One of the chief attractions to the island, the Cyprus cuisine boasts a medley of European and Eastern tastes, with a distinctive local, light, fragrant and healthy flavour. Cyprus specialties include an assortment of pinewood-charbroiled meats and Mediterranean fish slowly cooked in Cyprus outdoor ovens, tasty local vegetables and fresh salads with sweet smelling herbs. There are unique varieties of Cyprus breads, cheese and dairies, as well as local fruits and an endless variety of tempting pastry and desserts. Most ethnic varieties and international chains of restaurants are also available at walking distance from the hotel.
Passports and Visas
Passports are normally required of international visitors. Citizens of the European Union countries, as well as of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, may enter Cyprus with their national identity card provided there is a photo.
No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days for all bona fide tourists nationals of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holy See (State of Vatican), Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela. Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China: Hong Kong S.A.R., Macao S.A.R. See http://www.cyprustourism.org/ for more information on customs etc.
Tourism and Shopping
A paradise for tourists of all tastes, Cyprus has been at the crossroads and a welcoming host for numerous visitors for over 10 millenia. Locally produced items, which are popular to visitors, include leather goods, woven goods, (curtains and tablecloths), ceramics, copperware, silverware (especially filigree), baskets and the famous traditional hand-made Lefkaritika lace. These can be purchased from the many souvenir shops found throughout the island and the Cyprus Handicraft Centres. Cyprus wines and spirits, which have been famous for centuries, are also high on visitors’ shopping lists and can be purchased from supermarkets or grocery shops. Shoes, shirts, imported textiles and spectacles are good value for money. In most of the tourist areas, both souvenir shops and supermarkets remain open until late in the evenings, and all day on Sunday.
Please find additional information for your interests at: http://www.cyprustourism.org/