BEFORE FLIGHT TO CYPRUS

Check that you have all the necessary documents.

You must have with you:

a foreign passport valid for 3 months from the end of the trip;
round trip air ticket;
visa to visit the Republic of Cyprus;
tourist package (voucher);
insurance policy;
original power of attorney from both parents (for children traveling without parents) or original power of attorney from the second parent (for children traveling with one of the parents), photographs of children must be pasted into the passport of one of the parents starting from 0 years old, or the child must have his own travel document;
a veterinary certificate in the prescribed form, as well as a document with vaccination and microchipping marks if you are traveling with an animal.

Visa rules for tourists traveling to Cyprus, see the VISA section.

Attention! Before booking a tour, check with the travel agency manager about the rules for traveling abroad for minors, the procedure for submitting and a set of documents for children traveling with parents or accompanying persons.

AIR TRAVEL

Flights within the framework of the Mouzenidis Travel flight programs are carried out to the international airports of Larnaca and Paphos.

The itinerary indicates the airport and departure time (always local for each airport). You must arrive at the airport 3-3.5 hours before departure. The seat on the plane is indicated at check-in for the flight. Check-in for the flight ends 40 minutes before departure.

If you do not show up for check-in at the specified time, the airline has the right to dispose of your seat at its discretion. Keep your boarding pass until the end of your flight.

Read in advance the rules governing the transportation of passengers, baggage and hand luggage, and animals when flying to Cyprus. The rules can be found on the airline's websites.

After checking in for an international flight, you must go through customs, passport control, and security control.

In case of transportation of plants or animals, it is necessary to undergo phytocontrol or veterinary control.

CUSTOMS CONTROL WHEN FLIGHTING TO CYPRUS

Before preparing for departure, check with your manager about the rules for exporting goods and sums of money from the country of departure duty-free and importing goods upon return in accompanied and unaccompanied baggage (cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, food and other categories of goods).

If you do not have items and/or valuables that are subject to mandatory customs control, you may not fill out a customs declaration and go through the “Green Corridor” for registration. Otherwise, you must fill out a customs declaration, the forms of which are located in front of the customs line on tables or on special counters.

When filling out the form, do not forget to indicate the ENTIRE amount of foreign currency that you are bringing with you. Cash in the amount of 10,000 US dollars (or the equivalent in other currencies, including Russian rubles) is subject to MANDATORY customs declaration. A certificate from the bank regarding the purchase of currency is not required.

Tourists can import photo and video cameras, sports and camping equipment, as well as 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco, 1 liter of spirits, 0.75 liters of wine, 0.3 liters of perfume or eau de toilette into Cyprus without paying duties. .

The export of antiques from Cyprus is prohibited, and any attempt to violate the rules is punishable by law.

RULES FOR CARRYING LIQUIDS DURING AIR TRAFFIC

Liquids are allowed for transportation in hand luggage, the volume of each of which does not exceed 100 ml, and the total volume is 1 liter. Such liquids must be placed in a transparent plastic resealable bag, provided free of charge directly in the passenger screening area. Items containing liquid purchased in the Duty Free area will be packaged in sealed bags that cannot be opened until they arrive at their final destination.

CUSTOMS CONTROL ON ARRIVAL IN CYPRUS

You need to go through passport control and customs yourself. At passport control, present your passport with a Cyprus visa. Lack of an original visa may result in a tourist being refused permission to cross the border zone or board a flight.

It is recommended to carry cash with you at the rate of 500 euros per person per week. After passing through passport control and receiving your luggage, you will find yourself in the “customs area”, where random inspection of your luggage may be carried out.

MEETING IN CYPRUS

When leaving the customs area at Larnaca and Paphos airports, you will be met by representatives of the Mouzenidis Travel company. Comfortable transfer buses will take you to hotels on the island. At the resorts you will be met by company representatives who will help with accommodation, tell you about the offered excursion programs, and answer all your questions.

Attention! In case of any problem related to your stay(transfer, hotel accommodation, shortcomings in hotel service, excursion services, etc.), we ask you contact immediately with a representative of Mouzenidis Travel by phone numbers received from the guide.

BEFORE DEPARTURE FROM CYPRUS

Check that you have all the necessary documents. You must have your passport and air ticket with you.

Check in advance with a representative of the tour operator Mouzenidis Travel about the time of delivery to the hotel of transport that will take you to the airport. If you are late for the bus, the tour operator is not responsible for the expenses you incur (taxi fees, etc.)

On the day of departure, you should fold and pack all your things by the time specified by the tour operator representative, pay for additional services provided to you during your stay at the hotel (telephone calls, payment of restaurant bills, use of the minibar, etc.) and stay at the designated representative "Mouzenidis Travel" time in the hotel lobby.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

IN AN AEROPORT

Never lose track of your luggage at the airport. Your things should be in one place and as close to you as possible. Do not change large sums of money at the airport (you will not need them on the way to the hotel, and the exchange process may attract the attention of strangers).

IN THE HOTEL / AT THE RESORT

Do not allow non-hotel employees to take care of your luggage.

Keep documents, money and valuables, including airline tickets and passports, in a safe located in your room or at the hotel reception (this service may be provided for an additional fee).

The representative of the tour operator serving your hotel will offer you booklets in Russian containing information about the excursions offered, the schedule of breakfasts, lunches and dinners in the restaurant of your hotel, additional services that you can receive at the hotel, as well as other useful information.

Bills for telephone calls and other additional services provided to tourists (minibar in the room, drinks in bars, laundry services, etc.) are paid on the day of departure at the reception.

Each hotel has a check-out time, so on the day of departure you should vacate your rooms by this time and make payments for purchased additional services.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

ON EXCURSIONS

You can choose and order the excursion you like when booking a tour or on site from a representative of the Mouzenidis Travel company. Before each excursion, check the availability of documents for this particular excursion. Don't take more cash with you than you need for one day. Don't be late to board the bus at the start of the excursion. During the tour, during stops, arrive on time to the meeting point appointed by the guide. Do not leave money or valuables on the tour bus; the driver is not responsible for them. At the end of the excursion, do not forget your things on the bus.

Attention! The tour operator Mouzenidis Travel is not responsible if a tourist encounters problems with organizing an excursion purchased from other companies.

ON THE STREET

There is no need to carry personal documents with you - they will be replaced by a hotel card. We recommend that you always carry copies of your passport and insurance policy with you. If your credit cards are stolen or lost, block them immediately. On the street, try to avoid large crowds of people - a favorite place for pickpockets. When traveling on public transport, prepare money for travel in advance, without giving strangers the opportunity to remember the place where you keep your money and valuables. Do not take large amounts of money with you unless absolutely necessary and avoid storing money in hand bags. Carry cameras and video cameras only with a strap over your shoulder. When you go for a walk with your family or in a group, agree in advance on a meeting place in case you suddenly get lost. Do not buy jewelry or other valuables on the street. In bars and restaurants, do not leave bags on the floor or on the backs of seats.

AUTOMOBILE

Please note: in Cyprus you drive on the left!

If you decide to rent a car, follow the general rules:

never, even for a few minutes, leave a car with things unattended;
never get out of a car with the engine running, even if you only need to ask for directions;
always carry your car keys with you;
try to remove all valuable items (cameras, car radios, etc.) from sight when leaving the car in the parking lot;
do not leave documents in the car;
If, while driving along the highway, one of your companions asks you to stop, do not do so until you reach the “Service Area”.

CIRCUIT

Please note: in Cyprus, electrical sockets are used in the “British” format - with three holes. To charge phones, laptops and connect other compact devices that require electrical power, you will need an adapter. A travel adapter can be purchased locally. The mains voltage is 240 Volts, with the usual frequency of 50Hz, no additional transformers are required.

EMERGENCY HELP

In the event of an unpleasant incident (threat or actual attack, robbery, etc.) with you or other tourists, be sure to contact the nearest police station.

A single number for calling the police, firefighters or ambulance (Police / Fire Service) is 199 or 112.

If you lose your passport You must report the incident to the police, where an appropriate report must be drawn up, one copy of which will be given to you. You will need the protocol in order to obtain a return certificate – a document replacing a passport. You need to contact the Embassy (Consulate) of your country in Cyprus:

Consular Section of the Russian Embassy: tel. +357 22-776832, fax +357 22-783030

Consular Section of the Ukrainian Embassy: tel. +357 22-464383, fax + 357 22-464381

Consul of Kazakhstan:+357 25-351888

You can contact the Consulate in case of emergencies or other circumstances that threaten the safety of your life and health, as well as in cases of danger of harm to your property.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

Each tourist traveling to Cyprus is insured for the amount of 30,000 euros. Be sure to read the insurance conditions before your trip. If an insured event occurs, you must contact representatives of the tour operator Mouzenidis Travel at the resort, who will call a doctor. If you consult a doctor on your own, the insurance company does not guarantee payment of compensation for the insured event.

10 things you shouldn't do in Cyprus

12/06/2018

Perhaps this summer you will go on holiday to Cyprus. Perhaps even for the first time. And even if not for the first time, our advice may be useful to you. We have collected 10 things that you cannot do in Cyprus: it will not be the best waste of time and money. And each, of course, has an alternative. So, once in Cyprus, you should not:

1. Buy halloumi cheese in hotel supermarkets. And in general in supermarkets in tourist areas. It is quite expensive there and often at the same time cheap - in the sense that in order to reduce the cost, cow's milk is added to halloumi, while the real one is made only from goat and sheep's milk. In hotels, by the way, they often fry it incorrectly, in thin slices - so it seems that the portion is larger. In fact, the correct thickness is about a centimeter. For real halloumi, you can go, for example, to a donkey farm in the vicinity of Ayia Napa. No, that doesn't mean they add donkey milk to it, it's just a fun tourist attraction with a "village" theme. The cross-country donkey ride included in the program at first glance smacks of terry pop, but in fact it impresses even those who have always been indifferent to “riding a horse.”
  Halloumi can be fried either in a frying pan or on a grill. Delivering cheese packed in film - no problem
2. Drive a rental car to Turtle Beach. Lara Beach is a place worth visiting. It is not a fact that you will see sea turtles that lay eggs there, but the place itself is quiet, deserted and surprisingly clean even by the standards of Cyprus, where the cleanliness of the beaches is one of the main advantages for vacationers. However, if you go there in a rental car, then, firstly, you will drive for a very long time. Secondly, there is a risk of breaking the road tires on sharp stones on the road (and this is an unpaved road that runs mainly on rocky soil).
  On the beach, you will most likely only see fences around turtle nests. Large turtles come to lay eggs only in July and only at night, and small turtles, as you understand, do not hatch every day either, but after hatching, they immediately crawl to the sea and swim away.
  
  Thirdly, although there is no outright off-road in the Russian sense (swamp), it is easy to put a bumper, threshold or muffler of a small car on uneven roads, for which you will then have to pay. An alternative is the so-called jeep safari. Of course, the safari has the same name, but riding on a bench in the trunk of a Defender is somehow more colorful. The main thing, if there is more than one jeep in your group, is to sit in the first jeep, because in the second you will swallow dust. By the way, choose trips that include a stop in the Avakas gorge along the way: these are natural beauties indescribable in the form of text, photos or videos (and there are no crowds of tourists there).
  
  We specially posted the ugliest photo from the gorge so that you can go and see everything with your own eyes.
3. Check into a hotel on the coast of Ayia Napa. It will always be crowded here in the worst sense of the word: crowds of vacationers will literally be lying under your windows, music will be constantly playing from beach bars, and the people at sea will be like in Simeiz.
  Ayia Anapa
  
  Have you rented a room with a private terrace on the seafront in Ayia Napa? Well done, your territory is limited to a paved area
  
  For a quiet, relaxing holiday, it is better to go to Paphos (we were at the Coral Beach Hotel and Resort: a wonderful place, although a little old-fashioned), and if you are in the eastern part of the island, then it makes sense to stay away from the sea.
  
  Coral Beach in Paphos is quiet and peaceful. This is where you need to escape the noisy crowds
  
  After all, you don’t run back and forth between the sea and your room, but come for a few hours. If so, you can get to the hotel in a few minutes using a free shuttle. And the beaches that such shuttles go to are not so crowded. An example of a good hotel of this type is St. Elias Resort, here you will live in small houses instead of multi-storey buildings, there are swimming pools with slides and, most importantly, Ultra All Inclusive, dear to the Russian heart, which is generally rare for Cyprus. Surprisingly, there are few Russians in the hotel - mostly English.
  
  St. Elias Resort has swimming pools among two-story houses on a large area, only one and a half hundred rooms and many pools. Some houses have their own.
4. Eat in tourist restaurants on the shore. This, however, is the advice of Captain Obvious, but, damn it, you go and there are people sitting there and eating who knows what. What should you eat in Cyprus? First, look for places where they cook “Kleftiko” - this is lamb stewed in special vats in a special oven for so long that it loses the characteristic taste of lamb and melts in your mouth; It is difficult to find them in tourist areas; restaurants are located in areas where the local population is concentrated. For example, this one.
  Oven for cooking kleftiko
  
  Another mandatory program is meze. Meze comes in fish and meat varieties, the latter being more typical for Cyprus. The idea is that one by one they bring you tiny portions of various dishes: ideologically similar to Spanish tapas, but here most of the dishes are hot. Ideally, you should also wash everything down with local wine, for which, by the way, it’s worth visiting the Kolios winery, where they also serve meze (meat). Locally bottled Persefoni wine at €5 a bottle is worth buying as much as you can take away.
  
  The grapes grow on limestone; limestone is saturated with water during rains and this is enough to feed the bushes; no one waters anything additionally. Therefore, the berry contains less water, which means the wine has a richer taste.
  
  And if you want fish meze and still be on the shore, then you should at least once go to Sailor’s Rest on the territory of St. Raphael Resort in the vicinity of Limassol.
  
  That ocean liner on the shore is actually not a liner, but a restaurant. A bit pricey, but worth it
5. Go to the source of Aphrodite. No, if you live very close, then you can go, but in general you will most likely be disappointed. The “source” is a small puddle in a grotto with water flowing down its walls. Here, according to legend, Aphrodite met with Adonis. You won’t be able to swim there, or drink the water - in a word, it’s just a beautiful legend from the authors of guidebooks who needed to write at least something else.
  We don’t have any other source of Aphrodite for you.
  
  But if you do go in that direction, then know that the source itself is located in a rather interesting arboretum with a 5-kilometer route, and nearby there is a beautiful wild pebble beach, where there are never people. However, keep in mind that you will first have to go down a winding staircase from a high cliff, and then climb back up along it.
  
  And by the way, here you can swim to the rock
6. Give vodka to pelicans on the promenade in Paphos. Alas, this idiotic entertainment is typical only for “Russo tourists”. It’s better to just take pictures with the pelicans, but in general, since you’re on the embankment, go and look at the ancient mosaics.
  Pelicans just walk along the embankment
  
  Even if you hate museums and all these thousand-year-old antiquities with all your heart, and your favorite entertainment is the TV show “Dom-2”, then you can still at least say: “Hey, hey, swastika!”, because the characteristic ornament is repeated in most these mosaics. At the same time, they will tell you that it has nothing to do with prohibited symbols, if you didn’t know that.
  
  We’ll ask you to show us the mosaics...
7. Trying to get into Varosha. Varosha is an abandoned resort on the demarcation line between the Republic of Cyprus and the unrecognized territory captured by the Turks. Photos on the Internet attract lovers of post-apocalyptic landscapes, but in fact the “object” is well guarded by the Turkish military, who, by the way, vacation there semi-legally, so it will not be possible to get there undetected.
  Varosha from the sea
  
  If you need to “just look”, this can be done, firstly, during a boat trip from Ayia Napa: the boat comes quite close, everyone is given binoculars, and the line of gradually crumbling hotels along the beach can be studied in detail. Secondly, almost at the very “border” (Greek Cypriots call it the demarcation line, because the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” is considered a temporarily occupied territory and this pseudo-state is not recognized by any country in the world except Turkey) there is a museum of occupation, from the roof which is also perfectly visible through binoculars, and here they will tell you in detail about what happened in 1974.
  
  Varosha from the Museum of Occupation. Grab your binoculars and let's go
  
  Thirdly, if you’re going to wander around, the Berengaria Hotel in the western part of the island looks much more interesting, where you can stop by on the way to the Kykkos Monastery, or even instead of the monastery.
  
  Checkpoint at the “border” in Famagusta
  
  This mosaic at Larnaca airport was actually taken from the abandoned Nicosia airport. Compared to the 1967 version, not all fragments have been preserved
8. Buy an adapter for UK sockets. Yes, the sockets in Cyprus are different. This is not Greece (not to be confused with Crete), but a former British colony, and the outlets here are of the English type. The store will be able to charge you 5, 10, or 20 euros for it, depending on how popular the brand is (the red price is 2), but in reality you don’t need it. Firstly, decent hotels rent an adapter. Somewhere there’s even no deposit, and somewhere else they charge 5 euros. Secondly, even if you were not given an adapter, there is a life hack: insert any handy object (for example, a pen refill, a cotton swab, etc.) into the central upper hole, thereby slightly opening the curtains of the main contacts.
  The adapter you don't need
  
  We insert a regular Euro plug into them and take out the auxiliary item. In order not to bother with this every time, take with you from Russia the simplest extension cord with a tee. Alas, in a number of hotels there are still sockets of the old British standard BS 546 with round holes; Euro plugs don't fit in them, and an adapter is hard to find (so, again, don't buy an adapter).
9. Buy something from Duty-Free at Larnaca Airport. All local products are much more expensive there than in regular stores. Foreign drinks in general are also not cheap.
  Some drinks in the dutik can be tasted for free, but in homeopathic doses
  
  Look better at non-food products - glasses, perfume, etc., because you can also have a drink in the business lounge, where, by the way, there is a wonderful terrace from where you can watch the planes (and smoking is also allowed there).
  
  Terrace in the business lounge of Larnaca airport where smoking is allowed
  
  This is not the entire selection of alcohol in the LCA business lounge
  
  By the way, you can watch the planes from Mackenzie Beach not far from the airport: there are few people, pleasant sand, you swim right under the glide path, and the end of the runway literally goes out onto the beach. Just don’t come close to the airport fence: a security car drives up from the other side very quickly, and from it they look at you with silent reproach.
  
  Mackenzie Beach - a spotter's paradise
10. Travel on your own during the season to save money. Many people consider package tours evil and do not want to feed tour operators, but this is not about Cyprus and not about the season. Yes, all hotels can be booked through bookings/islands, and you can buy tickets yourself, but it will be more expensive. To understand: a Cyprus hotel gives rooms to a tour operator for about half the price it sells them “at retail” to online travel agencies. Even taking into account the tour operator’s margin, for the price of a room, if you organize your trip yourself, you will at least also get a free ticket, and with a good airline. The main tour operator is Biblio Globus; it cooperates with Rossiya, which flies to Cyprus mainly on fresh Boeing 737-800s and, by the way, feeds quite well (plus you can).
  Fresh 737-800 “Russia” fly to Cyprus, some cars are not even a year old
  
  The standard flight meals are satisfying, although without frills, you can order additional ones for an additional fee if you are flying from Moscow
  
  Among the regions, this is generally almost no alternative; regular flights will, as a rule, have a transfer in Moscow, and for a ticket from a decent carrier you can pay almost the cost of a package tour. Don't forget about the transfers included in the tour.
  
  Russian plane in Larnaca
  
  Taxis in Cyprus are expensive (from Larnaca to Paphos, for example, 100 euros), and when renting a car, keep in mind that traffic is on the left, that is, cars are right-hand drive. Accordingly, the cheapest options with a manual transmission, where you will need to change gears with your left hand, are unlikely to suit you.

Almost all tours sold on the island. Cyprus has a fairly high price, which rarely goes down. And there is an explanation for this:

O. Cyprus is a very popular destination for a beach holiday. The beaches of Cyprus are not just good, they are some of the best, because most of them are marked with the Blue Flag, confirming the status of the cleanest coasts;

the climate in Cyprus is mild and comfortable for any category of tourists;

a wide variety of hotels in Cyprus and a high level of service in them, often regardless of the number of stars.

Everything you need to know about Cyprus

Official name
Republic of Cyprus;

Capital
city of Nicosia;

Territory
area more than 9,251 km²;
island width - 100 km, length - 240 km;

Official language
Greek and Turkish.
The second most important language is English.
Currently the staff and people
those related to the tourism business speak good Russian;

Population
in the south - Greek Cypriots, in the north - Turkish Cypriots.
The total population of Cyprus is 838,897 people (data from 2011), including:
- 160,000 people are Turks;
- 17,000 people are British;
- more than 40,000 people are Russian.

Religion
The Greeks profess Orthodox Christianity, the Turks profess Islam;

Time difference between Moscow and Cyprus
In winter - minus 2 hours:
(at a time when it is 12:00 in Moscow, 10:00 in Cyprus);
In summer time - minus 1 hour:
(at a time when in Moscow it is 12:00, in Cyprus it is 11:00).

Geographical location of Cyprus

If you look at the world map and try to understand where the island of Cyprus is located, then it will not be at all difficult: the state is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea with an area of 9251 km2.

Knowing the geographical location of the island, it becomes obvious which sea in Cyprus will delight vacationers here with warm and crystal clear water.

The entire territorial possession of the island stretches for a distance of 240 km from east to west, and 100 km from north to south, and geographically belongs to Asia.

A few words about Cyprus' neighbors:

on the northern side, the closest neighbor is Turkey, the distance to which is only 75 km;
the eastern neighbor, approximately 104 km away, is Syria;
on the southern side, Cyprus neighbors Egypt, which is the farthest neighbor, the distance to which is as much as 370 km.

The entire territory of the island of Cyprus is divided by ownership as follows: 98% is owned by the Republic of Cyprus, and 2% belongs to the British military bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Few tourists know about Cyprus and that the Republic of Cyprus is not only the island itself, but also nearby islets such as Agios Georgios, Geronisos, Glyukiotissa, Kila, Kiedes, Kordilia and Mazaki.

In fact, all the possessions of Fr. Cyprus is controlled by three states: the Republic of Cyprus has at its disposal the largest part of the island - almost 60%, just under 40% is at the disposal of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, 3% of the territory is occupied by the UN and 2% of the island is owned by Great Britain, whose territory is military bases.

Everything you need to know about Cyprus resorts

All resort areas of the island occupy the southern coast of Cyprus.

Paphos, located in the western part of Cyprus, is considered an elite resort on the island - suitable for a relaxing holiday;

The youngest and noisiest resort in the southeast of the island is Ayia Napa, ideal for youth holidays in Cyprus, where life does not subside even at night;

Another resort on the south-eastern coast of the island - Larnaca - is an ideal holiday destination for any category of tourists, considered the most economical holiday destination on the entire island;

The place in Cyprus where you can meet the largest number of Russian tourists is the Limassol resort - the entertainment industry is very well developed here, which attracts tourists here even in winter (the period of tourist lull on the island);

The easternmost resort in location - Protaras - is an ideal place to relax with children in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

All the most important things about the climate of Cyprus

A temperate climate prevails on the island. Cyprus, which has the following features:

A large number of sunny days a year;
Short winter with a mild climate with an average temperature of +17-19ºС;
Quite long swimming and beach holiday seasons in Cyprus, starting in mid-May and ending only in mid-October;
High air temperatures are perceived quite comfortably - all thanks to the low humidity levels on the island.

Thanks to the climate, Cyprus can be declared as a year-round resort, because even in the coldest winter month (February) the water temperature does not drop below +14ºС. Therefore, the decision about when is the best time to relax in Cyprus is up to you.

Currency exchange in Cyprus

The largest bank in Cyprus is Bank of Cyprus.
In 2008, the Cyprus currency, the Euro, was officially introduced on the island. Not everyone knows what's on about. It is better to fly to Cyprus from the Euro: dollars here will be gladly exchanged for local currency, but at a very unfavorable rate. !!! Often, exchange offices charge a commission, which is written about in the most inconspicuous place. With rubles, things are even worse in Cyprus: the exchange rate for the Euro is extremely unfavorable and they are accepted only in large banks, and therefore we strongly do not recommend traveling to the island with Russian currency. !!! For those who like cashless payments, Cyprus has all the conditions for this: Credit cards are accepted everywhere, and withdrawals from cards at ATMs occur with minimal fees.

Visa to Cyprus

All tourists who want to relax on the island and learn a lot of interesting things about Cyprus when planning a trip are required to check with the travel agency whether a visa to Cyprus is required. Tourists from Russia require a pre-issued visa to stay on the island. As a rule, tourists going on vacation on a tour package are issued a temporary visa (provisa), which is exchanged upon arrival at the airport for a stamp in the passport, giving the right to a one-time stay on the territory of the Republic for a period of no more than 90 days.

All about the safety of tourists in Cyprus

Cyprus is an island that can be called an absolutely safe holiday destination for tourists.
Everything that tourists who want to relax in the resorts of Cyprus can be warned about only concerns compliance with the rules of behavior and compliance with the laws of another country:

the island has some of the strictest smoking rules in public places in the European Union;
be careful on the roads: on the island, traffic is on the left, so unusual for us;
do not park your car in unauthorized places; parking in a prohibited place will result in a heavy fine;
keep valuables and documents in safes provided in each hotel free of charge or at a certain cost;
resort to the help of the police if an unpleasant situation arises: Cypriot police are very attentive to the problems of tourists.

Beaches of Cyprus

Almost all beaches about. Cyprus municipal and free! But! The service provided on the best beaches of Cyprus is paid, namely: renting a sunbed and umbrella will cost money (on average 5 Euros/day). Want to save money? Sit completely free on a blanket on any of the beaches you like. Most of the island's beaches are awarded the Blue Flag. The beaches in Cyprus are different: some with golden-gray sand, others with snow-white and fine sand, and still others that boast only pebbles.

All about the cuisine and restaurants of Cyprus

In Cyprus, you can taste Greek cuisine in any of the local restaurants. On the island, seafood is more actively used in cuisine than on the mainland.

All restaurants on the island differ in their range of meze dishes. Speaking about the cuisine of Cyprus, it is worth noting dishes made from feta and halloumi cheeses, as well as on the list of things you should definitely try on the island, you must include green walnuts in syrup. For lovers of alcoholic beverages, Cyprus has a lot to offer: locally produced wines, liqueurs and local grape moonshine “Zivania”. As for tips, all restaurants already include a 10% service charge in the bill. Whether or not to leave a tip as a sign of gratitude is a personal matter for each tourist.

Hotels in Cyprus

The island has hotels of absolutely all categories: from 2* to 5*, and even hotels with the lowest star rating will have a decent and decent level of service. Hotels in Cyprus 2* - apartments. For many tourists, it is surprising that all sockets in Cyprus are three-phase and adapters are needed to use them. Most vacationers find out about this upon check-in. Don’t be upset - in every hotel at the reception you can take such an adapter for a deposit or buy it for a small price in any nearby store.

Transport in Cyprus

Taxi
Taxis on the island are very popular among tourists. You can order a car by stopping it on the streets of the city, or by calling it by phone.
There are two tariffs for taxi travel in Cyprus:

daytime from 6:00 to 20:30;
nightly from 20:30 to 6:00.

The night rate is usually 15% more expensive than the day rate.
It is possible to hire a vehicle to travel around the cities for sightseeing. The cost of renting such a car is discussed in advance with the driver.

Rent a car
An ideal option for those who want to independently explore all the most beautiful places on the island. Car rental in Cyprus is available to tourists who meet the conditions and requirements of companies providing car rental:

The tourist must fall within the age limit scale - 25-70 years;
Rental companies always ask about driving experience and require at least 2 years of experience.

When renting a car for a long period of time for trips in Cyprus, unlimited mileage is provided. The average rental cost is 35 EURO/day. The rental price does not include insurance and VAT (15%).

Now you know and have the most important and necessary information for a trip to Cyprus. Make up your mind, the resort places of the island deserve attention and are worthy of your visit.

Have a nice holiday!

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Where to relax

Summer is coming, which means that many of us are wondering where in Cyprus it is better to go on vacation with children, where to go for fun and beautiful views, and in general, when is the best time to go on vacation.

Cyprus is a small island located between Egypt and Turkey, but one part of it is called “Turkish” - tourism is practically undeveloped here, and the other, by a strange coincidence, is called “Greek”, where the entire tourist flow is concentrated.

Cyprus regularly receives its “blue flags” - special insignia awarded to bodies of water and beaches with the cleanest water. Accordingly, the beaches of Cyprus are ideal for families with children. But where exactly should you turn your attention? Where is the best place to relax in Cyprus?

So, we can conditionally divide all Cypriot resorts into two parts - active and calm. First about the active ones.

A universal resort where people of any generation will find it interesting and enjoyable. For entertainment, there are several water parks, a menagerie and an amusement park. A big plus is that Limassol has a large Russian-speaking population - no communication problems will arise even without knowledge of English.

However, it should be borne in mind that Limassol is very popular among tourists, and naturally a large number of tourists come here for the summer.

The tourism sector in Larnaca is very active. By the way, it is from here that it is most convenient to travel around the island, and there is also an international airport here, but it is still less noisy here than in Limassol and Ayia Napa.

Ayia Napa

This place is often called the new Ibiza - it is noisy and fun here all the time, and the owners of various bars and clubs are constantly coming up with new methods for having fun. Young people and those who like a positive, fun holiday flock here.

At the same time, it is Ayia Napa that can boast of its ideal beaches with golden sand. The descent into the water is gentle, and there are no winds typical for Cyprus. Children will love the excellent water park, designed in antique style.

Where can you relax in Cyprus without noisy companies nearby? And there are such resorts here.

An amazing place that will appeal to all history and architecture lovers. There is a kind of division between the old and new years. In the old one there are ancient architectural complexes, ancient monuments, and in the new one there are restaurants, shops, boutiques and many offices.

Icosia can also please tourists with excellent beaches that are well equipped.

Pathos

If there is a place in the world that best demonstrates the atmosphere of the Mediterranean, it is Paphos. Previously, this city was the capital, and now it is a popular resort. By the way, not just popular, but also quite expensive.

But it’s not very convenient to relax here with children - hotels and beaches practically do not provide for children’s recreation. But here you can happily spend a romantic vacation or even a honeymoon - there is a belief that nearby Aphrodite herself emerged from the foam of the sea.

This is an excellent resort for a quiet family holiday. If you do not need a large number of animators and children's entertainment, and are ready to simply enjoy unity with nature and communication with the people closest to you, then it is best to go here.

There are leisurely fishing fairs, plenty of sunny days and plenty of yachts here. By the way, Cypriots love to relax in Polis (and, in my opinion, this says something).

A nice city where it’s nice to relax with the whole family. It is located not far from the noisy Ayia Napa, and is not at all inferior to it in terms of infrastructure and equipment, but at the same time it is much quieter and calmer here, and if you wish, you can always rush to Ayia Napa for entertainment.

A multiple visa is issued according to the standard scenario:

a copy of the first page of the passport;
color photo;
a certificate from your place of work or a bank account statement.

If you are planning a vacation with a child, and one of his parents or guardians remains in his home country, then it is better to obtain permission to leave in advance.

Cypriots rarely refuse visas to Russian citizens.

Peculiarities

Naturally, a beach holiday in Cyprus is in order, but what else can you do? If you are planning a family holiday in Cyprus, then you should pay attention to the following activities:

sightseeing and educational holidays - visiting all kinds of excursions is a great opportunity to get to know the history and culture of the island;
all kinds of entertainment - water parks, amusement parks and other entertainment;
menageries, zoos, turtle and fish reserves, a farm with donkeys or camels;
visiting waterfalls and natural attractions;
acquaintance with local cuisine and winemaking, as well as various crafts - for example, basket weaving.

The peculiarities of a holiday in Cyprus are such that you should not expect a green island, buried in flowers and plants - the local climate allows an abundance of greenery only in the spring, and in the summer it is quite dry.

If you are planning an independent trip, then pay attention to chain hotels located on the outskirts - as a rule, their prices are much more pleasant.

Price

Since we're talking about prices, how much does a holiday in Cyprus cost? More recently, Cyprus was an excellent alternative to Turkey and even the Black Sea coast, but now everything has changed.

If you go on vacation on a tourist package, the cost will vary depending on the season. In high season, a trip for two in a four-star hotel will cost approximately 90-95 thousand rubles.

Hotels of a slightly lower rank will cost around 70-80 thousand rubles (for a stay of two weeks).

If you want to save money, then it makes sense to consider either early booking (the price may be 20% lower) or planning a vacation in September - this is the most budget-friendly month, when prices are already falling and the sea is still warm.

Independent travelers can save on accommodation - for example, rent a house or villa for several families, the prices will be very reasonable.

If you plan to explore the island, you can get around by taxi or bus, but driving a rented car can be quite difficult - traffic here is on the left. The cost of a bus ticket is about 1.5-3 euros. If you plan to travel with the whole family, then a taxi will cost about the same as tickets for all family members.

Food in Cyprus is inexpensive, and the portions are very large - you can have dinner for two for 30-35 euros.

Useful information

How can you fly away on holiday in Cyprus literally tomorrow? To do this, it makes sense to look for last-minute tours - their cost is several times lower than usual, and the hotels are very, very decent.

What else do you need to know about Cyprus, holidays 2018? The local population is very friendly and has a very positive attitude towards tourists, so no difficulties will arise. If you are traveling with a child, then keep in mind that Cypriots love children very much.

When planning a trip to Cyprus, many ladies are interested not only in something simple, like how much it costs to relax and where to go on vacation, but also which resorts in Cyprus should be chosen with an eye to shopping. It is best to give preference to Limassol and Nicosia - it is absolutely safe to buy things from any European brands here, and in general these cities are good for relaxation - they have the best beaches, and the Cypriot climate in the summer will please absolutely everyone.

Where is the best place to go to enjoy nature? In my opinion, there is no more beautiful city than Paphos - we see numerous photos and videos of this city very, very often. Speaking of photos - if you don’t trust advertising photos too much that are posted by a tour operator or hotel, then you can always use a little trick and look at the photo on Instagram - it’s rare that a vacationer doesn’t show off their vacation.

If your family plans to relax without frills, but not to deny themselves anything (for example, do not stand in line for lunch in an inexpensive cafe, but dine in restaurants), then you should have at least a thousand euros with you for expenses.

The required budget can be calculated in the following way - take your usual budget and multiply it by at least 1.5 (don’t forget, Cyprus is still Europe), and preferably by 2 - so as not to deny yourself the purchase of souvenirs.

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4. Beach holiday in Cyprus

Guests staying in hotels on the first line are provided with free sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach. If you rent an apartment or live in a simpler hotel, the cost of renting an umbrella with 2 sun loungers will cost you on average 6-7.5 € per day. When paying, the beach keeper issues a ticket, with this ticket you can return to the beach after lunch and take a sunbed without additional payment. You can save by buying an umbrella (from 10 €) and a rug (from 1.5 €), or taking them from home.

Prepare for a beach holiday: take your sunblock, sunglasses, hats, burn creams (after sunburn). All this can be bought on the beach, but, as a rule, at inflated prices. It’s better to enjoy your vacation from the first minutes, leave shopping for later.

5. What to bring from Cyprus?

In the nearest hypermarket you can find “delicious” souvenirs several times cheaper than in souvenir shops in the tourist areas of the city: the famous Cypriot vodka “Zivania” and the legendary sweet wine “Commandaria”, traditional Halloumi cheese, extra virgin olive oil, olives and black olives, the famous Turkish delight and other sweets made from local fruits, and, of course, Cypriot coffee. In the cosmetics department you can find cosmetics based on olive oil.

As mentioned above, wine and Zivania at wineries will cost you even less. Visiting wineries (not to be confused with wine museums) is included in some.

When buying nice little things for friends in souvenir shops - magnets, postcards, key rings, etc. - ask for a discount for wholesale: 4 for the price of 3, or a discount on the total amount.

6. They don’t skimp on children.

Find out in advance what is interesting in the vicinity of your hotel or rented apartment. For example, in Larnaca there is a small but free Bird Park - several aviaries with peacocks and poultry and several playgrounds with swings, carousels and bungee. In Limassol there is an inexpensive but very cozy zoo (adult ticket 5 €, children from 5 to 12 years old 2.5 €), adjacent to the zoo there is a free park with swings and ladders. A very interesting zoo is located in the suburbs of Nicosia: .

It is better to take water and fruit with you to the beach; it is most convenient to use lunch boxes. Beach shops cater to tourists and often offer overpriced items.

Entrance fees for children are usually lower than for adults, and sometimes free for children. Don't forget about this and don't overpay:

– children under 3 years old free; from 3 to 12 years old is 2 times cheaper than for an adult. This park often organizes promotions - it distributes discount coupons through hotels, agencies or through its website; offers special prices for a repeat visit or a special price for “early booking” - when paying for a ticket through the website in winter or spring (we plan to visit in summer) - a discount of up to 20% is provided. You can take water and fruit with you.

— children under 3 years old free; from 3 to 12 years old is 2 times cheaper than for an adult. You can take water and fruit with you.

The Limassol Zoo is open free of charge for children under 5 years old, Paphos Zoo - up to two years old. For older children, take a cheaper children's ticket.

On regular buses, children under 6 years of age travel free of charge, and older ones - for 50% of the cost of a full ticket.

In Cyprus, a lot of attention is paid to road safety; a child of any age should travel only in a specially equipped seat. This rule is strictly observed, because violating it is not only a very high fine, but a security threat!

7. What to take with you to Cyprus?

Cash euros, Visa, Mastercard. It is very unprofitable to exchange rubles for euros in Cyprus, and exchangers have limited operating hours. You will need euro cash (preferably small bills) to pay for public transport and taxis, tickets to museums, purchases at markets and small shops. There may be problems with paying in large bills (200 and 500 euros). Restaurants, hotels, and large stores accept card payments.

Medicines. This will save you not only money, but also your nerves - analogues of our medications here sometimes have completely different names. Pay attention to the opening hours of pharmacies - they are open on weekdays in the first half of the day (except for pharmacies on duty).

Camera.

A convenient backpack or bag for outings.

Sunscreen. Sunglasses. Hats. Burn cream. All this can be bought in residential areas and on the beaches, but it will be more convenient if you already have your own accessories that suit you, so you will save time and money.

Repellents.

Adapter from English type socket to Euro socket. If you don’t find them, it doesn’t matter, most hotels issue them with a symbolic deposit. Otherwise, you'll have to buy it.

There are two tax refund companies in Cyprus: TAX FREE WORLDWIDE and GLOBAL BLUE. The store chooses which company to enter into an agreement with. Your actions in both cases are identical, the counters at the airport are nearby, so it doesn’t matter to us who we deal with.

Instructions for applying for TAX FREE

STEP 1:

When paying for a purchase in a store, please apply for “TAX FREE” (in some large stores, processing a VAT refund may not be done directly at the cash register, but at a separate counter).

Stores that refund VAT are marked with a “TAX FREE” sticker on the door. VAT refunds are provided by all major brand stores (Marks&Spencer, Debenhams, Mango, Zara, etc.), and many jewelry stores. The minimum purchase amount is limited (here the store is free to set the amount itself - it can be 20, 30 or 50 euros), as a rule, it is indicated at the checkout or at a separate specialized counter.

Together with the receipt from the store (the name and details of the store are indicated in the header), you receive an envelope with a special check (here in the header are the details and logo of the tax refund company) and instructions.

STEP 2:

Fill out the check.

STEP 3:

At the airport, before checking in for your flight, go to the customs office, present the completed receipt, the original receipt from the store, your passport and confirmation of your departure from the country (ticket). You may be asked to present purchased items, so it makes sense to put them on top of your suitcase or even separately. The customs officer checks the receipts and stamps them (check that the stamp is in the right place). You put your things back in your suitcase and go to check-in. You will no longer need to present them. Checks with a validity of no more than three months are accepted for tax refunds!

STEP 4:

Go to the departure area. Directly in front of passport control there are two counters: TAX FREE and GLOBAL BLUE. You choose the one you need, present the check stamped by the customs officer, and receive the money. You can receive money either in cash or on a card. Please check locally - a fee may apply for cash advances. Money is transferred to the card within a few days; no commission is charged for this service. A bank card - Visa or Mastercard - must be valid for at least three months. Even if you do not speak foreign languages, there is always an employee at the counter who speaks Russian.