Cyprus Country Dossier

• Factfile
• Preparing to go
• Money
• Cultural & Environmental Guidelines
• Arrival
• On Tour
• General Information

Factfile

Capital: Nicosia (Lefkosia)
Official Language: Turkish
Others: Greek
Religions: Muslim 90%, Other 10%(Greek Orthodox)
Voltage: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square 13-amp three-pin plugs (UK-type) are use

Preparing to go

Visas

Members of the European Union do not require a visa for North Cyprus. Travellers from outside the EU should check with the nearest Cypriot Embassy to confirm whether or not they need a visa

Money

Local Currency

Turkish Lira(YTL)

Approximate exchange rates (as at OCTOBER 2007) are as follows:

• 1 Pound Sterling = 2.4 YTL
• 1 US Dollar = 1.2 YTL
• 1 Euro = 1.7 YTL

XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

Changing Money, Credit Cards & ATMs

Banks and ATMs can be found almost everywhere in North Cyprus. Credit cards are accepted in most shops, restaurants and hotels. We recommend that you take either Euros or US$ currency and traveller's cheques. The Pre-Departure Information that you will receive once you have booked your tour contains general information about organising your spending money. Your Tour Leader will be able to advise you on local facilities

Working out your Budget

The Pre Departure Booklet contains general information about the things you will need to consider when budgeting for your holiday. Below are some specific notes relevant to our tours in Cyprus.

Entrance Fees

Although Traveller trips include entrance fees to all sites specified in your itinerary there are additional ancient sites that you may like to visit. The average entrance fee is approx £1, with the most expensive being £10.

Optional Excursions

All of our itineraries include some free time, the amount of which usually depends on the style of tour you are travelling on (Adventurer trips generally have more than Traveller). If you wish to take optional excursions your Tour Leader will be able to advise you of the possibilities in each area.

Meals

You will find the meal plan for your tour clearly indicated in the brochure and on your Trip Dossier. Breakfast is provided each day on most tours, and many tours also include a number of dinners. Lunches are rarely included to give you more freedom. Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack: £2-3
• Light meal: £4-7
• Fancy restaurant: £15-20

For a guide to the type of food you will find in Cyprus see the General Information section of this dossier.

Drinks
Tea and Coffee are always provided with breakfast. All other drinks (i.e. bottled water, soft drinks) are at your own expense.

Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below. Note: Prices in restaurants, hotels, and cruise boats can be as much as double those specified.

• 1l of water: £0.7
• 30cl bottle of soft drink: £0.7
• 50cl bottle of beer: £1,50-2

Local Transport

Our hotel is located in Kyrenia. For journeys taxis are the most effective method of local transport. In Cycprus all taxis have taximeters. There is day rate and night rate (which applies between 24:00 and 06:00). The night rate is approx. 30% more than the day rate.

Approximate taxi fares (All prices are per taxi) from our hotel in Kyrenia to:

International(Ercan) Airport = £35-38
Nicosia= £30
Farmagusta= £65

What to Take

The Pre Departure Booklet that you will receive once you have booked your tour contains a comprehensive list of items that you should consider bringing with you. There are certain items of equipment (e.g. sleeping bags, towels) that you will need on some tours and not on others. Please note that you DO NOT need a mosquito net. Check your Trip Dossier for any special requirements.

Clothing

As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. In North Cyprus' hot summer months, cotton clothing is much more comfortable than man-made materials like nylon.

North Cyprus has fairly relaxed attitudes about dress and for the most part shorts and short sleeved tops are perfectly acceptable. However if you intend to visit churches and monasteries it is important to dress more conservatively (i.e. cover shoulders and knees).

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: A sarong is an invaluable item to carry as it can be used to instantly cover any exposed areas (i.e. head, legs) to prevent sunburn or respect local sensitivities. It also doesn’t go amiss to bring along a set of smart/casual clothes for the occasional night out.

Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in the summer, night-time and early morning temperatures can be cold. You will generally find it is better to have several thin layers rather than one thick layer as it gives you more flexibility and warmth. A fleece can be invaluable and double as a pillow.

Prepare Yourself
Whilst few of our tours can be described as physically demanding you will find all activities more enjoyable if you are reasonably fit and active.

Cultural & Environmental Guidelines

The Environment

Toilet
Wherever you go to the toilet remember to place your toilet paper in the rubbish bin provided – DO NOT flush it down the toilet as this may block the sewerage system. You will almost always find a rubbish bin next to the toilet however you may find it useful to carry a supply of small plastic bags to put your toilet paper in if a rubbish bin is not provided. You may also want to carry your own toilet paper as not all toilets will supply it.

Haggling

In most shops you do not need to haggle as the prices are fixed. However there may sometimes be an opportunity for a little gentle bargaining with the shop keeper.

Arrival

Arrival Transfers

Upon arrival at Ercan International Airport please look for our representative who will be holding an Imaginative Traveller sign. He/she should be waiting for you after passport control and customs.

Making Your Own Way

The Meeting Point for your tour should be clearly marked on your travel vouchers.

At Kyrenia, you will find a 24 hour metered taxi service. The cost of a taxi from the airport to our hotels should be approx. £35-38 during day rate and £42-45 during night rate.

On Tour

Safety

Most people find that North Cyprus is a very friendly and hospitable country and feel quite comfortable wandering around alone during the day. However, as with any country you are not familiar with (and in particular in large cities), it is recommended that you exercise more caution at night and generally take taxis rather than walk.

Tour Leaders & Guides

Your Tour Leaders role is to ensure all aspects of the trip run smoothly. He/she will share their local knowledge, advise on how to fill your free time and co-ordinate the day to day running of the tour – although occasionally he/she may need your understanding if things do not go according to plan. If you have any problems on the tour, please let your Tour Leader know so that steps can be taken to put it right. Tour Leaders are supported by our regionally based office staff and, in most cases, a locally based manager.

Please note that some styles of trip, such as Imaginative Escapes or Imaginative Honeymoons, do not have a Tour Leader. However, there will be representatives on hand who will be able to assist you in arranging any excursions that you wish you take.

Accommodation

Our main criterion for choosing hotels is cleanliness. On Adventurer tours hotels are simple, but comfortable. Bathroom facilities may sometimes be shared and rooms may sometimes be multi share rather than twin. Hotels on Traveller tours almost always have private bathrooms and bar / restaurant facilities. Please bear in mind that hotels can sometimes suffer from minor problems and technical difficulties.

At each hotel your Tour Leader will try to organise the rooming arrangements to suit everyone's requirements. If you are travelling alone you will be allocated a room with another group member of the same sex (unless you have paid a single supplement*). If you are travelling as a couple please note that we cannot guarantee the availability of double beds.

Note: Single supplements are only applicable to single travellers who wish to have their own room. Single supplements are also only available on Traveller tours and are not applicable on overnight boats, trains and while camping.

Laundry

A laundry service is available in the hotel that we use in North Cyprus.

Local Food & Drink

Food
All over North Cyprus there are restaurants offering genuine Cypriot food. One of the best ways of enjoying Cypriot food is by ordering mezze (snacks), a large selection of a number of different local dishes. The cuisine varies according to whether the visitor eats in the North or the Republic of Cyprus. Local specialities include:

• Tava (a tasty stew of meat, herbs and onions).
• Dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with minced meat and rice).
• Kebabs (pieces of lamb or other meat skewered and roasted over a charcoal fire).
• Stifado (a stew of beef or hare cooked with wine, vinegar, onion and spices).
• Fresh seafood: Tsipoura (seabream), Lavraki (seabass) and Garides (prawns).

Drinks
The usual collection of bottled water and soft drinks - coke, lemonade, orangeade - can be found almost anywhere. Coffee is serves Turkish-style (short, strong and unfiltered).•

All of the hotels and restaurants we use do serve alcoholic drinks. Locally produced spirits and beer are available everywhere. A variety of local wines (some very good) can also be ordered bottled or sometimes straight from the barrel.

Special Dietary Requirements

Vegetarians
Although meat is often not the main feature of a meal, it can be found in many dishes, even if only as a stock. Therefore, if you are a vegetarian you may experience a distinct lack of variety in the food available at meal times. Your Tour Leader will do their best to offer a vegetarian alternative, but your patience and understanding is requested.

Food Allergies
If you have food allergies or preferences, please make them known to your Tour Leader who will do their best to ensure that your requirements are met.

Please note: Unfortunately we can give no guarantee that special requirements can always be met.

Communications

Email
Internet cafes are located in main towns and resorts.

Phone
Country code: 90(As Turkey). Telecard or coin-operated public telephones are installed at various central locations in towns and villages. Call Direct (cheaper than ordinary collect calls) is available to most EU countries, as well as Australia, USA and Canada.

Post
There are daily airmail services to all developed countries. Service within Europe takes three to four days.

Cameras

Availability of Film
Camera film can be found everywhere in North Cyprus.

General Information

Weather

Warm Mediterranean climate. Hot, dry summers with mild winters during which rainfall is most likely.

The following shows average daily max temperatures (in degrees celsius):

Holidays

Islamic Holidays Islamic Holidays are fixed in accordance with the Lunar Calendar. 2008 dates are:

Ramadan - 30 Oct
Eid el Fitr - 07 Dec

National Holidays

• New Year’s Day - 01 Jan
• Children’s Day - 23 Apr
• Youth Day - 19 May
• Republic Day - 29 Oct

Useful Phrases

• Hello (greeting)- Merhaba
• Hello (response) –Merhaba
• Goodbye - Allahaısmarladık
• How are you? – Nasılsınız?
• I'm well, thank you – Iyiyim,teşekkürler
• Good morning - Günaydın
• Excuse me – Özür dilerim (pardon)
• Please - Lütfen
• Thank you – Teşekkür ederim
• Yes - Evet
• No - hayır
• How Much? (price) – Kaç Lira?
• Water - Su
• Coffee - Kahve (Turkish Coffee), Nescafe (instant)
• Tea - Çay
• The bill - Hesab
• I don't understand - Anlamıyorum

Turkish Numbers

• 0 - Sıfır
• 1 - Bir
• 2 - İki
• 3 - Üç
• 4 - Dört
• 5 - Beş
• 6 - Altı
• 7 - Yedi
• 8 - Sekiz
• 9 - Dokuz
• 10 - On
• 11 - Onbir
• 12 - Oniki
• 20 - Yirmi
• 30 - Otuz
• 40 - Kırk
• 50 - Elli
• 100 - Yüz
• 1000 - Bin

Contact Details

Local Office
The Imaginative Traveller
C/o BITINYA TOURS,
Macka Meydani Sok.
No 34/3 Ruya Apt.
Besiktas, ISTANBUL
Tel: +90 212 236 98 38
Fax: +90 212 227 05 03

24hr Emergency Contact
(MOB) +90 532 481 51 73

UK Office
The Imaginative Traveller
1 Betts Avenue
Martlesham Heath
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP5 3RH
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1473 667337
Fax: +44 (0)1473 614566