Useful Information - Telephone No's

• Voltage – same as U.K  240 Volts – [3 pin plugs]
• Telephones – same as U.K all Mobiles will work on GSM system and onlocal "Pay as you go" Cards 
• Local Telephone provider – CYTA – Government service on both an account basis and for Mobiles optional “pay as you go” Card system. Call Costs very low – 2cts per minute local – Internet 47 cts hour or special Broadband “unlimited” at £ 35 per month  Normal land – ISDN and Broad band facilities available as well as Fax New services include "Areeba" operating on 96 numbers as oppossed to CYTA on 99
• Postal Services – Local Post Offices in all towns and villages

Costs comparable to UK costs – currently lower - starting at 13+1 cts local mail [not sealed] to 20+1 cts sealed – to EEC 30+1cts - [this may change if/when Cyprus enters the EMS] also Express EMS “Datapost” facilities

• Post Office Hours – normally Mon – Fri – 07.30 to 1 or 1.30 on Thurs till 6.00 pm except  Wed – [half day]
• Local Time - + 2hours G.M.T
• Flight Times from UK – 4hours 30 mins to London
• Couriers Overseas & Local – as well as Datapost – DHL and others – also a network  of “Taxi” mail Co services for express local letters  and parcels - very fast and very efficient [ GAP AKIS Express etc] normal charges start for letters, between Cities £ Cy1 – £ 1.20   
• T.V. – some 6 local channels predominately Greek with ‘limited’ English programmes
• Satelite Systems – Many including LTV [Films] & Sport] and SKY – with full range of Sports / News/ BBC Prime / BBC & ITV  Also I-Choice / My-Vision CYTA Broadband Service, which includes Eurosport and ‘Discovery’ Channels
• Driving – same as U.K on left hand side of the road
• Cars - all right hand drive
• Driving Licences – U.K & EEC accepted for 6 months – if living in Cyprus [at present] a Cyprus Licence has to be taken Cost £ 35 valid for life  - though after Age 70 Eye & Medical Test each year - this may change with EEC entry now.
• Fuel – Same as U.K. Unleaded and Diesel – but Prices much lower, around £ Cy 3 per gallon
• M.o.T – required as with UK
• Motor – Servicing/Repairs – very much lower that U.K – Routine service charge with oil change - on a family Car £Cy 35 - £ 40
• Road Tax – according to Engine Size – can start at £ 35 for 1,000 ccs and £ 120 for a “double cabin”
• Motorway Network / Main Roads  - excellent with main Motorway links from Ayia Napa to/thro to Larnaca/Nicosia/Limassol/Paphos - "Gridlock" a word never used and M25/M1 “traffic jams” unheard of and no "Toll" roads or "City Access / Congestion" Charges.
• Speed Limits – well signposted – 100 kms on Motorways – 80 kms A & Broads and 50 kms in town.  Speed Camera’s now being introduced Police also use Radar - Fines and a Points system applies as in UK.
• Language  - Greek – but English widely spoken as “second’ Language most signposts Street names are in both Greek and English
• Churches / Religion – Greek Orthodox, but many Anglican C.of E. and Roman Catholic Churches
• Weddings in Cyprus – becoming very popular with very attractive Flight and Accommodation packages and full Hire Facilities.Must be accompanied by aLocal Civil Ceremony as well - min 3 days 'stay' 
• Computers – Full range of all Hardware & Software available locally – Prices usually below those available in the UK
• Internet – CYTANET is main [Web Site; www.cytanet.com ] also - Logosnet and Spidernet – there are many “Internet Cafes”
• VAT – currently 15%
• Duty Free Imports - Prior to April 2004 and EEC entry a wide range of Duty Free concessions especially on Motor Vehicles and Household Goods Now very much reduced, but still available for Pensioners coming to reside permanently in Cyprus
• Cost of Living – Even with EEC Entry Cyprus maintains a high standard of living with one of the lowest ‘cost of living’ index in EuropeA wealth of fresh local products, food and produce as well as modern supermarkets stocking a wide range of well known branded EEC and U.K goods
• Shopping Hours – No 24 hours “7 days a week” as in UK - as yet                                    

Winter – 8am till 1 pm [some Supermarkets will not close lunchtime] then 2.30 till 5.30   Half Day closing Wed & Sat - no Sunday opening
Summer – same but closed in afternoon till 4 pm then open till 6 pm to 7 pm

• Papers – Magazines – as well as Local Papers – English Papers & Magazines are flown in and there are is a Daily Cyprus Mail News paper and Cyprus Weekly on a Friday and a Sunday Mail
• Radio – all BBC Radio programmes and World service and local British Forces Radio as well as local Radio Stations