World Country Guide

Accommodation

Hotels
There are over 500 hotels and hotel apartments scattered throughout the island. There are also simple hotels that are ungraded. A VAT charge of 15 per cent is added to bills. Room service costs up to 54 cents per order, or more for 5-star hotels. Air-conditioning facilities can be hired for about C£2.15 per unit. Most hotels and hotel apartments offer discounts during the low season, which for seaside resorts is from 6 November to 15 March (excluding the period 20 December to 6 January) and for hill resorts from 1 October to 30 June. There are discounts for children occupying the same room as their parents: under one year, by private arrangement; one to six years, 50 per cent discount; six to 10 years, 25 per cent discount. Some hotels may only charge 80 per cent of the daily room rate for single occupancy of a double room. Visitors should check discounts with their hotel prior to arrival. Grading: Hotels range from deluxe 5-star to 1-star. Hotel apartments are classified A, B or C. The range of accommodation in Cyprus is classified by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation as consisting of hotels with a star-classification system; this indicates facilities offered, physical criteria, room size and the cost, according to the class chosen.
For further information, contact the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, which controls and regulates hotels (see Contact Addresses section); or the Cyprus Hotel Association, PO Box 2772, 1303 Nicosia (tel: 22 152 820; fax: 22 375 460; e-mail: chaniccy@cylink.com.cy). The Hotel Association also has an office at Larnaca International Airport (tel: 24 643 186; fax: 24 643 058).

Guest houses
Located mainly in Nicosia, Limassol, Pafos and Larnaca. The Cyprus Agrotourism Company (tel: 22 340 071; fax: 22 339 723; website: www.agrotourism.com.cy) offers traditional countryside accommodation.

Camping/Caravanning
There are seven organised camping sites, at Polis (open March to October), Kalymnos Beach, Forest Beach (open June to October), Feggari (open all year round), Geroskipou Zenon Gardens (open April to October) and Ayia Napa (open April to October). Facilities available in camping sites include showers, toilets, washing facilities, mini-market, and usually a snackbar or restaurant. Rates for camping sites range between C£1-C£1.50 per day for a tent or caravan space, plus C£1-C£1.50 per person daily for service and taxes.

Youth Hostels
There are youth hostels in Nicosia, Larnaca and Pafos in Cyprus open to members of the International Youth Hostels Association. Non-members are also accepted, but on arrival at the hostel they will be provided with a guest card. For further details, contact the Cyprus Youth Hostel Association, 34 Theodotu Street, PO Box 24040, 1700 Nicosia (tel: 2267 0027 or 2267 5574; fax: 2267 2896; e-mail: montis@logos.cy.net).