Unafraid to give you the bad news as well as the good, we detail some hard facts of life as we know it - abroad, that is!

ACCOMMODATION STANDARD.  Tourist apartments and hotel accommodation vary greatly on the continent.  Golden rule - do not expect the standard to which you may be accustomed at home or in western Europe.  Generally, Spanish accommodation is quite sophisticated;  Greece offers hotels and apartments which are simple, basic and without frills or luxury;  Portugal and Malta are abreast of the times and offer comfort and standard facilities.  Accommodation in Florida, Caribbean, Egypt and Thailand is modern and offers a good standard of comfort.  Wherever you choose, just remember also that a good rule of thumb is to gauge the standard of your accommodation by the price you have paid for your holiday...

BOATS.  Slow boats to China are sometimes applicable to Greek ferries when the "Meltemi" blows and the seas become rough.  Ferries can be badly delayed or frequently might not sail at all.  Be careful to organise your return to Athens in good time for the return flight home.

BEASTIES.  Sounds like a 1960's Beat group - unfortunately, some of these rock stars sting - not sing.  Mosquitoes are nasty and they bite; ants, lizards, harvest/field mice etc. are irritating, but completely harmless.  All are indigenous, but forewarned is forearmed.  Preventative measures may be taken by keeping shutters closed when lights are on, buying sprays or electrical devices available locally.  In addition, do not leave food remnants or crumbs lying around - this is an open invitation to tiny unwanted visitors.

APARTMENTS CLEANING.  Cleaning service is standard in most accommodation. A lot of apartments do not supply cleaning agents eg. tea towels etc., so it might be sensible to bring these with you if you intend to dabble in the culinary arts. Equally, if you are particularly fastidious (even on holiday?), mops, brushes, dustpans etc. are frequently not provided.  Generally speaking, holiday apartments do not have teapots or kettles.  Continentals usually boil water in pots.  It's a case of when in Rome...  Remember also that sometimes toilet paper is provided on arrival only - be prepared to shop locally.

COMPLAINTS.  Please lodge any grievance with the resort management or our agent who are in the position to alleviate problems there and then.  No point in complaining at home if you have not informed our agent locally who may have been able to remedy the situation.

CROWN JEWELS.  If you possess jewellery or valued items, please take great precautions if they accompany you on your holiday trip abroad.  Make sure your household policy adequately covers you (All Risks) when out of the country; do not bring expensive jewellery etc. to the beach; do not leave possessions unattended at any time and ladies, mind your handbag.  Better to be safe than sorry.  Read your holiday insurance document very CAREFULLY before departure.  Check the small print and watch out for the Exclusions Sections as certain items are not covered for loss or damage.  Remember, you must take reasonable care of your own belongings and exercise responsibility for your own goods.

DELAYS.  Yes, we have to mention it...  Despite the best will in the world, flights can be delayed on the outward or return journey.  Delays are due to factors wholly beyond the control of Tour Operators and include air traffic control problems, adverse weather, technical hitches on aircraft and time slots.  Just remember, we dislike this as much as you and will do our utmost to ensure your comfort and convenience at all times.  Always have in mind that is better to arrive safely than not at all.

DIFFERENT CULTURES.  Experiencing different cultures and peoples is all part and parcel of the excitement of holidays abroad.  We know we live in an imperfect world, but this is probably the intrinsic attraction of foreign travel and is what keeps us searching and traveling to new venues.  Cultural differences are evident in places like Syria and Egypt where religion is Muslim and certain codes of practice should be adopted.  It is always wise to dress modestly in public (obviously the beach is excepted) and respect must be shown when entering a religious temple or mosque.  Islamic law is strict, but the tourist resorts are well used to foreign faces, so we are not such a phenomenon as years ago.  Men still stare in the street and market sellers haggle like mad, but if everything was exactly like home, then there wouldn't be any point in going away and life would be particularly boring.  A little local colour never goes amiss.

HOT WATER.  You will almost certainly not land in hot water at peak showering times or when arriving late from the beach.  Virtually all hot water in continental complexes is operated nowadays by solar system, so do not expect piping hot water at all times.  Some complexes have never even heard of back - up generators, so if the weather is not particularly sunny, prepare to have a cold shower.  It is not unusual for Mediterranean countries to suffer water shortages, so do your bit for the environment and please do not waste water. Be seen to be green - its fashionable and sensible.

INTERNAL FLIGHTS AND ONWARD CONNECTIONS. Olympic Airways in Greece is great on long jumps and short jumps and flights are relatively inexpensive.   However, be warned as flights may be cancelled or deferred without notice - outside our control or jurisdiction.  Reconfirm all reservations in Greece 48 hours before departure.  Similarly, Spain and Portugal offer internal flights, none of which are dependent on the outward leg of your journey from Cyprus.  So, if you intend traveling further afield on arrival at the holiday airport, allow adequate time to connect.

NOISY NEIGHBOURS AND BLARING BARS.  Noise has become a prevalent problem in virtually all continental resorts.  Courtesy and consideration for others should be the order of the day, but often is totally forgotten.  "When the wine is in, the wit is out".....  Please try to remember that other holidaymakers might just want to rest and relax and may not be interested in listening to you in the early hours of the morning.  If you return late (or early ...) to your room, please tread gently and do not blast your radio...  If noisy neighbours are problematic, report the matter to the reception/manager.

PLUMBING. Continental "toilets" might drive you completely round the bend.   Plumbing systems are still a bit old fashioned and primitive in many resorts and in certain countries it is prohibited to flush toilet paper down the toilet.  Showers are often just slightly raised from the floor and drainage is slow.  Shower curtains are virtually unheard of and deemed a luxury - so forget those inhibitions.

ROADS.  If you are planning to hire a car, you will certainly experience potholes, unpaved roads and unlit laneways.  Flat shoes and a torch - good idea.  Stilettos and leather heels - bad idea.  Continental proprietors willingly build accommodation complexes, but it is the Government's responsibility to finish roads - unfortunately, this is rarely done.  As many resorts abroad are still developing for tourism, construction work could be in progress throughout the Summer.  This is beyond our control.

RURAL ASPECT.  In a number of places life is very much lived in the past and many resorts are just an extension of the country, so chickens, harvest mice, cats etc. are part and parcel of the rural charm.  Simply lie back, relax, switch your walkman to your favorite music, forget the daily pressures, traffic jams and polluted air and enjoy countries and cultures where time has hardly touched.

SUNBURN.  Clients with fair complexions - beware of strong sun and limit sunbathing to sensible hours like early morning or late afternoon.  Remember some destinations are close to the Equator, so extra care and protection is necessary.  If a dose of sunburn is your unhappy lot, a fantastic remedy and soothing balm is natural yoghurt.  It's true!  Excellent for instant relief - if your friends can tolerate the smell!

VACATING YOUR APARTMENT / ROOM.  International departure time is 12 noon, however, there are exceptions (French Riviera, Florida and Caribbean) where times can differ.  In the event that your room / apartment must be vacated long before your flight, we will do everything possible to provide a luggage store room for our clients.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH!  The best things in life are free; however, it's as well to budget for a few little extras whilst on holiday.  Facilities where charges are often incurred locally include: safety deposit boxes, pool sunbeds, beach beds and parasols, games and equipment, watersports, saunas, jacuzzis, massage, gyms, minibars, satellite t.v., air conditioning, infant cots, porterage, laundry, and entry to some public/private beaches.  Some properties also require an indemnity deposit which is paid on arrival and fully refunded if room or apartment is vacated in appropriate condition.

WHEN IN ROME...  On holiday, behave as you would expect others to behave in your country.  You represent your country when you are abroad, so please do not let your fellow countrymen down.  Respect others, respect the property in which you stay and respect yourself.  Your apartment or hotel room is your home for 1 or 2 weeks, so treat it with respect and behave as you would in your own home.  There is no problem to enjoy oneself and have a wonderful holiday, but nobody has the licence to go completely mad!  Would you behave in a certain way in your own country?  If the answer is no, then why feel you can behave any differently when abroad?  Always remember you are a visitor in that country and abide by the local customs and respect the culture.  This is the least we can do to repay hospitality.