We were at Akrotiri 2.5 years ago and I know things have changed massively. We have friends due to go out in Nov and we want to help them out. Sooo what are your top tips.
So far I have:
Take your tumble dryer. When it rains it rains and we had no central heating.
Take your bed.
Take your hoover.
Don't bother taking much else apart from pictures .
Stock up on CHEAP summer clothes as the sun ruins everything.
Are the mosquitos still as bad? They did some amazing things while we were there and the mossies were never as bad as our first year.
Keep a UK address (ie parents) for one bank account or one credit card.....
Try and save your LOA to buy a duty free car to bring back .
Enjoy the freedom from commercial pressures. Oh how I miss the fact we all had the same crappy furniture etc. And no advertising meant I didn't want anything
Do register with Amazon and get your tax back from them.
Do insure your possessions in transit (the container vessel before ours lost half its cargo overboard...lots hadn't bothered with the insurance )
Do take an electric blanket if you have one (no central heating issues again)
All plugs and light bulbs are the same (we took and used our eco green ones, although stores did provide light bulbs)
Do expect bigger bills for electricity and contenct insurance, but you pay peanuts for road tax and car insurance and petrol.
Get used to an early start (!)
Get used to the Cypriot service (extremely rude in clothes shops, fab in restaurants esp with children in tow, good in the banks but everything takes longer to do or get done)
Try to train yourself to say hello to your services spouse when they get home from work before asking if there was any post today.
Travel everywhere, ask for resisdents rates or a military discount EVERYWHERE incl shops etc.
The pork is amazing, the chicken is not so good imo, though a roast chicken from the Bakers on the strip is great.
Beware the Cyprus stone.
Do rent/ hire a water cooler but make sure you go with the authorised wonderfully nice man who gives the children sweets on every visit despite your protests.
What have I missed???
What would you definitely take with you and what would you not bother with?
Any tips for the schools would be good too. I only had babies there but they will have two school age and one new starter....
Is there a gymnastics club that you know of? Their two eldest train at a high level here atm.
TIA