You will be arriving at the end of the summer and it will be still be very hot, take plenty of sunblock with you, it's extortionate on the island and acclimatise properly.

Oh and make sure you ship a tumble drier and electric blankets - it can be bloody cold between January and April.

You will thank me.

That's good advice, most quarters (if not all) have no central heating.

Ours had bottled gas for cooking and a single gas fire in the living room. Wooly pullies and waterproofs are required for a couple of months in the winter.

I think we took about 14 cubic metres of stuff out (family of five) and put the rest in storage. A fridge was provided.
There's a good second market in the garrisons as people rotate in and out for things like cars, washing machines, TVs etc.

It's good for sports like orienteering, hill-walking in the Troodos, mountain-biking, hashing (is hashing a sport?), diving, sailing etc. Trips to the north are good, to the Pan Handle, Kyrenia/Girne. Get used to towns having 2 or 3 different names (Famagusta, Ammochostos and Gazimaguza are all the same place).

I understand the switch to the Euro (in the south, still New Turkish lira, YTL, in the north) has made things more expensive, though.

Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad

That's good advice, most quarters (if not all) have no central heating.

when were you last out there?

i'd say about 80% have Central Heating.

you can usually express a preference with the housing people out there - cheap and nasty (no heating) or luxury (like a palace).

you headed to Epi, Dhekelia, Akrotiri or Ayia Nik?

top tip mate - drop the HIVE for your location a line - they have information sheets that tell you EVERYTHING from the size of your MQ to the price per CC to import a vehicle to Cyprus.

the links are here: Ministry of Defence | Defence For... | The Service Community | HIVE Information Service | Overseas

hope that helps.

Originally Posted by royalgreenjacket

when were you last out there?

i'd say about 80% have Central Heating.

I stand corrected, rgj. I left Dhekelia 5 years ago and now remember the new builds had solar panels on. They were slowly emptying the old style quarters and waiting for money to demolish them.

Just spent a while on Google Earth looking at the swimming pool quotient on the various Dhekelia patches.

Start off with a couple of Brandy Sours with your steak, then go on to Keo's and then Carlsbergs, while sitting about letting your dinner settle, putting the world to rights, then finish off with a few more Brandy Sours, while you get the karaoke out and howl at the moon. You lucky lucky lucky bastard!

Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad

I stand corrected, rgj. I left Dhekelia 5 years ago and now remember the new builds had solar panels on. They were slowly emptying the old style quarters and waiting for money to demolish them.

hey no worries man - it was worth mentioning though as not all MQ's have central heating which as you know is pretty essential in the winter.

our Grade 1 MQ in Byron Heights Dhekelia is by far the very best MQ we have had during my 18 years.

Rgj knows his stuff!!! Though the cost of gas and electricity was strangely higher in Byron than Nicosia Ct or the other next to new houses.

Just figured out who RGJ is!!!

Originally Posted by Jonathan_C

Firstly, apologies if this thread or similar exists elsewhere but have had a scan through and not seen one.

Just found out today that I am posted to Cyprus in September, I have 5 weeks to go until I finish work in England and then it's out there and start work straight after relocation leave.

I have served in Germany and across England before but only time I have been in Cyrprus is when coming back from tour for decompression. I am a married SNCO with no children, but do own two cats. I have a car but it is a decent car and I have heard the road surfaces out there will wreck my suspension etc? Family have already said I can leave my car here if I choose to and declare it off the road for two years.

Any advice, tips, things to avoid, anything at all that's helpful is much appreciated. I only found out a few hours ago so have done nothing at all towards this move yet.

Cheers guys (and girls).

Why not give your new Unit a bell and ask them. I am sure your new CSM or RSM will point you in the right direction and give you sound advice!!

Originally Posted by Minnesota_Viking

You will be arriving at the end of the summer and it will be still be very hot, take plenty of sunblock with you, it's extortionate on the island and acclimatise properly.

Oh and make sure you ship a tumble drier and electric blankets - it can be bloody cold between January and April.

You will thank me.

That brought back memories! Following a number of postings in BAOR, Cyprus was the first posting where we felt the need to purchase an electric blanket! Not too bad in the first winter, but by the time you get around to the 2nd winter (and you're fully acclimatised) it is brass monkeys, particularly if you are in one of the old style MQ's already mentioned.

Cheers for all of your replies. Flying out there in days few and looking forward to it!

Anyone know what the current LOA rates are out there? They've stood down in Cyprus for today and my clerk doesn't even know her own name.