Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile phones in Cyprus? Mosquito nets?
Here's a list of our most Frequently Asked Questions. You should find your answer here. If not, click on the 'Contact' button in the menu bar above and email your query. We'll have an answer for you as soon as possible.
» How do I book The Hibiscus House?
» How is payment made?
» Are the rates per person or for the entire property?
» Are the prices in Sterling?
» On which days do property bookings usually commence?
» What is the minimum length of stay?
» Aren't villas more expensive than a hotel?
» What is your deposit and cancellation policy?
» Do mobile phones work in North Cyprus?
» Is Travel Insurance Required in North Cyprus?
» Are Visas Required?
» Are Vaccinations Required?
» Are there any currency restrictions?
» Are there any mosquitoes?
» What are the check in and check out times?
» Is a car required?
» Can you arrange transfers to and from the airport?
» What if I want to give you some feedback?
» Will my hairdryer work?
» Is there shade within the garden for sensitive skins?
» Are the cooking and eating facilities adequate for a large party that wishes to self-cater extensively?
» Does the swimming pool have a shallow end?
» Is there a telephone in the house?
» Are the terraces and gardens overlooked by other houses and passers by?
» Do we allow smoking at The Hibiscus House?
» What is the local village like?
» What does North Cyprus look like?
» What is the garden like?
Q: How do I book The Hibiscus House?
A: You can make a provisional booking On-Line by following this link (Book Now) This does not commit you to paying anything at this stage.
We will look after all aspects of booking for you.
Q: How is payment made?
A: Payment can be made by cheque or by bank transfer to 'The Hibiscus House'. We will provide details when asking you to confirm your booking with a 25% deposit payment.
You'll need to pay a second 25% no less than 10 weeks prior to departure, with the balance 5 weeks prior to the start of your holiday in our North Cyprus villa.
Q: Are the rates per person or for the entire property?
A: Our rates are for the entire property on a weekly basis.
The main rates quoted are for up to six persons. For a seventh or eighth person.
Q: Are the prices in Sterling?
A: Yes.
Q: On which days do property bookings usually commence?
A: There are no set arrival and departure days or times.
See the ‘Availability’ page to check the villa is free for your preferred dates. During the peak season, we may ask if you could vary your dates by a few days depending on flight availability or in order to avoid leaving a gap between bookings, e.g. if the previous guest departs on the Sunday, and your first choice date is the following Thursday or Friday.
Q: What is the minimum length of stay?
A: A minimum 7-night stay is usual.
You are welcome to stay for less, but a full weeks rental will be applied. You can book for as many weeks as you like!
Q: Aren't villas more expensive than a hotel?
A: Well, of course it depends on the hotel.
But, if you compare standards and facilities then, unless you are planning on renting The Hibiscus House just for one person, then the answer is almost certainly not!
Even then, remember that we can offer you more privacy (in the garden as well as indoors), more comfort, and more freedom than hotel rooms. Hibiscus is a luxury Cyprus holiday villa and comes with a fully equipped kitchen, choice of bedrooms and dining areas and your own private pool.
Of course we don’t make your beds every morning, but, when you factor in all the benefits and amenities, you'll quickly realize that this North Cyprus villa offers superb value.
Q: What is your deposit and cancellation policy?
A: The following practices apply: A 25% deposit is required to hold a reservation. Reservations are not considered firm until the deposit, in cleared funds is received. The balance of your payment is due 8 weeks prior to your arrival date.
Should you cancel your holiday the following charges will be applied:
From booking to 8 weeks before departure Deposit
8 weeks to 4 weeks before departure 50% of total cost
After 4 weeks before departure - 100% of total cost
It is recommended that you take out Travel Insurance.
Q: Do mobile phones work in North Cyprus?
A: Oh yes! Reception is surprisingly good almost everywhere – even in the mountains, with the possible exception of the Karpaz Peninsula which is very isolated. Generally most GSM network mobile phones with call roaming do work in Cyprus although you are advised to check with your service provider if in doubt. We have never had any problems using Orange and O2 who both have reciprocal agreements with local network operators. There’s a Pay-as-you-go mobile phone available for guests to use at the villa with details of where to purchase top-up cards.
Q: Is Travel Insurance Required in North Cyprus?
A: Yes, it is recommended that you arrange comprehensive travel insurance for holidays in North Cyprus, as you would for any other foreign destination.
Q: Are Visas Required?
A: Visas are not required for EC passport holders although a full passport valid for at least 3 months from your date of return is required. If you do not hold an EC Passport, or require any further Visa information, we recommend that you check before you book your villa, with the Cyprus High Commission (Tel: 0207 499 8272) as to whether a visa is required in your case.
Q: Are Vaccinations Required?
A: No inoculations or vaccinations are compulsory for UK residents, but the DHSS does recommend certain standard health precautions for travellers - see their leaflets SA40 and SA41 for details (obtainable from your local Dept. of Health office) or ask your doctor. Should you be taking any form of medication, take adequate supplies with you and carry them, as well as items like contact lenses, in your hand luggage only. We have put contact details for a Doctor, the hospital and chemists in the information folder at the villa.
Q: Are there any currency restrictions?
A: There is no limit on how much currency you take out of the UK.. You can take your spending money in the form of traveller's cheques ( Turkish Lira or Sterling), or rely upon your credit card as most banks have Visa or Mastercard dispensers. Credit cards are accepted in the main shops and restaurants, although you may incur a commission charge. However many of the smaller restaurants and shops will only accept cash. In our experience, some credit card payments may not be debited from your account for up to three months after the date of purchase.
Q: Are there any mosquitoes?
A: Mosquitoes are to be found in Cyprus as in any other Mediterranean country. At The Hibiscus House we have installed mosquito nets in all bedrooms as well as electric vaporisers to give you peaceful nights.
Now, this may sound silly, but you may be interested to learn that mosquitoes do not like the smell of Marmite! Eating an occasional Marmite sandwich can deter them (although it takes about 2 days to work through your system!).
The villa information directory alsocontains details of ointments that can be obtained from most supermarkets and chemists in North Cyprus to deter or treat bites by mosquitoes and sandflies.
Q: What are the check in and check out times?
A: We work around you and your arrival and departure times. You should be able to access your property when you arrive. If there is going to be a problem with this, i.e. we will need time to clean and prepare it for you, we will let you know in advance.
Q: Is a car required?
A: The villa is within walking distance of the village shops and restaurants in Alsancak. There are also miles and miles of mountain walks beginning from the doorstep. There are regular buses to Girne (Kyrenia) and taxis are relatively inexpensive.
However, as you are bound to want to visit more than the nearest beach we recommend that guests hire a car to enjoy all North Cyprus has to offer. Car hire prices vary in North Cyprus, as does the quality of the car, but if you do your research you should be able to obtain a very reasonable deal.
If it makes things easier,we can arrange car hire for you when you make your booking.
Full car hire details can be found on the Booking form page. Particularly between June and September we recommend you select vehicles with air conditioning, unless opting for soft-top jeeps.
Q: Can you arrange transfers to and from the airport?
A: Yes, at your request we can arrange for you to be collected from the airport and delivered to your accommodation (and from accommodation to airport). Prices on request. If you are hiring a car through us and travelling via Ercan Airport this will be provided free of charge. We can arrange for you to be collected at the airport and driven to The Hibiscus House by the car hire company, who will then deliver your vehicle to the villa at a time to suit. Most car hire companies also offer this service for free, but check before you book. At the end of your holiday they will collect the car from the villa and take you back to the airport. If you are flying into Larnacra we can book a taxi on your behalf.
Q: What if I want to give you some feedback?
A: We encourage your suggestions in order to constantly improve our service. There is a section on this site for you to tell us what you like, and whether, in your opinion, there are things we could do better. (Add click through) Or simply Email us: ? (This will forward to the autoresponder which will send a confirmation reply and forward the original E-mail to us)
Auto reply to read: “Thanks for your comments – we really do appreciate them and like to listen to our guests as a way to continually improve the experience that a stay at The Hibiscus House provides. Thank you. Rick & Charlie.”
Q: Will my hairdryer work?
A: Yes – as should all other appliances. The electrics in North Cyprus are the same as those in the UK. No need for travel plugs. However – you’ll find a hair drier in the villa, so no need to worry at all!
Q: Is there shade within the garden for sensitive skins?
A: Yes! The main terrace is covered. It includes a dining table for 8, a sofa and comfortable armchairs.
There is also a jasmine-covered pergola with table and chairs.
On the pool terrace there are parasols to place by your sun loungers.
Q: Are the cooking and eating facilities adequate for a large party that wishes to self-cater extensively?
A: Yes! There is a dining room, and a covered terrace both with tables seating 8 as well as table in the pergola seating 4 where most guests like to take breakfast as it catches the morning sun. The kitchen is well equipped and includes an oven, 4-ring gas hob, grill, microwave and dishwasher as well as other facilities.
Q: Does the swimming pool have a shallow end?
A: Yes! It also has Roman steps allowing an easy and more gracious way of entering. We put these in because in the summer, metal steps frequently become too hot to hold!
Q: Is there a telephone in the house?
A: No! However mobile telephone coverage in N Cyprus is excellent (and there’s a ‘Pay as You Go’ mobile phone in the villa for guests to use.
Q: Are the terraces and gardens overlooked by other houses and passers by?
A: We have one neighbour - another holiday bungalow. This does not overlook Hibiscus, being situated to the right and is slightly lower down. It does not impede your views of the mountains and the sea.
The garden is walled and, as such, you’ll find that sunny spaces affording a degree of privacy not typically available in many of the villas in the area.
Being on a hillside makes it harder for people to see into the garden at close quarters. However, with all those mountain views, a persistent member of the Paparazzi with a high-powered lens would probably be able to get a picture.
Q: Do we allow smoking at The Hibiscus House?
A: In short, no we don't allow smoking at the villa. Sorry - but The Hibiscus House is for holidays for non-smokers only.
In the event that people do smoke in the house we will deduct a portion of the breakages deposit to cover additional laundry costs required to remove the smell of smoke from curtains, covers etc.
Q: What is the local village like?
A: The local village is called Alsancak (pron. Alsanjack). and is tucked away in the valley below Hibiscus. The centre of the village is typically old Cypriot houses, restaurants and shops. A 10-minute walk down through the village to the nearest shop is quite enjoyable. If you're looking for some good North Cyprus images, then you'll find good photograph opportunities here.
Alsancak has some great traditional restaurants, and is not overrun with trendy bars and fast food outlets.
Essentially, it is a peaceful village (although in Cyprus all peaceful villages generate a reasonable amount of noise!)
Q: What does North Cyprus look like?
A: For more images of North Cyprus (and The Hibiscus House), go to the Links page and click on the Flickr Site link.
They show places within easy reach of the villa, including Bellapais Abbey, St Hilarion Castle, Kyrenia Harbour and castle, the Kozan Restaurant (a personal favourite of many guests, especially on a hot day), the Roman amphitheatre in Salamis and the ancient Vounai Palace.
Q: What is the garden like?
A: Being a Mediterranean villa, The Hibiscus House has a fragrant flower-filled Mediterranean garden laid out on terraces.
The automatic irrigation system ensures that the garden is in flower throughout the year.
Guests visiting between December and March should be able to pick citrus fruits from the garden.
It includes some taller shrubs offering shaded areas, but, to make it safe, we have avoided spiky plants, plants with poisonous fruits and shrubs likely to deposit leaves in the pool on a windy day!
The pool terrace is wide and has six sunbeds all offering privacy and magnificent views.
