Make sure the name is changed on the ticket is exactly the same as the passport, last year I noticed with only a few days to go, that I had entered Mrs on my husbands details, it cost me £65 to get it changed to MR, but I never told that bit.

Thanks Elizabeth - i am still waiting for a call back from Thomas Cook who have said Olympic are seeing what they can do - but think i've left it too late as its so near to us going (3 weeks tomorrow).... been waiting now since Thursday afternoon and am getting annoyed now, so even though they promised me they would ring back 'again' as soon as possible (this was 2 and half hours ago) im going into town right now and won't leave there until i know whether we WILL be going on this holiday - or i've lost the holiday totally and the money it cost
Will keep you all updated anyway!!!

OK - lets see what we can do about this. To summarise:

Your son has legally changed his name - for the sake of argument, lets say he is now John Smith, and was previously John Brown.

The holiday tickets say "John Smith" but his passport still says "John Brown".

If he has legally changed his name to John Smith, you must have some official paperwork which confirms this. I'm pretty sure that as long as you have this paperwork the passport office can turn things around in a very short time - I've heard of emergency passports being issued in 24 hours. Has the passport office said why they won't issue a passport in his new name?

I would suggest you post something on the "complaints" board, as someone there will be able to give you better advice than me. Give as much information as you feel comfortable with - I'm sure someione will help.

3 weeks may not seem a long time, but things can change surprisingly quickly.

Thanks Baggieboy - hopefully its all sorted now! I've been to Thomas Cook and the manager rang Olympic who have said they will change the surname on the tickets, etc if i pay £50! So even though its £50 less spending money (which is getting less and less as the weeks go by) i can now thankfully rest a bit knowing we 'should' be going now - if the passport office now makes passport in his 'old' surname!

I got his name changed through the citizens advice bureau and had it done at a magistrates court and did everything legal, BUT passport office need a letter to confirm that this is ok with my sons father (even though he doesn't want any contact and we don't have a clue where he is)...its a long story as to why i changed it (i have very good reasons) but at the end of the day i changed it over 6 years ago and its the name he has been happily using and WILL carry on using. Why the passport office think they have a right to get involved in something we had legally done i don't know! They mentioned something about a woman a couple of years ago who took her child abroad (don't know if she came back) after changing the childs surname and because the father wasn't notified he sued the passport office! My argument is whatever surname is on that passport i could go and not come back!

So hopefully they will issue a passport in his old name for now (like they said they 'could' do) and i can stop worrying and look forward to sunny Cyprus at last!!!

That's great news.

To help with the economising, remember that there's a big supermarket in Paralimni called Orphanides. If you focus on local produce you'll be able to stock up quite cheaply. Try to avoid the imported stuff - and we reckon the Orphanides beans are just as good as UK beans anyway!

There's also a bakery on the main Protaras strip which sell pies, cakes, sandwiches etc - we usually go there before heading onto the beach - a cheap picnic!

If I can think of any other ideas before you go I'll post again. We'll be in Pernera from the 16th so if we come across anything while we're there I'll let you know.

Richie

Thought of a couple more tips. Has anyone mentioned mezes? A meze is a meal (well, half a dozen meals really) where you get small portions of anything up to 20 (or more) Cypriot dishes. You can get fish or meat meze, and prices do vary - look on the boards outside the tavernas for prices. Googlr around for more info on mezes.

I guarantee you won't need lunch that day, or breakfast after - you won't believe how much food comes out. Also, don't be shy about asking for a doggie bag if you can't eat it there and then. Cypriots really don't mind - they actually are pleased that you like their food enough to take away with you. Hey presto - tomorrow's lunch!

Also, unless you're a wine expert (which me and the missus certainly aren't!) don't have a bottle or glass of wine. Have a carafe (or a half carafe) Its cheaper wine, but perefectly drinkable. The Gordon Blue taverna does a very good (and cheap) half carafe - from memory about 3 euros.

If you DO need to get a taxi anywhere (I wouldn't recommend unless you really have to) always agree a price before you get in. Even though by law they should put the meter on - they almost certainly won't.

If you're waiting at the bus stop you'll probably have taxis come up and offer their services. This is serious haggle time. We got a taxi to Paralmni for 5 euros when it would have been at least 10 normally - and it would have been 3 euros on the bus.If someone else is at the bus stop with you - share the cab and split the cost.

On the beach two sunbeds and a brolly will set you back about 7 -8 euros. Take a couple of towels instead (and plenty of suncream). A week of that and you've saved that £50 you've had to pay extra! Buy all toiletries in UK - they can be expensive in Cyprus.

More money saving tips as I think of them.

Wow thanks Richie - some very useful tips there!

The mezes sound quite nice so will definately have a try! I've heard about the bakers and intend using it for a daytime snack like you suggested. The supermarket will definately be one of the first places we will visit - i don't know if it will be open when we arrive (we get to our hotel approx 6pm) but our first night will be just a look around the hotel area and a walk into Pernera so hopefully will spot the supermarket then!

Can't believe the sunbeds are so expensive, so i like the idea of just taking towels (might even see if i can buy or take with me a large kind of blanket just to put under the towels - then leave it there instead of taking it back).

Will only need transport i think for our visits to Ayia and the water park there, and will only use the buses, but if i need a taxi (say like we've missed last bus back to Protaras at night) i will haggle with as many as i can!

Thanks again - only 20 days to go now - im excited but still a bag of nerves until this new passport is in our hands!

Do what we did/do... get a decent lilo... put it down, put the towel on top !!
That way it doesn't weigh a lot and can be let down to go in your case etc...

Steve

yep - that will be 2 lilo's added to the list now too! cheers steve!

Not long now.

I hope it all works out with the passport.

I face the back of the Platomare from the bar I work in so if you have a room at the back give me a wave lol.

Spotted a few more of your pics on the internet Steve! I see you visited The Blue Spice restaurant when there and just wondered if it is free to use their sun loungers and if so how long would they allow you, say like we bought a meal and bought drinks whilst bathing/swimming there? Never seen a restaurant with a pool before - are there anymore you know of in the area?

Also been looking at the beaches and to be honest think they all look lovely, but as myself and son aren't great swimmers i wondered if you (or anyone else) could recommend a beach where we can walk out quite a way and it stays pretty shallow?

Another question regarding milk! I would like to buy some milk whilst out there (for cereals and coffee) so wondered can i buy anything similar to our pasturised/UHT milk?

Yes not long now Cardifflad - and yes we will give you a wave - you're the blue-haired, santa-lookalike giant right???

Malita

Blue Spice allow free use of the sunloungers/pool etc as long as you are buying food/drinks etc.. most people only stay an hour or so (giving the meal chance to go down and then maybe burning a little off with a swim etc) . However we spent all morning there from eating breakfast, then went for a walk (taking our stuff with us giving others a chance to use loungers etc, its not like being in a hotel and setting up camp) , came back and bought some drinks carried on etc...

The beach where the blue spice is enclosed in a little bay so you can walk around without it getting too deep... some people do venture out into the sea and swim up and down just this side of the markers for boats etc... its deep there... lol

Milk - you can get Skimmed / semi skimmed / full fat / SMA baby milk / .. and I've not looked but you can probably get UHT and such.. as far as shopping goes its like being at home (only better as they have lots of Cypriot food as well !)

Steve

Thanks once again Steve!

Think i've pretty much found out about most things now! Thanks mate!

Latest tip - avoid the Bliss Bar in Protaras - 4.5 euros for half a lager apparently.

You could also try the Witherspoons (Protaras version of Weatherspoons), its on the main road that runs from Pernera into Protaras. They have special meal deals. If I remember rightly you can get 2 meals for 10 euro from a limited menu but even the steaks etc that aren't on the specials menu are good value for money. The beer was cheaper there aswell.

Thanks Caron - sounds good price compared to alot of other places i've been reading about - will definately try there! And thanks also to Baggieboy - will make sure i don't go there!

Does anyone know who owns the grassy area in front of the Platomare (where we are staying)? Just wondered as my son asked if he could have a little kick around with a small ball on this area (as some pics we've seen had people playing on it) didn't know if it was privatley owned or whether anyone can go on it?
* Picture of area im talking about below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2062536&id=1367484142&saved#!/photo.php?pid=31297487&id=1367484142

Thankyou!

BBG, there is also a restaurant called The Red Indian, can't miss it, it's on the main road and has, wait for it, Indian statues outside. We went there several times last year and had the three course special for 10E each.

Thanks CazMicknTom, i remember seeing photo's of that place. Seems like it is quite expensive to eat out in Cyprus, so i guess 10E for 3 courses sounds a pretty decent deal so will give The Red Indian a visit for sure! Im on the internet constantly looking about info and reading reviews about Protaras and think i pretty much know where everything is and what there is to do, so i am mainly trying to find any menu's and prices of meals now as the less we spend on dining out means the more trips/shopping we can spend on!

P.S. my son's passport has just arrived whilst writing this - so now i can relax and 'really' start looking forward to our holiday (which is only 13 days away now)! Yippppeeeee

Great news on the passport.

Re. your boy playing football - there'll be plenty of places for him to have a kick around - so tell him not to worry.

Top tip - send your son round Pernera with a camera phone on day 1 and get him to take pix of the menu boards (and prices) outside the tavernas. It'll give you some peace and quiet by the pool and he won't be bored. I think my wife uses the same tactic with me (except mine's more beer research).

If you google Kapparis you'll find a website on the Kapparis area (this includes Protaras and Pernera) and there's a section on "pleasures" with a sub menu on eating out. There's a few websites within that which may show prices.

Its still early in the season so there won't be many updates on prices on the web, but I don't think it will be much more expensive than last year. Steve has a load of pictures somewhere of menus from last year or the year before, but can't remember where. I'm sure he'll pop along and advise. Rest assured if you do look around you will find bargains, so put the work in early on and you'll reap the benefits through the holiday.

We'll let you know if we find any standout bargains when we get there next week.

Enjoy your holiday - I'm sure you'll love it.