Are you one of many people who work out how much you’re going to need for a holiday, think you’ve got everything covered - and then halfway through your trip realised your financial planning was out?

You’re not alone.

Many people have found the amount of money they thought they would need for a trip overseas hasn’t been enough. And with airlines and holiday companies adding extra on to a lot of items that used to come as standard it’s not a problem that’s going to go away.

In their defence it’s not surprising that airlines and holiday companies do this - the recession has hit the travel industry hard, and they need to increase the amount of revenue per passenger they are carrying on the airlines, and hotels for each guest they accommodate.

But putting the full price on advertised rates could affect their business, as it’s the headline price that catches many people’s attention - and with travel portals searching for the lowest price more popular than ever travel companies have to get around the low prices offered by making money elsewhere.

As an example we looked for a holiday to Ibiza for next summer, June 2011, to see what the holiday companies were offering, based on 2 adults with a reasonable hotel for 7 nights and Ibiza flights included.

Thomson Holidays, one of the UK’s leading tour operators, have available return flights and a choice of two different Ibiza hotels for 320 a person, and they also include getting to and from the airport to either of the Ibiza hotels.

Their main competitor, Thomas Cook, are doing even better with flights, hotel and breakfast from 285 a person for 7 nights. Their main competitor, Thomas Cook, are doing even better with flights, hotel and breakfast from 285 a person for 7 nights.

Great deals from Britain’s two leading holiday companies - but extras available include choosing a seat on the flight, a meal and travel insurance. The first two can be missed for the budget conscious, but travel insurance should never be cut out and can be taken either with the holiday company when booking, or independently.

In some ways the hidden costs that only become apparent when booking a trip, in the above example Ibiza holidays, aren’t surprising given that the cost is often the first feature considered, and many holidaymakers expecting to have 5 star flights, hotels and holidays at 2 star prices - the most reliable companies have to compete at the headline prices offered by others.

Away from the booking itself, once people are on their Ibiza holidays or elsewhere, the cost of mobile phone calls are the biggest cause of complaint, despite the EU having ordered charges to come down in recent years.

Other charges that holidaymakers deemed to be excessive included the cost of a taxi - most commonly used to get from the airport to the Ibiza hotels where most people would be staying.

To keep costs down it’s possible to book a taxi online with an agreed price and a driver waiting for you rather than taking pot luck upon arrival. Keeping luggage weights within the airlines allowance will ensure no surcharges, and some airlines offer half price luggage costs when it’s booked online instead of doing it at the airport.

For more details about 2011 Ibiza holidays with news and articles visit youribiza.net

Crete Blog

If you’re considering a holiday on one of the Greek islands for this year or next, Paxos might be worth considering for a family holiday, or for a romantic getaway for couples.

According to Greek legendy, the island was created by Poseidon when he struck Corfu with his trident in effort to gain peace and quiet. The pebble beaches of Paxos are surrounded by sheer, precipitous cliffs that create scenery that is both breathtaking and expressive.

The sea around Paxos has vivid colours; it is pleasantly clean, clear, and cool. Dramatic fauna and flora are abundant, especially in spring. Ancient olive trees line the hillsides allowing the mind and senses escape to the treasure of comfort and beauty that awaits holidaymakers.

Seeing The Island

Paxos is charming and quaint and can be seen easily in a couple of days by motorbike or car. The three main towns on the island are Logos, Laka, and Gaios. All of which exhibit the classiul ac Hellenic Ionian style with bright and colourful homes lining the promenades.

The rural area environment has a landscape that features low stone homes surrounded by bountifnd lush gardens. There is always something beautiful to see and many photo opportunities while you’re sightseeing or walking. For those who like Crete holidays it’s familiar but at the same time unique enough to enjoy.

The three main resorts all have natural harbours - Gaios being the biggest and busiest.

Travelling further inland there are old churches and buildings and many hiking or biking trails if you seek to further explore the island’s rich history.

Hotels In Paxos And Things To Do

Travel around the entire island on a day or half day cruise. Picturesque wind-carved limestone cliffs, sculptural rock formations, and caverns line the way. Crystal clear, calm waters surrounding the island only add to the exquisite beauty. The weather and climate on Paxos is similar to the weather in Crete.

A bit of history from World War II is just off the island. Inside the cave called Papanikolis, a Greek submarine found refuge and hid during the war.

There is plenty of opportunity to swim, snorkel and relax. This island is wonderful for holidaymakers seeking relaxation and to get away from the rest of the world. The locals are all very friendly and happily greet visitors. A spectacular sunset can be seen by traveling to Erimitis, a bar which sits above the cliffs of the west coast.

Paxos is a worthwhile day trip if you don’t have a lot of time, but want to escape for a bit. There are many hiking and biking paths that go around the island via trails, coves, and beaches. There’s a few travel sites that have a map, often the same ones that have a Crete map.

You can easily take in the unhurried, traditional, and tranquil Greek lifestyle. Many people visit this wonderful island because of the miles of pathways that lead to unspoiled, secluded beaches and coves.

Hotels in Paxos fill quickly during peak travel season. Villa holidays are popular. Many villas have private pools and various villa companies include Paxos in their brochures, James Villas for example.

The island also has two hotels that often receive rave reviews from happy guests. The island of Paxos might be small compared to some islands like Kefalonia, but it offers an intimate charm and beauty for those who crave quiet, peaceful relaxation. Retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday modern living and escape from it all.

More information about the Greek islands are available on social media like reddit

Malta Blog

The percentage of people who book their holidays and trips away via the internet increases every year, and with ticketless flights, reviews of hotels from previous guests and currency delivered to your home, the impression might be that booking a trip a few days before departure is the norm.

Not for UK tourists, according to research undertaken by leading online travel site Expedia.

In fact, many British people still book their overseas trips months ahead - but then they are the most organised tourists in Europe!

Before the recession, the trend was to book different parts of a holiday with different online travel firms, ensuring each part of the trip was done at the best price - but with some small companies going under Expedia note that more people are booking both flights and hotels at the same time.

And it’s not just the recession that’s caused the shift back to booking with the same company, the recent Icelandic volcano left many travellers stranded while those who had booked with well established tour operators such as Thomson and Thomas Cook were well looked after and alternative ways home organised on their behalf.

And it’s in times like this that tourists realise that cheap isn’t always good - but a resource like Expedia does allow money to be saved while booking all or some parts of a trip with one company.

Take Malta for example. There are plenty of different options for booking holidays in Malta available, and different parts of the trip can be booked seperately - or all with someone like Expedia.

Malta

Hotels can be viewed and reviews from people who have stayed there be seen, and a little extra research can be done to see which area might be most suitable. Valletta for history, Mellieha for a good beach for example. Both areas have a wide choice of accommodation and any of the Malta hotels can be booked with the one resource.

Flights are slightly different for the island. In recent years the low cost carriers have started to fly in and out of Malta, and not all of them are represented on travel sites that do the other components of a trip. Search Expedia for example for return flights and it might not bring up Ryanair who were the first budget airline to fly to the island, and provide flights from both Luton and Bournemouth.

So for the cost conscious it might be worth checking their site to see how much their Malta flights are.

But overall booking everything with one company does have its benefits, with hotels, car hire, flights, holidays and travel insurance all possible, and for Malta holidays Expedia is able to offer all these at a good price.

More details about the island are at yourmalta.com and there are other free to use articles

The Independent in the UK report on the first six months of the year for the Cyprus holidays industry:

Cyprus’s tourism revenue rose 2.2 percent in the first six months, raising hopes the key sector can help revive the recession-hit economy, official figures showed on Wednesday.

Revenue from January to June increased to 578.3 million euros (763.4 million dollars) from 565.8 million euros a year earlier.

In June alone income spiked 11.4 percent to 195.3 million euros from 175.4 million euros a year earlier, the biggest jump in two years.

The average daily amount spent by tourists in June was 73.8 euros and the average stay was 9.6 days.

Swiss were the biggest spenders at an average 105.30 euros a day, while the Greeks were the most frugal, spending just 59.30 euros.

Income from tourism accounts for nearly 12 percent of gross domestic product. It dropped to an estimated 1.49 billion euros last year from 1.79 billion euros in 2008 and 1.85 billion euros in 2007.

Bumper spending by holidaymakers helped the island achieve GDP growth of 4.4 percent in 2007, easing to 3.7 percent in 2008.

The economy retracted by 1.7 percent in 2009, its worst performance since 1974.

The finance ministry expects GDP to grow by 0.5 percent in 2010.

More Cyprus holidays information is available with yourcyprus.info and includes a map of Cyprus

http://www.trivago have recently revealed the top island holiday destinations so far for this summer, and Tenerife is one of them. Trivago is worth visiting to check out hotel prices.

Tenerife, Spain
Tenerife, the number one destination for British travellers, is the largest of the seven Canary Islands, and also Spain’s busiest resort – the island receives 10 million visitors each year. The island’s crowning glory is the Pico del Teide, the third largest volcano in the world, which rises 3718 metres from the base of the island. From its peak, travellers have a remarkable view of the island’s 350km of coastline, tropical vegetation, volcanic craters and lava formations. Tenerife’s wild nature is undoubtedly the island’s best feature, but the island is also well known for its beautiful beaches. The island has a rich birdlife, and many travellers consider the bird park ”Loro Parque“ a mandatory stop. The Carnival of Santa Cruz – one of the world’s largest carnivals – takes place every year in February.

Cyprus
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and while many associate its name with historical and political divisiveness, millions of tourists visit the island each year for its spectacular sights and attractions. As a result of its turbulent history, Cyprus has evolved into an intriguing and alluring blend of Greek and Turkish identities. The Tomb of the Kings, a network of underground tombs dating back to the 4th Century BC, are one of the island’s most prominent attractions, and the island’s many medieval forts and citrus groves are beautiful to behold. The Karpas Peninsula is also renowned for its breathtaking beaches.

Majorca, Spain
Majorca is part of the Balearic Islands archipelago and is one of Europe’s most popular island destinations. The island is well known for its nightlife and numerous clubs and bars, particularly in the town centre of Playa de Palma and El Arenal. Visitors are drawn to the island’s turquoise blue bays, pristine sandy beaches, antique ruins and historical buildings, such as the Cathedral La Seu and the Palacio Real de la Almudaina in Palma. It pays to escape the island’s touristic heart and venture out into the wild, however; those who do will discover the true essence of Majorca, in the form of idyllic villages, local markets and the traditional Majorcan way of life.

Gran Canaria, Spain
Located 125 miles off the coast of West Africa, the Spanish island of Gran Canaria is often referred to as a mini continent, due to its many different climates. In the south, the climate is tropical and dry; in the north, it is subtropical and dry. The result is a glorious diversity of plant and animal life, giving nature enthusiasts plenty to explore during their stay. Hikers will also appreciate the 2,000 metre high Pozo de las Nieves mountain in the centre of Gran Canaria, which attracts climbers from around the world. Another of the island’s main attractions is the dune beach, located near Maspalomas, a town in the south of the island. Culture lovers should visit the capital Las Palmas in the north of Gran Canaria which has magnificent buildings, such as the Cathedral Santa Ana. Another highlight is the old fortress Castillo de la Luz that is currently used as a museum.

Lanzarote
Lanzarote is the fourth largest island in the Canary Island chain, and was the first of the islands to be settled in 1100 BC. At first glance, Lanzarote’s sparse, volcanic landscape may seem bleak, but for those willing to look a little closer, many amazing attractions are to be found. Lanzarote’s beaches are particularly well noted, and visitors to the Timanfaya National Park can witness the otherworldly beauty of the island’s volcanic craters and lava fields. Unique experiences abound; guests will certainly enjoy the park’s El Diablo restaurant, where food is cooked directly over a volcanic vent, or a trek through the ‘Tunnel of Atlantis’ – the world’s largest submerged volcanic tunnel.

Crete
The island of Crete is probably best known for its legends ties to Greek legends such as the Minotaur and the tragic tale of Icarus and Daedalus. The ruins of the Minoan palace of Knossos, of Venetian fortresses and former trading ports all point to the island’s rich history and cultural legacy. Yet this ancient island has much to offer the modern world as well: Cretan art, literature and music styles (typically performed with a lyre) are very distinct, and have contributed greatly to the diversity and evolution of Greek culture. Visitors to Crete would be remiss if they did not explore the island’s many ruins and heritage sites, and the island’s fresh produce and Mediterranean cuisine will provide a tantalizing treat for the senses.

Tenerife Blog

The best advertising is recommendations from previous users, and to win an award that comes about as a direct result of your guests saying you provide great service is one worth winning - and that’s what’s happened for twenty of Tenerife’s hotels.

Organised by Thomas Cook Holidays, the awards recognise excellence, and it’s judged by actual guests at hotels who share their experience with the company via a Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire.

As well as awarding the best hotels it allows the company to keep on top of which hotels they use are perhaps not performing as well as others, and being able to make sure the hotels in Tenerife they offer are the best in the travel industry.

Some of the hotels that won awards are already well known to tourists, and in Playa de las Americas for example include the Bitacora and the Hotel Sol.

Los Cristianos is another well known resort popular for Tenerife holidays, and winners include the Paradise Park, Arona Gran and the Los Alisios apartments, while the Barcelo Santiago picked up honours from their hotel in Puerto de Santiago.

The Iberostar’s two hotels in Tenerife’s Costa Adeje both were among the winners, along with the Gran, ensuring all the popular areas for tourists from the UK and further afield were well represented and showing that the island is capable of providing great accommodation in different locations and it’s not just the Tenerife weather that attracts tourists.

Thomas Cook Holidays whose clients made the nominations are one of the UK’s best known travel companies, along with First Choice and Thomson.

For those who haven’t been before, the Tenerife weather is often near perfect on the southern half of the island for a holiday, while the northern half offers lush greenery and beautiful vistas. The cities are always full of life, and the glorious view of Mount Tiede, Spain’s highest point, is one many tourists remember from past visits.

For specific areas, Thomas Cook Holidays offer good information on their travel site about each one, but some of the less known areas are:

Icod de los Vinos (just Icod to the locals) is Tenerife’s premier wine-growing region. Daily life in Icod moves at a more relaxed pace than some other places on the island. If you visit Icod, be sure to visit the Dragon Tree that the locals say is thousands of years old. The beautiful Playa San Marcos with its inviting black sand can be found nearby.

La Laguna is a good place to stay if you enjoy art and architecture, and is more suited for adults than family holidays. The Cathedral dates back to 1515, and there are many interesting churches to explore. The city was once the capital of the island and still bears the regal air of an important place.

Los Gigantes is a city at the foot of massive cliffs which bears the same name. The picturesque marina offers boat trips for dolphin and whale watching, while the town has a good choice of bars, restaurants and shops while out and about.

For more information including press releases visit yourtenerife.net

Interesting statistics from the Foreign Office about some British holidaymakers visiting the island, and reported on by the Cyprus Mail - click through to them here to read the original article and for more of their travel reports.

OVER 200 Britons were detained in Cyprus in the past year as Cyprus ranked 10th among the top 20 countries where British nationals required the most consular assistance, according to a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) report released this week.

The report said 207 Britons were detained in Cyprus, including 39 – down from 48 in 2009 — on drugs charges, between April 2009 and March 2010.

There were two cases of rape, compared to 10 plus four sexual assaults the previous year.

In all, the local consulate was contacted for assistance in 736 cases.

The island sees some 1.3 million visitors from the UK every year while some 59,000 Britons are permanent residents.

The FCO said 112 people required hospitalisation.

“Younger British nationals in the resort areas, such as Ayia Napa, are often hospitilised due to accidents on hired quad or motor bikes, often involving alcohol,” the FCO said. “Other reasons for hospitalisation involve falls from buildings and fights when under the influence of alcohol.”

The FCO warned that most victims were unaware their holiday insurance will not pay if an accident happens while the person was intoxicated.

“For example, a young male fell from the roof of an apartment block while drunk and fractured his spine but his insurance declined to pay because he was drunk. His family had to pay more than 30,000 British pounds for an air ambulance to the UK,” the FCO said.

The report said FCO staff had also noticed an increase in the number of calls requesting help for Britons who want to return to the UK after several years of residency in Cyprus.

“Britons cite the lack of work opportunities and the economic downturn as reasons for their move, without having made provisions for a life abroad not working out and mistakenly believing the UK government will repatriate them.”

The FCO also warns of the risks of buying property on the island, both in the Turkish-occupied north and the government controlled areas.

“Many British nationals who have purchased property either in the north or south of Cyprus face problems caused by misleading advertising, the failure of developers to complete properties that have been purchased off plan, illegal construction or double selling.”

For the latest Cyprus weather visit yourcyprus.info

Lanzarote

There are three main towns In Lanzarote where the majority of people who visit stay:

Playa Blanca, Puerto Del Carmen and Costa Teguise.

Each is different and offers new and exciting things to do.

Accommodation in Lanzarote

The three primary accommodation types are apartments, villas and hotels. Shopping, restaurants and bars are easily accessible. Most restaurants stay open very late to accommodate those who enjoy their night life.

Playa Blanca is popular with those who take Lanzarote villa holidays but they are also available in the other areas.

Relaxation

Beaches are not in short supply - it is an island after all. Snorkeling, swimming and other water sports are readily available. Many sunbathers enjoy watching others enjoy the surf while they take in the Lanzarote weather and incredible scenery.

Nothing beats the total relaxation of a spa day. Local spas cater to seasonal visitors and provide a good way to relax and get away from it all. Sea water treatment centres are in high demand. Sea water is very soothing and therapeutic with a naturally calming effect.

Cafes, restaurants and bars are good places to catch some shade and relaxation. A cool drink helps keep the body hydrated while you enjoy the surrounding sights and sounds.

Sightseeing

Aside from waking up to the horizon outside the window, away from the beaches other locations are deserving of a tourist’s time. Playa Blanca’s new golf course and marina are two examples of the attractions in the southern part of Lanzarote.

Timanfaya National Park is a must see. Plan to spend at least a few hours and enjoy the restaurant if possible. Please keep in mind that you will be treading the top of a volcano and dress accordingly. It will likely be cooler than the rest of the island and rocky ground requires adequate footwear.

Castillo de las Coloradas gets its name from the colourful rocks on the coastline of Playa Blanca. The ruins of an historic castle that was built to help defend the island and its inhabitants from pirate attacks in the mid 1700s are just to the east of the Playa Blanca area.

One of the primary landmarks in the southern part of Lanzarote is the lighthouse, Faro de Pechiguera. Built in 1986, the lighthouse is of fairly recent construction and not that spectacular in itself.

The walk from Playa Blanca to the lighthouse however is absolutely amazing. The trek takes approximately half an hour, depending on pace and offers views of neighbouring islands Los Lobos and Fuerteventura.

Don’t Forget Sunscreen and Comfortable Shoes

The sun’s rays are well known to cause aesthetically pleasing tans as well as types of skin cancer. Take proper care of your skin while visiting the Canary Islands and take sunscreen. Drink a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration and take comfortable shoes.

Sandals and flip-flops are preferred summer wear for most people on their Lanzarote holidays. Some people even prefer to simply go barefoot.

Take more caution and be a little more practical when visiting all of the natural wonders. Hot sand can blister, slippery rocks may cause falls, and volcanic rock may cut your feet. You don’t have to wear them all the time, but you definitely need proper footwear while out sightseeing and exploring the delight that is Lanzarote.

Visit yourlanzarote.net for more information and social media like twitter for thoughts from those on their trip right now.

The Irish Times has written about a visit to Pissouri Bay.

AS I’M HOISTED off the back of the speedboat by a parachute billowing loudly in the wind, my vertigo suddenly comes to mind. It’s not the best time to remember that I’m not great with heights but, unless I want to make a complete fool of myself by flapping even more wildly than the brightly coloured silk behind me, there’s no way back onto the boat.

I climb higher and higher, close my eyes and wait for the end. Then the parachute falls silent and, as I fly in glorious sunshine high above Pissouri Bay on the south coast of Cyprus, the fear of plunging to my death fades and I find myself enjoying my first paragliding experience.

It is just one of a range of water-based activities offered at the five-star Colombia Beach Resort which sits on the edge of this little known bay. It is, however, the one which best showcases the resort’s finest qualities and one of its weaknesses.

Pissouri Bay is a breeding ground for turtles and even from a height of 200m, little families of the creatures can be seen meandering about on the sea bed, a crystal clear indication of how clean the water here is. From on high, the resort’s remoteness is also striking. Thanks to restrictions imposed by the RAF base nearby, the concrete hotel complexes and strips which have eaten away at the coastline near the island’s resort towns of Ayia Napa and Limassol, are nowhere to be seen.

Its remoteness is also its weakness. The nearest town is a fair hike away so, once you’re here, particularly at night, you are reliant on the resort for entertainment and, at least when I was there, the entertainment was patchy.

The 94-suite resort has been designed as homage to the Cypriot village and the locally sourced stone-clad “houses” draped in flowering bougainvilleas stretch down towards the bay. Instead of a village square, there is a beautiful 80-metre infinity pool, with a swim-up bar.

There are two restaurants – a tavern which sells good quality Greek Cypriot food and the distinctly fancier Dionysus where white-gloved waiting staff serve white chocolate risottos alongside elaborate glazes and palate-cleaning sorbets.

Some of the suites have stunning views of the lagoon-style pool and the shimmering sea just beyond it; others are less well situated and guests who have views of some fairly unkempt patches of grass might be just a little miffed.

Cyprus, one of the larger islands in the Mediterranean, was a British colony until 1960 when it was granted independence for the first time in a history stretching back to the ancient Greeks.

It lasted just 14 years and in 1974, the Turks invaded the northern and predominantly Muslim part of Cyprus. After a brief but bloody conflict, the UN stepped in and partitioned the island. The border remains today as does much of the bitterness.

Many British influences also remain: the Cypriots drive on the left and most speak excellent English, which makes things considerably easier for tourists from this part of the world.

AFTER MY white-knuckle paraglide, I needed a sit down and luckily there’s a sofa close to the shore. Unfortunately, it’s a “crazy sofa” (a large, inflatable tied to a boat parked by the resort’s jetty). This crazy Sofa is hilarious and those of us brave (or foolish) enough to give it a whirl are pulled around the bay at breakneck speed, getting tossed all over the place with the speedboat captain taking a, frankly, unseemly delight in our screams.

After the extreme couch-surfing comes some gentle windsurfing. The resort takes justifiable pride in the sailing and windsurfing classes it offers to children and adults, whether they’re total novices or experts. The resident windsurfing expert is Colin Brown. He’s a methodical, softly spoken Englishman who turned 60 this year.

He also happens to be one of Britain’s most respected political journalists. He was the political editor of the Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Telegraph before he retired and relocated here to ride the waves.

Within an hour I’m a windsurfing god. For three beautiful seconds, then it all falls apart and I fall off the board in slapstick fashion.

Brown may be a good teacher but I am a bad pupil and the only phrase I take in amid all the talk of tacking and jibing is “the walk of shame”. One of the nice things about the bay is its natural safety. If you lose control of the board, you’ll be blown inland and not out to sea, so the worst that can happen is you’ll have to do this walk of shame up the hot sand to the windsurfing school with the board on your back. I’m only spared this because I can’t stay on the board long enough to be blown anywhere. To continue reading the article click here

For today’s Cyprus weather visit yourcyprus.info

Incoming revenue from Cyprus’s key tourism sector plunged 17.1 percent in April when the eruption of the Icelandic volcano severely disrupted flights across Europe, official figures showed on Thursday.

Last month at least 20,000 holidaymakers failed to make it to the eastern Mediterranean island, even though both of its international airports remained open. Total arrivals in Cyprus in April were down 23 percent.

More than 350 flights between Cyprus and Britain and northern Europe — the country’s major tourism markets — were cancelled during the mid-April volcanic ash cloud alert.

In April, tourism revenue dipped to 89 million euros, down from 107.4 million in the same month of 2009. Tourism income has been in steady decline since December 2008.

Income from tourism, which accounts for nearly 12 percent of gross domestic product, dropped to an estimated 1.49 billion euros for the whole of last year, down from 1.79 billion euros in 2008 and 1.85 billion euros in 2007.

For the four months ending in April income fell 6.1 percent to 218.2 million euros from 232.3 million euros during the same period in 2009.

The average daily amount spent by tourists in April was 62.7 euros and the average stay was 10.2 days.

Swiss were the biggest spenders at 105.8 euros a day, while the Greeks were the most frugal, spending just 50.7 euros a day on average.

Most tourists to Cyprus come from fellow recession-affected EU countries, especially Britain, Greece and Germany.

Bumper spending by holidaymakers helped the island achieve GDP growth of 4.4 percent in 2007, easing to 3.7 percent in 2008.

On the back of poor tourism receipts, the economy retracted by 1.7 percent in 2009, its worst performance since 1974.

The finance ministry expects the economy to grow by 0.5 percent in 2010 but the Cyprus central bank has warned the downturn could continue until 2011.

Cyprus is currently trying to reduce a fiscal deficit that ballooned to 6.1 percent of GDP in 2009 — double the EU’s permitted ceiling of three percent.

For Cyprus flights visit yourcyprus.info