Samos - Summer A big welcome from our Resort Manger, Lynne Martin and our Admin Rep, Basma Stone!

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1 Samos - Summer 2018 Thank you for booking your holiday at the Zefiros Beach Hotel in Samos with Richmond Holidays! We are committed to the provision of outstanding holidays, where the enjoyment of God s creation and having fun together is combined with inspiring Bible teaching, great praise and the care of Christian love and friendship for everyone involved. A big welcome from our Resort Manger, Lynne Martin and our Admin Rep, Basma Stone! Lynne Resort Manager Basma Admin Rep About Samos The island of Samos sits at the southern end of the Aegean Sea to the east of the Greek mainland and only a mile from the Turkish coastline which makes for stunning views from the resort. Samos is a large, mountainous island and is particularly famous for its sweet wines and wonderful local potteries. This island has something for everyone, including rustic hill villages, sandy beaches, mountains, stunning scenery, attractive coves and lush forests. It is truly one of Greece s most beautiful, unspoilt islands. Climate and Temperatures The climate in Samos consists of mild winters and warm summers. Temperatures reach a pleasant 22-27⁰C daily maximum by May. Daily highs reach 27-33⁰C in June and in the 30s in July and August. High temperatures are cooled by a delightful breeze along the coastlines. Rainfall in summer is very rare, with the sun shining for approximately 11 hours a day

2 The beach at the hotel tends to receive cross offshore winds that build through the day, giving ideal sailing and windsurfing conditions as the water remains relatively calm. Hotel Information The hotel facilities include tennis court, table tennis, swimming pool, toddler s pool, small playground, pool bar, lounge bar and a courtesy hotel mini-bus with free daily rides to Pythagoria or Samos Town. The hotel reception is open approximately 7am to midnight. Reception has safety deposit boxes available at approx. 10 Euro. You may set up a tab with the hotel for purchases during your stay. Beach: The beach is across the small road from the hotel. The beach is pebbly, so beach shoes are very useful for entering and exiting the water. Sunbeds are available for hire on the beach. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available free of charge around the hotel pool. Beach towels can be obtained from reception for a small returnable deposit. Room facilities include hair dryers, towels, flat-screen TV, telephone, mini fridge, en-suite and a balcony with table and chairs. Meals: Breakfast and dinner are included in your holiday package. Lunch can be purchased at the Pool Snack Bar. This offers a wide range of good value drinks, ices and lunch options (burgers, salads, sandwiches, crepes etc.) between 11am and 6pm daily. In high season there are tavernas and restaurants within walking distance along the beach. Bottles of water can be purchased from the bar and hotel. The tap water in Samos is unsuitable for drinking. Hotel Tab: Payments to the hotel can be paid by MasterCard, Visa or cash. Room tabs may be used and settled at the end of your stay or individual payments in cash made throughout your stay. The hotel asks that card transactions are a 30 minimum. Plumbing: the plumbing systems on most Greek islands are not suitable for toilet tissue and so small bins will be provided in all toilet facilities including your en-suite bathroom. Please place toilet paper in these bins which are emptied every day. Hotel Contact Details Zefiros Beach Hotel Mykali Beach Samos, Greece Telephone: (Hotel) (Resort Manager) (Standard UK Landline Rate) Activities Water Sports Sailing, windsurfing, sit-on-top kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are available from the waterfront on the beach in front of the hotel and are exclusive to Richmond guests. Use of our wide range of sailing dinghies and windsurf boards and rigs is included in your holiday and we welcome and encourage you to get out on the water as much as you like! - 2 -

3 Our waterfront is an RYA Training Centre and our RYA Qualified Instructors offer sailing joyrides, taster sessions and full sailing and windsurfing courses. We provide tasters and joyrides at no extra cost and charge only if you wish to complete an RYA accredited sailing or windsurfing course. More information about these courses is available on our website and in resort. A briefing is provided for you by our staff team which is compulsory if you wish to use the watersports equipment during your holiday. Buoyancy aids will be provided. Wetsuits are not provided by Richmond and are generally not needed as the Greek weather and water are both very warm, however if you would like to wear a wetsuit then please bring one with you. Rash vests to wear with shorts are recommended for sailing and windsurfing. You may also want to consider bringing sailing gloves, wetsuit shoes, a cap and sunglasses with a retaining strap. Wellness Classes Throughout June, July and August, complimentary fitness classes will be available for our adult guests and will be run by qualified Richmond staff members. Please note that if you intend to participate in these classes and you have any unresolved or recent injuries or if you have any chronic health condition, you should contact your doctor before your trip to enquire whether this type of exercise is suitable for you and whether any adaptations are necessary. Tennis Sessions Richmond Staff will be running complimentary tennis sessions and competitions during your stay. This is another fun way to get a bit of exercise on your holiday and to meet other like-minded guests. Cycling Richmond has a range of hybrid bikes available for guest use along with helmets, puncture repair kits and basic safety equipment. These will be available for use by our guests free of charge, and there will be group rides along a range of routes around the island this will be a great way to explore a bit more of Samos whilst getting some exercise and making new friends! Group cycles will be organised and lead by a Richmond staff member. If you would like to cycle in Samos please bring trainers or similar closed toe shoes; we also advise gloves for keen riders, a small rucksack and water bottle. Local Information Samos Beaches: Samos boasts several delightful beaches around the island and most can be discovered if you hire a car locally. Most beaches consist of sand or shingle and have Tavernas where you can buy snacks and refreshments. Once a week resort staff will usually organise a group to stroll around to the nearby sandy beach at Psilli Amos which also has a lovely Taverna (about 30 minutes gentle walk). Diving Centre: There is a diving centre in Pythagoria approximately 8km from the Zefiros Beach Hotel. The web site address for this centre is Car hire: Subject to availability, our resort staff can book this for you either when you arrive, or in advance (please contact the UK office if you would like this to be pre-arranged for you). You will require a full UK driving licence; child seats are available on request; and vehicles are fully insured including collision damage waiver. Cars will be delivered to the hotel. Please allow at least 48 hours notice for our staff to book the cars especially in high season to avoid disappointment. Mopeds: we recommend that you do not hire these whilst out in resort. Your insurance is unlikely to cover you if you were to have an accident. Post Office: in local towns; open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 2pm. Pharmacies: usually open Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm. Banks: open Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 2pm and Friday from 8.30am to 1.30pm. Cash Machines: located in Pythagoria and Samos Town there is no cash machine within walking distance of the hotel. Time zone: Samos is GMT + 2 Internet access: There is Wi-Fi available for guests in the hotel in reception and the bar areas. There is no Wi-Fi in the rooms. Some Greek conversational words: Kaliméra (kaleemera): Good Morning Kalispéra (kaleespera): Good Evening Kaliníhta (kaleeneechta): Good Night - 3 -

4 Yiá sas (yeea sas): Hello Ti Kanis?: How are you? Kalá efharistó. Esí? (Kala effchareesto. Esee?): I m fine thanks, and you? Efharistó poli (Effchareesto polee) : Thank you very much Parakaló: You re welcome / Please Activities and Excursions in Samos As well as participating in our range of water sports, cycling and tennis, there is a great deal to see and do on the island of Samos. A courtesy hotel shuttle bus runs to the local towns of Pythagoria and Samos on alternate days. Alternatively, a taxi to these locations will cost approximately 15 and can be ordered from reception. Our Richmond Rep will be happy to organise car hire for you if you would like to explore the island on your own. In addition, we offer a range of excursions provided by local companies including: Boat trip to Patmos, including the cave of St. John and the monastery and UNESCO world heritage site in Hora Boat trip to Turkey (return ferry) Boat trip to Turkey including Ephesus tour Samos Island Tour Captain s Barbecue day trip Trip to Vourliotes Farm An evening at a local outdoor cinema Prices for excursions and more details will be available from your Richmond Rep in resort. Please note: all of these excursions are subject to amendment. Booking and Paying for Richmond Activities Your reps will gladly book a range of activities and excursions for you in resort which will be advertised during your welcome meeting. If there is something specific that you would like to do while you are in resort it is worth ringing the office to chat this over in advance. Any activities that incur an extra cost which are bookable through Richmond (waterfront lessons, excursions booked by your Richmond Rep, some local trips) are chargeable in GBP and payable by debit or credit card whilst in resort. Your reps will keep a tab for you throughout your stay and inform you when this needs to be paid at the end of your holiday. Before You Go Useful items to pack include beach shoes, mosquito repellent and/or plug in repellent, driver s license (if you intend to hire a car), sunglasses and high factor sun cream, plug adaptor (UK to European, i.e. three to two pin). Passports: Your passport should be a valid 10 year passport or a valid five year passport for those under 16. We recommend that if your passport is in the last full year, you contact the UK Passport Office for advice on renewing your passport on Generally, most countries require you to have at least 6 months left on your passport from the date of your return into the UK. If you do not have a British Nationals passport we advise that you enquire about whether you require a visa with the Greek Embassy in London. Embassy of Greece or telephone It is recommended you take a photocopy of the final page with your photo on and to keep it separately from your passport. Travel Insurance Details and European Health Card: We recommend that you take a copy of your confirmation invoice which you should have received from us either by post or and a copy of your travel insurance information. This is so that if you require any information on this document, you can access this information whilst on holiday should you need to. It is important to bring a valid EHIC card with you, which can be used if for any reason you need medical attention during your holiday in Samos. You can order a EHIC card by phone on or online from their website: Any information or doctors notes that would be helpful to assist you or that state that you are fit to travel might be important to have with you. Vaccinations: Prior to your holiday, we recommend you check with your GP or health practitioner if any immunisations or boosters are required for you. Also, there is a helpful website here: If you have booked flights through Richmond When arriving at Gatwick South terminal there will be a EnterAir desk. Using your passport you can check-in both yourself and your bags. Check-in opens at least two hours prior to flight departure. We advise taking your E-ticket with you on both your outbound and inbound flights, for reference. You can have 20kg of checked in luggage and 5kg of hand luggage. Meals are available to purchase on the flight, as well as drinks and snacks

5 When You Arrive Return airport transfers are included if you have booked our package holiday. When you arrive at Samos airport you will be met by a friendly Richmond Rep: please look out for the blue shirted uniform of the Richmond staff holding a Richmond sign. If you have booked your own flights and not arranged airport transfers and would like to, please contact us on and we would be delighted to add this service to your booking. In either case, if you are bringing a windsurf board with you, please tell us in advance in order for this to be added to your airport transfers. There is an additional cost per surfboard of 10 each way payable in advance please call the office to organise this. Upon arrival at the hotel you will be welcomed by one of our Richmond resort team. Your first meal on the day of your arrival will be the evening meal. If you require lunch or snacks on the day of your arrival, you can purchase this at the hotel. A Welcome Meeting will be held on the first evening of your holiday. This will introduce you to the Richmond resort team, waterfront staff, Richmond Ministry Leader and children s and teen s workers in high season. The daily timetable will be explained and our exciting range of excursions and activities will be described. Children s and Teens Clubs: these clubs are available during high season and our friendly, experienced staff will explain all the details during the welcome meeting. These include morning and afternoon activities and a separate, age appropriate, ministry time. Ministry We realise that every aspect of our relationship with our guests is in some sense ministry. All our staff in resort and in the UK office aim to bless you and pray for you by name before you arrive in Samos. Our goal is that in every way you will be refreshed and encouraged in your personal relationship with God. All our holidays have time for praise and worship, prayer and teaching from God s Word. Most days begin with an optional Morning Prayer Meeting and, on selected evenings throughout the week, there will be a Main Meeting, informal in style, with Bible teaching, praise and prayer. The Ministry Meeting will be led by our Ministry Leader who is dedicated each week to teaching from God s Word in a way that resonates with our guests. Please feel free to join in as much or as little of the ministry meetings as you like. There will usually be a service of Holy Communion on Sunday morning. Our Ministry Leader is also available to meet you personally during the day or evening to talk, listen and pray with if you would like. We look forward to welcoming you! If you have any queries at all, please do not hesitate to contact us by or telephone: info@richmond-holidays.com or We trust you have a wonderful holiday with Richmond this summer and if we can be of any further assistance to make your holiday even better, please feel free to contact one of the team here at any time. Every Blessing The Richmond Team Follow us on Social Media! You can tag us in your holiday photos! Instagram.com/RichmondHolidays - 5 -