Summer 2017 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 Head Rep, Hannah McClellan! Lynne Resort Manager Hannah Head 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. 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. - 1 -
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, satellite TV, telephone, mini fridge, en-suite, 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 able to cope with 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 83100 Telephone: 0030 227 302 8532 (Hotel) 0030 69442 99981 (Lynne Martin Resort Manager) 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 can! Our waterfront is an RYA Training Centre and the RYA Instructors offer joyrides, tasters, refresher and full sailing and windsurfing courses. You can book a complimentary joyride, taster or refresher and there is an extra charge for full courses. - 2 -
A briefing is provided for you by our staff team. This is compulsory if you wish to use the watersports equipment during your holiday and you will be asked to complete a health information form and sign a declaration before using the equipment. 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 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. You will need to complete a Health Declaration form prior to participation. Tennis Sessions Richmond Staff will be running complementary tennis sessions during your stay. This is another fun way to get a bit of exercise on your holiday and to meet other like-minded guests perhaps arranging matches throughout the week. You will need to complete a Health Declaration form prior to participation. 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 Richmond s Mountain Bike Trail Leader. 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 approx 14km from Samos Town. The web site address for this centre is www.samosdiving.com Tel: 0032273062517 if you want to book. Car hire: Our resort staff can book this 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 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 Yiá sas (yeea sas): Hello Ti Kanis?: How are you? - 3 -
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. 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 Samos Island Tour Captain s Barbecue day trip 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 repellant and/or plug in repellant, 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 0300 222 0000. 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 www.greekembassy.org.uk or telephone 020 7313 5609. 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 email 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 0300 3301350 or online from their website: www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1073.aspx?categoryid=68&subcategoryid=159 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 very helpful website we recommend: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx If you have booked flights through Richmond When arriving at Gatwick south terminal there will be a Germania desk. Using your E-ticket and your passport you can checkin both yourself and your bags. Check-in opens two hours prior to flight departure. Remember to keep hold of your E-ticket, as you will need it to check-in for your return journey and you may also be asked to present it at immigration at your destination airport. You can have 20kg of checked in luggage and 6kg of hand luggage. Germania have recently advised us that the boarding passes issued at the airport may state Mrs for female guests, even if the title on your booking is Ms or Miss. This is due to standardised formatting within Germania, that unfortunately, we at Richmond cannot change. We apologise for this and hope this does not cause any unintended offence. - 4 -
Your flight will include a hot meal, as well as complimentary cold drinks, tea and coffee. Please do ensure that the Richmond office know of any dietary requirements with as much notice as possible. 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 white 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 020 3004 2661 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 breakfast or lunch 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 Pastor Teacher and children s and teen s workers. 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 school holidays 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 minister to our guests. Our goal is that in every way you will be refreshed and encouraged in your personal relationship with God. All our holidays have a formal time for praise and worship, prayer and teaching from God s Word. Most days begin with an optional Morning Prayer Meeting and in the early evening there will be the Main Meeting, informal in style, with Bible teaching, praise and prayer. We hope that these meetings will be a key element of your holiday. The Ministry Meeting will be led by our Pastor Teacher who is dedicated each week to teaching from God s Word in a way that resonates with our guests. We pray that each guest will hear personally from God in their own life s circumstances. 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 Pastor Teacher is also available to meet you personally during the day or evening to talk, listen, counsel and pray 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 email or telephone: info@richmond-holidays.com or 020 3004 2661. 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! facebook.com/richmondhols @RichmondHols Instagram.com/RichmondHolidays - 5 -