The British Consulate is situated in Corfu Town and is open Monday to Friday 08.00-13.30. Tel: 26610- 30055, 23457 Fax: 26610–37995
corfu@british-consulate.gr. The consulate can issue emergency passports, and offer advice on the transfer of funds in cases of emergency. They are not authorised to pay bills or interfere in civil litigation or provide legal advice or translations.
There is very little crime on the island and the Corfiots are by nature an honest race. However, you can never take too many precautions and it is worth locking valuables away in safety deposit boxes.
Greece uses the Euro.
Laws introduced in 1987 give severe sentences for drug offences. Even possession of a very small quantity carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years and huge fines. Anyone convicted of causing the use of drugs by individuals below the age of 18 may be imprisoned for life. The use of the following prescriptive drugs must be with the full permission of the Greek authorities: Cocaine; codeine; opium; morphine; demoral; methodine; all synthetic narcotics; opium derivatives and amphetamines.
Unfortunately few provisions are made for the disabled but there is suitable accommodation available and certain facilities with access for wheelchairs. Local agencies should be able to offer advice and the Greek National Tourist Organisation will have further details. There are public toilets situated on the Esplanade in Corfu Town with lifts for wheelchairs.
Voltage here in Corfu is 220 volts/50HZ and two pin plugs are used.
There are many excursions available, some of which are excellent value for money. The Greek night for instance is a must. Island tours and boat trips are also widely available.
Travel offices, as well as banks, offer exchange facilities. You will need your passport when changing travellers cheques. Although most banks are situated in Corfu town, there are plenty of exchange facilities in all resorts.
The tourist season in Corfu is from May to October. Early May can be very quiet but from mid May to June it is pleasant and uncrowded. July and August are the two very busy months and September can be very busy without being crowded. The first two weeks of October are pleasant, but please be aware that the last couple of weeks of October sees many places closing so you may be limited for choice of places to go.
One thing the British find particularly gruesome is the toilet paper goes into a bin and not down the loo. This is because the pipe system is very narrow and cannot cope with large amounts of waste. However, if you complain about it, just remember the British introduced the drainage system during their rule of the island so we only have ourselves to blame!
Bars are licenced to sell alcohol from early morning till late evening and there are places open until the early hours of the morning in Dassia. Breakfast and snack bars usually open about 9.00am and evening meals in restaurants are usually served until around 11.00pm, although there are kebab shops open until the early hours of the morning.
There is one market in Corfu Town which sells a wide range of fresh vegetables, fish and fresh herbs.
The most hated living thing on the island! Mozzies are a pain in the backside but are here to stay! The shops here have a wide range of insect repellents as well as machines that can be plugged into your room in the evening. These items are usually cheaper here than in the UK.
There are several police forces in Corfu and the Tourist Police are there to help visitors with various problems and complaints. The main tourist police office is in Corfu Town, tel: 22610-39503, 30265. There is also a local branch located in Ipsos - tel: 26610-93204
The main post office is situated on Alexandras Avenue in Corfu Town, although there are some sub post offices in various villages. The main sorting office for the Dassia area is located in Tzavros, just a few miles away. Post boxes in Corfu are yellow and are normally affixed to walls. Shops and kiosks usually sell stamps, but there is sometimes a small charge on the value price.
Obviously prices range from place to place, but Dassia on the whole is a good value for money resort. A large glass of wine in Shakes is around £1.50 Spirits are £2.50 for a double measure including mixer; Draught and bottled beers obviously depend on the brand but a pint of local lager is around £2 and imported beers such as John Smith’s are around £2.80 a pint. Soft drinks start from about 70p. Some of the hotels can be very expensive.
Eating out can be as cheap or as expensive as you like. There are a few very cheap tavernas in Dassia and a three course meal can be had for around £10, it does of course depend on what you order. Restaurants are generally very reasonably priced with starters from around £1.50 and fillet steaks for instance start at about £7.00. The quality of fresh meat here is superb and some of the local Corfiot dishes are delicious. There are numerous excellent restaurants to try which is the main reason we would not recommend any of the all inclusive options. Please be aware the portions in some of the cheaper restaurants can be very small so you may end up spending more by having to order more so it may not be quite as cost effective as it looks on the menu displayed.
The main religion of the Greeks in Corfu is Greek Orthodox. The Holy Trinity Anglican Church is situated in Corfu Town and the church's permanent Chaplain is the Rev. P. Clifford Owen.. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St James is situated in Town Hall Square and holds regular mass.
Most shops in Corfu Town are open 8.00-14.00 and 17.00-21.00 Tues/Thurs/Fri and 8.00-14.00 Mon/Wed/Sat. There are also tourist shops that stay open all day and on Sunday. Shops in resorts are usually open from early morning until late evening. There is a good choice of souvenir shops and supermarkets in Dassia most of which are open from early morning until late evening.
Taxi prices have improved dramatically over the years and are now far more controlled than they were. Unfortunately taxi drivers did gain a bad reputation for 'ripping off' tourists but hopefully that is now a thing of the past. Guideline price lists are now available, letting you know roughly how much you should pay. The airport to Dassia should be around £7.00. Dassia to Ipsos should be in the region of £3.00
There are plenty of telephone boxes around the island that accept phone cards. The cards are available from most shops and kiosks. Travel offices usually have telephone facilities available.
Greece is two hours ahead of Britain.
The tap water in Corfu is perfectly safe to drink, although it has a high mineral content that may upset some and it often doesn’t taste very nice. Bottled water is widely available and inexpensive. Fresh water is also available, free of charge, from public wells. The tap water is perfectly safe for brushing teeth and washing.
There is a very good article written by the Holy Trinity's permanent Chaplain, the Rev. P. Clifford Owen, which you will find here:
Corfu Weddings
GREAT SHAKES BAR 
