Power sockets are two pin and the voltage is 220 so bring an appropriate adaptor/transformer with you for your hair dryer etc. Don't forget that you will need a transformer for radios, cd players and the like if you are coming from the States. Island's supply is good during the summer months but there tend to be a few power cuts in wet weather. Bring a surge protector with you for your portable PC.

Greeks living abroad will of course need to contact their Embassy to renew their passports etc., and might find this section handy. But really we have included it for those who are not European and will need a visa to enter Greece.

It is also a handy section for couples wishing to marry in Greece, because they will need to visit the Greek embassy in their country of origin to get their documents officially translated and obtain apostil stamps. And of course the contact details will be useful to anyone who needs documents translated, for example property purchase contracts.

Read more for a full alphabetical list of all the embassies worldwide

Water although the name implies water, Hydra has no natural water available. The water from the taps, etc, is supplied by the mains system via pipes that pump the water from a number of huge tanks above the town. The tanks are replenished on a daily basis with water that is shipped over from the mainland. Some houses on the island have their own fresh water cisternas and the town's water supply is augmented with this collected rainwater.

There is no real postal delivery service to the houses on Hydra. All post is sent to the Post Office where it is put into PO boxes or a filing system for the addressees to collect. The address for anyone on the island is simply their name, their PO number if they have one, Poste Restante, Hydra, Greece, 180-40.

Since 2000 the telephone lines to Hydra have been digital and it is now possible to get ISDN and ASDL. Hydra has a telephone exchange operated by the National Provider OTE. The dialling code for the island is 22980 and this code, even when you're on the island, is required with the actual telephone number.