To expensive to holiday in Turkey, North Cyprus??

[frugal90]

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/europe ... t-town/amp

Any comments??

[mrsgee]

Yes, it is very expensive now both Turkey and Northern Cyprus, there are much cheaper alternatives for Brits, and I think that is why we are seeing a huge decline in tourism here in trnc. For a country that is so highly dependent on tourism it is the death knell for sure. Sad but true.

[waddo]

Got to ask - why do you think people came to Cyprus in the 90’s and up to 2010 for instance? The South had Aya Napa but what did the North have? Good weather, cheap food, cheap drinks, cheap houses to invest in, a place of relative safety peace and quiet, reasonable - if quirky at times - air travel? A place where time stood still! What has changed here and what has changed in the rest of the World? Progress! Nothing stays the same forever for sure but people will still come! Those’d of us who have lived here for 15 years and more would have seen the changes here and either adapted to the New Life or moved on in search of greener grass - it’s said that grass is always greener on the other side of the fence but when you stop and look back, having lived the same number of years on the other side of the fence, I wonder how many of us would be glad we jumped over the fence? The World continues to turn and all things change in time, just be happy with your choice in life as you get older and stop worrying over what might be happening tomorrow, only concern yourselves with things under your control, the other things will happen no matter where you live or take your holidays!

[munchy]

We started coming to North Cyprus in 1982, it was idylic. There was very little of anything but everywhere we went we were met with a smiling face ,and generosity. You did not need much money, the Land and climate provided almost everything. At that time there were a total of 240 expats in the whole of North Cyprus. It was this image of unspoilt emptyness that made it so attractive. Indeed it was advertised as A LITTLE CORNER OF PARADISE IN THE MED. As Waddo said, change is inevitable. Keep Life simple and enjoy the little nuggets of " Paradise " that still exist.
.

[Reyntj]

The article is nonsense really because antalya has always been dead in january..

Same as bodrum..

Ive been several times this time of year & actually im flying today at 3.40 ..2 days 5 star hotel all inclusive c £90 per day 2 adults and 1 9 year old...


Nothing expensive about that...

Id never go to a benidorm or the like..no thanks

To think nobody will come here now because its the same price as everywhere else is blinkered..

Not all countries want bargain loving brits ...and its not everyones top agenda to find the cheapest place to eat out...

A lot of these articles are in newspapers whose demographic readers are the ones seeking benidorm etc absolutely nothing wrong with that . You can holiday here self catering as cheap as anywhere. I know brits here who have came on holiday here and never eat out anyway...

[Hair Cut]

Flight prices to the TRNC are also killing it.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

To think nobody will come here now because its the same price as everywhere else is blinkered..

Not all countries want bargain loving brits ...and its not everyones top agenda to find the cheapest place to eat out...

So how would you sell North Cyprus?

The historical sights? The beaches? The cuisine? The facilities? That it’s unspoilt? The convenience? The shops?

Sure most countries want tourists with more money in their pockets but the competition for those tourists is cut throat. Your offer has to be good.

What does North Cyprus offer that you can’t get better at that price elsewhere?

If you offer McDonald’s you get McDonald’s customers unless your prices aren’t McDonald’s prices in which case you don’t get anyone.
North Cyprus tourism thrived on return business, after visiting once what would bring you back now rather than try somewhere else?

[Brazen]

To think nobody will come here now because its the same price as everywhere else is blinkered..

Not all countries want bargain loving brits ...and its not everyones top agenda to find the cheapest place to eat out...

So how would you sell North Cyprus?

The historical sights? The beaches? The cuisine? The facilities? That it’s unspoilt? The convenience? The shops?

Sure most countries want tourists with more money in their pockets but the competition for those tourists is cut throat. Your offer has to be good.

What does North Cyprus offer that you can’t get better at that price elsewhere?

If you offer McDonald’s you get McDonald’s customers unless your prices aren’t McDonald’s prices in which case you don’t get anyone.
North Cyprus tourism thrived on return business, after visiting once what would bring you back now rather than try somewhere else?

The repeat visitors are mainly those who have property here and I doubt that any others would come more than once. Many that have property here are selling, or trying to.

[Reyntj]

If the brits go to benidorm instead i doubt it will have much effect. C80% of tourists here are from turkey..

I can only see more coming as turkey gets wealthier and is the same price more or less .

Another stat i saw was tourism is only 14% of gdp..


& The restautants we see are.mostly full of locals by us..many of them minted..some have moved here from turkey as they like it here.





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[benjaminbutton]

A couple of weeks or so, I accidentally came across some thing on You Tube to the effect of "Shopping in Harrods Food Hall" Forget the Caviar at 1,800 pounds a pot and such like but it concentrated on basics i.e back bacon, eggs, milk , small chicken and mushroom pies, fresh chicken slices of beef and hams, cheeses, wholemeal loaf, pure fruit juices , yoghurts, fresh fruit and veges all of which were superb quality. With one or two exceptions the prices were lower or no more than those of Sha, Illelis etc plus you got a Harrods bag as well. I think the programme was fairly up to date but it certainly gave "food for thought"!!!!!

[waddo]

Is that "On-Line" and do they deliver? If we had to go there to collect how much do we add for the transport costs - lol.

[Reyntj]

Eggs are a multiple of the price.in the uk.
There are c 70 million people in the uk this is a small island importing and doesnt have the economies of scale and competition compared to uk.

The notion that somebody wouldnt come on a self catering holiday here because a tin of beans is cheaper in aldi has little merit imo.

[Keithcaley]

Eggs are a multiple of the price.in the uk.
There are c 70 million people in the uk this is a small island importing and doesnt have the economies of scale and competition compared to uk.

The notion that somebody wouldnt come on a self catering holiday here because a tin of beans is cheaper in aldi has little merit imo.

[benjaminbutton]

My general point being, as you well know, is by and large to buy a basket of basics in some of the Supermarkets here would be the same as Harrods Food Hall , which, bearing in mind peoples comments re cost of living I thought would be of interest. Why do people always refer to Baked Beans as "being" the arbiter? Strange that.

[Reyntj]

My general point is that the thread ,as you well know, is its too expensive to holiday in north cyprus..

Why do people always make obscure comparisons? Strange that.

& Baked beans is the obvious arbiter. It encapsulates a basket of staple british goods that are cheaper in the uk than here. They always have cost more here.

Ive never seen a mushroom pie.for sale here? Its hardly a basic...maybe for some but ive never ate one..turkish are not known to be pie eaters...i really doubt people will be making comparisons of mushroom pie prices to decide their next holiday destination....

1.7 mill tourists came here last year thats as.much. as ever coupled with a population that has exploded..

[Brazen]

Eggs are a multiple of the price.in the uk.
There are c 70 million people in the uk this is a small island importing and doesnt have the economies of scale and competition compared to uk.

The notion that somebody wouldnt come on a self catering holiday here because a tin of beans is cheaper in aldi has little merit imo.

Aren’t eggs in the supermarkets produced here?

[EnjoyingTheSun]

The repeat visitors are mainly those who have property here and I doubt that any others would come more than once. Many that have property here are selling, or trying to.

To a point plus of course people visiting relatives who live here.

That said before moving here we used to visit once a year and talking to one of the smaller but very successful hotels out here a lot of their business was repeat trade although recently that is drying up.

My eyes tell me tourism isn’t doing as well but maybe the big casino/hotels are doing well. But that doesn’t benefit TRNC and won’t until they charge them a sensible amount of tax. I am usually very against high taxation for businesses but you could quadruple the tax bill for the casino/hotels out here and they would be getting a bargain. Just tax them on the gambling turnover. Very easy to do, very easy to monitor and difficult to evade. They do well, TRNC does well, business goes through a slow year, the tax goes down

[Charlieboy]

The trouble is that this place is a third world country with first word prices

[kibsolar1999]

The trouble is that this place is a third world country with first word prices

this is not correct. i think you have to visit a "third world country" to see that TRNC is not third world.
TRNC is (approx) an "average" country. the BIP is, approx, "average".
"all works" , but sometimes not. eg, we have 1/2 an hour a day no electricity. in a third world country you have 1/2 an hour electricity.
island are always a bit more expensive.
but yes, prices are high, which can not be explained with a, eg, "high minimum wage" or "being an island" or "we are not recognised".
it is not really to be understood why in a turkish shop in germany the prices for turkish products are lower as in Sah or Supreme.

[benjaminbutton]

I was having coffee this morning with a TRNC husband and wife (they have a business) and subject of cost of living naturally came up. He said quite clearly "if this wasn't my country, I wouldn't come here because its too expensive" I said, well you have a vote - use it to help make a difference. "THEY only do what the mainland tell them, so what is the point. " There was not a lot more to say on the subject really.

[poppy++1]

Reyntj. Sent you an email have you received it ????

Please could you let me know
Thank you

[Reyntj]

Yes i saw an email but then it vanished?

I stayed in megasaray hotel in konyaalti booked on hotels.com. all inclusive says it 5 star. Good location on the sea front lots of bars restsurants etc.

Its an older 5 star hotel buffet food reasonable quality. 600 tl taxi to airport.

Shopping mall is near airport we went there as stayed in isnova hotel 50 euro per night ..clean 4 star hotel. Mall of antalya nearby which has an outlet section 60% off tommy hilfiger plus further 20% if you buy 2 items. Bought a jacket for c £50..that i saw yesterday in john lewis for £200. There is another mall in antalya but its not in konyaalti its in the centre. when i stayed in lara before you could easily get a bus to both of these malls if you didnt want to pay a taxi.



The megasaray hotel was good value for 2 adults and child £90 a day. We dont drink it wasnt top shelf drinks..

2.days was enough. It was busy especially on sunday along the promenade. Cafe restaurant prices looked similar to trnc. I had a coke for 95 tl in a nice sports bar i pay 100 tl here in similar.

I stayed several times in titanic hotel in lara which is more impressive..heated big outdoor pool more food options but think that was £200 + per day when i looked.

[poppy++1]

Thank you Reyntj for all the information, most helpful
Have a good evening

[waz-24-7]

Turkey is most definitely cheaper now than North Cyprus for general essentials such as food and household items.
For cars turkey is about 50% more than TRNC and 100% plus more than UK.
TRNC construction project continue at pace. Property prices have gone up remarkably since war in Ukraine.
House prices in Turkey are also now much higher and continue to fluctuate as the economy and currency seeks stability.
Interest rates have recently fallen to 45%

Anywhere in the world has its attractions , benefits and drawbacks.
Each to his own.
Its getting rather more difficult now to find a welcoming hassle free offshore bolt hole as the world becomes smaller and smaller.

[Charlieboy]

Waz do you think that if interest rates continue to fall the tl will strengthen

[frugal90]

As the Turkish interest rates fall, the TL will weaken imho

[waz-24-7]

As the Turkish interest rates fall, the TL will weaken imho

As interest rates fall. Investors see less opportunity and the currency is less attractive. The result of that is a fall off in relative value of the currency.
Essentially £1 will be buy more tl

[EnjoyingTheSun]

As the Turkish interest rates fall, the TL will weaken imho

The TL is not seen as a safe storage place for wealth. That said if you offer 50% interest rates then people will stick money into TL because they are getting odds. That’s not to say they will invest long term, which is what you need, because the currency is too volatile.
It’s a bit like the Grand National, do I think Steptoe’s horse is going to win? Not a chance, I’ll back something else.
Put Steptoe’s horse’s odds at 10,000 to 1 I’ll put a pound on it as you never know and I’d feel sick if by some miracle……