Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Hello all,
My first post here and seeking travel advice please.
We are looking into the possibility of moving to NC.Our plans are first of all to visit and view some properties.
What is your advice on flying from the UK.Would it be via Turkey or into Larnaca,if possible,then transfer north?
Many thanks,
Michael and Renata.

Welcome to the board and good luck with your moving plans.
It's personal choice about Larnaca and Ercan.
Personally I always use Larnaca as it is a shorter flight and direct with no stop over. My husband collects me or if we go together we leave the car at the airport. You can pre book a taxi to collect and return you. Also more airlines fly in and out of Larnaca.
Others will always go via Ercan and Istanbul. You are limited to a couple of airlines, Pegasus and Turkish Airlines. I have used this route in the past but now you have to get off go through transit and do security again I can't be doing with the extra hassle. It's a shorter trip to the airport but I still prefer the Larnaca option. Will have to see what Brexit brings but it would be my first choice.

Hello and thankyou for your advice.Larnaca does seem the best option.
Is it just straight forward at the border?We would probably use a taxi.

RENT first !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi thanks.That is our plan to rent a property for maybe a year.Are there areas you would suggest or areas to avoid?

It very much depends on what you seek from Cyprus - if it's peace and quiet - I would think villages away from discos, nightclubs and town centres would be favourite. Give us an idea of what your interests are and maybe we can be more helpful.

Hi again. Yes it is straight forward at the border the taxi driver will show your passports.
Lots of car hire firms do discounted taxi fares if you hire a car from them. If not there are lots of taxi companies to choose from. We use Hassan from Catalkoy. His phone number is 0533 840 3887.

Thanks Panchocat taxi number logged.
Thanks Groucho.I am 65 next month and my partner,Renata,is 54.We live in Swansea City Wales so are coastal folk.We would be looking for a 2 bedroom property,preferably not high rise.Somewhere fairly quiet but in touch.
Thanks again.

Airports to me are dependent on where you come from. I support ECN and find it easy to use but you have to change in Istanbul. Good opportunity to have a stopover and look around, spent a fair bit of time there so if this is something you want to do PM me. I find Turkish a good airline too, loose your baggage and they deliver anyone going into LCA will not get that. The bigger number through ECN have to help the case for direct flights too. Agreed I would rent too. We bought and I do not regret it however I feel we were lucky. If it is of any use I have a vacant apartment in Alsancak, PM me if interested.

For travel, yes direct flight to Larnaca, and as its one leg then there is far less chance of losing your luggage, well, its never happened to me in 10 years.

Why not hire a car at Larnaca, local company Petsas (with a desk in the airport) will happily provide an insurance certificate for the north at pick-up. Yes you take the risk of no breakdown cover, but again, I have been doing that for years with no problem in the north, their cars are in good condition. Just be wary of other drivers, especially Russians at roundabouts who stop opposite every joining road !

For location, take a look north of Famagusta up to Kumyali. All that area is in easy driving distance from the fleshpots of Kyrenia if you really need to go there. Otherwise its far less commercial, has light traffic, great historic sights right back to the bronze age and and beyond, and endless sandy beaches. Enjoy.
m

Jonnie and Mish thankyou for your informative replies.
Jonnie hope to be touch soon re apartment.

Michael410 wrote:Jonnie and Mish thankyou for your informative replies.
Jonnie hope to be touch soon re apartment.

Just to add, various TRNC hire car companies will offer a reduced transfer fee to Larnaca (or even FREE, to and from Ercan!) if you hire a car for the duration of your stay. I don't have any preference as to hire companies, but there are plenty of recommendations on the forum...

Thankyou Keith much appreciated.

Always beware of hire cars out of their country South in North and north in South .The out of country insurance is only Third party when they cross the border so you are liable for the value of the car

Wanderer, I rented in the south a little while ago and got fully comp for my trip to the north, It cost me 50 euros for 3 days!! Thee insurance company were bases in Nicosia.

Agree fully comp is available and preferred by the hire companies that allow cross-border use. Its been available a long time, but not generally known except for those that hire from the south regularly.
m

I’ve never flown to Larnaca and wouldn’t. The time difference between the two airports after considering the stopover in Istanbul and the travel from Larnaca makes no difference at all. The costs are very similar too. Besides, if you live in TRNC, why not support its economy and fly to its airport??
Plus our airlines are great, especially Atlas and Turkish Airlines, Pegasus are good too although lots of people complain about them, I’ve never had an issue with them.

Before buying a home, I would suggest renting for a year and then you have time to choose where you want to live. We rented for two years before buying.

Welldigger the big difference to me is that as a Menieres sufferer you only have to take off and land once from Larnaca.
You also have more choice of destination airports in the UK from Larnaca. Not everyone wants to fly to London or Manchester.
Have used Ercan in the past but I have had problems with Pegasus. Atlas Global have reduced their flights and when I am flying alone I dislike having to kill time in Istanbul with TA.
Nothing to do with not supporting the economy here but my own personal choice.

We live in Dipkarpaz and love it, but you have to like the rural life

Whether you're east or west of Girne, travel (transfer) time from Larnaca is similar, but can differ considerably when using Ercan - I know, having used both. Therefore, total overall travel times are little different for west of Girne. As said, perhaps prices can be similar if/when travelling from London - but definitely not from Manchester, and having searched, any other airports in the north and/or midlands....
IF direct flights to Ercan were ever to be permitted, hopefully prices might become comparable, and then Ercan would be my choice - until then....

Welldigger wrote:I’ve never flown to Larnaca and wouldn’t. The time difference between the two airports after considering the stopover in Istanbul and the travel from Larnaca makes no difference at all. The costs are very similar too. Besides, if you live in TRNC, why not support its economy and fly to its airport??
.

I used to always use Ercan (CTA and Pegasus) but after being here since 2004 and only leaving the island a few times the thought of leaving the plane before the UK had me in a severe case of nerves therefore the last emergency visit to the UK (elderly parents) i used Larnaca and could fully understand why people do it.

quieter by the sea villages North side of the kyrenia range Karsiyaka, alsancak west side, esentepe, tatlisu east side
south of the range there are some lovely villages going east

dippersgirl wrote:We live in Dipkarpaz and love it, but you have to like the rural life

Hi dippersgirl,
Thanks for your reply.The images on google and clips on YouTube of your area look fabulous,I can see why you love it there.
Would you have any idea what the long term property market is like there?
Rgds Michael.

Thanks to everyone for your replies and advice.You certainly are giving us things to consider.