Flights From Ireland To North Cyprus

conor


Joined: 27/12/2007
Posts: 10


Message Posted:
15/01/2008 18:57

Hi all,



Looking for some advice regarding the best options for travelling from Dublin to North Cyprus.............we are purchasing an appartment in the Caesar-Resort complex due completion most likely early 2009. Thanks in advance for any good advice.

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 457


Message Posted:
15/01/2008 20:00

To fly into Ercan from Dublin you will have to get a flight to the UK (Stansted, Heathrow, Manchester or Birmingham) then you get a flight to Ercan.



I'm not sure but you maybe able to fly to Larnaca/Paphos direct from Dublin.

dodger



Joined: 29/07/2007
Posts: 1228


Message Posted:
15/01/2008 21:43

flightline.co.uk to flights from dublin to laranaca conor.

sunstroker


Joined: 04/09/2007
Posts: 19


Message Posted:
15/01/2008 22:37

Cyprus turkish ailrines did fly from belfast up to last year but ceased this and i think also the glasgow service just after we had bought our villa



Not sure if they will reinstate again, suppose it depends on demand...

irishvixen


Joined: 25/05/2007
Posts: 39


Message Posted:
16/01/2008 14:18

Turkish airlines have just sent us their schedule for 2008 and they are now doing flights from Dublin to Ercan via Istanbul on Mondays,Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.I would much rather drive 1 1/2 hours to Dublin than sit around Stansted or Fly to Larnaca.

whitemad


Joined: 26/05/2007
Posts: 25


Message Posted:
16/01/2008 19:30

Brill. Long may it last. Do you have their website address. I had to book via Stanstead in July as we wanted to go for 3 weeks but wouldn't mind having a look at these for a week in August maybe. (my boss obviously isn't aware of this yet - ha ha).

conor


Joined: 27/12/2007
Posts: 10


Message Posted:
17/01/2008 16:21

Thanks all for you're replies very much appreciated I did'nt realise that Turkish airlines are flying direct from Dublin.

irishvixen


Joined: 25/05/2007
Posts: 39


Message Posted:
17/01/2008 16:30

Website address is http://www.transit-travel.com. Select flights to North Cyprus and then turkish airlines. OR



email is r.hatherly@transit-travel.com



If you go onto Turkish Airlines site you cant book online you have to ring them for North Cyprus Flights.



Hope it helps



Irishvixen.

sarahlou


Joined: 10/04/2007
Posts: 11


Message Posted:
17/01/2008 19:27

Hi Conor,



Having had a few technical issues i write my reply to you regarding flights from Dublin. Apologies if this appears twice !



We bought a villa last spring and have tried a number of routes from Dublin out to Ercan and direct into Larnaca.



Out of them all, we find the flights with Turkish Airlines the most efficient and practical. An example of the flights we now use.



Leave Dublin on Friday afternoon 14.35 and arrive in Ercan at 23.00pm after stopping for an hour or so in Istanbul - your know Dublin so nothing ever takes off on time so we have often only had time for a quick cup of coffee before boarding again.



The return leg on a Monday leaves at 05.00am and arrives in Dublin at 10.20am ! The boarding passes are given for the whole journey therefore luggage goes all the way through.



We have tried stopping in Stansted and the trek from Larnaca and to be honest, we agree with IrishVixen - this route is much easier.



You can book with Expedia.co.uk or indeed our own Budgettravel.ie offer the same flights (under their worldwide section) Dublin to Ercan - the costs are pretty much the same - for 2 adults and 2 kids we pay around 1100 Euro depending on dates and exchange rates. If you go direct through Turkish Airlines they can not book it online, you have to phone or email them at Dublin airport and then pay on arrival - cash only !



Good luck with the apartment, im sure you will love it out here - we are out here at least 5 times each year so if you find an alternative route or airline, share it with us all.

Sarah


Joined: 17/01/2008
Posts: 1


Message Posted:
17/01/2008 21:35

Hi Conor - its good to see more fellow Irish going over to TRNC. Congratulations on taking the plunge ! Im sure you will love it.



We bought a place out there last spring and have tried a number of different routes, via UK, direct to Larnaca and our preferred via Istanbul.



We tend to leave Dublin on a Friday at 14.35pm and arrive in Ercan at midnight after stopping for a Burger King / Coffee in Instanbul for just over an hour.



Coming back, if you leave on a Monday at 5.00am you are back in sunny Dublin at 10.20am ! after stopping for a quick coffee in Istanbul.



You get food on each of the flights and the planes are nice, comfortable and the food pretty decent for airplane catering.



To be honest this, we have found to be the best option and agree with IrishVixen totally, the flight times are handy and you only have an hour or so to kill in Istanbul. You get your boarding passes for both flights at check in and your luggage goes straight through to Ercan. Couldn't be easier.



Go on to either Budgettravel.ie or Expedia - sometimes Expedia is cheaper but there is not a great deal it. You can book direct with Turkish Airlines but for some reason they cant take payment and you have to pay cash at Dublin when you arrive !!!! Check out Expedia / Budgettravel, we travel reguarly, 2 adults and 2 kids cost around 1100 Euro all in so great value if you ask me.



Larnaca is fine and Budget travel there direct - often there are great deals - 20EURO one way last October school holidays so keep looking for their special offers. You just need to weigh up what's best for you.



Enjoy,



Sarah

Naas26


Joined: 23/04/2007
Posts: 28


Message Posted:
17/01/2008 23:29

Great to see a there are more Dubs out in Northern Cyprus we were beginning to wonder if we were the only ones.We have bought in Tatlisu, we haven't stayed in our apartment yet but hope to at the end of the year. we have tried many different way



Dublin / Heathrow / Larnaca with BA. Flights everyday and if you watch their sites you can get a good deal



Budget Travel Flight Only to Larnaca - very handy and if you travel outside peak time great value. No great flexibility in flight times and no meal served on flight



This July we are traveling with Cyprus Airways via Heathrow - We are traveling this way as we got a good deal with flights in July as everybody else was very expensive. Peak time I suppose !.



We have never traveled via Ercan but seeing the Istanbul route we will probably try after the summer when we travel without the Kids.



Flying into Larnaca and getting a taxi (with direct traveler) has been no problem and has only every taken just over 70 Min's going through the border with ease. We have also hired a car in the south and driven over to Kyrenia and return via Famagusta and Ayia Napa with no issues



If you want any more info or just want to chat with somebody local you can PM me

conor


Joined: 27/12/2007
Posts: 10


Message Posted:
20/01/2008 16:14

Thanks Irishvixen, Sarah, Sarahlou & Naas26 for replying to my question. I can see you all put a lot of effort into your replies, thanks so much for the very detailed responses that you wrote......the advice is very much appreciated



Our appartment is in the Bogaz region from what I've been reading it sems like a very idyllic area to spend time. Hopefully through time the political scene will change & maybe low cost carriers will be able to fly direct to Ercan.



Again thanks for you're replies..................I'll definitely take up up on the offer Naas26 as we get more into the legal stuff.

sjw1979


Joined: 09/04/2007
Posts: 154


Message Posted:
21/01/2008 09:52

Hi all,

see flights from dublin - ercan starting at £224 per person, excellent !!

talk soon,

sj xx

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 46


Message Posted:
21/01/2008 13:00

North Cyprus Tourism had a stand at the Holiday Show in Belfast at the weekend. They were handing out lovely paper bags advertising NC , everyone was carrying one, maybe because none of the other exibitors had any bags. Inside the bag was a lovely travel guide, a bookmark and a list of holiday companies who arrange packages to TRNC. There weren't ANY brochures and of course still no flights Belfast to Ercan. CTA stopped them last year, I never understood why because the flights were always full to Antalya anyway, and perhaps half full on the final leg to Ercan. Makes me wonder why they bothered to have a stand at all, or perhaps, hopefully they are considering opening the route again. ( Hope springs eternal........ )

irishvixen


Joined: 25/05/2007
Posts: 39


Message Posted:
22/01/2008 15:31

Didn't know they where in Belfast Holiday Show would like to have had a look at what they are offering. We have an apartment on the Turtle Bay Village Site which Phase one is nearly completed. Last year we flew from Belfast to Stansted, Stansted to Istanbul, Istanbul to Ercan with 2 kids one 2 and the other 5 flipping nightmare with all security checks at Belfast and Stansted. But did like landing at Ercan and picking up car at airport. The other time we went via Larnaca and got stopped at Greek border, bags searched lucky for us we didn't have any contracts or paperwork regarding land or purchases on us but they kept us for nearly an hour.



Yes I hope they get the tourist trade up so that we can campaign for direct flights.

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 46


Message Posted:
22/01/2008 16:25

Hi irishvixen, they didn't have a lot to offer, so you didn't miss anything at all. The stand had photos of North Cyprus but not one single brochure, strangely. I already have the Anatolian Sky brochure and the prices are ridiculous for this year, Oscars, for example in July is £769 for the Pink Court Apts and the Malpas is £1049 for a standard room B&B up to £2079 for a junior suite B&B!!

For us, to add on flights to England as well, makes it a dear do.

I wouldn't be put off the Larnaca route, I think that you were just unlucky last time you went that way. We did it 4 times last year and have never been stopped, except going back to the airport and then all they were interested in was if we had cigarettes. It must have been a nightmare going the Ercan way with 2 small children. My daughter came last year with our then 11month old grandson, Belfast/Larnaca with First Choice and has booked again this year £289 per adult in June, it may be worth a look.