North Cyprus - No Longer Affordable

essexdan


Joined: 29/07/2009
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
21/07/2010 23:12

Need to find a new holiday destination. TRNC just outpriced itself, flights best part £650 for 2, villa's from £1000 for 2 weeks, car hire best part £300 for 2 weeks -- thats almost £ 2000 before an Effes & meze..... cant justify over £2500 for peace & quiet for 2 weeks for the 2 of us ...... shame as we visited twice a year for 5 years. Suggestions Welcome ......

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
21/07/2010 23:21

youre looking in the wrong places mate ?

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
21/07/2010 23:22

essexdan. Please google The Almonds Holiday Village and find out which travel company they use..may be some cheap holiday offers worth a try anyway and the Almonds is a fantastic place to stay..good luck and i do hope you make it back over here soon..





Best of luck Spider,X

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
21/07/2010 23:25

I honestly think you could find much cheaper deals than those you quoted if you shopped around a bit.



Of course, you haven't said at what time of the year you wished to visit?

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
21/07/2010 23:29

There are some good deals going in Malta.

walkerscott


Joined: 13/08/2009
Posts: 901

Message Posted:
21/07/2010 23:34

I have been hearing this a lot this last few months. I haver been visiting every month on the whole for 2 o 3 weeks this last 18 months and have certainly noticed the increases. I am a solo traveller and the increases are even worse.



Chat with Cyprus Premier who have some good deals over the winter months November to March for between £550 to £800 per person for 3 weeks HB in the Acapulco or Malpas just as an example - these include return flights and airport transfers! Your equivalent costs per person will be less. But of course you still have to hire a car. I pay on average £1000- every time a visit for 2 or 3 weeks outside of winter months. You are beginning to see better deals being offered in the south now! But the hotel and villa owners here just won't listen - they seem to think that people will just continue paying! I personally doubt it.



Turkey, Crete (€), Malta(€) are reasonable alternatives if you get the package deals early enough

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
21/07/2010 23:37

One issue for me is the lack of flights from Gatwick to the TRNC now that CTA has gone. How will the package deal operators deal with that?

walkerscott


Joined: 13/08/2009
Posts: 901

Message Posted:
21/07/2010 23:44

There will probably be something turning up around October time to help keep the package deals reasonably priced!

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
21/07/2010 23:48

Had 2 weeks in Cesme Turkey £680 for 2 B & B with Thomas Cook, booked 2 weeks in Yalikavak September £720 self catering with Thomas Cook, this is from Manchester.

Troodo


Joined: 12/06/2008
Posts: 1002

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 00:35

Have no fear, the Minister for Tourism is checking the amount of traffic through Lapta - that should make things better.

Good thing he has his finger on the pulse, or was that up his ar….

davedee



Joined: 01/12/2008
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 02:01

Troodo not pulse! correct 2nd time !!

julia2345


Joined: 11/07/2010
Posts: 105

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 09:11

go via larnaca airport in south flights a lot cheaper and get transfer about an hour to girne

Panchocat


Joined: 29/11/2009
Posts: 1333

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 09:38

Just had a friend out who paid £500 half board, upgraded room at the Malpas with flights included. He flew into Larnaca but transfers were also included in the deal.

He did it with Direct Traveller and it was a Thompsonfly flight.

essexdan


Joined: 29/07/2009
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 11:12

Jeannie, looking for 2 weeks in SEP..... I have shopped about, car hire £20 a day = £280 ( considered no car, but sure we would spend similar on cabs/airport transfers over the 2 weeks) .... villa with pool all seem to £500 a week upwards, some even try and charge extra for electricity, and Flightholiday qted £640 rtn only yesterday....easyjet few pounds short of £400 plus the extra transfer costs from Larnaca, call it £500, a saving of £140.... i really want to return but the Mrs is paying since my business went belly up in 2009, for that money she fancies a change.... we have been spoilt in the past, a stunning villa in Catalkoy with pool, only £500 for 12 nights but we have changed our weeks due to a wedding we need to attend and the villa is booked...GUTTED...........thanks for your comments & suggestions, package deals seem better value but we like the freedom & privacy of the villa holiday, don't really fancy the hotel thing again

jay76


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 532

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 13:11

I have my own place in the trnc but flights are now to highly priced so thinking of selling up, much better options going to other destinations, it's costing up to £600 to get to the trnc absolute joke.

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 13:14

message 1



go all invlusive to turkey or the caribbean

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 13:18

essexdan

Your situation really must send shivers down the spine of anyone involved in the tourism sector in North Cyprus. North Cyprus used to be a good value destination which overcame to a big extent the long flight etc. This reputation was I'm sure spread by word of mouth. Unfortunately that value for money has gone and I'm sure that the reputation has gone with it. julia2345 points out using Larnaca and an hours drive to the border to save money but that is more hassle that people don't need when going on holiday. What guarantee is there that the GC border staff wont play the 'give them hassle and long delays game'?

Unfortunately as has been pointed out on numerous occasions, the local cunning plan solution to falling custom is to put the prices up.

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 13:19

Zero



Agree wholeheartedly. £2500 will buy you a very nice all inclusive holiday in some very nice and exotic locations.



Paul

Dixie Normus


Joined: 22/02/2008
Posts: 820

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 13:22

Would'nt bother using Ercan flights to either Paphos or Larnaca more reliable and better priced even with cost of transfer. Villa rental no doubt will have to become alot more compedative in the near future due to lack of bodies coming to the North so I would be enclined to haggle as rentals are well down on the previous two years. Once you here if you keep out of the tourist spots reasonably priced meals and a good night out are not hard to find without being ripped off, but its the same ole storey here, if time are hard they just want to ripp off the nearest punter which can only make the mountain harder to climb in the future.



D.N

essexdan


Joined: 29/07/2009
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 18:05

Glad its not only me, thought i was becoming tight since my forced unemployment. Hopefully prices will settle down in the future and we will return. I appreciate many of the Villas are owned to fund retirement in NC but the prices seem to be excessive, I have seen some over £750 a week , that is some return against purchase price. I see very few families holidaying in NC but mainly couples and whilst most villas are 3/4 bedrooms the space simply isn't used yet the couples get very little concession ( if at all ) from the owners, using far less electricity, gas & water than a full house...Lower the prices and the People will come......

lottowinner


Joined: 20/07/2010
Posts: 37

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 18:27

message 1



When you've been ripped with your flight and hotel car hire etc,make sure you nip down the old harbour and get your arse properly smacked!! Try the carob they do a good job ;)

Jimmyboy63


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 400

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 18:55

Why fly into Ercan and have the 1 hr wait in Turkey much easier to fly into Larnaca and get a taxi up to to the north......more flights, more choice

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 20:23

Look at either Jet2 Leeds Bradford to Larnaca or Monarch Manchester to Larnaca,

Paul.

essexdan


Joined: 29/07/2009
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 20:42

msg23



Jet2 come out @ £260 & Monarch £207 ..... but I am in Essex...... the thought of the slap from home to either Manchester or Leeds and then from Larnaca to the North ......don't sound much fun.... I gladly pay a little over the odds for the convenience of Stansted rather than Gatwick.....Easyjet were about £200 yesterday from down this way.... tried the Larnaca way but prefer Ercan ( cheap fags/hire car and on your way in no time ) & better flight times, back in the day with CTA ........all surfed out today- dont want to see another holiday website, no doubt the Mrs will get in "you booked us a holiday yet" ... " ER No dear "

piggy


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 132

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 21:01

I appreciate what you are saying but you and your "Mrs" are two, so why on earth are you looking at villas that sleep 6 - 8 persons. Apartments may suit your needs better and at a third of the price of what you are quoting for a large villa with private pool etc.



Good luck!

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 21:45

essexdan clearly wants something for nothing. If renting out a property, by the time you've deducted fees such as agents' commision, the cost of cleaning and laundry, property rental tax, electricity costs, wear & tear, maintenance etc there aint exactly a fortune left.



When you've renters that damage property breaking glass tables, putting heat marks in your furniture (without being honest and telling you I might add) losing your keys (in spite of making it totally IDIOT PROOF) these things all have to be paid for, and as for electricity, why shouldn't owners charge extra for electric when you have some idiots that clearly go out and leave it on all day long knowing that the owner foots the bill. Ok you may not be like that but you know what, there are an awful lot of people out there that are. If you don't want to pay a decent price to stay in a nice property with the benefits that entails then take your business elsewhere and stay in one room in a hotel with all the plebs.

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 21:47

Piggy message 25 exactly, they want all the luxury and space but don't want to pay for it.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 22:07

millzer

You in Public relations by any chance?

essexdan


Joined: 29/07/2009
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 22:16

Msg 25



The builders & owners greed resulted in as big as possible property being built on the plot. No thought that NC is not a family resort and will not be for many years to come, if ever. If I wanted a shared pool I wouldn't bother with an appt but use one of the many holiday villages. I would gladly rent a smaller one bed property if it had a private pool.

Instead the villas are all 3/4 bed and no doubt spend much of the season under occupied at the guests expense.



Msg 26

We have never broken anything, in fact we barely use the villa. We use the pool by day and eat out every evening. Surely any breakages you suffer come out of the deposit taken upon booking. Laundry & cleaning - be serious, that must equate to a few quid, property tax, of course all expats pay that!!

As for luxury, the villas I have rented have been clean and basic, certainly not luxury..... unless you consider a TV & DVD player & a sofa as luxury

essexdan


Joined: 29/07/2009
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 22:19

CONT...



Charge away, just don't moan when the tourists stop coming, if they haven't already and your properties go to the dogs because of greed.....



I may well join those enjoying the hotels and leave the "plebs" to carry over paying for the villa's

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 22:20

Have you considered a weekend in Bognor Regis ??

poochops


Joined: 09/03/2008
Posts: 64

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 22:23

http://www.amyvillas.co.uk/villas/pines-penthouse.asp

how about this £43 a night in September for a three bed penthouse nice big pool and good for lapta bars and restaurants, loads to rent on this comlex on other websites as well, it's nice, clean, tidy with a big pool. You should have no problem getting a car at £18 a day in sept. £50 e/w ina taxi from larnaca. Say £500 for flights to lca. That's £1400 for 13 nights. Lots of efes and meze to be had with the spare £1100. Not my apt btw, but I know the site I have a little villa nearby. My neighbour does let's at 350 a week two beds pool etc. There's loads of lovely apts about at this sort of money in sept. Good luck!

denizen



Joined: 21/08/2009
Posts: 388

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 22:26

It's a pity that the TRNC tourist board isn't run by donkeys, at least then there'd be four feet to shoot themselves in. Oops, sorry it is, they just keep missing their feet, pity their brains are a much smaller target.

DeaconB


Joined: 13/07/2010
Posts: 120

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 22:31

Have you never heard Florida or Cuba, both cheaper no contest.

climakool


Joined: 09/11/2008
Posts: 190

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 22:33

We have been visiting for the past 5 years - stayed in villas with private pool - stayed in B&B - now we have our own property.



Our flights for 3 weeks in September Gatwick to Larnaca with easyjet were £150 each person which I find reasonable - car hire we are paying £15.00 per day (dont know if we got a better rate for 3 weeks booking?)



Transfer £50.00 each way another £100 on holiday but would never fly to Ercan out of choice so happy to pay the transfer fee.



B&B in most of the holiday villages are around £15.00 per night which I think is very reasonable.



I know there are package deals out there but in all the years I have been holidaying I have never got a bargain as they say you only get what you pay for if you want a bit of luxury then expect to pay for it.

beno12



Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 124

Message Posted:
22/07/2010 22:40

Over here in Germany this year there are offers in the S/Markets ,magazines etc offering 8days or 15 days including fly,ts to "Unknown Cyprus".

At the Salamis Bay Conti Halfboard

E.g from 18/10 8 days at 332,- pounds---15 days at 500,- pro person

or in the high season August 8 days at 500,- 15 at 700,-



I was there at the end of June the Hotel was nearly booked out !!!



This was the first time in years that there was so many German & Italien tourist

So it shows getting the right partners good marketing etc in the tourist industrie there,s a great future for NC.

Aeyeofspirit



Joined: 01/05/2008
Posts: 34

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 01:20

Been reading through the discussion & as my hubby & I are looking to come over to TRNC for a exploratory holiday (sometime in August or Sept) to look at options for a long-term rental (6months) from Sept/October this year I was wondering if advice can be given as to: -



(1) cheapish flights (from Manchester) - including using the Larnaca option - done that before & got over border (Famagusta) no problem - both ways. Don't mind package deal if cheapest option - not bothered about 'luxury' - just clean & easy access to local facilities



(2) Current situation re car-hire



(3) & most important which is best way to access somewhere for long-term rental - again within easy access of facilities (as won't have a car) - don't mind re type of accomodation as long as basics are there & at least 2 bedrooms.



Help & advice would be much appreciated as we are coming out to see if we 'like TRNC' & if we do will (when we sell our home here) be looking to buy somewhere



Thanks Anne

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 01:49

Message 29,



When I refer to 'luxury' I'm talking more about 'surroundings' than furniture and fittings. The 'luxury' of having your own space, rather than a pokey hotel room. Having said that, whilst most owners of rental property furnish them very basically, some don't, and some people are happy to pay extra for the privilidge of better facilities furnishings & fittings.



The reality is that although there are only two of you, you want a private pool, which means a villa as opposed to a shared pool on a complex and therefore you have to accept that in hiring a villa you will have to in effect pay a supplement for the privilidge of a 3 or 4 bed villa with only two occupants, just the same as you would in a hotel if occupying a room designed for more than two people. Therefore, why should the villa owner reduce the price just because there are only two of you as you are still having the unhindered and free use of the whole property are you not.



Con't

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 01:56

Cont'd



If you take a 3 bed villa charging £600 a week sleeping six (some cram in 8) thats £100 per person per week so from that aspect I'd say its darn good value at £14.00 per person per day.



Anyway, its a rather sweeping statement to accuse all people renting out property as 'greedy', some put a lot of time and effort into doing everything they can to allow people renting their property with a quality trouble free holiday, whilst some others don't, so you pays your money and makes your choice.

essexdan


Joined: 29/07/2009
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 11:59

Msg 38

We will have to agree to disagree.



In my opinion the rental prices are excessive. In reality NC does not attract families like Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Majorca etc but mainly middle/elderly aged childless travellers, often travelling as couples. Please remember the country is not recognised internationally, awkward to get to, car hire almost essential and very basic ( which i like) and the property owners paid a fraction for the properties compared to those that invested in other countries in Europe. I have watched the prices over the last 10 years, they were literally for nothing prior to 2003/4.



falling int rates @ the turkish banks and shite UK pensions in my opinion have led the owners to try and claw back their falling incomes .... ...PS I am off to Mauritius

Dereny


Joined: 13/08/2009
Posts: 40

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 12:57

Try New President Holidays - they are based in Surrey but do flights to and from Stansted! An excellent Tour Operator - i have no connection with them - apart from booking 2 holidays now through them

kaiserphil


Joined: 14/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 14:12

Good to know that 'new' President Holidays are doing well. 'Old' President Holidays went bust during our first ever holiday in TRNC. They got us home though, albeit it a day early!

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 15:57

Message 40 yep we'll have to disagree then, I must have imagined the 'families' that booked then!



Enjoy Mauritius

Markyboy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 228

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 16:03

Having just returned from a great family holiday there (kids are in 20's) I found booking everything yourself can be a lot cheaper than the package deals.



Monarch flights were the cheapest from Gatwick to Larnaca, we used Arizona car rentals for car hire and transfers to Larnaca, 40 UK Stl each transfer upto 4 persons per transfer, car hire was 15 UK Stl a day.



Transfers were split as travelling from different areas and all were on time and hassle free at the border.

The cars were delivered and collected from the villa, no extra charge.



Try contacting the estate agents direct and let them know your budget, Sol from North Cyprus International found a place for us which was affordable and suitable.



All in all, 6 persons, 2 weeks came to less than 3800 Stl which included all the food, nights out, watersports and paragliding etc...



It is possible if you're prepared to send emails and spend a bit of time researching different avenues other than the package holidays.

charlotte55


Joined: 14/11/2008
Posts: 302

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 17:53

Message 31

There is nothing wrong with Bognor Regis!!!!

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 22:28

essexdan I have to agree with you. We have been going to North Cyprus for well over ten years - for a lot of those, to the Almond Holiday Village as recommended by spider re message 3. I have to say that The Almond is without doubt the best place I have ever stayed at....ever. Ali, Derivsa and family are the greatest, most lovely people you would ever wish to meet, and the place is just...perfect.

Unfortunately, as you say, North Cyprus has become expensive to holiday there - and like you we have started to look at alternatives - the problem is that there really is no where like TRNC. So, if you, or anyone else has found a nice affordable alternative please let me know.

But my FAVOURITE is still The Almond....'cos it's the best!

Smity



Joined: 14/09/2009
Posts: 826

Message Posted:
23/07/2010 22:32

Blackbird

Well said TRNC Rocks