Taxi or Hire car from Larnaca which is the best

zink1505


Joined: 22/03/2008
Posts: 21

Message Posted:
28/03/2008 15:02

My wife and I are travelling to North Cyprus for 5 days & staying at the Mercure. We will need a hire car but fly into Larnaca. Any ideas on the most cost effective and hassle free way to do this.

Thanks !!!!

Nigel

paul90


Joined: 07/11/2007
Posts: 350

Message Posted:
28/03/2008 15:38

Least hassle and probably cost effective is use Charlie of Coffee World in Kyrenia for the airport transfers. phone + 90 392 815540.

Tatlisu4me


Joined: 26/01/2008
Posts: 436

Message Posted:
28/03/2008 15:46

Hi Nigel, depends on what time you land ! If a late flight in get a taxi from larnaca and rent in North. If daytime/afternoon flight I have hired car in South Fortuna Cars (I think) and drove to Kyrenia (about 1 1/4 hours) You need to top up your insurance at the border (approx 15 euro and 3rd party) A lot of people wiil not do this but I have never had a problem !

Izzet



Joined: 01/12/2006
Posts: 920

Message Posted:
28/03/2008 16:42

I recommend Fontana Car Rentals for car hire in Larnaca.

They allow their cars to be passed to North.

There are also a couple of members on this forum who recommeded this firm as well.

Their website is: http://www.cyprus-car.com



If you want to get a taxi, email Jayne

info at gonorthcyprus.com

From Larnaca to Mercure, goNorthCyprus can arrange it for £40 one way.



Izzet

Mountain Edge



Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
28/03/2008 17:05

I have used Fontana quite a few times now and have never had a problem. In fact I have just returned from Cyprus having used them, yet again. Good cars, good service and no hassle.

I know some people are dubious because of the insurance issue but everybody has to make their own choices.

maggie


Joined: 25/03/2008
Posts: 192

Message Posted:
28/03/2008 17:29

How mujch do Fontana charge from Larnaca.

Tatlisu4me


Joined: 26/01/2008
Posts: 436

Message Posted:
28/03/2008 18:21

Maggie you can pick their cars up from Larnaca (Rep will meet you) and drop off the car anywhere in the South. Go to the web site and get a price (Depends on size of car, how many days rental etc)

CovKid


Joined: 24/03/2008
Posts: 22

Message Posted:
29/03/2008 10:46

We have always used Cyprus Pines based in Girne. They pick us us from Larnaca for about £70 - £80 return. The cars are a good price and they look after us. info@cypruspines.com ask for Yacup

Perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
29/03/2008 11:33

It depends on how long you are there for. We have found it cheaper to hire in the north (we can get a 4x4 from Oscars for £20 / day ALL IN) It costs more in the south. Take into account the £80 return taxi (which of course they organise and have always been completely reliable) and under a week, it is cheaper to hire in south, 1 week, it is equal, over 1 week it is cheaper to hire in the north. We also used Fortuna at Larnaca - no problems at all.

Winter



Joined: 16/09/2007
Posts: 120

Message Posted:
29/03/2008 12:17

Also take into account the cost you pay at the border for insurance from south to north

Tatlisu4me


Joined: 26/01/2008
Posts: 436

Message Posted:
29/03/2008 13:48

Yep Cyprus Pines for me in the North (Family Business) they even send a nice Chrismas E-mail to their clients (Nice thought)

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
29/03/2008 21:31

zink1505



If you hire a car in the south and take it to the North the insurance you get is only 3rd. party.



Also if you have problems, a breakdown or worse a crash it is your responsibilty to get the car back to the south.



Would you drive a hire car in the UK only 3rd party insurance????



The standard of driving in the TRNC is really bad, look at these stats, the UK has a very good record for road safety compared with most other EU countries. In 2004 it had one of the lowest road death rates in the EU, at 5.6 per 100,000 population. The population in the UK being something like 60million. In the TRNC the road deaths run at about 70 per annum and the poulation is only 200,000 - 300,000. Surely this shows that there is a much higher risk of being involved in an accident in the TRNC.



A simple breakdown would not really be a problem, having an accident would be.



For me gambling on saving not a lot is not a risk worth taking particulary as most of the hire cars are fairly new, worst case scenario is an accident is your fault and the car is a write off that would cost you say £8,000 to replace.



Already in 2008 there have been at least a dozen deaths on the roads in the TRNC.



Also with the Euro at a high it really isn't cheaper to hire in the south (I guess someone will challenge me on this statement)

Mountain Edge



Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
29/03/2008 23:26

I hired a good sized car for a week from the south for £80. Had I hired a car in the North it would have cost me £35/40 each way for the taxi and then the cost of the car hire. On that basis I will have to challenge you on the last part of your statement.

Lemtich



Joined: 15/02/2007
Posts: 1487

Message Posted:
30/03/2008 00:31

Does anyone know exactly why hire cars in the north can't be driven south or buy insurance to do so?



Sauce for the goose etc.



Lem

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
30/03/2008 11:53

Hi Lem



I think it's just the RoC protecting their own interests and being bl**dy minded of course. Bird would definitely be my choice and they will collect you from Larnaca. They are just round the corner from the Mercure in Karaoglanoglu so you can pop in and have a coffee with Cengiz and Mehmet and they will wash the car for you!



Jo

Tatlisu4me


Joined: 26/01/2008
Posts: 436

Message Posted:
30/03/2008 13:13

Lem think its just because TRNC is not a recognised country

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
30/03/2008 14:31

Mountain Edge



What time of year was it that you hired a car in the south for £80???



Bird Rent a car in TRNC charge £13 p.d. (in low season) all in no extra insurance charge at the border and full insurance. Yes you have to pay for a taxi but surely peace of mind is worth that.



Remember, if you have a crash in the North and it is your fault your fault the insurer will not pay any of your own costs only those of 3rd parties and there is I believe an upper limit of £8,000

Mountain Edge



Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
30/03/2008 15:57

Loving Cyprus, it was just last week. I get an extra 10% discount for being a regular customer. It should have been £88. I kid you not that is the price I paid.

It was a good sized car as well.

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
30/03/2008 17:40

Mountain Edge



So the actual hire charge you paid was only £1 difference to that in the TRNC, that was the point I was making in posting no. 12.



By the way I'm not arguing with you about the price you paid. I was just saying that it isn't really cheaper to hire in the south.



With the Euro increasing in value against the £ I'm sure you will find cheaper deals in the TRNC over the coming months especially as hire companies reduce their prices because of the ever decreasing number of tourists.

Mountain Edge



Joined: 23/02/2007
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
30/03/2008 23:06

You say the actual hire charge is only £1 difference but you must also take into account the £80 taxi from Larnaca to the north. Plus, on some occasions we fly into Paphos and the taxi fare is much higher from there.

zink1505


Joined: 22/03/2008
Posts: 21

Message Posted:
31/03/2008 12:26

Booked Bird for pick up and car. Hope they are ok.........................

Thanks

paul90


Joined: 07/11/2007
Posts: 350

Message Posted:
31/03/2008 12:46

I think you have made a good choice - they have an excellent reputation.

Make sure they hold up a board with your name on it as it is easy to miss people as you come of arrivals at larnaca.

And have their phone number to hand - just in case.