AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
The taxi transfer time from Ercan Airport to the villa is about 40 minutes (cost around £35 - £45 one-way) and from Larnaca airport it averages 70 minutes (cost £55 - £65). A larger taxi (say for up to 7 people with 7 suitcases) may cost about £5-£10 more. Transfers from Paphos cost from £120 to £150 each way as the distance is much greater. While some taxi firms will carry up to 7 passengers in their larger vehicles, others will consider only 5 or 6 passengers.
After pick-up from Larnaca or Paphos, when you get to the border crossing, your taxi driver will take your passport to the TRNC authorities' passport control booth who will record your entry on their computer system but will not stamp your passport. You will not normally need to get out of the taxi.
Here are some taxi firms that you might consider using:
PACIFIC CAR RENTALS
Website: www.pacific-rentals.com/larnaca-airport-transfer.asp
CYPRUS PINES RENT-A-CAR
Website: www.cypruspines.com
CARRINGTON AIRPORT TRANSFERS, ESENTEPE
Website: www.carringtoncar.com
BIRD RENT-A-CAR
Website: www.birdrentacar.com
ESENTEPE TAXI
Website: www.esentepetaxi.net
NORTH CYPRUS TAXI SERVICE
Website: www.northcyprustaxiservice.com
ESENTEPE BRISK RENT-A-CAR
Website: www.esentepebrisk.com
CYPRUSBOOKING.COM
Website: www.cyprusbooking.com (mini-buses available to transport 10 passengers from Larnaca)
BELLAPAIS TAXI
Website: www.bellapaistaxi.com
TRANSFER FROM LARNACA AIRPORT (South Cyprus)
One of the questions that many potential hirers of the villa ask is can they hire a car at Larnaca Airport and drive to the villa?
Our response is that it is not possible for hire cars from North Cyprus to be delivered to locations in South Cyprus. However, it is possible in theory to take hire cars from South Cyprus to the North if you can find a car hire company that allows it – a few do. However, neither the North nor the South recognise each other’s insurance so you would need to buy additional insurance. Hire companies in the South may or may not do this for you. If they do, it will cost you about 40 Euros. If not, you will have to buy insurance at the border crossing insurance office for about 25-35 Euros. The disadvantage of this insurance is that it is only third party, so if you damage the car or have an accident, you will not be fully covered. From Larnaca, the normal border crossing is at Beyamudu/Pergamos/Pyla. The car insurance office there may shut at around 9.00pm. However, it is understood (but cannot guarantee it) that the Famagusta crossing has an insurance office that stays open 24/7. That will take you a little out of your way.
Further, if the car breaks down while in the North, you may have a major problem if you have hired a car from the South as the car hire firm from the South may have more difficulty or delays in reaching you. Further, the daily car hire rates in the North may be quite a bit cheaper.
The alternative is to arrange a taxi transfer from the North. Taxi drivers from Northern Cyprus have vast experience of border crossings and will get you through from one side to the other in 4-6 minutes. The journey from Larnaca to the villa takes between 65 and 75 minutes by taxi and currently costs between £50 and £70 each way depending on the size of the vehicle required. You would pay the driver in Sterling. We would not recommend trying to find your own way in the dark – a taxi would take about an hour less! We could arrange a taxi for you, if required, but it is just as easy to deal directly with your chosen taxi firm.
Notwithstanding the above comments, while legislation prohibits hire cars being delivered to the South (RoC), a few car hire firms in the North (TRNC) do allow their vehicles to be taken to the South by hirers after they have been delivered to locations in the North. They will make a charge for the paperwork (Pacific Car Rentals charge £50) and hirers will also have to purchase separate car insurance for one month at the border (approx 25-35 Euros).
Because car hire is generally cheaper in the North, this offsets the cost of getting a taxi from Larnaca Airport. Therefore there is no real financial gain in hiring a car in the South and it is a lot less hassle by getting a taxi from the North to transfer you to and from Jasmine Villa!
TRANSFER FROM ERCAN AIRPORT (North Cyprus)
The journey from Ercan to the villa takes about 40 minutes by taxi and currently costs between £35 and £45 each way depending on the size of the vehicle required. You would pay the driver in Sterling.
Car hire at Ercan is easily arranged but do consider the luggage that would need to be transported for a party of 4 or more in a single vehicle. We would not recommend trying to find your own way in the dark unless you are confident that you know your way.
