Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.lufthansa.com
;
hub Frankfurt Airport, Frankfurt)
Monarch
AIRLINE
(
www.monarch.co.uk
;
hub Luton & Gatwick Airports, London)
Olympic Air
AIRLINE
(
www.olympicair.com
;
hub Athens International Airport, Athens)
Pegasus Airlines
AIRLINE
Turkish Airlines
AIRLINE
(
www.thy.com
; hub Istanbul Ataturk Airport, Istanbul)
CROSSING THE GREEN LINE
Crossing freely between the North and the South has become pretty straightforward since the easing of border re-
strictions in 2003. It is now possible to cross at seven points on the island, and there are ongoing negotiations
between the two sides about opening more. You can cross at Ledra Palace Hotel and Ledra St (both pedestrians
only), Agios Dometios, Pergamos, Agios Nikolaos, Limnitis-Yeşilirmak and Zodhia (vehicles). If you don't have
your own transport, a taxi will take you across the border and on to anywhere you want to go.
When you cross from the South into the North, you will have to fill in a visa paper, giving your name, date of
birth and passport number. You will then be issued with a 'visa' (the small piece of paper will be stamped) and
you'll be allowed to stay for up to three months in Northern Cyprus. It is important to look after this piece of pa-
per, since you will be required to show it when you leave. There are no restrictions on how many times you can
cross back and forth. The visa paper is enforced only in the North.
You are now also allowed to cross into the Republic of Cyprus if your point of entry into the country is in the
North. All borders are open 24 hours a day, and many cross in the middle of the night, after a night's clubbing or
gambling at the casinos in the North. There are no requirements for crossing from the North into the South, apart
from a valid passport.
Tickets
Tickets to Cyprus are most expensive in August. Try picking up flight-only deals with package-holiday companies dur-
ing this time or scour the budget airlines (though these are hardly budget in the summer months). Prices depend on the
season, and to a lesser degree on the day of the week or even the time you fly.
CHARTER FLIGHTS
Vacant seats on charter flights block-booked to Cyprus by package-tour companies are cheap, but conditions apply.
First, you can rarely get more than two weeks for your itinerary and, second, the departure and arrival times are quite in-
