Northern Cyprus

ballet_2

We are going on a holiday to Northern Cyprus in late September. Not sure what currency to take, if any, besides Turkish lire e.g. Sterling, Euros?

Voyager2002

Greek drachma, definitely. That way you will have plenty of money when you come home.

bryanb

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Greek drachma, definitely. That way you will have plenty of money when you come home.

Greek drachma have been hard to find since Greece changed to the Euro, but I know what you mean, Of course I know Cyprus is not part of Greece, but it may as well be.

I would take a hard currency (Pounds are hard compared to Turkish Lira) and change as required.

Voyager2002

bryanb wrote: »

Greek drachma have been hard to find since Greece changed to the Euro, but I know what you mean, Of course I know Cyprus is not part of Greece, but it may as well be.

I would take a hard currency (Pounds are hard compared to Turkish Lira) and change as required.

Northern Cyprus was occupied by Turkey, and at times has been virtually at war with Greece. Anything Greek would not be popular: I would imagine that people there would not even stoop to pick up Greek banknotes from the gutter, and certainly would not pay good money for them. Hence my post: carrying money that you cannot spend is a good way to have a cheap holiday (perhaps not a nice one!).

bryanb

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Northern Cyprus was occupied by Turkey, and at times has been virtually at war with Greece. Anything Greek would not be popular: I would imagine that people there would not even stoop to pick up Greek banknotes from the gutter, and certainly would not pay good money for them. Hence my post: carrying money that you cannot spend is a good way to have a cheap holiday (perhaps not a nice one!).

Yes but how do you carry money that no longer exists (Greek banknotes?), even if said tongue in cheek. BTW I have patrolled the green line so already well aware of the situation there.

ttoli

ballet wrote: »

We are going on a holiday to Northern Cyprus in late September. Not sure what currency to take, if any, besides Turkish lire e.g. Sterling, Euros?

In the main bring Sterling over, change up say 100 pounds for your first day or so into YTL New (Yeni) Turkish Lira, The exchange rate here is always better than the UK,todays rate being 2.35 to the pound.Only bring Euros if you intend to go south for the day.

ttoli

ballet wrote: »

We are going on a holiday to Northern Cyprus in late September. Not sure what currency to take, if any, besides Turkish lire e.g. Sterling, Euros?

If you need any further help/advice PM me, I've lived here for 3 years now and have good local knowledge.

JohnCGibbs

I went to southern Turkey about four years ago and I'm sure they were still using Cypriot pounds...simplist answer is to check with your travel agent?

ttoli

JohnCGibbs wrote: »

I went to southern Turkey about four years ago and I'm sure they were still using Cypriot pounds...simplist answer is to check with your travel agent?

Think that you mean Southern Cyprus?,they changed to the Euro on Jan 8th, but Turkish Lira is still used here in the North(Had better be, thats whats in my wage packet!).

kyreniachap

Some Northern Cyprus shops are happy to take Sterling, Euros and some even take USdollars. Personally, I bring GB pounds to change into Turkish Lira, as the exchange rates are often much better than in the UK. (Make sure you shop around once in North Cyprus.) If I'm taking a private taxi transfer from Larnanca airport in south Cyprus to North Cyprus, to make the most of cheap flight deals to south Cyprus, I always pay the taxi in GB pounds, not Euros.

For excellent inside info on North Cyprus, take a look at www.cyprus44.com, especially the Holiday section. If you haven't booked your holiday yet, you'll find some good deals on package deals and flights only at www.goNorthCyprus.com. There are free upgrades to half board available on selected hotels at www.kyreniahotels.co.uk at the moment, and www.amyvillas.co.uk offer villas bookable by the day, which makes them quite a bargain. Enjoy!

Voyager2002

kyreniachap wrote: »

If I'm taking a private taxi transfer from Larnanca airport in south Cyprus to North Cyprus, to make the most of cheap flight deals to south Cyprus, I always pay the taxi in GB pounds, not Euros.

That's a very interesting strategy. I was under the impression that tourists could only cross between North and South if they returned the same day, and that locals could not cross at all. When did things ease up? How relaxed are they now about crossing?