What made you pick North Cyprus ?

Bradus


Joined: 25/02/2007
Posts: 2641

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 13:52

I often wonder why having looked at France, Spain and many, many other places to purchase a holiday home in, we went with the TRNC. I think it may have had something to do with the friendly people, the fact that it is not too commercialised and you can get good value for your money.What were your reasons?

dodger



Joined: 29/07/2007
Posts: 1895

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 14:14

Sir Ekan sold the place for me.

BRABBS


Joined: 27/12/2007
Posts: 22

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 14:19

For us it was definitely value for money, then of course spending as much time as possible here on holiday getting to know the country and the people their friendliness, and now only after a short time beginning to feel this is home. We do feel very lucky.

Perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 14:40

We looked seriously at Nerja in southern spain.

North Cyprus swung it with the fantastic climate (pretty much year round), great scenery, restaurants, uncrowded beaches, wonderful people, value for money (ie villa with pool in TRNC = apartment in Spain) and a feeling of safety - if you own property in spain you need bars on every window, crime and theft is a real problem there. This is definitely not the case in Cyprus.

Absolutely no regrets.

lovelife


Joined: 07/07/2007
Posts: 231

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 15:18

We looked at Cape Verde Isles and Spain and it just did not feel right and the Spanish prices for what you got were rediculous.



We visited NC and it loved it, felt more comfortable.

As mentioned good value for money, beautiful scenery, friendly people, ggod weather, not too comercialised and good restaurants to suit every taste.



And they drive on the correct side of the road!!!

LL

pilgrim



Joined: 11/05/2007
Posts: 1404

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 16:38

Looked at france spain tenerife, spotted NC in flight magazine, followed up on internet, accepted inspection offer, loved villa and place bought. One of our best ever decisions!

jakki



Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 865

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 16:57

Drive on the same side

Produce their own excellent red wine

Same plug sockets

Can change a £50. note in a remote cafe overlooking the sea

Great fresh food

Brilliant views

Good resturants

What else do you need!!???!!

Notsoboredhw


Joined: 15/03/2007
Posts: 1254

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 17:03

Definitely the weather and the prices! and of course its beauty and the people are so friendly and chilled and not stressed!!! And they arent rude like the French! (sorry if anyone is French on here!).

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 18:06

Sun and cheap! Or it was pre-referendum days!

berty



Joined: 11/01/2008
Posts: 216

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 18:15

all of the above and no regrets, jakki you said great red wine can you reccommend any realy good ones as I am struggling tofind a really good one

daily


Joined: 01/01/2008
Posts: 84

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 18:51

Agree with bored housewife - the people who are warm, welcoming, friendly, helpful and appear to have a greater tolerance of the wonderful mixture of races that make up mankind - unlike so many of the french!



The place is wonderful, the people are wonderful and I feel wonderful when I'm out there instead of stressed out, knackered and middle aged.

ARABA


Joined: 13/09/2007
Posts: 23

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 18:51

We decided on TRNC having looked at all European destinations we visited TRNC on holiday fell in love the ambience the people and unspoilt we knew straight away I think you either love or hate TRNC

pollytat


Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 87

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 19:19

Same for for us Abara. We arrived at our hotel at 10 pm by the following afternoon we Knew Northern Cypus was for us.Picked our apartment next day.

Its the way everyone has the time for you and wants to help. The next few days only got better.

McSteviet



Joined: 11/05/2007
Posts: 1089

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 19:40

Well for us, they place was so refreshing, beautiful weather, marvellous people, even the "Brits abroard" there seem to be nicer than your usual.



We went on an apartment inspection Trip (twice actually) and then thought we'd like a Villa instead, so we eventually found the right place in Lapta and we are awaiting the completion, probably this time next year.



We are currently about to finish the shell, the progress photo's are looking better every week.



Value for money too played a big part in the decision. i had for quite a while liked the idea of having my own place abroad, but until I went to TRNC for the first time, I hadn't found that place. I knew within a couple of day, that I could live there.



You just know it feels right.



MC

orangekazzie



Joined: 31/07/2007
Posts: 1091

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 20:27

For years we holidayed in S.Cyprus. normally at the paphos end of the island, then we moved around to Polis, then near to Kato Pygros in an attempt to get away from the crowds. We found on the final year in 2000 that we couldn't go any further without crossing the boarder. So in the Summer of 2000 we made our first visit to the "other side" and found it was just like we used to enjoy in the early 80's in the south. We always said we would retire in Cyprus as even though we had at least one week per year elsewhere, we always had 2 weeks in Cyprus every year.

We knew what we wanted for our retirement and wouldn't settle on anything until we found it. With the help of a local we found exactly the plot we wanted, bought it and then built on it about 18 months later after the permissions came through. We designed our house but unfortunately living in a different country to the builder it didn't exactly turn out as we wanted - it had a lot of the builders amendments to it. We always got a "well I thought........" but hey he couldn't change the position of the house and that's the important thing. No one can ever build in front/to the side of us so cannot spoil the views we have.

We love it.

Karen

orangekazzie



Joined: 31/07/2007
Posts: 1091

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 20:33

Hey Jakkie pray tell me the excellent red wine you have found?

Karen

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 20:46

We chose TRNC firstly the low crime rate , sick of the crime that is going on in the UK . The price of property where else would we wake up every morning to a full sea view and pay such a low price for it . The fact that we drive on the same side , quite important factor for me gives me the freedom to drive when ever i want , no way i can drive on the left , also the roads are so quiet where we are , another plus point. The locals are Sooooooo friendly helpful and welcoming , we try and visit every few monthes and the first words our local shopkeeper says is WELCOME.

The fact that we can afford to eat out all the time so i never cook at the apartment , this means i never clean the cooker which is a job i dislike . The interest is very favourable .And finally the weather, just bliss.

gottheyips


Joined: 28/12/2007
Posts: 444

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 20:48

I agree with all that has been said but would like to add my own point.

I had to go back to the UK in the middle of last year for just one week......(felt like a month).

It was nothing short of a nightmare, and just served to confirm we had made the right decision to live in this beautiful part of Cyprus.

Bradus


Joined: 25/02/2007
Posts: 2641

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 21:16

Thanks for all your responses. Its nice to know that we all love the TRNC for the same reasons. It also helps prospective buyers and balances out some of the doom and gloom we so often hear about.

Happy holidays to all and for those of you lucky enough to live..... there can't wait till the day we join you.

dodger



Joined: 29/07/2007
Posts: 1895

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 21:39

We have holidayed in the south for the last six years,so last year we decided to hire a car and drive to the "dark side" as the greeks protray it, from protaris to kyrennia.We didnt really have a clue were we were going or what to expect.Anyway we crossed the metehan border with no problems at all and drove to kyrennia and eventually ended up in a place called esentepe.



We immediateley fell in love with the place, so much more scenic then the south and it seemed a lot more laid back and not an elvis immpresionist in sight

Some of the views were absoluteley stunning,especially the one we had of the sun going down while we were having a meal at the esentepe hotel.



We now holiday in thenorth all the time and hope to live there permanenteley at some stage.

denali2007


Joined: 04/01/2008
Posts: 111

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 23:16

We didn't really hold an opinion on TRNC but bought off plan purely because of value for money, and wow did we get much more than that!

We absolutely fell in love with the place on our first visit and have now decided NOT to rent out the apartment we bought to do just that.

It is our ideal holiday home - even though we would have liked to buy a villa perhaps - and we wouldn't go anywhere else.

Have to say that we have not yet found a decent red OR white wine (other than the ones you can buy at home) so if anyone can enlighten us we'd be sooooo grateful.

steelman550


Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 41

Message Posted:
20/01/2008 23:21

Our inspection trip was our first visit to the North. We loved the location and after spending a lovely evening in Kyrenia being made very welcome by the local people we decided that we would go ahead and purchase as everything just felt right.

I agree with Bradus ,with some of the doom and gloom posted,we then began to wonder if we had made a mistake, however the whole purchase experience so far has been problem free and we know within our heart that we have made the right decision.

Its nice to read how happy the other forum members are with life in the North.

Can't wait now for our apartment to be finished and being able to spend more time exploring this beautiful country and meeting its wonderful people.

jakki



Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 865

Message Posted:
22/01/2008 09:05

Hi all - in relation to the red wine - sorry I don't know the name of it but we drank it at a very good restaurant 'Bella Plais' (hope I spelt that right!) - the red is served chillded!! I know - don't be a snob - it is served chilled to allow the bouquet to expand as the wine warms up. My boyfriend and I fell in love with NC after a day. Only there for two days it was a question of falling in love with SWB, (last building site we visited) trip to solicitor and then catch a flight home!! I think my boyfriend can remember the name of the wine and I will get back to you later.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
22/01/2008 10:18

i like all the others fell in love with the place the moment i stepped off the plane , we flew in to gecitkale , the rustic , unspoiled , simplicity and unpretentiousness of the country just drew us , the people are so warm and generous ,we fell hook line and sinker , that was 6yrs ago , best thing we have ever done was to buy there .

have a good day simbas

Milou


Joined: 15/10/2007
Posts: 425

Message Posted:
22/01/2008 11:06

Like the above comments, if anyone is thinking of where to retire to, take a trip to North Cyprus. One of the last paradises on the med. Relatively unspoilt where there's still room for man and goats, you can still afford a villa with a sea view, beautiful mountains and clean air, delicious fresh seasonal produce where fresh herbs are still used, sunsets to die for, a place where there's still respect and time for old people and a country where you still have a sense of great history and living with a people who long for peace and recognition in their time.

We spent so long looking for a place to retire and only wish someone had told me - try North Cyprus!



Regards

gillybean


Joined: 22/10/2007
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
22/01/2008 12:34

we have been holidaying there for the last 9 years, so we obviously liked the place, we thought about buying, but didnt think we could afford anywhere, but saw the shell of a house, saw the poential, bought it, it's now finished and looks beautiful. Obviously we were worried about all the "pitfalls" but after reading comments on this forum we are not worried anymore. we have found our shangri la dont want to wish my life away, but cant wait to finish work and move there lock stock and barrel ( about 3/4 years )

jon26


Joined: 18/01/2008
Posts: 24

Message Posted:
22/01/2008 12:59

I first visited the Island in 1974 as a member of the UN peacekeeping force. Had access to both sides of the Island despite the new green line at the time. North Cyprus to me was the most beautiful, very hospitable (considering the time) and it was then I vowed to retire to Cyprus. The Southern side was not even considered.

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
22/01/2008 19:03

Initially sheer value for money. The other European countries mentioned have a shoe box apartment for the same cost of 4 bedroomed villa with a pool in TRNC, unless you dont mind an hours drive to the sea and facilities. After that all the other things mentioned fell into place with the people being top of my list.They are just so so nice everywhere and the vast majority want you to feel at home and belong there. They give you great service in restaurants and all at a super price.

Each visit gives us more pleasure finding new friends, new places and things to enjoy.

Most negative views seem to centre on foreigners and it is a great shame for the locals as much as it is for visitors and purchasers of property.

BB

jakki



Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 865

Message Posted:
29/01/2008 10:39

I don't about you guys but I am beginning to feel that am wanting to keep NC a secret from the outside world. On our inspection trip we were told by a couple of estate agents that Richard Branson has bought up a large piece of land near an unused airport. I didn't believe it at first thinking it was just estate agents talk, but have been told independently that it's right.

dash 70


Joined: 17/01/2008
Posts: 56

Message Posted:
29/01/2008 14:52

i hope the richard branson story is true,maybe virgin airlines next to nc???

Barrovian1



Joined: 16/11/2007
Posts: 95

Message Posted:
29/01/2008 15:11

Berty



I agree with you, haven't really found a red wine that I like, local or Turkish. So I get the Californian Blossom Hill from Erdeners, when I am over.



Cheers

Bob.

davidoff


Joined: 21/04/2007
Posts: 438

Message Posted:
29/01/2008 15:16

Hi all,



I hope it is true also - But you never can tell whats true or not??



But if he did good on him!!!!!!!!!!



Take care-D