Lithuanians going on vacation are warned: make no mistake, because you will have many drawbacks

Unsurprisingly, Cyprus, miraculously affected by the Covid-19 virus, has become a hive for people who have not had a decent vacation this year. For those who dreamed of the Mediterranean, warm weather, tanning, seafood and other pleasures. As soon as they learned that Cyprus was among the last European countries where it was safe to travel and where you did not have to isolate yourself or get tested for coronavirus, people rushed to book tickets to the island. Some airlines were even pleased that all seats were sold to Cyprus. Anyway, in such circumstances, you could take five additional trips and ours would definitely fill them. But perhaps not everything is so simple in aviation.

Tour operators, Lithuania’s largest agencies, whose business is simply collapsing this year, have also launched charter flights, and colorful advertising blocks with beautiful photos of Cyprus holidays have started to appear on the internet. Also buy vacation packages with breakfast and dinner, or even the all-inclusive pony option. Loving couples, families with children, respected elders, and even singles – so-called “lonely travelers” – went on vacation.

The further away, the more Lithuanians on this island. In hotels, cabins, private apartments. Many travel looking for the cheapest way to fly to the island, even taking between 15 and 18 hours of flight with two or three transfers. It is possible to understand it, because everyone wants to save.

Many people travel to Cyprus for the first time, as if they are prepared and not interested in everything. These people find blog posts from compatriots who have already been here, or information prepared by travel agencies, and blindly follow someone’s previously created program. Churches, monasteries, beautiful beaches, olive groves, the best places to watch the sunset. When looking for something to do in Cyprus, there really are a lot of bargains. Among them, in almost all cases, there are recommendations to go to the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus. “It’s different, it’s more beautiful, it’s cheaper,” he said online. One fact that I agree with is that it is significantly cheaper on that side of the island. From accommodation to food in stores or meals in restaurants. Those who traveled on vacation with a lot of transfers and savings will definitely want to save at this location too. However, dear travelers, do not do this, but not now, while the coronavirus is rampant.

An important fact that everyone who goes to this amazing island should remember is that southern Cyprus and northern Cyprus are like two separate states after the 1975 occupation. South – Greek, the one belonging to the European Union, to the that fly planes directly from Lithuania. And the (occupied) north is the territory of Turkey, there are completely different rules, other laws, but the most important fact is that there is already an area “beyond the border”, that is, not the European Union, so crossing the border at this time you porridge, spend a lot of money. Definitely more than you save going there.

With the Covid-19 outbreak, free movement between the two areas of the island came to an end. You can go north, but you won’t come back. Here is an example, such a simple situation: you divided your weekly vacation in half, you stayed 3 days in the south, now 4 you will stay in the north. He sat down and drove there. In your mind, you planned to return south on the day of your scheduled flight home, but the border guards would just sit behind you. He wants to go back, drive around, he will say. What does this mean? The thing is, they just don’t let the car in. What to do then? Tears really won’t help. My friend Rasa, a Lithuanian living in Northern Cyprus, says that you will have to fly. Although the area of ​​the island is only 9251 km², that is, it is seven times smaller than Lithuania (with an area of ​​65,300 km²), it may be necessary to change the plane several times.

Following the total closure of the countries in the spring, the following categories of people move freely between the south and the north during the quarantine period starting in June: officially employed residents, studying or receiving medical treatment on the other side, Maronite and Greek Cypriot citizens (South) living in the Northern Cyprus Republic (TRNC). At present, any resident of southern Cyprus can travel freely if he submits a refusal that does not take more than 72 hours. PCR test. Non-Cypriot residents from north to south are not allowed. But it is possible to go from south to north.

Entry restrictions to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus apply only in the context of COVID-19, i.e. it is sufficient for tourists from Category A countries to present negative 72 hours. PCR test, Category B requires a test and is subject to a 7-day quarantine and Category C is subject to a 14-day quarantine.

Tourists who do not cross the border back to southern Cyprus can take advantage of other modes of travel. The first option is to fly to Istanbul at Ercan airport in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (from this airport there are flights only to Turkey, nowhere else) and from there to Lithuania (although there are currently no direct flights to Lithuania there , so you have to choose intermediate stops such as Athens, Vienna, Kiev, etc.) The second option is to take a ferry to Alanya and from there on charter flights or fly to Lithuania the same way as before. The third way is if you want to return south by plane. Fly from Ercan airport to Istanbul, from Istanbul to Athens and only then to Larnaca or Paphos airport (Republic of Cyprus).

In Cyprus, various legends are already circulating among the population, which is happening with tourists stranded on the north side. The most popular is about a taxi driver who has to come up with a clever plan to transport these disasters from one place to another illegally. There is another version, of public diffusion, that in one of the border controls the border guards miss the tourists caught by closing their eyes, it is true that they barely squint, asking for a negative test.

Don’t get caught up in the hassle when you go to Cyprus, don’t cross the border. Enjoy good weather, delicious food and other good things on the Greek side of the island.