Return to travel to Cyprus: what is the situation there and what should be done to avoid problems

Joleta Bilskienė, manager of the West Express travel agency, who recently returned from Cyprus, says how successful it was on the island with an extremely low number of illnesses (according to the latest data, 5.7 illnesses per 100,000 inhabitants). This is announced in a press release.

And although she did not escape isolation when she arrived in Lithuania, because she came to the island at a time when the requirements for returnees were stricter, the woman said she felt safer in Cyprus than at home.

He inspected the entire plane

Lithuania is among the countries where the Covid-19 test is not mandatory. However, Cyprus reserves the right to carry out random checks on airport arrivals. During Joleta’s trip, tests were carried out on all the passengers on the plane: “I think it was decided to take out additional insurance for the team of athletes flying on the plane. Everything went well, in order, without stress or confusion, prioritizing those who flew with the children. All the passengers on the plane were registered within 40 minutes. “

The woman, who flew to Cyprus with her husband, said that the test was not pleasant, but that she was happy to do it: “We were calm because we were not sick.” Lithuanians received the test results after 4-5 hours. There were messages on the phones that the tests were negative. “And we were able to go on vacation as planned,” Joleta said.

True, he noted that you need to fill out a special form, the Cyprus Flight Pass, when traveling to Cyprus. It must be completed in advance, no more than 24 hours before the trip. After answering several questions in the questionnaire, a confirmation will be sent to email. To avoid queues at airports, it is recommended to have a printed confirmation with you both when checking in for a flight in Lithuania and when arriving in Cyprus.

“It is as if you will not fly to Cyprus without a plane ticket or without a Cyprus flight pass. The address of tourists is also very popular at Cyprus airport. The address, for example of the hotel where you will live, is also you must indicate when completing the questionnaire, ”said Joleta, who works in the tourism sector.

A new requirement has been introduced: returnees from Cyprus to Lithuania must register with the Lithuanian National Health Center (NVSC). Check-in must be done in advance, before the flight, by completing electronic questionnaire. The electronic confirmation received (QR code) must be sent during shipment in Lithuania. Without this code, no passengers will be allowed on the plane.

Flew to the wedding

Cyprus is a universal holiday destination. It is possible to pamper the pleasures of the beach or travel for cognitive purposes. There are also well-developed branches of tourism such as active leisure, such as hiking or cycling, diving on the island. Health treatments are ongoing in Cyprus during the cold season.

Interestingly, in Cyprus, as in Las Vegas, foreigners have been given especially favorable conditions to get married, which is why weddings on the island have also become one of the branches of tourism. The island of the goddess of love, Aphrodite, as Cyprus is called, hosts not only a wedding ceremony or a festive party, but also a romantic photoshoot on the shores of the blue sea, the honeymoon.

Joleta just flew to the wedding, her husband’s sister got married on the island. “In the hotel where the gala dinner took place, the temperature of everyone who entered was measured. Service personnel: only with masks and without exception. And yes, everywhere in Cyprus. The impression was that distances are considered more strictly than in Lithuania. Even when working with masks, restaurant waiters or store personnel pay close attention from a safe distance. We took a taxi from the airport to the rented apartments, he’s a taxi driver, and wearing a mask, and they asked us to put them on, ”said J. Bilskienė.

Hotels pay a lot of attention to security. Buffets are separated from diners by transparent walls and staff in masks and gloves put food on the plate for each guest. To reduce contact, rooms are only cleaned at the guest’s request. A safe distance is kept in public areas, disinfectant can be found everywhere.

Luxury at no additional charge

While Cypriot businessmen this summer complain of having received only a quarter of tourists, those on vacation on the island feel that they have benefited from the situation. Due to the smaller number of people and the automatic increase in the attention of the staff, there is the feeling that here everything is just for you and your family: swimming pool, whirlpool or other services. J. Bilskienė noted that although one in two hotels is closed and the view is sometimes apocalyptic, all other institutions function as they did: restaurants, bars and shops are waiting for tourists.

It is true that when a woman visited the island (a couple of weeks ago), for security reasons, many excursions were not carried out, so the couple chose to take a boat trip and then rent a car and tour the island by your account. “It really takes determination to drive on the other side of the road than usual, but the man had no problem with that. Especially since the roads there are great, the traffic is slow, and the locals are very friendly and tolerant of traffic. tourists, ”he said.

The head of tourism pointed out that renting a car in advance, online, is cheaper than on the street: The flow of people is also regulated in all other closed premises: shops, restaurants. But since these people are not small in principle, it does not cause major inconvenience. “

It is true that, according to the interlocutor, although seriously affected by Covid-19, Cyprus is not in a hurry to be cheap and does not waste large discounts or free services, because the tourism sector is not trying to get rich, but to survive.

Recommended to go for heat

J. Bilskienė, who visited Cyprus for the first time, said that he would be happy to return to the island for the second time: “The weather is very good; I would suggest traveling there just for the heat and that heat won’t end in fall. The sea is warm and clean, good beaches. Children do not get out of the water, he is fabulously good with children there. I also saw bathing with babies. Cyprus has everything you need for a perfect vacation. “

Although severely affected by Covid-19, Cyprus is in no rush to be cheap and does not waste big discounts or free services.

The woman noted that there are no winds in Cyprus, from which there is nowhere to hide on the shores of other islands or countries, neither day nor night: Especially since the autumn school holidays. And anyway, a lot of people have been left without a normal vacation this year, so those who kept putting their vacations to a later date are now in a rush to reserve seats on planes. Especially since the situation with Covid-19 was already good when we were on vacation and it is constantly improving ”.

Grapes and almonds ripen

Fall holidays in the South Island, different from the summer ones. Although it is hot, the sun is not so bad anymore, it may rain only occasionally and quickly, but it is now that the fruits and other goods are ripening.

“We lived in the tourist town of Protaro, near Larnaca. There is a beach with fig trees called Fig Tree Bay, so those figs are now ripe and you can taste them. Very tasty. When we were in Cyprus, we had already collected pomegranates from the trees , crumbled almonds, you could choose which part of the way. Locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers are also very tasty. In general, the food in Cyprus is very good, fresh, delicious, “said J. Bilskienė.

Joleta, who used to produce food in rented apartments, bought food in shops and markets: “The prices are a little higher than in Lithuania, although some products are cheaper. For example, locally produced cheeses are very tasty and inexpensive. “Tourists were asked to wear masks both in shops and in all other enclosed spaces. In the countryside – no. Yes, as in Lithuania.

International tour operator Tez Tour will operate charter flights to Cyprus starting September 20. The planes will take off on Thursdays and Sundays until November 1.