North or South Cyprus for a family holiday?

[aniawl]

Looking at booking a villa for our family holiday at the end of August in Cyprus ( me and DH, 2 kids plus 2 DGP). Would rather it not be somewhere crammed next door too and overlooked by several similar properties and I’m finding that those kind of villas come at a better price in the northern, Turkish side if Cyprus. So here is my question - how do the two parts compare in terms of crowds, infrastructure, costs etc? Is there lots to do for kids? ( DD1 is 10 and DD2 is 3) If we were to fly to a southern airport and rent a car, are there any restrictions re taking it across the border? TIA

The Turkish side is much quieter, less commercialised and cheaper.

Thanks, that’s what I was thinking. We’re not big on holiday crowds do less busy and less commercial sounds great.

I think the rules are quiet strict with the crossings. I've only been once, and to the south, but there was huge fencing across the border and armed guards.

Info here:
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cyprus/safety-and-security

This says hire cars may not be insured to go the other side of the island to which you hired, and that there are only a couple of crossing points.

You can go from south to north in a hire car but have to pay extra insurance. You can't take a hire car from north to south.

Thank you! Much appreciated!