Spending money for turkey
Discussion
mat13 said:
I'm going away to turkey for a week and have been told that I'm better changing my money once I'm over there, anyone know if that's true?
It used to be when they had rampant inflation. Change £20 everyday and you'd get a free beer due to the exchange rate 
Don't know if that is still the case though.
mat13 said:
I'm going away to turkey for a week and have been told that I'm better changing my money once I'm over there, anyone know if that's true?
You've lots of options, depending on where you're going, and also on which currency can be used. If you're going to one of the bigger tourist resorts like Bodrum or Marmaris, Euros/£s/Lira are all taken, so you can get away with changing £ to € here, or not changing at all except for some pin money, and using £. However many of the smaller resorts only take Lira, and if you're in Istanbul then Lira is also best. The further East you go, the less anything other than Lira is accepted.When heading out on holiday to Dalyan, I've always changed a couple of days worth of cash before departure into Lira (but never at the airport!!!!!), then used ATMs thereafter - the often (not always) slightly worse rate is off-set by not having to stand in queues to change travellers cheques, not having to worry about keeping wads of cash to hand, etc, etc.
As ever, if you do want to exchange cash then stay away from the main tourist traps - back street offices and shops will always give you a better rate!
And don't forget to have £10 in GBP per person handy to buy an entry visa before you can go through passport control.
And remember that the prices of anything, particularly food and drink in Airports - especially the departure halls - is ridiculously high (the £10 Big Mac at Dalaman for example!), so prepare accordingly!
Enjoy.....

Where you going?
mat13 said:
Staying at the voyage hotel in bodrum, adults only and looks very nice. So the best thing to do is take a couple of hundred in lira an a couple of hundred in sterling? We are staying all inclusive so should only need cash for shopping an the odd night out.
A couple of hundred in Lira will get you far, even in Bodrum. You will want to explore beyond your hotel, so keep some cash handy. Bodrum is VERY different to most of Turkey - if you can, and if you're up for it, hire a boat to yourselves from the harbour mid-afternoon, when everyone else is chilling, negotiate a great price with a captain, and get away from the noise and mayhem that is Bodrum.
Make sure he has a chiller box on board, and a few bottles of Efes or Villa Doluca...
had ham said:
mat13 said:
Staying at the voyage hotel in bodrum, adults only and looks very nice. So the best thing to do is take a couple of hundred in lira an a couple of hundred in sterling? We are staying all inclusive so should only need cash for shopping an the odd night out.
A couple of hundred in Lira will get you far, even in Bodrum. You will want to explore beyond your hotel, so keep some cash handy. Bodrum is VERY different to most of Turkey - if you can, and if you're up for it, hire a boat to yourselves from the harbour mid-afternoon, when everyone else is chilling, negotiate a great price with a captain, and get away from the noise and mayhem that is Bodrum.
Make sure he has a chiller box on board, and a few bottles of Efes or Villa Doluca...
mat13 said:
had ham said:
mat13 said:
Staying at the voyage hotel in bodrum, adults only and looks very nice. So the best thing to do is take a couple of hundred in lira an a couple of hundred in sterling? We are staying all inclusive so should only need cash for shopping an the odd night out.
A couple of hundred in Lira will get you far, even in Bodrum. You will want to explore beyond your hotel, so keep some cash handy. Bodrum is VERY different to most of Turkey - if you can, and if you're up for it, hire a boat to yourselves from the harbour mid-afternoon, when everyone else is chilling, negotiate a great price with a captain, and get away from the noise and mayhem that is Bodrum.
Make sure he has a chiller box on board, and a few bottles of Efes or Villa Doluca...
Not sure you will find anyone willing to let you drive it yourself, but look for a smaller boat with a captain, and he will happily just drive whilst the two of you relax, drink, eat. And of course he will let you have a go if you ask...
Make sure you end up chugging home at sunset, sure to win you romancing 'browny' points, and I promise you that you will never, ever, feel more relaxed!
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