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Great 'What's the best currency to take to Turkey, Israel, Laos, and more?' Hunt

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Former_MSE_Debs
Former_MSE_Debs Posts: 890 Forumite
edited 2 July 2013 at 5:00PM in Flights, currency & car hire
Great 'What's the best currency to take to Turkey, Israel, Laos, and more?' Hunt


The local currency isn't best in every country. So if you travel abroad regularly, we'd like to know which countries you found you were better off taking dollars, pounds or euros to, so we can collect the info.


Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply. If you aren’t sure how it all works, watch our New to Forum? Intro Guide .

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  • double_mummy
    double_mummy Posts: 3,989 Forumite
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    in israel take sheqel

    some very rare places will accept USD no gbp and no euros

    have not tried jerusalem though mainly tel aviv and haifa hadera all around that area
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  • saversfriend
    saversfriend Posts: 81 Forumite
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    Everywhere I went in Israel accepted US dollars. Most places took UK pounds too. There were less shops with card facilities compared to UK.
  • JBx2
    JBx2 Posts: 1 Newbie
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    Take US$ to Laos - take small denominations $1 and $5 notes are best. Get local currency when there but we only needed it in small markets so just change a little at a time. You cannot get Kip outside of Laos as it is a soft (non traded) currency. You can also use Thai Baht in Vientiane and Luang Prabang possibly other places too.In Istanbul a couple of weeks ago and used Turkish Lira - we used public transport so definitely needed Lira but we paid our hotel bill in €! All our shopping and eats were paid in Lira. Saw someone try to pay in US$ in a cafe near the Blue Mosque and it was a nightmare for them.
  • bluekp
    bluekp Posts: 439 Forumite
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    We were advised to take USD to Vietnam, however on arriving we discovered that on the whole they only take VND.

    In Cambodia however, you use the USD everywhere.
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  • joedenise
    joedenise Posts: 16,630 Forumite
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    Euros were wanted in a lot of shops in Turkey in preference to the local currency, alternatively UK pounds.

    Local currency was needed for small shops and markets.

    Denise
  • katyboo123
    katyboo123 Posts: 232 Forumite
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    When we went to Turkey (we went two consecutive years to Icmeler) they wanted sterling...

    We tipped in coins and they LOVED us for it. we also exchanged our money the second time in the hotel, because the first time we'd exchanged it here and got a rubbish exchange rate compared to what they offered in the hotel in Turkey.

    But, we used local currency when we were out and about and found that completely acceptable - especially in the markets where they just want hard and fast cash. Most restaurants are priced in TL too, so we just used that! :)

    HTH someone
  • ripongrammargirl
    ripongrammargirl Posts: 117 Forumite
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    Much confusion over whether Mexico takes their own currency or US dollars. Travel agent can't advise (a lot of use they are!) and reviews on websites are so mixed it's impossible to know for sure. Correct info, anyone???
  • moonjooce
    moonjooce Posts: 18 Forumite
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    Russia anyone? I've heard USD are best but not sure.
  • benjus
    benjus Posts: 5,433 Forumite
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    US Dollars are the thing to have in Argentina - the locals are desperate for them as it's very difficult to exchange Pesos these days.

    Last time I was there, shops would accept dollars at a preferential rate - the restrictions are tighter now so I'm not sure if that still happens. If you're prepared to take the risk, you can easily sell them to private individuals. Google "blue dollar" for details of the current situation.
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  • nadirnwo
    nadirnwo Posts: 141 Forumite
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    In Laos as I write. Dollar is king! You actually loose abit changing pounds. However, I have a Metrobank debit card and it gives me much better rates taking cash out at the ATM rather than going to the money exchange.
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