We're Off To Turkey On Sat Any Tips? 1st Timers!

leew

Hi all,

We are off to Bodrum on Saturday and it's our 1st time visiting Turkey.

We have a few questions, does the £10 on entry still apply? hows the weather at the moment? where is the best place for currency? heard Lira is'nt the best to get.

Any other hints or tips?

Thanks in advance.

emmalou_2

My mum is there at the moment and its 35 degrees so, 98F? sounds nice to me!

On currency my advice would be to get about £50 changed over here before you go, shop around for the prices, i usually use the post office or marks and spencers for small amounts... then change the rest over there, I was looking the other day and here the exchange is around 2.05 yet over there its about 2.2!

I fly myself at the end of the month, cant wait, enjoy your holiday!!

CCFC_80

You will experience a lot of hassle from restaurant staff to get you into their restaurants when you go out to eat at night. Just be polite and say you have already eaten ! Same thing also when you go into their souvenir shops or Bazaars, Be warned you will not be allowed to browse ! They will hassle you as soon as you come in.

Amy83

andy46 wrote: »

They will hassle you as soon as you come in.

You don't even need to go in to be hassled, merely walking past makes you fair game :rotfl:

Alot of people don't like Turkey due to the hassle, but if you keep it friendly, with a smile or a laugh and a 'thanks but no thanks' while you carry on walking, you won't go far wrong.

Another thing - make sure you check your bills, it's not unheard of for the waiters to stick one of two of their own drinks on your tab/bill.

Have a fantastic time, I love Turkey

Oh, and yes the £10 visa still applies - make sure it's a ten pound note per person, they don't like any other denominations (so a £20 note for two people won't work)...and if I remember rightly they also don't take Scottish notes.

hazelmere1

Do a boat trip they're great value , but not with your tour company . Just wander down the beachfront , there will be loads of people doing them. You can get free child places or BOGOF on adult prices if your cheeky enough. A great day out with your lunch thrown in as well .

Saint_Chris

have a fun time, i'm of out there on friday afternoon

Hippygirl

Best way to get currency is with a Nationwide or Post Office debit card from an ATM - no additional charges.
Turkey is lovely - just smile and be polite and you will be treated well - people who respond agressively to good-humoured invitations to enter shops/restaurants provoke a similar reaction. There's no welfare state in Turkey and people have to make a living, but the majority try to attract custom in a polite and good-humoured manner.
Have a great time!

leew

Hippygirl wrote: »

Best way to get currency is with a Nationwide or Post Office debit card from an ATM - no additional charges.

Thank you all for the replies, very helpful :T

I've been busy getting some last minute clothes as the weaher is hotter than i thought! otherwise i'd have replied back sooner.

I'd just like to ask about the Nationwide wide thing as i have a Nationwide account, is it just a case of using any ATM in Turkey and i'd get Lira in return without charges?

Sorry but i'm new to this, i thought you got charged all sorts of charges!

Thanks again guys.

lexa34

Good buysin Turkey are towels (they make loads of cotton goods) or leather things. They do lots of "genuine" fakes everywhere.

The mud bath/ boat trip/ natural beach trip is good and Ephesus (how ever you spell it- 1 of the 7 wonders of the ancient world). Obviously have a Hammam (Turkish Bath) the 1st day ( sets good base for tan scrubbing off dead skin!) and about day 3/4. The massages can be quite good but get a female (two BAD experiences!). Same as anywhere; saying hello and thanks goes down very well.

Hippygirl

leew wrote: »

Thank you all for the replies, very helpful :T

I've been busy getting some last minute clothes as the weaher is hotter than i thought! otherwise i'd have replied back sooner.

I'd just like to ask about the Nationwide wide thing as i have a Nationwide account, is it just a case of using any ATM in Turkey and i'd get Lira in return without charges?

Sorry but i'm new to this, i thought you got charged all sorts of charges!

Thanks again guys.

Yes, thats right - Nationwide does not charge for withdrawals or for converting the currency. you will be asked what language you want when you first put your card in & then select English and follow the instructions. Because there is no charge for withdrawing, provided we are within easy access of ATMs (and in Bodrum you will be) we withdraw smallish amounts, so we are less likely to lose large amounts of cash. (My OH is good at things like swimming with notes in his pocket, leaving the backpack with all our passports, creditcards etc behind in restaurants...)
As someone said earlier you will each need a £10 note on arrival. There are ATMs at the airport if you need to withdraw cash immediately.
Have a fantastic holiday.

SPANIEL36

haggle haggle haggle is my advice, i went to a market, the ex OH wanted some prada copy shoes they wanted 120 tirkish lira, i said i'd pay 50....no no no he said until i started walking off and wanted the 50!!

even with restaurants, one night we managed to get all 6 kids eating free with us 4 adults, all we had to but was our meals and the drinks