turkey spending money

slimtobee

hiya i am hoping someone can help me.We go away in june to marmaris for 2 weeks self catering,myself,hubby and teenage daughter.how much money do you think we would need for the 2 weeks?

also what is the best money to take..english or turkish?

thanks

sloppychops

Try on the Holiday Truths website.

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=28&sid=b31fef2d2fbe0f11685bca4f4609b872

researcher

Take english - we always use the local post office in the resort to change cash. It's open to midnight 7 days a week. I don't use travellers cheques any more - but if you want to and can buy them commission free, take them in sterling too. A Nationwide debit card is very useful to get cash from ATM's but is still not as good as cash. Oh, the exchange at the airport on arrival is ok too.

Prices in Turkey are very economical, markets and supermarket are extrememly cheap for fruit, veg, eggs, cheese, bread yoghurt etc, and eating in restaurants is so cheap it's hardly worth buying ingredients and cooking them yourself. I'd eat breakfast in your accommodation - and either make a picnic lunch to take with me if going to the beach - or you can get really nice snacks very cheaply. I'd eat in restaurants each night. Not sure what budget you'd need, but we'd eat well in a restaurant for £5 per head, including a drink and two courses.

Do you have a cool bag, one of the soft sided ones - if so take it with you as for keeping drinks and food cool it's invaluable. Just make sure its filled with cold things to start with! One of the savings that makes a big difference in a week is buying cold drinks from the supermarket, rather from cafes.

fishhawks

In Turkey they will take any money - English (not scottish notes though), Turkish or Euro. When going into shops just ask them how much something is in what ever currently you want to pay and they will take it!

Bob63

The Euro is much more widely accepted than the UK£. Take a fistful of Euros. Don't bother exchanging Euros into local currency. Instead draw out local currency from cash machines. Many restaurants, shops, taxi drivers will take Euros but be careful you don't get stiffed with the exchange rate. Understand the approximate rate and fix that number in your head when doing any calculations. During our 2 weeks in Antalya/Kadriye last August only one establishment tried it on with us and they didn't get our business!

Don't forget you will need hard cash on arrival for your visa (£10 / €15 each from memory)

Mike

ka7e

The Home Truths website is very good. The Migros supermarket is great! Look out for Capi peach drink in cans - my kids still talk about it! Marmaris beach is shingle and not very nice, lots of oil in the water from the marina. Take a dolmus (taxi/minibus) to Icmeler for a nice, but busy beach. The dolmus network is very cheap and buses run every 10/15 mins around the town.
Lots of cheap repro designer stuff around. We found some very good Timberland sweatshirts and Quiksilver T-shirts, but the rest was tat. This area of Turkey has huge cotton fields inland and towels are a great buy. We went to a factory shop that sold stuff labelled for all the top UK stores.

sailingdom

In truth the best possible way of utilising money abroad is by opening a Nationwide bank account with their Debit card as there is no commission paid on it and every cash point in Turkey takes it.

Turkey is extremely cheap and I often have great difficulty in spending £500 over a period of two weeks including shopping and presents

slimtobee

thanks for your replies they all have been very helpful.