currencey to take to Turkey

busiscoming2

Hi
We are off to Marmaris, Turkey in a couple of weeks time and i'm very confused about what currency to take! Is it better to take stirling or euro travellers cheques. I know we need £10 notes each for the visa. Some people on other posts elsewhere have advised taking stirling and liras in cash - but I feel this is very unwise as we are going for a fortnight sc. Can anyone help?
Thanks Line x

Triker

Hi there, I would take a mixture of a bit of sterling, say £50.00 and a small amount of lira that you have changed over here to see you through the first day until you find a better exchange rate which you'll find in Turkey. Prices are often in euros, US Dollars and Sterling but I would insist on paying in Lira as you'll get a better deal. Be careful though as many places will try to give you prices in UK pounds as they get a much better rate for these. Have fun on your hols.

Triker

Oops forgot to say that if you have a Nationwide account then you will not be charged for taking your money out from the cashpoint machine in Turkey. You can choose whether you wish for Sterling or Lira at the cashpoint and it's helpful to have this option rather than having travellers cheques. Most hotels have safe's that you can hire throughout your stay to put your passports, cash and cheques in.

Softstuff

I used to live in Marmaris. Like the previous poster I'd say always pay in Lira, since the rate at the moment is greatly in our favour. As well as that, ignore the "money changing" shops, they ALWAYS take commission even when they say they don't. Your best bet is to go into local banks, and ask there if they exchange and what their commission is... the rates in those can be significantly better, though it will take you an extra 5 minutes or so as they photocopy your passport and so forth. Take sterling travellers cheques with you, these will be exchanged at the bank for lira.

Slightly off topic... your best bet for doing any food shopping is in the larger supermarkets - migros or tansas, apart from fruit or veg which is good, fresh and cheap on the markets. Avoid buying items at small corner stores, you will be overcharged by as much as 10X the going rate.

busiscoming2

Many thanks guys - shall prob take small amount of both sterling and lira in cash and do the rest in t. cheques!