What currency should I take to Turkey?

AlwaysHappy

Evening all, I am going to Turkey in a few weeks time and wondered what currency to take. Anyone any experiences? My obvious thought was to take Turkish Lire, but I seem to vaguely remember someone telling me to take sterling. Thoughts and suggestions much appreciated.

apt

Partly depends on where you go. Many places in the big resorts accept sterling. In Bodrum Euros are used a lot.

zzzLazyDaisy

Take sterling and change it when you get there, as the rates are almost always better in Turkey than at home. When you do need money check the rates offered by the change offices and the banks as there can be quite a difference.

wallbash

As apt posted it depends on your area. My advice is always keep it simple. There are some who advocate the Lira. But in many touristy places they display prices in the Euro . Do you really want to think in Sterling , price in Euros and haggle in the Lira , spend all the time juggling conversions .. you are holiday , getting the best price might save you pence and cost you your sanity.
What ever you do , remember if you covert to much , you lose out when changing back to Sterling at the end of the hols.

luisad78

Hi.. My mate just returned and they said best to take stirling as better rate of exch when over there!!!

PompeyPete

Definately take sterling, and change on arrival.
Don't use Euros. Turkey is not in the eurozone, it's a massive country with its own currency, so use the Turkish Lira.
If you are left with Lira at the end of your holiday, then that's a great excuse to go back to Turkey. But choose somewhere different next time, it's a wonderful country, and there is much more to see than the resorts.

wallbash

Don't use Euros. Turkey is not in the eurozone, it's a massive country with its own currency, so use the Turkish Lira.

Why ?? if the shop keepers display prices in the Euro , If the Large hotel invoice in the Euro why not use the euro ???

Turkey is not in the eurozone .... has anyone told the Turks that. :rotfl:

alanrowell

wallbash wrote: »

Why ?? if the shop keepers display prices in the Euro , If the Large hotel invoice in the Euro why not use the euro ???

Turkey is not in the eurozone .... has anyone told the Turks that. :rotfl:

Look up "Dynamic Currency Conversion". Bet that stops you laughing.

The Turkish have cottoned on that it's easier to fleece people if you display things in prices they are used to. So they price in Euro where most of their mugs - sorry tourists - are from the Eurozone & GBP where theri mugs come from the UK

apt

It's quite often cheaper to buy in Euros than Lira in parts of Turkey - especially Bodrum and Marmaris where there are day trips from Kos and Rhodes. The duty free prices in Turkish airports are also cheaper in Euros. Other things tend to be cheaper in lira like Dolmus fares. So if you've got some Euros at home you are hardly being a mug to take them with you on a Turkish holiday.

wallbash

I will continue to use the Euro in Turkey , it might cost me ........ a few pence , saves me a lot of hassle .
Will continue laughing while others stress out saving less than a daily paper over the whole holiday.
Yes the local Dolmus uses the Lira , but back in July , I was not going to stand in the sun waiting for a bus, took air conditioned Taxi's , prices quoted in the ....... Euro.

johnnyroper

last time i went to Turkey (2008) went to altinkum in june and gumbet in the sept.both times i took £50 worth of turkish lira to tied us over until i found the best place to change sterling.
much better exchange rates over there also when in shops/markets sterling offers far better battering capabilities the locals love the stuff.