Currency in Turkey??

monkeyw_2

Hi

My family and I are going to Turkey next year (April 2012) and at the moment I don't honestly know what currency to take?

I've been told Euro's are best because they price everything up in the Euro?

I know they have their own Lira and accept the Euro (And I believe some places even take the English Pound)

We are going to Lara beach which is in Antalya.

Many thanks in advance

daveyjp

My parents go to northern Cyprus every year and spend Turkish Lira. The exchange rate for euros is currently very low, but Turkish lira has gone from about 2.3 to almost 2.9 to the £ in the last 12 months.

wallbash

because they price everything up in the Euro?

They do . Is it worth mentally converting into TL ( also losing out , converting unused TL into sterling , at the end of hols) You have to make that choice.

As I go Ai in July ( Barut Lara ) last year , I stick to the Euro.

Katiehound

Well you are not going for a day or two!! so no rush. Haven't been there for some years but me thinks they might quite like the good old £££s. They are keen enough on £10 note when you arrive!

Seriously 'though it may well depend on how well the £ &/or euro are doing at the time on the international money markets. The first time I went (pre Euro) I was amazed that some of the stall holders would take almost any european currency AND have the correct change in that currency!

Jennifer_Jane

I was at Lara Beach in March and we were surprised that the Euro was so widely accepted. I think you can manage completely in euro especially if you're not going to very out-of-the-way places, and the hotel being 'all inclusive'. At the airport you have to buy a visa and THEY accept a crisp £10 note (or £20 note for a couple), or Euro or Lire. But, yes, most places do show prices in Euro.

PS - leave PLENTY of time to be at the airport when you return. We had to go through full security to get into Antalya airport - we stood outside the airport and cases and hand things both had to go through x-rays, and we did to. Then check-in with huge queues there too, and the final security and then waiting to get through the gates (with several different plane loads of people all queueing for the same gate.

If you haven't been to Turkey before just know that you will be accosted in the market and in the street and in shops and quite rigorously 'sold to' with persistent invitations to haggle. People are sweet, but I still found it daunting (as an oldish woman without a man, young women have a much tougher time). I'm sure you will have a great time, however, and I certainly hope you do.

PompeyPete

At the moment you are better off with Turkish Lira (TL), especially if you are likely to spending a fair bit
If you buy anything in Euros then you will get your change in TL, and you will have lost out on the deal.
So like it or lump it you'll probably end up with TL in your pocket, which if you're left with any at the end of your holiday you may not be able to change it back to Sterling because you won't have a receipt to prove you changed any Sterling into TL in the first place.
If you do insist in sticking to the Euro, and don't want to getting too much TL in your change, then make sure that when you buy your Euro that you get as much as you need in low denominational notes/coins.

boiler_man

We go to Turkey every year and always take £ cash and change up into YTL when we are there. You get a good rate over there and you have the option of paying in £ or YTL (usually better value in YTL).

glodh1973

we are going on saturday it is first time there... i am changing some when i get there too turkish lira x

de1amo

pound is high against the lira at the moment-i have lived here 5 years and its at its peak--i have seen it as low as 1 pound 2,20 but at the moment it is 2,90 so if your definately going it maybe time to take a currency punt!