lira or euro in Side, Turkey?

cord123

Hi, we are travelling on Thursday and I am unsure what to take :-( Some things that I have read say to take Euro but then that change is given in lira which I find very confusing!


Can anyone enlighten me.... ?


Thank in advance xx

dzug1

The local currency is lire - turkish pounds

Most shops (tourist ones any way) will take euros - and UK pounds come to that - at a generally reasonable exchange rate. They will convert the change into local currency

If you are taking cash, take pounds, unless you already have euros. No point in paying to exchange twice.

cord123

Oh ok, so take pounds and change up there if need be?

Many thanks


Z

jimmybog

I would take Lira and then you know where you stand and will avoid getting ripped off by a shop or restaurant converting the rate to favour them rather than you.

zzzLazyDaisy

When I was in Side a few years ago a lot of shops priced up in Euros in the hotel and tourist areas. Very annoying. Once you get away from the tourist areas the prices are in Lira. They will take £'s but my experience is that the exchange rate the shops offer is pants.

For Lira you are best taking £s and changing there as the exchange rate is better than in UK. But I would still take a few Euros as you get a better exchange rate in UK than in Turkey. Remember you can always get money from the ATM and the rate is still very good at the moment.

Be aware that the change offices tend to drop the exchange rate on Friday, so it is often better to change money in the week.

Dave_C_2

I'll have another go - my last post got lost:(

Have a good poke round on the Tripadvisor Side forum for other opinions. We're going in a fortnight so I've been researching
With the large amount of Eurozone tourists (mainly German) it's not suprising that the prices are in Euros.

It would seem silly to convert to Euros and then to Lira as you would lose out on exchange rates rates twice.

From my experience of Icmeler a couple of years ago:
Bars, restaurants and tourist shops - Lira will be fine
Trips, hotel and jewellery shops etc. prefer Euros (or Pounds) but will take Lira. - it's something to haggle over.

Don't forget to take a new £10 note each for your visa when you land

Dave

wallbash

My first question , what sort of holiday is the OP having ?
This might determine the shopping required. Self catering at one end , take Lira . Ai I would take the Euro .

Why ? unlike the OP I go in July , I don't spend ages converting three currencies in that temp all to save a few pennies. If I take Euros. don't bother converting any Eros left at end of hols as I will be able to spend them in a few months in another holiday.

Main thing to remember converting TL back to £ is another cost.
Keep it simple.

zagfles

jimmybog wrote: »

I would take Lira and then you know where you stand and will avoid getting ripped off by a shop or restaurant converting the rate to favour them rather than you.

If you buy Lira in the UK the rate will probably be a bigger rip-off than anywhere in Turkey, even shops, restaurants etc! When we went they much preferrd GBP as their inflation rate was sky high (but they have got it more under control recently) and the rates were MUCH better than the UK.

Take GBP and change there (or spend if the rates are good), or take a good card (see the guide on this site) and get cash out locally.