Spending in Turkey

skipinderjit

This'll be the first time my family and I holiday in Turkey ( Kalkan ). Flights and Villa are booked and, providing there isnt a revolution between now and the summer holidays, we are looking forward to this.
Can anyone please tell me the most cost effective way of spending money out there ie Turkish Lira/pounds/credit card. I'm conscious that I might get ripped off spending pounds with local dodgy currency calculations. Should I change up for Lira here or in Kalkan. Any advice would be much appreciated.

zzzLazyDaisy

Get a small amount of lira here (say £50) for any bits and bobs when you first arrive, and take sterling to change there. The exchange rate is always better in Turkey than it is here. There are plenty of ATMs and even if youare charged a commission by your bank for withdrawing money, it still works out at least as good and usually better than the exchange rate here.

Kalkan is lovely and June is one of the best months to go. There's not much of a beach to speak of but for a day out catch the bus along the coast to Kas and take a ferry to the beaches across the harbour. Ask the ferry man to take you to the best beach - there are three but one is loads better than the other two. I think it is the middle one and I think it used to be called 'Billy's beach' or something like that, but it's a long time ago. Saklikent is also lovely to visit. Also check out the day trips in the town. For not much more than £10 a person you can get a day trip including lunch to some lovely places, the guides speak good english so you'll learn about the area.

Have a great time!

maman

skipinderjit wrote: »

This'll be the first time my family and I holiday in Turkey ( Kalkan ). Flights and Villa are booked and, providing there isnt a revolution between now and the summer holidays, we are looking forward to this.
Can anyone please tell me the most cost effective way of spending money out there ie Turkish Lira/pounds/credit card. I'm conscious that I might get ripped off spending pounds with local dodgy currency calculations. Should I change up for Lira here or in Kalkan. Any advice would be much appreciated.

If this is your first time in Kalkan you're in for a treat. We love it there and I can't wait for our next visit starting on June 20th!!

Good advice for a very few lira for when you first arrive, maybe a drink if you stop en route from the airport. In Kalkan, we just take sterling and have got into the habit of changing money daily at the PTT (Post Office) but you'll get very similar rate in banks and many shops (like the stationers in the High Street). The daily habit harks back to when inflation was rampant in Turkey and the exchange rate varied daily but that's not the case any more. You can use credit or debit cards but most have charges for transactions abroad so I don't bother.

I've never had any 'dodgy' dealing in Kalkan. I find the people honest and welcoming.

I know you didn't ask for holiday advice as such but there's loads to do depending on the sort of holiday you want. The town beach is fine if you just want a quick swim in the sea. Kapitas and Patara are a short bus (dolmus) ride away if you want a beach day. I love the beach clubs which have platforms and umbrellas overlooking the sea with steps down for a swim and lovely restaurants. The restaurants in the village are fantastic and very plentiful. If you like action there's water sports from the beach clubs or diving from the harbour. A boat trip from the harbour is a great day out and a dolmus ride to Kas is worth it even if it's just for the scenery. Plenty of historic sites if that interests you. Then there's the market on Thursday and Turkish baths and 'people watching' at the Merkez caf! and.....Sorry if I'm boring you.;)

Bob_the_Saver

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Get a small amount of lira here (say £50) for any bits and bobs

I cannot be 'bought' I am totally independent and unimpeachable,
well not for £50.

(Are we talking cash?)

skipinderjit

The below advice and local Kalkan information is very much appreciated. I'll change up £100 for Lira and take stirling. Kalkan does sound great. It is a shame Ataturks legacy is under threat and I hope the Turkish people get through their current strife. I dont think it'll affect my family holiday though

gibson123

I agree with all the above - M&S exchange is 2.62 to the £, garnanti bank and PTT in resort is 2.93 to the £. So a big difference. I use my nationwide credit card in Turkey to pay for purchases, meals, tours etc. No charges and no commission, I pay it off when I get back home. In resort I use my debit card to withdraw 500 lira at a time, so I don't get lots of transaction charges. This is the most effective way for me.

PompeyPete

skipinderjit wrote: »

It is a shame Ataturks legacy is under threat and I hope the Turkish people get through their current strife.

Yep. It's a lovely country, and lovely people.