TURKEY take stirling not lira

Thrifty_sister_2

Just returned from 2 fab weeks in Turkey.

One big tip for any one going for the first time. Take stirling notes only, dont bother with Lira. Our money is accepted everywhere and they prefer it as they get a better exchange rate. When you pay in stirling any change is given in Lira so you still have some for bus fares etc. Even the markets prefer stirling.

Wish i had known this.

DGJsaver

Thrifty_sister wrote: »

Just returned from 2 fab weeks in Turkey.

One big tip for any one going for the first time. Take stirling notes only, dont bother with Lira. Our money is accepted everywhere and they prefer it as they get a better exchange rate. When you pay in stirling any change is given in Lira so you still have some for bus fares etc. Even the markets prefer stirling.

Wish i had known this.

I read somehwre that if you pay in GBP that you lose out along the way , price wise and the restaurant/shop/etc gets more ?

anyone who can clarify ?

Voyager2002

DGJsaver wrote: »

I read somehwre that if you pay in GBP that you lose out along the way , price wise and the restaurant/shop/etc gets more ?

anyone who can clarify ?

Basically, you lose out on everything unless you are as smart as the other guy. Buying/selling is a jungle out there...

I used three currencies last time I was in Turkey: sterling (note spelling); euros; and lira. In the course of bargaining I tried switching currencies to see if they were keen to get one or the other, but it did not seem to make any difference to the quality of deal I was offered. (If you plan to try this, make sure you have a calculator and are up to date on exchange rates. Your adversary will be, of course.)

Really, the currency does not matter. You can get lira with your Nationwide card, or exchange sterling at a money-changer, or just pay in sterling. But watch out for tricks with Turkish money: the 500 and 5,000 lira note look similar, and any number of friendly waiters, taxi-drivers or whatever will notice that the 5,000 note you thought you gave them was actually a 500. And they will seem so honest and helpful that you will apologise for your mistake and give them the extra...

m1ck_2

I'm going to Turkey a week on Friday - Why do they love sterling so much? I was going to take about £100 in Lira and then just use my nationwide card to withdraw money from there on in. Thing with not taking lira, am I guaranteed that ALL shops, restaurants etc... will take sterling?

I think i might take some lira, some sterling and then just withdraw when I get there.

simes

They love sterling because their inflation is terrible.
If they keep the sterling, in a years time they will probably get twice as many lira as the would exchanging it now. So its better than putting money in a bank for them.

mrelephant_2

Mick

I have just returned from Turkey and they accept sterling every where and give you change in Lira.

Derek

ra-2007

hey
i have been going to turkey for 6 years now and lived there for 6 months

its way better to use lira than pound, turkish get confused to exchange rate and you usuay pay more and then they changed it when lira gets high


i allwasy use lira now,

ra-2007

it confused about 500 and 5,000 lira u said

i think u thinking about the old lira, i never seen a 500 lira note now
u get 5 lira notes, 50 lira notes 100 lira notes, (no zeros now lol)1 lira

Stormybay

I've just come back too.for the 4th time, lol, I always use lira, and my Nationwide card, I got great rates using this. There is no gain to you using sterling or Euro, use Lira, it's all part of the fun!
Ra 2007 is correct there are no longer the 1,000,000 ytl notes, etc, no longer legal tender.
Hopefully going back in September

Jodun

I just got back, it's confusing using three currencies. We found that on some excursions they only had Euros, not even Lira. If you do take Sterling, make sure you have English notes, as they won't take Scottish. Obviously we use monopoly money north of the border, they wouldn't even accept it at the airport. :mad: