Best place to get money exchnged

zagfles

Doshwaster said:

Odinsbeardcare said:

Voyager2002 said:

The money changers there will give better rates than you could possibly get in the UK. And of course the best rates are from an ATM.

Really the best rates are a ATM? Sorry I'm new to all this is this the 'norm' to change over in turkey and not before we depart

It must be 10 years since I last changed money in advance of a trip. Either just use an ATM (with the right plastic) or take sterling to change there (but not in the airport on arrival)
As a rule of thumb it will always be cheaper to buy currency in a country which has a lot of it. Turkey has a lot more supply of Turkish Lira than the UK does.

Just be warned than in the more tourist areas of Turkey you will see some things priced in Euro or Sterling. It is usually wise to avoid these as the exchange rate will always be in their interest rather than yours.

If things are priced in GBP then IME it was better value to pay in GBP. Most of the tour operators you see everywhere if you go to a tourist resort aimed at the British price stuff in GBP, and if you want to pay in Lira they convert! It was better value paying in GBP, but I didn't have enough a couple of times so had to pay in Lira.

If it's priced in Lira and they give you the option to pay in GBP, then it's often a bad rate.

zagfles

Odinsbeardcare said:

So most agree just take ya cash with ya and change over in turkey?

What cards have you got - if you have one with no or low forex charges for ATM withdrawals that'll almost certainly be cheaper than changing cash. Just don't let the ATM do the conversion. If you do have to change cash, there will be better value than here.

GotPrincess

zagfles said:

Doshwaster said:

Odinsbeardcare said:

Voyager2002 said:

The money changers there will give better rates than you could possibly get in the UK. And of course the best rates are from an ATM.

Really the best rates are a ATM? Sorry I'm new to all this is this the 'norm' to change over in turkey and not before we depart

It must be 10 years since I last changed money in advance of a trip. Either just use an ATM (with the right plastic) or take sterling to change there (but not in the airport on arrival)
As a rule of thumb it will always be cheaper to buy currency in a country which has a lot of it. Turkey has a lot more supply of Turkish Lira than the UK does.

Just be warned than in the more tourist areas of Turkey you will see some things priced in Euro or Sterling. It is usually wise to avoid these as the exchange rate will always be in their interest rather than yours.

If things are priced in GBP then IME it was better value to pay in GBP. Most of the tour operators you see everywhere if you go to a tourist resort aimed at the British price stuff in GBP, and if you want to pay in Lira they convert! It was better value paying in GBP, but I didn't have enough a couple of times so had to pay in Lira.

If it's priced in Lira and they give you the option to pay in GBP, then it's often a bad rate.

I'm paying for the hotel on arrival a friend recomended this place he prefers to have the money in GBP should I be wary?

GotPrincess

zagfles said:

Odinsbeardcare said:

So most agree just take ya cash with ya and change over in turkey?

What cards have you got - if you have one with no or low forex charges for ATM withdrawals that'll almost certainly be cheaper than changing cash. Just don't let the ATM do the conversion. If you do have to change cash, there will be better value than here.

I just have a regular Starling Current account and business account

eDicky

Odinsbeardcare said:

zagfles said:

Odinsbeardcare said:

So most agree just take ya cash with ya and change over in turkey?

What cards have you got - if you have one with no or low forex charges for ATM withdrawals that'll almost certainly be cheaper than changing cash. Just don't let the ATM do the conversion. If you do have to change cash, there will be better value than here.

I just have a regular Starling Current account and business account

So you have no need to ask where to exchange money, just use your Starling card for purchases and obtaining cash lire from ATMs. Decline any offer by payment terminals or ATMs to convert your pounds, the card must do that.

It's not unusual for a Turkish businesses to 'prefer' payment in a hard currency cash, you will have to calculate and decide whether the price is right, and if so take the cash pounds with you.

I'm paying for the hotel on arrival a friend recomended this place he prefers to have the money in GBP should I be wary?

GotPrincess

eDicky said:

Odinsbeardcare said:

zagfles said:

Odinsbeardcare said:

So most agree just take ya cash with ya and change over in turkey?

What cards have you got - if you have one with no or low forex charges for ATM withdrawals that'll almost certainly be cheaper than changing cash. Just don't let the ATM do the conversion. If you do have to change cash, there will be better value than here.

I just have a regular Starling Current account and business account

So you have no need to ask where to exchange money, just use your Starling card for purchases and obtaining cash lire from ATMs. Decline any offer by payment terminals or ATMs to convert your pounds, the card must do that.

Why do I have no 'Need' i mean obv its just a standard card or is it ideal for cash and transactions abroad starling

eDicky

Odinsbeardcare said:

eDicky said:

Odinsbeardcare said:

zagfles said:

Odinsbeardcare said:

So most agree just take ya cash with ya and change over in turkey?

What cards have you got - if you have one with no or low forex charges for ATM withdrawals that'll almost certainly be cheaper than changing cash. Just don't let the ATM do the conversion. If you do have to change cash, there will be better value than here.

I just have a regular Starling Current account and business account

So you have no need to ask where to exchange money, just use your Starling card for purchases and obtaining cash lire from ATMs. Decline any offer by payment terminals or ATMs to convert your pounds, the card must do that.

Why do I have no 'Need' i mean obv its just a standard card or is it ideal for cash and transactions abroad starling

Starling Bank debit card is currently the top choice for overseas use. Combined with taking taking some cash GBP in case of need, you certainly have no need for the expense and hassle of exchanging cash at the Post Office etc..!