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Travel to Turkey
Comments
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There are very few holiday reps though when compared to the thousands of local hotel staff, bar and restaurant staff, taxi drivers, tour guides and the like.Doshwaster said:
The only time I did buy some was from the holiday rep on the coach back to the airport who was selling bags of £1 coins - and that was more to help her out as they aren't paid a lot so depend on being able to spend their tips. I certainly wouldn't buy bags of coins off a random local.PompeyPete said:Personally, as all I use is Turkish Lira then I tip in Turkish Lira, be it small notes or coins. The lucky beneficiary has no need to get them converted into Lira and can simply spend the loot there and then.
Like Doshwater I've been approached by locals wanting to change a bag full of GP£ coins that they've received in tips, which are basically useless to them until they've converted them to Turkish Lira.....I declined. I don't quite understand why any self respecting British tourist would want to buy a plastic bag full of GB£ coins.....apart from the weight, they could be fake!
Otherwise if I have any spare Lira, I will spend as much at the airport or put them in the charity collection on the plane. Unlike more stable currencies there is no point in keeping them for next time. In recent trips abroad I've been using my Starling card more so I find the problem of offloading small denomination currency is less of an issue.
Although a tip is a tip in whatever currency, locals prefer their own currency, i.e. Turkish Lira, as that's the currency they and their families conduct their lives in, and in many cases rely on to put food on the table. So you are very much more likely to come across 'random' locals employed in the tourist industry who want to offload their GB£ coins or Euros than the odd tour rep. Though I've got to say, any local offered a GB £10 note would probably snatch it off the dopey hand that offered it!
I'd have very little Lira left at the end of a trip too. It's so easy to exchange GB£ to TL at an excellent rate, that it's rarely necessary to have more than a couple of so days worth in your pocket.0 -
PompeyPete said:
Though I've got to say, any local offered a GB £10 note would probably snatch it off the dopey hand that offered it!Doshwaster said:
The only time I did buy some was from the holiday rep on the coach back to the airport who was selling bags of £1 coins - and that was more to help her out as they aren't paid a lot so depend on being able to spend their tips. I certainly wouldn't buy bags of coins off a random local.PompeyPete said:Personally, as all I use is Turkish Lira then I tip in Turkish Lira, be it small notes or coins. The lucky beneficiary has no need to get them converted into Lira and can simply spend the loot there and then.
Like Doshwater I've been approached by locals wanting to change a bag full of GP£ coins that they've received in tips, which are basically useless to them until they've converted them to Turkish Lira.....I declined. I don't quite understand why any self respecting British tourist would want to buy a plastic bag full of GB£ coins.....apart from the weight, they could be fake!
Otherwise if I have any spare Lira, I will spend as much at the airport or put them in the charity collection on the plane. Unlike more stable currencies there is no point in keeping them for next time. In recent trips abroad I've been using my Starling card more so I find the problem of offloading small denomination currency is less of an issue.That was me last year! Not a tip...but we flew from Glasgow and I ended up with some Scottish notes in my wallet. After getting Lira out, going out for a meal and a couple of drinks, we stopped in a small shop on the way back to get some drinks etc, came to bit under 10 Lira so I handed over a 10 and got a bit of change. When I got back realised I'd given her a Scottish £10 not a 10 Lira note! We passed the shop the next day and popped in, she remembered me and got it back. She had a display of foreign notes and had added it to that rather than pocketing it.0 -
As 10 Turkish Lira is worth little over £1 you can't have bought very much. Then again by paying in local currency you'll inevitably get better value for money.zagfles said:PompeyPete said:
Though I've got to say, any local offered a GB £10 note would probably snatch it off the dopey hand that offered it!Doshwaster said:
The only time I did buy some was from the holiday rep on the coach back to the airport who was selling bags of £1 coins - and that was more to help her out as they aren't paid a lot so depend on being able to spend their tips. I certainly wouldn't buy bags of coins off a random local.PompeyPete said:Personally, as all I use is Turkish Lira then I tip in Turkish Lira, be it small notes or coins. The lucky beneficiary has no need to get them converted into Lira and can simply spend the loot there and then.
Like Doshwater I've been approached by locals wanting to change a bag full of GP£ coins that they've received in tips, which are basically useless to them until they've converted them to Turkish Lira.....I declined. I don't quite understand why any self respecting British tourist would want to buy a plastic bag full of GB£ coins.....apart from the weight, they could be fake!
Otherwise if I have any spare Lira, I will spend as much at the airport or put them in the charity collection on the plane. Unlike more stable currencies there is no point in keeping them for next time. In recent trips abroad I've been using my Starling card more so I find the problem of offloading small denomination currency is less of an issue.That was me last year! Not a tip...but we flew from Glasgow and I ended up with some Scottish notes in my wallet. After getting Lira out, going out for a meal and a couple of drinks, we stopped in a small shop on the way back to get some drinks etc, came to bit under 10 Lira so I handed over a 10 and got a bit of change. When I got back realised I'd given her a Scottish £10 not a 10 Lira note! We passed the shop the next day and popped in, she remembered me and got it back. She had a display of foreign notes and had added it to that rather than pocketing it.
A Scottish £10 in is pretty much worthless in Turkey, they're technically not even legal tender in Scotland. The shop-keeper wouldn't have been able to bank it, so putting it on display is about all he/she could do with it. In any case I thought that Scottish £10 notes are plastic while Turkish Lira notes are paper, so easy to distinguish one against the other. Sounds like there were two dopes involved in that transaction.
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PompeyPete said:
As 10 Turkish Lira is worth little over £1 you can't have bought very much. Then again by paying in local currency you'll inevitably get better value for money.zagfles said:PompeyPete said:
Though I've got to say, any local offered a GB £10 note would probably snatch it off the dopey hand that offered it!Doshwaster said:
The only time I did buy some was from the holiday rep on the coach back to the airport who was selling bags of £1 coins - and that was more to help her out as they aren't paid a lot so depend on being able to spend their tips. I certainly wouldn't buy bags of coins off a random local.PompeyPete said:Personally, as all I use is Turkish Lira then I tip in Turkish Lira, be it small notes or coins. The lucky beneficiary has no need to get them converted into Lira and can simply spend the loot there and then.
Like Doshwater I've been approached by locals wanting to change a bag full of GP£ coins that they've received in tips, which are basically useless to them until they've converted them to Turkish Lira.....I declined. I don't quite understand why any self respecting British tourist would want to buy a plastic bag full of GB£ coins.....apart from the weight, they could be fake!
Otherwise if I have any spare Lira, I will spend as much at the airport or put them in the charity collection on the plane. Unlike more stable currencies there is no point in keeping them for next time. In recent trips abroad I've been using my Starling card more so I find the problem of offloading small denomination currency is less of an issue.That was me last year! Not a tip...but we flew from Glasgow and I ended up with some Scottish notes in my wallet. After getting Lira out, going out for a meal and a couple of drinks, we stopped in a small shop on the way back to get some drinks etc, came to bit under 10 Lira so I handed over a 10 and got a bit of change. When I got back realised I'd given her a Scottish £10 not a 10 Lira note! We passed the shop the next day and popped in, she remembered me and got it back. She had a display of foreign notes and had added it to that rather than pocketing it.
A Scottish £10 in is pretty much worthless in Turkey, they're technically not even legal tender in Scotland. The shop-keeper wouldn't have been able to bank it, so putting it on display is about all he/she could do with it. In any case I thought that Scottish £10 notes are plastic while Turkish Lira notes are paper, so easy to distinguish one against the other. Sounds like there were two dopes involved in that transaction.Yup definite dopeyness there - I usually separate my currencies in my wallet but as we'd only just arrived they were all mixed, plus I had sampled some of the local beer...I just saw an unfamiliar note with a 10 on it and handed it over!The note definitely wasn't worthless there though, I used up all my GBP cash inc the Scottish stuff paying for tours priced in GBP, they took it no bother, and when I ran out and had to partially pay in Lira the exchange rate was in their favour (above the interbank/Dovis). But not much and we had negotiated a discount so no big deal.
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On a completely unrelated and non financial note...It seems the Turkish govt have now mandated wearing masks everywhere in public - including beaches, and even it appears restaurants! Really!!!???We've been looking at booking a last minute trip there, but don't think we'll bother now, wearing a mask all the time while out even on the beach doesn't sound fun. Can you even take it off for swimming in the sea? People will be coming back with interesting tan marks
Oh well more England holidays then...hope for an Indian summer...
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There dozens of generally amusing threads on the Turkey TA forums about Scottish bank notes.....here's one...zagfles said:PompeyPete said:
As 10 Turkish Lira is worth little over £1 you can't have bought very much. Then again by paying in local currency you'll inevitably get better value for money.zagfles said:PompeyPete said:
Though I've got to say, any local offered a GB £10 note would probably snatch it off the dopey hand that offered it!Doshwaster said:
The only time I did buy some was from the holiday rep on the coach back to the airport who was selling bags of £1 coins - and that was more to help her out as they aren't paid a lot so depend on being able to spend their tips. I certainly wouldn't buy bags of coins off a random local.PompeyPete said:Personally, as all I use is Turkish Lira then I tip in Turkish Lira, be it small notes or coins. The lucky beneficiary has no need to get them converted into Lira and can simply spend the loot there and then.
Like Doshwater I've been approached by locals wanting to change a bag full of GP£ coins that they've received in tips, which are basically useless to them until they've converted them to Turkish Lira.....I declined. I don't quite understand why any self respecting British tourist would want to buy a plastic bag full of GB£ coins.....apart from the weight, they could be fake!
Otherwise if I have any spare Lira, I will spend as much at the airport or put them in the charity collection on the plane. Unlike more stable currencies there is no point in keeping them for next time. In recent trips abroad I've been using my Starling card more so I find the problem of offloading small denomination currency is less of an issue.That was me last year! Not a tip...but we flew from Glasgow and I ended up with some Scottish notes in my wallet. After getting Lira out, going out for a meal and a couple of drinks, we stopped in a small shop on the way back to get some drinks etc, came to bit under 10 Lira so I handed over a 10 and got a bit of change. When I got back realised I'd given her a Scottish £10 not a 10 Lira note! We passed the shop the next day and popped in, she remembered me and got it back. She had a display of foreign notes and had added it to that rather than pocketing it.
A Scottish £10 in is pretty much worthless in Turkey, they're technically not even legal tender in Scotland. The shop-keeper wouldn't have been able to bank it, so putting it on display is about all he/she could do with it. In any case I thought that Scottish £10 notes are plastic while Turkish Lira notes are paper, so easy to distinguish one against the other. Sounds like there were two dopes involved in that transaction.Yup definite dopeyness there - I usually separate my currencies in my wallet but as we'd only just arrived they were all mixed, plus I had sampled some of the local beer...I just saw an unfamiliar note with a 10 on it and handed it over!The note definitely wasn't worthless there though, I used up all my GBP cash inc the Scottish stuff paying for tours priced in GBP, they took it no bother, and when I ran out and had to partially pay in Lira the exchange rate was in their favour (above the interbank/Dovis). But not much and we had negotiated a discount so no big deal.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g298033-i793-k11984892-Scottish_money-Marmaris_Marmaris_District_Mugla_Province_Turkish_Aegean_Coast.html
Looks like you did some money changing at Glasgow (?) Airport too.....English to Scottish lol.0 -
The thing is, local rules regarding Covid can change practically every day.zagfles said:On a completely unrelated and non financial note...It seems the Turkish govt have now mandated wearing masks everywhere in public - including beaches, and even it appears restaurants! Really!!!???We've been looking at booking a last minute trip there, but don't think we'll bother now, wearing a mask all the time while out even on the beach doesn't sound fun. Can you even take it off for swimming in the sea? People will be coming back with interesting tan marksOh well more England holidays then...hope for an Indian summer...
We were booked with TUI for Mexico next February, but Mexico is one of those countries that doesn't appear able to control the virus.
So about 6 weeks ago I decided to change our destination to Jamaica at a £50 per head amendment charge. Jamaica was handling Covid very well, so it seemed like a good move on our part. We also wanted to make sure we got seats in Premium Economy on Dreamliner.....we did, the final 2 on the flight we wanted.
But over the last month Jamaica appears to have lost its grip, and Covid numbers are rising.
So who knows what'll happen over the next few months in Jamaica.....which is precisely the position with anywhere in the world.0 -
Face masks everywhere has been the rule in Spanish resorts for the past few weeks - and the police are enforcing it with fines. It was what finally made me decide to cancel my Tenerife trip next month.zagfles said:On a completely unrelated and non financial note...It seems the Turkish govt have now mandated wearing masks everywhere in public - including beaches, and even it appears restaurants! Really!!!???We've been looking at booking a last minute trip there, but don't think we'll bother now, wearing a mask all the time while out even on the beach doesn't sound fun. Can you even take it off for swimming in the sea? People will be coming back with interesting tan marksOh well more England holidays then...hope for an Indian summer...
I too was considering Turkey as a last minute alternative but with all of the hassle of travelling right now I think I will just stop at hope. Maybe sleeping in the spare bedroom might give me the feeling of being elsewhere.
It can't be long before a public mask wearing rule is introduced in the UK.0 -
Like a lot of people I can claim a medical exclusion from wearing a mask in any place where they are otherwise 'mandatory'. But unlike most of those people I choose to wear the damn thing as I don't fancy feeling self-conscious or draw unwanted attention.Doshwaster said:
Face masks everywhere has been the rule in Spanish resorts for the past few weeks - and the police are enforcing it with fines. It was what finally made me decide to cancel my Tenerife trip next month.
I too was considering Turkey as a last minute alternative but with all of the hassle of travelling right now I think I will just stop at hope. Maybe sleeping in the spare bedroom might give me the feeling of being elsewhere.
It can't be long before a public mask wearing rule is introduced in the UK.0 -
Maybe they'll both think twice when their tourist industry starts drying up. I can accept wearing a mask indoors, on flights, at the airport, on public transport, in restaurants or pubs while moving around, or even busy outdoor areas like shopping streets etc. But on a beach? Really? Last year we had oodles of room on the beach, we were over 10 meters apart from anyone else. Swimming in the sea/lagoon with a mask on is probably dangerous as well as being uncomfortable. Unless someone has designed a swim mask? If there was no room on a beach to keep 2 meters apart from everyone else I wouldn't bother, but that's hardly ever happened on any holiday we've been on, and when it does we go and find another beach.Doshwaster said:
Face masks everywhere has been the rule in Spanish resorts for the past few weeks - and the police are enforcing it with fines. It was what finally made me decide to cancel my Tenerife trip next month.zagfles said:On a completely unrelated and non financial note...It seems the Turkish govt have now mandated wearing masks everywhere in public - including beaches, and even it appears restaurants! Really!!!???We've been looking at booking a last minute trip there, but don't think we'll bother now, wearing a mask all the time while out even on the beach doesn't sound fun. Can you even take it off for swimming in the sea? People will be coming back with interesting tan marksOh well more England holidays then...hope for an Indian summer...
I too was considering Turkey as a last minute alternative but with all of the hassle of travelling right now I think I will just stop at hope. Maybe sleeping in the spare bedroom might give me the feeling of being elsewhere.
It can't be long before a public mask wearing rule is introduced in the UK.0
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