How do I set it up so I can travel to Turkey and when I get there withdraw £3000 in cash?

JC1440

I'm hoping to travel to Turkey in January and need to pay for something in cash. What do I do so I can pick the cash up when I get there? Thanks.

eDicky

In Turkish lira or other..? Turkish medical centres often require hard currency cash.

greyteam1959

Having your teeth done ??
😁😁

shinytop

Don't know but why not just take it with you if it's hard currency?  

tacpot12

Western Union looks like it might be a good option. You would be sending yourself the money and able to collect it from any Wester Union agent location. There are over 10,000 of these in Turkey. 

TELLIT01

Taking it with you would be my suggestion too.  If it's a one off requirement, setting up accounts etc seems excessive.

JC1440

Thanks, all, especially for the Western Union advice.

Hard cash was the plan but I'm just freaking out a bit now about customs and confiscation or being robbed with it.

Sandtree

Your allowed up to usd$5,000 in cash before having to declare it at customs.

I’d suggest you are more likely to be robbed in/around a Western Union site than an airport given its more likely that cash is involved and security is significantly lower.

The other option is travellers cheques which a bank etc will convert to cash; no idea how the fees stack up against Western Union these days.

JC1440

Thanks, Sandtree.

That's the thing, seems like there's lots of different advice about declaring money. My fear is I get to Turkey, declare the cash, and they still decide to keep it for whatever reason.

Western Union is out too. Just read the Google reviews for the branch I would use and it's frightening.

RobM99

If you're worried about taking cash, this may help;
https://www.ktb.gov.tr/EN-120418/foreign-exchange.html
...but as with all websites, check elsewhere too.  Declaring cash doesn't mean you're laundering, after all. I'd suggest take any paperwork that supports the cash amount e.g. if you're buying an item, an e-mail from the seller with details would, in my opinion (and that's all it is) be a good idea.

Sandtree

JC1440 said: 

That's the thing, seems like there's lots of different advice about declaring money. My fear is I get to Turkey, declare the cash, and they still decide to keep it for whatever reason.

Double check the limits for yourself but from what I saw it wouldnt be declarable as its under the limit.

If it does become declarable there are two questions they will want answering... how did you get the money and what are you going to use it for. The former is normally proved with bank statements/pay slips etc showing your income and savings allowed you to withdraw the money and a proforma invoice or quote etc from the merchant that you are buying from generally satisfies the latter (assuming it is dentistry etc and not something illicit)