Advice please re using money in Turkey.

[kaiserphil]

We are off to Turkey for a week in January. I haven't been there for many years, so I am wondering what is the acceptable currency these days?

We normally have Euros, I am guessing we will take a small amount of TL, and change the rest over there. But are they generally happy with Euros in shops, restaurants etc?

TIA.

[kbasat]

1. It depends on which part of Turkey you are travelling, touristic places(ie South and West Shoreline) for sure accepts euros as payment.

2. You should be vary of the exchange rates they will offer you when taking euros. I can guarantee you that you will save money by exchanging to TL in an exchange bureau instead of spending them directly as euros in shops.

K.

[metin]

I always take TL. But to purchase your visa at the airport , they prefer sterling, euros or credit cards. Had to really push them to accept my TL. Crazy !!!

[kaiserphil]

Thanks guys.

We are going to Belek, Konya and Antalya Kemal.

I plan to apply for visas online Metin, so hopefully will avoid the problem of a closed visa office, as happened to me once.

[ozankoys]

Change your money into TL here the rate is always better.

[kaiserphil]

Thanks Ozankoys, but we are in Germany. What I plan is to take a small amount of TL and change Euros in Turkey.

You are right of course, the rate in TRNC has always been better than elsewhere.

[cyprusishome]

Phil your last post has it right, but change in "high street" bureau not in shops, restaurants or hotel they will offer dreadful rates, even worse in airports.

Depends if you are a gambler, you might change part now in case rate drops after New Year. But then again I am sure when you booked trip you will not have expected TL to drop so drastically, nearly 3 to the euro.

[kaiserphil]

Quite right David, exchange rates in hotels etc are always worse.

Actually, we have only just booked, as Carol won this holiday from an online contest. It was all a bit of a surprise.

Makes a nice change to have a slice of luck like that!