Cash Machines

[sirkyboy]

I know this has been asked time and time again, but this year is going to be the first time, I summon up the courage to come on holiday without the bulk of my spends, instead just going to use my cash card and withdraw what i need every few days.

Anyway, when you withdraw, do you get pounds or lira? If Lira, do you get the bank rate? Do the cash machines charge, as I know my bank won't?

Finally which ones are the ones to stay away from in the main part of town, and would anyone recommend a certain one, that has a higher chance of not being tampered with by suspicious people?

Thanks in advance.

[swc24]

Hi sirkyboy

we always use the HSBC one in the main square you can with draw in £ or in YTL there is no charge for withdrawing except what your on bank charges
We take our money out in £ then change it in one of the small supermarkets it also helps keep track of what you are spending and stops the need to check the bank every few days to see what exchange rate is

If you have internetbanking it might be worth taking your first withdrawal in YTL and seeing what the exchange rate your bank is offering sometimes it can be more than what is on offer on the resort it normally takes up to 3 days to show on your bank statment ( depending on which bank you bank with)

Hope this helps

Steve

[iaindglasgow]

Like Steve I also use the HSBC ATM in the square and I've never had a problem. Usually use my Nationwide card as they don't charge. However make sure you tell your bank you will be using it in Turkey. Last year a couple from Liverpool had their account frozen as their bank thought it was a dodgy transaction.

[tamii]

yeah same for me. withdraw sterling from the HSBC ATM in the square, although I have used the other ones in the square as well, then change to lira at one of the supermarkets.

good point about informing your bank. give them a call a few days prior to leaving, informing them where you are going and the dates of travel. they will put a marker on your card so that 'unusual' spending is not alerted to their fraud department.

[bill atkinson]

hi in 2008 my wife had her debit card scammed in the HSB cash point in the square,it kept the card and just less than £1,000 was taken before we got it blocked. advice is don,t use cash points on a sunday[banks shut] nothing can be done till monday in turkey,we now go into the bank or draw out where they have a security guard out side.BE WARNED > due to llyods being the excellent bank they are we got it all back.

[rachel06]

we used a cash point by the Prince Apts when we were there last year. At first i was drawing money out in £ but then decided to get it in Lira, turned out i got a much better exchange rate when i got back home and checked by bank statements by doing it that way.
I didn't have any problems at all, and intend to do the same when we are there this year. We just drew out 100ytl a day which worked out about £40 and that was more than enough.

[iluvicmeler]

Mainly used the hsbc on in the square but have used the other ones!
Just be sure to check the machine fully and beware of any strangers lurking outside, normally the young turkish boys who are looking for money.

[reesy1959]

We always use the bank, this its called Akbank, but its just next to the Kingsland Chinese, the one with all the steps leading down to it. We use the Nationwide card as there are no withdrawal charges, and always withdraw in lira. When we get our statement we always have a better exchange rate than what is on offer in resort.