Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

Hello

I have just returned from Icmeler and need to post this warning

I always take travellers cheques with me. This year there is a 3% charge for changing cheques. However the exchange near to the ICR office just up from Friends is claiming to charge 9% and is in fact charging 12 - 13%. I had a big row with him having lost £25 on a £200 cheque change.

Ask before you change your cheques. I got caught out good and proper this was due to me taking my eye off the ball


John

Oh dear, really don't know what to do now. I asked this question a little while ago about travellers cheques and somebody mentioned that there was no extra charge in some places. Not sure whether I want to risk just taking cash, or whether the cost of using a debit card in the atm's would be less than the travellers cheques?

Sorry you got stung, it isn't a very nice feeling.

Hi cummo
Did you change them in a Exchange office or Supermarket??, no charge in Supermarkets Exchange office are a rip off,
I`ve only been bitten once.
Steve

kentlisa, i took my debit card and used the atm about 6 times in 2 weeks charged just under £25 by hsbc. withdrawing lira didnt give as good a rate though as getting sterling changed. hope this helps a little.

Thanks Miss Kimme, normally we would just take sterling cash, but for the last few years we have been all inc, so not need so much, just a tad worried about having £2,000 in cash in our safe as we don't have a credit card for emergencies. Really don't know what to do. I'm sure it would be safe, but it's the what if's.

before now i've always taken cash and not even left it in a safe box always been fine hidden in the room not quite as much as £2000 though.

I changed travellers cheques in June at the supermarket under ICR offices and there was no charge.
Has this changed as I am back in August and was planning on taking travellers checques with me again.
Thanks

kentlisa wrote:Oh dear, really don't know what to do now. I asked this question a little while ago about travellers cheques and somebody mentioned that there was no extra charge in some places. Not sure whether I want to risk just taking cash, or whether the cost of using a debit card in the atm's would be less than the travellers cheques?

Sorry you got stung, it isn't a very nice feeling.

It was me who said it, I used the exchange shops in 2002 and got stung, I insisted on having my Travellers Cheque back and it took a lot of persuasion however I think it helped as my wife stood there and told everyone coming in that we were being ripped off, at least a dozen people must have turned around and left.

Since then we have changed our money and TC's at the small supermarkets, as I have said in a previous post I ask how much for £200 cash, once I know I ask how much for TC's, if it is the same they get my business. (I also have a crip card that lists £50, £100, £150 and £200 at the different rates as after a few Efes in the afternoon the brain is not as agile as it should be)


Dave

I took travellers cheques with me this year & a small amount on cash. I used the supermarket under the ICR office. They didn't take commission or charge me for changing travellers cheques. I changed cash also and got the same exchange rate for both.

laura180306 wrote:I took travellers cheques with me this year & a small amount on cash. I used the supermarket under the ICR office. They didn't take commission or charge me for changing travellers cheques. I changed cash also and got the same exchange rate for both.

Me too Laura, both last Sept and this May, Supermarket under ICR no charge and same rate for TC s and Sterling - DONT use the exchanges.

Best Supermarket opposite the Babadan Apartments don't charge commission either and offer the same rate as the one under ICR.

Lynda

ochlynda wrote:Best Supermarket opposite the Babadan Apartments don't charge commission either and offer the same rate as the one under ICR.

Lynda

Is that the BEST Supermarket, the one you walk up the steps and they have a big veg shop next door, if so we have used them and always got the same rate for both Cash and TC's.

Dave

yeah Dave, that's the one

the best rate for cash we got at begin of July was at the extended supermarket opposite Diva bar /Chef and next door to Friends 60's music bar...he was allways 3 points better than the one opposite the Romance restraunt,and also the one under ICR.
The thing i liked he had the rate displayed at the till so it was easy to make your choice

Cummo we had the same problem with that office a few years ago, same thing . We made a point of telling everyone we met in Icmeler to bouycott him, dont know how he is still in buisness. We stick to cash now.

Elaine

hi
i use a nationwide flex account card i think it is 1% charge on transactions but it may be 0% cant remember, the exchange rate is pretty good aswell, we were in Icmeler last year or the year before and the rate in resort was between 2.30 and 2.35 when i checked my statement when i got back i was getting between 2.35 and 2.45 average about 2.4 over the duration of the hol.

Hi cummo,
I had a problem with the same exchange office a few years ago when he charged a inflated rate so I am sorry to hear you have suffered the same but I am pleased to see you have posted this warning.

That Exchange Office has been Ripping Off people for years and i can't understand how they getting away with it year after year . I spent 7 months in Icmeler last year and met dozens of people it had happened to , even being charged a " Tax " when they had exchanged cash . I always advised people to use the supermarket under ICR office or the one across the road from Romance bar .

Definitely no charge on changing cheques at the supermarket under the ICR offices - always use them for changing, rate is always the same as if you're changing cash too.

Mazz

just back and used the hotel ex rate was 2.30 no extra charges and what I had leave in travellers cheque exchanged for english notes before I came home but not sure if they are allowed to do this.