Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

Hi all, just a quickie regarding the current Lira situation (plenty still haven't got any over here!)

Any thoughts on whether to simply take GBP over with us on the 20/6 ... If so what's the current rate in the usual Supermarkets etc or do we change before we leave? ... Best I can find is American Express at 3.330??

If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated

When we came back on Tuesday, the rate was hovering around 3.47-3.49 in the minimarkets, bars etc

Just got back and i would defo take your £££s with you, rates i got never went below 3.45 and i got 3.49 in the little shop behind coco beach bar.
Free money!

Take £ notes, Florida restaurant were offering 3:50tl to the £ today.

Cheers everyone ... Looks like it's our £1500-£2k coming with us in Sterling!

Does anyone know what the limit is on Sterling into Turkey? .. Don't fancy being accused of Money laundering and losing it! Lol

Thats a lot of money to be carrying with you
Why don't you get a Halifax clarity card and use the ATM's to withdraw lira, last September the rate was about 3.14 in the supermarkets and bars but I was getting 3.20-3.23 to the £ using the atm machines.
I linked my RBS account to the clarity card and paid it back as soon as it appeared on my Halifax statment (about 2 days later) and was never charged anything for the withdrawals.

Is it safe to use the cash point machines?

I'd heard stories of skimming devices being attached to them in previous years so normally take sterling travellers cheques and change them in the supermarkets

Saying that we haven't been for a couple of years so don't know if this is still possible

Anyone know?

All I can say is that I've never had a problem using the cash machines - let your bank know you are going on holiday beforehand, just to be on the safe side. I usually use the ones attached to the banks, rather than the free-standing ones between the Sports Bar and Florida.

Take some sterling with you , and just withdraw either lira or sterling when there. I am taking 700 lira I have at home and £2 or 3 hundred sterling and take it from there and draw from ATM as needed. I have not used travellers cheques for years, I though the idea of the prepaid cards was to make them obsolete

Thanks for that. Can only remember seeing the freestanding machines around icmeler. Where's the bank?

I'm thinking by the crossroads down from romance am I right?

There`s a bank on the crossroads below the Kapmar hotel, if you`ll be there from 20/6 i`ll be more than glad to help you get rid of some of that cash!

Garngad Jim wrote:There`s a bank on the crossroads below the Kapmar hotel, if you`ll be there from 20/6 i`ll be more than glad to help you get rid of some of that cash!

Is that the crossroads just up from the new square?

Thanks for the offer but as we dont get there until mid August I take it you dont fancy hanging around until then?

Yes, there is a bank under the Kapmar - also a few more along the main road going towards Tansas - one where the Three Bells used to be and another on the other side of the road a bit further along.

I always use my Halifax Clarity Card in the ATM at bank beside Kapmar and have never had a problem. As said a better rate is given when withdrawing lira rather than Sterling. I always ensure I have another card as a back up as I have heard from others who have had their card declined leaving them in a difficult situation.

Thanks one and all for the info .... Although I'm more confused now lol!

Gangland Jim we arrive 20/6 same as you for our 2 weeks, so see you in the Letoile Hotel for an Efes or 10!

Regarding taking that much Sterling I just don't want to be 'robbed' with charges from the ATMs/our Bank when taking withdrawals to change into Lira .... Anyone agree?

I always take £1000 + in cash! no problems. It's safe in my safety deposit box, this time I changed it all to TL before I came over (due to the fantastic rate). I know it's risky carrying all that cash, but it works for us. Hate ATM machines personally, but each to their own eh

Hi Mansy, think I'll just bring Cash as the best rate online i can find is 3.303 with American Express! ... Still seems to be a shortage of it available too, as loads of Companies don't have it!

I know you've changed all your spends for your hol, but is the local rate still 3.45-3.50???

Cheers

Make that an efes or 11 and your on Geordie.

mansy wrote:I always take £1000 + in cash! no problems. It's safe in my safety deposit box, this time I changed it all to TL before I came over (due to the fantastic rate). I know it's risky carrying all that cash, but it works for us. Hate ATM machines personally, but each to their own eh

Never understand why people say in an open forum where they keep their cash. Safety deposit boxes aren't 100% safe as others on this forum have said. Last year someone said they kept their cash in a locked suitcase under the bed. It was 'safe' as the key for the suitcase was elsewhere in the room. Not only should that person not have said where he kept his money but on another thread he said where he was staying and when!

Like I said previously, each to their own eh.