Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Information and Services in Turkey Section => Banks, Interest, Money Transfers, Insurance => Topic started by: Loujasmin on July 18, 2017, 09:47:07 AM
-
Good morning,
We arrive in Turkey 5th August, we are undecided what to do regarding exchanging money, should we get it here or wait and get £ changed to tL once we arrive, any help and advice on this matter including where best to exchange in and around Caliswould be most gratefully received.
-
You will get a better rate in Turkey than the UK.
Members will correctly tell you that it is illegal to change money other than at Official Changes Shops or Banks which is true but you would get a better rate elsewhere albeit it for example 4.40 as opposed to 4.30 legally.
-
The standard advice is that the rate will always be better in Turkey - unless the £ collapses/TL booms in the meanwhile. You get a better rate than exchanging money by using a card at an ATM BUT it has to be the right card. Unless you chose your account specifically because it has good international rates then you are most likely to have the wrong card. Check if your card is any good here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/travel-credit-cards#checker
-
Thanks Highlander, is it 'common practice' to change money at these 'other non legal places'?
-
Thanks Colwyn, it seems I have a debit card from hell! which is nice :o
-
Pity. And there isn't really enough time to get a new card in time for Aug 5th. Perhaps something to think about for next year?
-
If you use the Official Change Office in Calis Beach ask Alper for their best rate, you will always get more than what is advertised on the board outside.
Martin Lewis has been banging on about Credit Cards from Hell for years now, on the "This Morning" Programme, on his own programme on consumer programmes both on T.V and radio. He gives good advice and his website is excellent to read so you get the best deal.
We knew about 5 years ago when I read his website that we had cards from hell. We applied for cards that were not from hell, so it is thanks to him we now have cards from heaven.
-
Jacqui - I have to say that annoys me.
In my opinion Alper should advertise his best rated on the board. Why should he take more money from people who don't know to ask.
If I go into a restaurant that has advertised a steak at 40 tl I don't ask the waiter what their "best price"
-
Personally, I can't be bothered to comb the town to get a slightly better rate, especially in this heat. If I was changing thousands of £, maybe that would be different, but say you change £100 & one rate is 0.01 better than down the road, it'll mean you get a whole 1tl extra - hardly life changing :)
-
H, you'll have to pay him a visit, ask for his "best rate", then ask him to improve on it, carry on haggling for a while, and then agree the price ... and change £10. That'll teach him!
-
Personally, I can't be bothered to comb the town to get a slightly better rate, especially in this heat. If I was changing thousands of £, maybe that would be different, but say you change £100 & one rate is 0.01 better than down the road, it'll mean you get a whole 1tl extra - hardly life changing :)
Total agree Liz but in my experience the rate in Calis is 6 % higher than in the UK so if you are changing £ 500.00 you might be 100 liar better off.
-
Jacqui - I have to say that annoys me.
In my opinion Alper should advertise his best rated on the board. Why should he take more money from people who don't know to ask.
If I go into a restaurant that has advertised a steak at 40 tl I don't ask the waiter what their "best price"
I remember when we first came to Calis and we used to change money in shops before it was illegal to do so. We were told by an ex-pat, to always ask for a better rate and we always did. We always got more.
I also remember a thread on this Forum where it was stated that ex-pats always got a better exchange rate than tourists, from the shops that changed money and one shop in particular in Calis Beach.. I recall there was a lot of comment about this posting.
So, Change Shop is doing what all the other money changers did in our experience.
-
The difference here is the Official Change bureau is advertising a price, so it should be that price you get. Turkey eh : :)
-
Personally, I can't be bothered to comb the town to get a slightly better rate, especially in this heat. If I was changing thousands of £, maybe that would be different, but say you change £100 & one rate is 0.01 better than down the road, it'll mean you get a whole 1tl extra - hardly life changing :)
Totally agree.
Personally, if I didn't use Finansbank I simply used the nearest doviz - irrespective of whether I'm in Fethiye or Istanbul or Ankara.
Two or three kuruş either way and it really isn't a lot of money - rate just now is 4.58tl to the pound, change £500 (at that rate) and you'll get 2,290tl. Hunt about and you may get 4.60 which gives you 2,300tl meaning you will gain 10tl.
Sometimes life is simply too short...
JF
-
For example Post Office in UK is 4.3733 so you'd be getting 4.73% more in Turkey :)
-
I remember hearing about a top European golfer who was in town for the Scottish Open going down to reception in a top hotel in Inverness.
The receptionist was booking in a couple and after explaining the room rate to them they went off to their room. The following conversation then took place.
Receptionist: Yes Sir what can I do for you.
Golfer: You can check me out.
Receptionist: But you just checked in sir and are booked in for the week.
Golfer: Yes I know. But you can check me out and check me back in for the rate you gave that couple and not double the amount you charged me when I first checked in.
-
Martin Lewis on T.V yesterday saying people who booked Hotels a couple of months ago are now finding rooms from their Hotel advertised cheaper now online. He was advising people to ring the hotel and ask to get the current price, or cancel and re-book.
However, we have all heard of people on holiday comparing what they paid and some are shocked at not getting their holiday as cheap as the people in the next room.
The same with cruising some people pay a lot more than others.
-
So, Change Shop is doing what all the other money changers did in our experience.
Am I correct in sayng the the Change Shops and Banks offer Tourists and Ex-Pats exactly the same rate.
-
Even the change shops offer different rates. Alper will usually offer slightly less than the main one in Fethiye but if you ask him he will match them.
Then there is the new one on the road that runs at the back of the prom. It's a little change shop next to a barbers. He is always about 5 Korus lower than Alper. I've never used him and won't at those rates.
General rule is for example - UK 4:40tl to the £ ------- Calis 4:55 to the £.... Makes little sense to take more then you need for the first couple of days.
-
At the end of the day they are all out to make money off the back of us. Nothing wrong with that but sometimes it appears to be a bit of a con ;)
-
Personally, I can't be bothered to comb the town to get a slightly better rate, especially in this heat. If I was changing thousands of £, maybe that would be different, but say you change £100 & one rate is 0.01 better than down the road, it'll mean you get a whole 1tl extra - hardly life changing :)
Totally agree.
Personally, if I didn't use Finansbank I simply used the nearest doviz - irrespective of whether I'm in Fethiye or Istanbul or Ankara.
Two or three kuruş either way and it really isn't a lot of money - rate just now is 4.58tl to the pound, change £500 (at that rate) and you'll get 2,290tl. Hunt about and you may get 4.60 which gives you 2,300tl meaning you will gain 10tl.
Sometimes life is simply too short...
JF
but that 10lira is one step up on the Efes monitor :)
-
I just posted on another thread about some of the best cards available.
You should be able to get the Monzo card before you leave using a "Golden Ticket":
https://monzo.com/golden-ticket/?utm_campaign=golden_ticket&utm_content=2LRxIvmHa7Jm7hv6TbvXad&utm_medium=golden_ticket&utm_source=referral_link
This will give you the mastercard spot rate on transactions and will allow you to get £1000 cash per 30 day period with a maximum of £250 per day. I.e. you can withdraw £250 four times in a rolling 30 day period.
Good luck!
-
It looks like the last queue jump ticket went so here's another for anyone who may want it:
https://monzo.com/golden-ticket/?utm_campaign=golden_ticket&utm_content=7dOdYuSRPyYimzT9wc52Nv&utm_medium=golden_ticket&utm_source=referral_link