Money matters

[MamaCass]

Hello to those who've been around on here for a while.
I'm really looking forward to this holiday - all I've read makes the place sound absolutely brilliant.  
We've been advised not to bother changing to Turkish currency but to use sterling or euros - am I right in thinking that we would need local money for local buses and boats?  Also what is the approximate value of the Turkish lira?  It seems a bit discourteous to me not to use the local money - what is the etiquette?
I am keen to have a hamam and have been told that it is a good idea to have one at the start of the holiday - are there any recommendations please and how much would I expect to pay?

Thanks in advance for any forthcoming suggestions.

[Highlander]

The advice generally is to change money in Turkey rather than the UK as you get a better rate.

Restaurants will take Sterling or euros but you will need lira for local buses etc.

Exchange rate is shown at bottom of page but I would think it's a shade less "on the street" eg if it says 2.37 below then you might expect to get 2.32.

Oykun Hotel I believe for hamam - 20 -30 lira ?.

If any of that's not correct someone else will advise you.

Have a great holiday.

[Scunner]

I certainly wouldn't want to be paying for meals and the like in sterling, you would almost definitely lose out. Change your money over in Turkey and pay everything in Lira.

[amca]

My general rule is to avoid any bar/restaurant that advertises ONLY in sterling. Your change will be Lira and the exchange rate will be poor.

[june]

Gav and Jess paid 15ytl last year for a Turkish Bath at the Oykun and said it was good....

H, You are are probably correct, but guess what, I know I would get the 2.37YTL....!:D:D.....

Cass, change your money in Turkiye to Lira and have a great time as I am sure you will..

[Karennina]

Is a Hamam a Turkish bath? If so I had one at the Oykun few weeks ago and it was fab 25 lira and 15 lira for the face mask all lovely. Only complaint well not a complaint as such, they have done away with the old card price list and all the stuff that used to be on there like the history of the Turkish bath and the old kings and queens and they have been replaced by laminates not quite the same effect I did not think. We were getting 2.30 lira it went up to 2.33 for a while then went back down to 2.30.

[Phil]

I agree with everyone's advice on the currency - Buy a few pounds of Lira in the UK before you go. You only need enough to get you through the first day until you get your bearings.
Take Sterling notes (no travellers cheques or Euros) for the rest of the holiday. Change these into Lira as you need them.
Spend ONLY Lira everywhere (including the market) and if your maths is no good take a small credit card size calculator.
The only thing I pay for in Sterling are trips and excursions - these are clearly priced and should cause you no problems.
DO NOT buy any Lira at Dalaman airport and regard credit card spending as a bit of a last resort.
If you do take any plastic cards with you advise the card issuer before you travel and make a separate note of the Emergency Contact Telephone numbers.

Have a great holiday

[MamaCass]

Thanks for all these very helpful comments - much appreciated.

[Scunner]

The banks in Fethiye are the best places to change money. If you can't get to Fethiye, in Calis a lot of people recommend Onur Silver Shop, in the main bar/restaurant street. Sure enough, he has never ripped me off in man years of knowing him.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL IS...

{A Link to an old CBF topic was here - no longer available}35343

[Julesp]

quote:Originally posted by Scunner

The banks in Fethiye are the best places to change money. If you can't get to Fethiye, in Calis a lot of people recommend Onur Silver Shop, in the main bar/restaurant street. Sure enough, he has never ripped me off in man years of knowing him.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL IS...

{A Link to an old CBF topic was here - no longer available}35343

Yes I always warn my friends and family when out here I didnt know his scam until I saw it on this forum though, but luckily I never used him anyway as I have my money paid into my Turk bank account direct from UK