Kalkan Turkey Forum - EnjoyKalkan.com

Kalkan Discussion => Money & Finance => Topic started by: LozJay on May 01, 2012, 10:40:25 PM

Title: Changing money
Post by: LozJay on May 01, 2012, 10:40:25 PM
Hi there, just wondered whether you still get a better rate if you change money at the post office in Kalkan than you do here in the UK?  Anyone know what the current exchange rate is?

Many thanks :)
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: kalkan4eva on May 01, 2012, 11:07:40 PM
LozJay, its usually a much better exchange rate in Kalkan than UK - check the KTLN website for today's rate its been around 2.7/2.8 to the £. The PTT has a better rate than the shops who have exchange facilities but they take commission, so it tends to even out. We found the little kiosk in front of the PTT were really good last year(no commission and usually the top rate)
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: amber on May 02, 2012, 08:23:58 AM
Was 2.84 ın post office but after commıssıon doesnt work out any better than 2.80 on the streets, in the shops.There are plenty of shops that do currency exchange and of course plenty of banks too!!!!
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Rharris on May 02, 2012, 02:49:36 PM
We got 2.76 to the £ this morning from our local Thomson travel agents.  Very pleased with this rate and now can't wait to be in Kalkan and spend it all.  Not long to go now! :)
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Bob & Jayne on May 02, 2012, 03:19:11 PM
I usually find M&S Travel money offer a good rate too.
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: kalkan4eva on May 03, 2012, 06:38:41 PM
there's a new article on KTLN about holiday money - you know how to find it :)
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: IssyG on May 04, 2012, 03:57:02 PM
The rate in Kalkan at the local shops always beats anything you can get at home.  We always bring sterling and change up when we arrive. Have been doing this for seven years.
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Geriatric Ski Boy on May 04, 2012, 05:32:42 PM
The banks today were giving L2.85 to the pound, with no commission.
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: tortoise lady on May 04, 2012, 07:14:13 PM
We have always done the same as IssyG.  Take Sterling and change it at a local shop in the main street.   Seems to work for us.   
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: pw on May 04, 2012, 07:37:01 PM
Travelling with a fortnight's worth of £' cash surely can't be a good idea...........

Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: kalkan4eva on May 05, 2012, 02:42:46 PM
You just need to be sensible about where you keep it when travelling and where you store it in your villa/apartment. Our hiding place was so good last year we forgot about some cash we'd left there and went home without it - not recommended :-[
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: seasick on May 05, 2012, 03:10:40 PM
2.8 here since wedneday, not much better than uk really we got 2.77 at airport! preordered with travelex

i must say though the local restaurants seem to have put there prices up in relation to this though! i remember main courses being in the 20's in october 2010 now most are in the 30's including seabass which can be even into the 40's now ,so not sure we are gaining much with the better exchange rate if anythng!
didnt beer used to be approx 5 lira too, some are as high as 8 now!

still happy times and the weather is brill this time of year
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: kalkan4eva on May 06, 2012, 05:12:55 PM
seasick, inflation is very high in Turkey which would explain price rises but as its two years ago since you were last there I would expect you would see a big difference - you only have to think how much things have gone up in the UK in two years ::)
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Cuddles on May 06, 2012, 05:46:59 PM
Yes K4E inflation explains a little of the increase, but it doesn't explain why prices are so high in comparison with other resorts. Take a trip to Fethiye, Efes and food are a lot lower in price there.
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: kalkan4eva on May 06, 2012, 06:56:22 PM
I've always accepted that the prices are higher in Kalkan than other resorts and I've no problem with it - I can choose to holiday elsewhere if I don't like it - as we all can ;)
seasick was making a point about the rises in Kalkan since his last visit two years ago - linking the increase to a better exchange rate. I just wished to offer a different view :)

Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: onelove on May 07, 2012, 04:39:18 AM
Stop worrying its just a local "Paradise Tax" to keep the rif raf out....and it seems to be working, keep it high  8) :o 8)
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: kevincat99 on May 07, 2012, 06:10:43 AM
Onelove that's a very controversial thing to say and gets people who live her a bad name for apparently thinking themselves somewhat superior to visitors

Also you do not live here and those of us that do, strangely do not really appreciate the "Kalkan premium" on prices

Or am I in a minority ?
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: onelove on May 07, 2012, 04:00:43 PM
Lighten up KC99  8)
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: kevincat99 on May 07, 2012, 04:38:29 PM
I am - but this topic has been mooted before and it was then unclear who the "riff raff " actually are perceived to be

It is a particular social group - people maybe with less money to spend here - how will we spot them?

Do you know so we can look out for them?
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Painter Man on May 07, 2012, 05:06:17 PM
I do not know who Onelove thinks are "rif raf" but if they are the people who do not have large mortgages, school fees to pay and are not having to help their children with the deposit for their first home  then perhaps they have more money to spend when on holiday and thus will be welcomed by the local business people.
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Enjoy Kalkan on May 07, 2012, 06:52:51 PM
Can we keep on topic please - Thanks :)
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Sandancer on May 08, 2012, 06:15:12 AM
I thought I had got a good rate of 2.83 when I used an ATM and then realised I had been charged 3% commission. My own fault, I could have declined the transaction and did not. I will stick with changing sterling in the local shops after this. We have been here a week and the best rate up to now has been 2.81 from the cushion shop near the post office. We are in Calis Beach for a few days before returning to Kalkan and the rate is the same here. The lire goes a lot further though!!! 
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: LozJay on May 12, 2012, 10:14:03 PM
Thank you everyone for your replies - we used the PTT and got 2.84 rate, which was fab.  Sorry my post caused a row!
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: AlbionFan on July 03, 2012, 07:59:38 AM
We have always done the same as IssyG.  Take Sterling and change it at a local shop in the main street.   Seems to work for us.
Can I just be clear on this?

So you just wander in to any one of thes shops and tender say £50 and they give you the TKL equivalent at the prevailin rate?

Do you need to buy anything from that shop?

Do you need any ID?

Is there a lower or higher level - what I eman is can you go in and chnage a tenner or can you go and change £200?

Thanks

Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: cocobarker on July 03, 2012, 08:51:57 AM
Morning Albion Fan.... No need to buy anything/take any ID etc etc... just take your Sterling along and they will change it for you... Post Office will do larger amounts but I don't think £200 will trouble the shop traders... Commission free credit cards are not a bad thing either..I have a Barclaycard i24 card which charges 0% commission (last year I got 2.96 on a couple of transactions)..  Not sure what rate they are giving in Kalkan High St this morning but the spot rate on my screen in front of me in rainy London is 2.8276 at 8.50am...Closed at 2.8317 yesterday... 10 more days to go and my son will be up and down Kalkan High St looking for the best rate... like father-like son... Can't wait to be out there ;)
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: hobbo on July 03, 2012, 08:56:16 AM
I think it was on a post on this site (or poss TA?) that pointed out that :
‘Garanti bank ATM allows you to draw GBP without any charge, it is opposite Kartin supermarket near Parc Kalkan bar/cafe take out sterling and exchange in shops or banks. If you have a card that allows you to draw GBP at zero (or very low) charge, I think Nationwide was mentioned but also some pre-loaded cash cards should work as well, could well increase the Efes fund.

Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: AlbionFan on July 03, 2012, 09:20:53 AM
Morning Albion Fan.... No need to buy anything/take any ID etc etc... just take your Sterling along and they will change it for you... Post Office will do larger amounts but I don't think £200 will trouble the shop traders... Commission free credit cards are not a bad thing either..I have a Barclaycard i24 card which charges 0% commission (last year I got 2.96 on a couple of transactions)..  Not sure what rate they are giving in Kalkan High St this morning but the spot rate on my screen in front of me in rainy London is 2.8276 at 8.50am...Closed at 2.8317 yesterday... 10 more days to go and my son will be up and down Kalkan High St looking for the best rate... like father-like son... Can't wait to be out there ;)

Thanks
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: M n M on July 03, 2012, 11:41:15 AM
2.80TL to the pound in the Kalkan shops today.
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: cocobarker on July 03, 2012, 12:48:48 PM
2.80TL to the pound in the Kalkan shops today.

Can't complain about that... less than 1% away from where its trading in the FX Mkts... They are very keen on getting hard £ and $'s.... Whats the Euro rate on his board today??
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Cuddles on July 03, 2012, 08:46:18 PM
I think it was on a post on this site (or poss TA?) that pointed out that :
‘Garanti bank ATM allows you to draw GBP without any charge, it is opposite Kartin supermarket near Parc Kalkan bar/cafe take out sterling and exchange in shops or banks. If you have a card that allows you to draw GBP at zero (or very low) charge, I think Nationwide was mentioned but also some pre-loaded cash cards should work as well, could well increase the Efes fund.



I did just that with a Nationwide debit card and was charged nothing for it.
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Bob & Jayne on July 17, 2012, 09:43:01 AM
Can anyone tell us what the exchange rate is in Kalkan at the moment please? It is usually a better rate, but just wondered what it is at the moment.
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: davidm on July 17, 2012, 11:10:54 AM
KTLN is saying the Infinity and Yardan jewellers were buying at 2.78 a few days ago if that helps and the forex rate has been steady  over the same period so Id guess its about there.

best rates I can see to change here are around 2.75 so not big difference unless you are changing loads!
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: Bob & Jayne on July 17, 2012, 11:12:55 AM
Thank you, I just rang a local Travel Agent who always offers the best rate, and he said the best he can do today is 2.68. 

J
Title: Re: Changing money
Post by: davidm on July 17, 2012, 11:15:52 AM
If you dont mind using a postal service to get the best one  this is a good site for comparing rates..

http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/holiday-money/#results
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