Travelling to Turkey |
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Getting Lira
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| 1. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:15 pm |
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Once I'm in Istanbul airport, where do I go after clearing customs to get some money converted into Lira? I assume I'll need it to pay my taxi to the ferry and for the ferry as well. I'll be tight on time...
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| 2. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:19 pm |
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Right before you get your Visa, there is a booth where you can change your money too. It is very convenient. Just follow the crowd!!
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| 3. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:20 pm |
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on airport u could exchange r money dont worry  and have wonderfull voyage
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| 4. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:21 pm |
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Quoting mey0722: Once I'm in Istanbul airport, where do I go after clearing customs to get some money converted into Lira? I assume I'll need it to pay my taxi to the ferry and for the ferry as well. I'll be tight on time... |
Hi,
Which airport are we talking about is it Ataturk or Sabiha Gochen? here is the links for each airport Istanbul Ataturk http://www.ataturkairport.com/eng/index.php and Sabiha Gochen http://www.sgairport.com/havaalani/eng/start.asp Check the airport guide they will show you which part of the airport you can change your money into New Turkish Lira. On a final note the exchange rate is alot better in Turkey than the U.K. I have actually made money on my exchange by changing at a bank in Turkey. I would use Denzibank mainly because my fiancee works there  Hope the information helps!
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| 5. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:23 pm |
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Good point Loveprague...I was assuming it was Ataturk.
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| 6. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:23 pm |
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Quoting mey0722: Once I'm in Istanbul airport, where do I go after clearing customs to get some money converted into Lira? I assume I'll need it to pay my taxi to the ferry and for the ferry as well. I'll be tight on time... |
there are a few change offices at the Ataturk Airport. The rate is not the best so i advise you not to change much money.
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| 7. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:26 pm |
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My flight info says "Istanbul." That's it! It's American Airlines. I assumed it was Ataturk. The airport code is IST and that's Ataturk, right?
This is going to sound ridiculous, but I'll ask anyway...they look at/stamp my passport, then I go somewhere else to get a visa, then somewhere else to get Lira. Is this correct? I can only imagine the lines...
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| 8. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:27 pm |
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IST is Ataturk. They will stamp your passport when you get your visa.
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| 9. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:27 pm |
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Quoting Elisabeth: Good point Loveprague...I was assuming it was Ataturk. |
Thanks Elisabeth I work in a hospital so I always check things very carefully
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| 10. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:29 pm |
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That's good. One line to accomplish two things, what a relief!
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| 11. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:29 pm |
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Quoting Loveprague: Quoting Elisabeth: Good point Loveprague...I was assuming it was Ataturk. |
Thanks Elisabeth I work in a hospital so I always check things very carefully |
I work in hospital administration....hahaha...we don't listen to our clinical people, you know that!!
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| 12. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:39 pm |
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Can I pay for my visa with US Dollars? Sorry if that is a silly question.
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| 13. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:41 pm |
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Quoting mey0722: Can I pay for my visa with US Dollars? Sorry if that is a silly question. |
yes you can , they are cheaper now than they used to be too.
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| 14. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:43 pm |
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when you enter the baggage hall, there are 2 places to exchange money on each side at the bottom of the stairs. The rate is fair but you pay a commision. exchange only what you need for the day. The best rates are at Doviz offices or ATM's.
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| 15. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:51 pm |
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Perfect, thanks. You are all so helpful!!
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| 16. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:52 pm |
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I know this is also silly, but are their signs in English as well as Turkish in the airport? I imagine they are, as other parts of the world I've been to have this, but just checking! I won't need to know the Turkish word for "baggage claim" will I? I know, stupid question, but it can't hurt to ask!
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| 17. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 09:54 pm |
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most signs are in english as well. Also, most signs have pictures so even if you spoke no english or turkish, you could find your way.
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| 18. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 10:13 pm |
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Thanks. I'm sure I'm much more paranoid than I need to be. I figure it can't hurt to gather as much information as possible. I spoke to a colleague of mine and he travels to Turkey frequently. In Istanbul, he stays at a Best Western called The President Hotel. Says it's nice and affordable. A single room for the date I need it came up at $93. Here's the link if anyone is interested.
http://www.thepresidenthotel.com/default.asp
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| 19. |
18 Oct 2007 Thu 10:19 pm |
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Quoting mey0722: Thanks. I'm sure I'm much more paranoid than I need to be. I figure it can't hurt to gather as much information as possible. I spoke to a colleague of mine and he travels to Turkey frequently. In Istanbul, he stays at a Best Western called The President Hotel. Says it's nice and affordable. A single room for the date I need it came up at $93. Here's the link if anyone is interested.
http://www.thepresidenthotel.com/default.asp |
Don't take me wrong if I say I agree with you in your first sentence... 
Turkey and Istanbul are safe, there are imo no special precautions you should take as a solo travelling woman other than you should in other big cities. Use common sense and you'll have a wonderful time. I travelled solo several times, even for longer periods, so I'm speaking out of experience. If you have any questions, you can PM me.
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| 20. |
21 Oct 2007 Sun 11:57 am |
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Just to clear something up...
When you enter Turkey via Ataturk, they do NOT stamp your passport at the visa line.
Follow the signs, in English, as well as the crowd from your flight, to Passport. The first line you will come to is Visa. It is well marked. Pay for your visa with U.S. dollars or Euros, either is accepted. They will stick a visa onto one of the pages in your passport.
Then you go to the Passport line to get your passport stamped.
I'm sorry, but you do need to stand in two lines. The Visa line is relatively short, no longer than 10 minutes. The Passport line can be much longer, with waits ranging from 10 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on how many flights are arriving.
I recommend that you bring an ATM card and get your money (as YTL) from ATMs, which are widely available. Check with your bank before you leave on your trip to make sure that your password is valid internationally and to notify them that you will be getting money in Turkey.
If you use an ATM card, you never need to change money.
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| 21. |
21 Oct 2007 Sun 12:29 pm |
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Quoting DaveT: Just to clear something up...
When you enter Turkey via Ataturk, they do NOT stamp your passport at the visa line.
Follow the signs, in English, as well as the crowd from your flight, to Passport. The first line you will come to is Visa. It is well marked. Pay for your visa with U.S. dollars or Euros, either is accepted. They will stick a visa onto one of the pages in your passport.
Then you go to the Passport line to get your passport stamped.
I'm sorry, but you do need to stand in two lines. The Visa line is relatively short, no longer than 10 minutes. The Passport line can be much longer, with waits ranging from 10 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on how many flights are arriving.
I recommend that you bring an ATM card and get your money (as YTL) from ATMs, which are widely available. Check with your bank before you leave on your trip to make sure that your password is valid internationally and to notify them that you will be getting money in Turkey.
If you use an ATM card, you never need to change money.
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Hi Dave
Great post. As I was reading the thread I started composing a reply in my head, and then I found you had written everything.
The ABSOLUTE WORST place to change money is in your hotel or off a person on the street. The NEXT WORST place to change money is in the banks. Whether at airport or anywhere else. They charge commission. The BEST is at a döviz: a licenced money change office. They have a rate for buying and a rate for selling, and what you see is what you get, no extra or hidden charges.
IN BETWEEN is your ATM card, the rate and deal you get depends on your bank abroad.
Hope you have a great trip.
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| 22. |
21 Oct 2007 Sun 12:39 pm |
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Quoting DaveT: Just to clear something up...
When you enter Turkey via Ataturk, they do NOT stamp your passport at the visa line.
Follow the signs, in English, as well as the crowd from your flight, to Passport. The first line you will come to is Visa. It is well marked. Pay for your visa with U.S. dollars or Euros, either is accepted. They will stick a visa onto one of the pages in your passport.
Then you go to the Passport line to get your passport stamped.
I'm sorry, but you do need to stand in two lines. The Visa line is relatively short, no longer than 10 minutes. The Passport line can be much longer, with waits ranging from 10 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on how many flights are arriving.
I recommend that you bring an ATM card and get your money (as YTL) from ATMs, which are widely available. Check with your bank before you leave on your trip to make sure that your password is valid internationally and to notify them that you will be getting money in Turkey.
If you use an ATM card, you never need to change money.
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I have been lucky enough to not queue at the visa office, first one in the line every time. They grab your money, in my case a nice crisp £10 note and off you go, don't so much as look at you.
It is suprising the number of people who do not know about this visa malarky and they go rushing to the passport control, and I watch with a smug grin on my face(cruel?) 
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| 23. |
21 Oct 2007 Sun 07:19 pm |
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Meyo722,
I don't know if you are leaving from the U.S., but since you said you would be short on time, you could change money at the U.S. airport too. It will not be a good deal of course, but at least you would already have the lira in hand and wouldn't have to wait in another line. This is what I did. I only changed $100 U.S. dollars, just to have something.
Have a great trip!!!
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