Hello everybody again...!<BR>I am still not satisfied with the answers, because in a few days I am visiting Turkey, and now I am wondering how much money should I bring with me..?<BR>How are the actual prices for a bottle of water, Cola, Fanta, ..<BR>to eat out in a restaurant (one person, middle-class), 1 drive with a taxi or a dolmus, a one day-tour by bus or boat,renting a car (one day) ..etc..?<BR><BR>It would be nice to hear from people who have been in Turkey recently, (meaning this year), ..thanks in advance!<BR><BR>Greetings<BR>Evelyn<BR>

A few minutes of google research produced the following site that may help you - although it's not from this year... so maybe it won't.<BR><BR>http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/qtrpt/2001/5219.htm<BR>http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/qtrpt/2002/9230.htm

Well Evelyn, what you need to know is this:<BR>1$ = 1.670.000 TL (Turkish Liras)<BR>1 EUR = 1.625.000 TL<BR>Everybody is a millionaire there !! Do be careful not to mix up the bank notes (it can be tricky at first with all those zeros). I live there 4 years and have a good idea about prices.<BR>Be sure that it is much much cheaper than EU and the US !!<BR>A litre of bottled water: 500.000 TL<BR>Coke: 900.000 TL<BR>Cigarettes: 2.000.000 TL<BR>Taxi from airport to center (Istanbul): 10.000.000 TL<BR>Dolmus: Depends but no more than 2.000.000 TL<BR>Average meal: anything between 5.000.000 and 20.000.000 TL<BR>Top of the range restaurants: 40 to 70.000.000 TL<BR>Anything else, just let me know.<BR>You WILL have a great time there !!<BR>

Evelyn - just got back form Turkey last Monday. Here are some of the prices I saw recently. I can only give you prices from the Bodrum area (my in-laws live just outside of Bodrum and we spend our 3 wks vacation there every year). We always take our ATM card (4 pin #) and just withdrawal money - from our chequing account, NOT from VISA.<BR><BR>Anyway, cola, Fanta, water, glass of wine and beer runs about 1,500,000 - 2,500,000 depending on the place - smaller, local places are generally cheaper. Most amin courses at a reasonably priced restaurant will cost between 3,000,000 lira and 8,000,000 (3M will get you manti at a small family run place, 8M will get you fish, kebap at a moderately priced place.) Other rest's will do a deal including wine, appetizer and main course for 10-15 British pounds.<BR><BR>Dolmus one way is around 1,000,000 - 1,500,000 lira. Taking the boat for the day (not by youreslf, but getting on one that takes a number of people) is about 20,000,000, including day on the boat and lunch, sometimes also desert, and they stop at about 4 places. Drinks are extra and they also charge more than on land (got you cornered). Still the boat trip is worthwhile - you go some great places for swimming.<BR><BR>Day tours start around 10 pounds (to go to a local market, not generally worth it, Bodrum and the surrounding towns have market days every week for both locals and tourists). Going up to Ephes or over to Dalyan is closer to 30-35 pounds for the day trip. <BR><BR>We went to Rhodos for 3 days - 50 euors per person each way, plus a 10 euro re-entery fee back into Turkey.<BR><BR>Since a number of British people travel to the Bodrum area directly you will see some prices quoted in British pounds.<BR><BR>Hope this helps - enjoy - it is a really great place to visit - they are very hospitable people, lots to see and do.

I'll be leaving soon for Turkey. Do ATMs dispense only TL or USD also? Most hotels offer discount for cash. Can I pay in TL from ATMs or should I take USD cash from homt?

the ATMS only dispense and lira and &pound;s (UK).

IN Turkey you can get the best rate from ATM. DON'T worry<BR><BR>ABC