Can someone who has been to Istanbul lately, tell me their experience with using ATM's and credit cards in Istanbul. Where can we use credit cards vs needing cash? Out hotel has an ATM in its lobby so I was thinking that was an indication that cash is required more often than in other cities. Specifically, wondering about payment in restaurants, the bazaars, boat tours, transit and taxis. We will be taking a taxi from the airport to Sultanahmet and will need to know if we need Turkish Lira. I have read that having cash when haggling in the bazaar is better than using a credit card. Is is good to use a money belt assuming the bazaars will be crowded?

I can't imagine going to any country without carrying local currency. You cannot rely on absolutely everyone to take your credit card. I would only use credit cards for large purchases and cash for everything else.

ATMs are a very good way to get your cash, however a local poster from Istanbul has recommended a few places to exchange if that is your preference. In most countries I believe the ATM is best but I trust our local guy in Istanbul to make good suggestions. I hope he will join this thread.

I just noticed your screen name so you must be Canadian. I assume your currency is easily exchanged in Istanbul but I don't know that for a fact so once again I will defer to our local guy. In case it isn't, please be prepared to use your ATM card. ATMs are very easy to find in Istanbul.

Istanbul is like any large city you need cash for small purchases and you can use credit cards for almost anything else.

Places, other than banks, that have ATM's get a fee for the placement. It is can be considered a convenience or a money maker.

I had my pocket picked in Istanbul but it was on the tram. But I am not one to scream about the horrors of Istanbul.

Pickpocketing in the souk is unlikley as the local shop keepers will beat the thief up (after all if the money is stolen from you it cannot pass on to the shop

Interesting point about self-policing in the souk - I hadn't thought of that, but it is an excellent point.

Regarding use of a moneybelt - of course that is a personal preference and everybody has an opinion - but I think one thing everybody can agree on is that if you use a money belt, you should not access it in any public place. Any cash or cards that you plan to use should not be in the moneybelt, but rather in an accessible place.

We got back a few weeks ago. We used the ATM at the airport, as we were taking the tram in; I don't believe the tram or ferries (ferries, not cruises) take credit cards. We paid cash for our taxi too. We were able to use credit cards at restaurants, but were not religious about it; our debit card actually gave us a better exchange rate than AMEX. Bazaar shop owners will offer you lower prices for cash. This doesn't mean they wouldn't accept the same amount for credit, but it wasn't a point I felt compelled to explore. I did not wear a money belt, but did not have any pickpocketing issues over the better part of two days that we spent there.

Jane,

It's been two month's since I was in Istanbul, but I will try to answer your questions directly.

1. Avoid taxi's in Istanbul, particularly at the airport. They fall someplace between Cairo and Rome on the suicide scale. We had very good service (third trip on which we used them) from www.istanbulairports.com. They request payment in Euros. It is often that a bank ATM will have the option of getting Euros.

2. We found that local merchants preferred to deal in Lira (YTL), but that in the Grand Bazaar they will deal in just about any major currency. You will get a far better exchange rate from any ATM.

3. The ATM in your hotel does not indicate a preference for local currency, only for making money. There are bank ATM's on any major street. I used them every few days.

4. The only place in Europe I ever encountered a pick pocket was on the street between Taksim Square and the Istanbul Intercontinental Hotel. He found himself trying to pass my wallet to his drop while it was still attached to my belt. (I had a Lewis'n'Clark wallet keeper from E-Bags.) Because this was on May Day and the area was filled with bored cops, his timing was as bad as his choice of victim. He was not treated gently after the cops separated him from my wallet.

5. Bargaining in local currency is always easier in my experience. Generally, we have gotten a deal between two-thirds and three-quarters of the asking price, having made an offer at about 50% of the ask. Remember shipping is always extra. If you are having something shipped, be certain to pay with a credit card to have some recourse if the item fails to arrive. We have had friends who arranged shipping with FedEx, and they found it very costly to do so.

Canadian here. We went in 2009. You will need money when you land US$ (or euros) for the visa. Do that first before proceeding to customs.

In Turkey I used ATM to withdraw Liras as needed. I did not bring any from home. I used mostly cash, VISA a couple of itmes and AMEX only once.

In one instance, we were driving in the east, and saw a vendor offering fresh fruit. I had no Liras, but did have euros, wich he took. In another we splurged on a Sheraton hotel and they insisted on being paid in USD, so I used my AMEX.

My bank card (CIBC) was accepted by all machines. It will remove money from your main account (no choice between checking or savings), so have some money there. I also brought a secondary card just in case. I remeber being in one small town of about 1000 people and taking money out and thinging "isn't technology great?"