NeoPatrick

Why would anyone take TCs in dollars to Turkey? Well, maybe if they REQUESTED you to? Maybe things have changed in the 6 years since we went, but we took some because several hotels gave us 10% deductions if we'd use dollars including TCs instead of lira or credit cards. That was significant savings. And since at that time, with a rapidly changing lira, most hotels quoted all prices in US dollars, so it had nothing to do with getting a good or bad exchange rate for them.

As I said it may be different now, but people who specifically have never traveled extensively in Turkey shouldn't be so quick to think Turkey works like France or Italy or the rest of Western Europe.

And admittedly the OP asked about restaurants and shopping, not hotels, but I just wanted to clarify a point here.

Guenmai

I was in Istanbul and took traveler's checks and had no problem what so ever with them. I only had traveler's checks, 2 credit cards, and cash. I've never used my American-issued ATM card overseas and I'm away up to 3 times a year . This last trip I took it in case of emergency, but never used it, I just jumped on the bus and went up to the AmExp office and cashed the traveler's checks as I've done since the 70s.
In Istanbul, I went to a bank, near the Grand Bazaar, and cashed them. The rate wasn't that bad. I personally like to cash money at the beginning of the trip and not have to worry about it most of the rest of the trip. This system has worked well for me over the last 30-plus years. So, please, no lectures about how the rate is higher if an ATM card is used etc... My bank charges $5.00 per transaction. I know that there are banks that charge less, but to each his own.
While in Bangkok,last summer, I tried using my credit union Visa debit card to pay the rent at my apartment building , but it didn't go through.
I had just been to the credit union before leaving home and had the person note that I'd be in BK. I usually don't use that card which is why I went into the credit union, in person, to let them know and also put a face to the card. Well, I was told all was in order. All was not in order.

When I got home, I asked why it hadn't gone through and was told that Thailand had been put on the list of places that they wouldn't allow cards to be used due to fraud.
So, I paid the rent with my AmExp card and used the traveler's checks/cash the rest of my stay. I had a lot of traveler's checks.

So, if I had needed to get money using my Visa debit/ATM card, I wouldn't have been able to anyhow. Traveler's checks have always worked.
I once footed the bill, in Europe, for a friend who's plastic had dried up/frozen and was really almost out of money. I got on the bus and went to the AmExp office and cashed my traveler's checks and footed her bills. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

I paid my hotel bill, in Istanbul, in U.S. dollars and got a substantial discount. I also had U.S. dollar traveler's checks and could have used them,too. The credit card rate for the room was higher. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Correction in the editing of the first post...I meant to type that , while in Paris, I jumped on the bus and went up to AmExp, and cashed Traveler's checks. I was saying that I use them in various places including Istanbul. Happy Travels!