money advice for excited tourist - please help

tigerlair


Joined: 25/04/2010
Posts: 2

Message Posted:
25/04/2010 21:17

Hi, I will be visiting Kyrenia next week(very excited) and would like some advice about taking cash out. Will I be charged for using cash machines? Do most people take lots of money out in the UK and bring it over or do they use cards etc over there? Can you get sterling out of cash machines?



Sorry if these questions have been answered before.



Thanks in advance

Ailletoo


Joined: 24/01/2009
Posts: 1003

Message Posted:
25/04/2010 21:22

You can get sterling from the ATMs here. Your bank will probably charge you for this. Ask your bank about this. Personally I prefer to get money from the ATM as I go along rather than carry a lot of cash with me. It's a personal preference thing. Either way, it works, bring cash or use the machines, your choice. You may get a better exchange rate from the money changers here.

janjin



Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 488

Message Posted:
25/04/2010 22:16

tigerlair,

I would say bring out English.



The exchanges on Kyrenia high street give you the rate in the shop as it is displayed. They don't charge you hidden extras. We have found the exchanges' rates change daily, but are better than the rates at home.



Enjoy your visit and welcome to the board

Smity



Joined: 14/09/2009
Posts: 826

Message Posted:
25/04/2010 22:34

You can get stirling but mainly from HSBC banks the one i use for cash is the HSBC cash machine by the Taxi rank by the sea front. As far as i am awaire you dont get charged at this one.

As the last message said the small exchane shop on the left just after the 2 cash ( high street) machines is always the best deal.

But most shops restaurants and bars will take £ or YTL.

Enjoy and welcome to KTNC

Chelpet


Joined: 10/03/2010
Posts: 253

Message Posted:
25/04/2010 22:35

Dont forget you will probably get charged for using ATM even though its your money thats in there, we found we got the best exchange rate for the exchange bureau opposite the Dome hotel near the harbour, we were advised to use this one by a TC friend in the UK, and we got a better rate than my local bank in NC, but as msg3 said bring sterling with you.

Smity



Joined: 14/09/2009
Posts: 826

Message Posted:
25/04/2010 22:39

\UPs my fingers slipped should have been

Welcome to TRNC

basil


Joined: 10/04/2009
Posts: 168

Message Posted:
25/04/2010 22:53

If you have a Nationwide flex account, your card will work in all the ATMs here and you are charged nothing for the transaction; other banks charge according to their terms & conditions.



There are plenty of machines around (outside banks - don't expect to draw cash at the shops) and you may find a small variation in what you get for your quids as the rate of exchange changes. That means the first time you draw (say) 300TL, you may pay £131.36 for it , but the next time it could be £131.70 or whatever - no big deal unless you are planning to spend thousands, in which case take some sterling to the money changers in town as suggested above.



I would recommend you take a couple of hundred sterling to your high street, find the best rate in the various bureaux de change and get Turkish lira to tide you over; you'll probably want as many low denomination notes as they will give you, to pay a taxi, buy a drink and suchlike before you go hunting for a hole in the wall.



Enjoy your sta

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
26/04/2010 07:10

With a Nationwide Flex Account card you can of course draw out Turkish Lira and pay all your tabs with that. That way there are no charges involved and you will get a good rate of exchange.

kathsj


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 72

Message Posted:
26/04/2010 21:36

I think Nationwide now charge a nominal amount but are still best value. It is usually your bank that charges you for drawing money - not the machine quite often they give you a poorer rate of exchange and then add on charges. Even if you go to an agent in UK that does't charge commision the exchange rate is awful, aparently M&S are one of the best value. DONT exchange money at UK airports. If you are bringing some sterling you can use it in restaurants and supermarkets, havent found one - yet - that doesn't take it. Dont use the exchange place half way down High St on RHS twice they have tried to short change me - apart from that you'll have a good time.

Barter for free drinks if you eat on the harbour.

Enjoy

Kath

skybluesam


Joined: 24/12/2008
Posts: 447

Message Posted:
26/04/2010 21:56

Nationwide do not charge a nominal amount as an earlier post suggests, it is totally free! and you get the current rate as well.

Moral is: open a flex account!!

Nick

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
26/04/2010 22:07

I usually take some sterling - 'cos most places accept it OK, and use the ATMs that have already been mentioned before.

Most of all though is to enjoy your stay....although I'm sure you will...it's a brilliant place to visit!

tsmlion


Joined: 17/08/2009
Posts: 39

Message Posted:
26/04/2010 22:38

Tigerlair.



I'm out there next weekend as well.



Hope the weather is better than the forecast!!



I normally take every bit of spare currency I have. The restaurants and bars take anything. The FX shops give excellent rates.

millzer


Joined: 12/04/2007
Posts: 978

Message Posted:
27/04/2010 02:47

We have always got a good rate using our Nationwide card, and no charges to boot. Don't forget that no charges for cash only applies to debit cards. Cash withdrawals using Nationwide 'credit' cards do charge a fee, for cash, although not for 'purchases' in shops.

tigerlair


Joined: 25/04/2010
Posts: 2

Message Posted:
27/04/2010 15:58

Thanks to everyone who posted advice. You've been a massive help. Two days to go and I cannot wait. It's been 5 years since I've stepped foot outside of the UK - so bring on Kyrenia - Woo hoo

BeeKeeper


Joined: 29/09/2009
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
28/04/2010 12:38

Here's something that is simultaneously wonderful and annoying if you don't know about it.



Immediately after putting in your card, some of the Kyrenia cashpoint machines will ask you which currency you want to do your transaction in.



I was using an English bank account, so pressed the GBP button, thinking this would make it easier to calculate exactly how much I was withdrawing.



Big mistake. The cashpoint then gave me my full daily limit of exactly £250 pounds in.... English notes.



I had assumed that I would get the amount of pounds I asked for paid out in Turkish lira.



However, these are the first cashpoints I have found anywhere in the world that can do this. In fact, they can pay out in GBP, EUR and maybe even USD. The TRNC truly has the makings of an international centre of finance!

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
28/04/2010 15:37

What are you excited about?

Geoff

mike5


Joined: 28/04/2010
Posts: 1

Message Posted:
29/04/2010 11:02

Try visiting MONEXCHANGE, located opposite to lemar karakum...Hard-to-beat rates

--www.monexcyprus.com--

fallenangel


Joined: 16/05/2009
Posts: 125

Message Posted:
29/04/2010 11:16

Halifax also do not charge for taking sterling out of ATM's, best to get sterling and change as you go along.

Try and pay in lira in restaurants and shops, or they may give you a lower exchange rate. Don't forget to bring your

suncream, you will need it and its a bit expensive here. Have a great holiday.