The best and worst deals on the High Street today

This Edition

Previous Editions

Turkey

Savvy Tips

• The Turkish population is 99% Muslim. The local population is used to tourists now but you would do well to bear local sensitivities in mind (don’t point directly at someone, don’t blow your nose in public and don’t turn the sole of your foot or shoe towards anyone. Remember that women should keep their legs and shoulders covered). ­ a little consideration costs nothing!

• The Turkish lira will make you a multi-millionaire overnight with £1 buying you somewhere in the region of 2 million lira. With all those zeros it’s easy to confuse a 50,000 and 500,000 lira coin, so take your time and check what’s in your hand.

• With inflation running at around 90 per cent the value of currency can change quite significantly during a short space of time. Wait until you get to the country before exchanging your money and, whilst there, change small amounts every few days.

• Bargaining is still very common ­ but don’t embark on a session of haggling unless you seriously intend to buy ­ it’s very bad form to reach agreement on a price and then not go ahead with the purchase. In general, food and transport costs are non-negotiable.

• Turkey has got some great beaches but its also home to the imperial city of Istanbul, Ephesus ­ one of the best places in the world to feel what it was like to live in Roman times ­ and the ruins of the city of Troy (Brad Pitt not included!), so plan - and budget- to tear yourself away from the beaches for at least a couple of days. Essentials such as water are expensive on site so bring a generous supply of food and drink.

Money Matters

• The Turkish lira is the unit of currency ­ but runaway inflation means that the single lira is worthless. One British pound is worth roughly 2.7 million lira ­ which gives an idea of how bad inflation and devaluation has been.

• Travellers should think about exchanging relatively small amounts of money every few days as the Lira could well devalue more over the course of a trip. It is also legal to settle bills in hard currency ­ something some restaurant and hotel owners may be grateful for.

• Travellers cheques are not widely accepted in Turkey, but ATMs are plentiful in most coastal resorts ­ make sure your bank doesn’t charge too much for you withdrawing cash abroad before you go.

• Our research found Turkey to be relatively cheap compared to some western European countries. A can of coke costs 67 pence and a McDonalds cheeseburger costs 74 pence. Smokers can find bargains with a packet of cigarettes costing just £1.42 ­ compared to £4.75 back in Britain.

• Bargaining is a way of life in Turkey. A trip to the market to buy Turkish goods like a carpet is a complicated ritual in which the shopkeeper offers the traveller tea as you begin to haggle over the price of the goods. Never pay the first price you are quoted. One of the most effective ways of testing whether the “final price” is a good one is to walk out of the shop. If you will be able to find the same goods elsewhere for a cheaper price, the shopkeeper will quickly call you back and settle for a lower deal.

Savvy Turkish Dictionary

Yes
Evet

Please write it down
Lufen yaziniz

No
Hayir

Exchange rate
Kur

Thanks
Tesekkurler

I want to buy
Satin almak istiyorum

How many lira?
Quisiera

Do you have?
Var mu?

Large
Buyuk

It’s very expensive
Cok pahali

Medium
Orta

Price
Fiyat

Small
Kucuk