Can someone please advise me as to the Turkish lira?
Should I get some lira here in Canada before I go or is it appox. the same exchange if I use Euros or US $'s. I'm just not sure which to do.
Is it quite easy to find places to buy lira once we are in Turkey?
thanx

Regina, I got Turkish Lira from ATMs. If you are staying at the Conrad, there were machines on the main street. I also brought some low denomination US $ that I used to tip the bellboy and the cab that picked me up. This was 2 years ago.
If you go to the Tour Tales section there are several tales.

Regina-Don't bother taking lira as everyone prefers to take euro. I was in Turkey a few weeks ago on my European Heritage tour and we paid with lira but the shopkeepers had to keep sending someone to get change. They really don't like their own money.
Brenda

solittletime I can understand using euro, if you have them, in Istanbul, but to exchange Canadian dollars into euro in order to take on a Turkish tour, I really don't see the point. We took a small amount of Lira from Canada, about CAN $30.00 worth, then used ATM's after. Marie56 is correct, I was quite surprised how many ATMs there are in cities in Turkey, more than even over here. If you want to get Lira in Canada you may have to provide a few days notice to get some, but it's worth doing imo.

You don't even need emergency euro or US dollars really, so don't bother unless you already have some. During our tour we needed to have a doctor see my husband at the hotel and we were billed for the visit in US dollars, which we didn't have, but paid the bill at the hotel desk the equivalent in Lira, which worked out better in the end, as the exchange rate was in our favour.

I was also surprised to find out we could exchange our leftover Lira into Canadian dollars at the airport on our way home, only what could be exchanged into the bills they had at hand though, no 5's, toonies or loonies.

We were on the 38 day European Heritage tour visiting 16 countries so took pounds, euro, lira and kuna with us so we had it on us when we hit the country we needed it in. No searching for an ATM. Our travel agent got it for us at no extra charge as part of a service they offer to their clients and at great rates since they also have a Foreign Exchange office. Our tour director also asked us before we left London, who needed a currency pack so there is that route also. ATM's are everywhere but we didn't feel comfortable using the ones on the street so would use them in a hotel or bank if available. Lots of times, they are so many people around that we just didn't feel that safe using them and we were CONSTANTLY warned about pickpockets so you just don't want to put yourself in that kind of situation. As for emergency needs such as medical there was no problem billing it to our room and paying with a credit card.
Brenda