Should I bring US dollars or my home currency to exchange in Bodrum, Turkey?
From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 4 days ago
At Migros and LC Waikiki, it may be possible to pay in US dollars and receive change in lira; one traveler reports their rate was better than an exchange office's.
38 days ago Migros and LC Waikiki
If bringing US dollars, choose newer notes: older bills may sometimes be accepted only at a discounted rate.
5 days ago New US dollar notes
For spending excluding purchases at Yalıkavak boutiques, one suggested budget is about US$100 per person per day.
55 days ago US$100 per person per day
The difference between exchanging dollars for lira versus exchanging your home currency directly is minor — travel with whichever currency you have available.
In duty-free shops, paying directly in US dollars works out cheaper than converting through your home currency first.
Duty-free shops
Store staff often accept mixed payments — part in lira, part in US dollars. For example, when buying Chanel perfume, the cashier split the total between leftover lira and dollars.
Chanel perfume purchase
It's generally better to buy US dollars in advance — even if you don't spend them all in Bodrum, they won't lose value over time the way some home currencies might.