Should i take cash on holiday or travellers cheques or just my bank card?

I am taking £580. I thought i would take the £80 in cash (mixed sterling and YTL) and the rest in travellers cheques. But my friend is just taking her bank card and drawing money out when she is there. I am reluctant to do this in case i lose my bank card or incase its stolen or the machine swallows it.





Do places (in Turkey specifically) charge alot of commission for travellers cheques?





How do you think i should take my money?

Should i take cash on holiday or travellers cheques or just my bank card?
if you take travellers cheques, it's best to get the hotel to change them over before you go out because from experience it's been a nightmare changing them.


Our card got swallowed by the atm machine! on the last day of the holiday! so i wouldn't advise this!


Money is an easy way to be honest. If you're in tourist areas, a lot of places actually list the prices of things in pounds, so that's no problem.


If i were you, which i will be wednesday! take a mixture of YTL and GBP. You can always change it over out there.





the good thing about travaller cheques is that if you don't spend them, you can change them back to english. or, if you lose them, you'll get your money back and the person with the cheque can't spend it unless they have your ID and signature.





Enjoy Your Holiday.
Reply:In Turkey I found it best to have local cash which is easy to obtail with a 4 number pin from ATM's. Banks did not charge commission on cashing traveler's checks, but many merchants would not take them. My advice, take only cash needed for tipping, your card and some traveler's checks safely locked in hotel safe. Things in rooms may get stolen even in top rate hotels. Keep your card in an inside vest pocket preferable zipped along with your identification. If you use a bag be sure it is across your neck and sholder with steel cable strap. Danger areas are Topkapi palace, any bazaar and late at night.
Reply:From experience, Travelers Cheques are not as widely accepted as the issuers tell you. In some countries they directed us to the bank, and if it's a public holiday or weekend when you need to cash a cheque, you are out of luck. Also, Travelers cheques cost a percentage of the total amount purchase.





I take some cash with me, and keep it in different areas, but I rely mostly on my ATM card. I've also found that the fee my bank charges me for the transaction is lower than the fee I'd pay to a money changer.





Good luck!





Regina
Reply:To be honest, I would rather take cash, and change it when i get there......generally getting a better rate of exchange. If you do intend to use your card, then check what your banks rates are!!! Some will only give you what the exchange rate is in the U.K., and they will also charge a fee, and interest too!!! Worth checking this out first, as it can sometimes cost you a lot of money to use your card abroad.
Reply:I always take cash when I go on holiday and have a bank card in case. Banks charge you whenever you use it abroad so its not advisable to have this as your main source. My friend always takes travellers cheques so I guess its really up to you. Check the lonely planet website for details on travellers cheques and money advice.