Get More For Your Money in Turkey

Get more for your Euro by staying in a holiday apartment Istanbul.

As Europe’s currency fluctuates amid financial crisis, taking with it the value of the Great British Pound and the Euro, Turkey is becoming a more attractive place to stay.

The cost of holiday apartments in London almost match the cost of cheap apartments in Barcelona as the

exchange rate is almost flat: at £1 for E1.14 in August 2011. Gone are the heady days for Brits, when one pound could buy you a whole lot of Euros, with apartments, food and drink with it.

Eating at fresh markets in Istanbul could save you a whole lot of Lira, as one kilo of fruit is just 70c. Most families operate on a monthly budget of E200, which means a British pension of £110 per month can go far.

Although Turkey is a Muslim country, local beer called Efes is sold openly but can go up in price during the tourist season to E2 and wine is also made from the country’s vineyards. For lower drinks prices, it is best to buy locally.

Car ownership is quite expensive in Turkey, so be careful to ensure any taxis you take operate on a tariff. However, getting around couldn’t be easier on the Istanbul’s many buses that charge just 20p per journey.

This is an excellent way to live like a local to see the tourist sites cheaply, such as the architectural masterpiece the mosque Hagia Sophia and the Underground Palace, which is a series of beautiful eerie underground waterways, filmed as the backdrop for one scene of Britain’s James Bond movies.

Turkey is a city with clement weather, friendly locals and great local cuisine. Whether you cook at your apartment or eat out, living here with a British or European wage will double or treble your standard of living.