Cash is king in Istanbul

Whether you’re going to Istanbul for vacation, work, or health care, you’ll want to pack cash. Many places accept (even prefer) the US dollar. You’ll find ATMs in Istanbul, but USD availability can be inconsistent.

When I got quotes for my procedure from Memorial Hospital prior to my trip, they gave me prices in US cash, lira, and card. US cash was the best price. I also hired a car for my family to tour the city. US cash was by far the best price.

Bring small bills for:

• Tips for drivers and hotel staff

• Souvenirs or other larger purchases

You will probably get change in Turkish lira. Use it for:

• Bathrooms (there’s a small fee for most public facilities)

• Tips for food and drink

• Snacks

Walking around with all that cash felt weird for someone who relies on cards and pay-by-phone. I ended up organizing everything into envelopes, one for Memorial Hospital, one for our tour driver, and one for “other.” Then I kept the envelopes in my travel docs folder.

Other helpful links:

• https://www.visa.com/locator/atm (ATM locator)