Best way to get Thai Baht, please?

BB1984

Hello,

My fiance and I are very lucky to be heading off to Thailand (Bangkok and Hua Hin) in 2 weeks time, for our honeymoon

Normally we are very organised when we go on holiday, and swat up on everything we need to know well in advance. However, this time round we have been distracted by the small matter of our wedding!

Please could you give me an idea of the best way to take/get money there without getting TOO stung by extra charges? I haven't used travellers cheques before, so not really sure about them - we always take cash or withdraw it there, or use credit cards.

Between us we have a NatWest debit card, a NatWest gold credit card, an Amex credit card, and an HSBC debit card.

Thanks very much in advance for your help.

BB

fifeken

You'll need to look up the T and Cs of your accounts to find the charges, but Martin's article describes the NatWest debit card as one of the "cards from hell" so probably best to avoid it

None of your cards appear on the recommended list so cash/traveller's cheques might be the best option especially if you bank can provide commission free, sterling traveller's cheques.

Whatever you do, don't exchange anything in the UK as the rate is appalling. Use an ATM or exchange booth in the airport for any immediate needs (taxi into town?), then whatever you choose for best value in Bangkok and Hua Hin.

bluffer

change about 100 quid here for the first couple of days and if you dont want to use TCs then change the rest of the cash there. sometimes the moneychangers can be a better deal than the banks in thailand.

fifeken

bluffer wrote: »

change about 100 quid here for the first couple of days and if you dont want to use TCs then change the rest of the cash there. sometimes the moneychangers can be a better deal than the banks in thailand.

Only change 100 quid here if you want to throw away 7 or 8 quid. Change it at the airport when you arrive.

Cash is good if you don't like traveller's cheques but a lot of people are not comfortable taking a lot of cash.

If you do take traveller's cheques then ask for high value ones as you are charged 33 baht per cheque when you cash them.

Donnie

Please forget the nonsense of the above "change about 100 quid here for the first couple of days.

It's worse than idiotic. But since the poster's name is bluffer, it should come as no surprise.

The exchange rate at the airport in Bangkok is the same as you will get in the city.

So, you can exchange cash and/or TCs at Suvarnabhumi at any bank's exchange booth. Of course you don't need to be carrying too much cash around with you, so just change what you need for a few days at a time. Don't change a single note in the UK.

In addition, use only a bank's official exchange booth when exchanging cash or cheques.

Further, in advice to your question, take TCs in Pounds Sterling in high denominations. Preferably American Express. Visa TCs are sometimes refused.

You cards can be kept for emergencies. They are next to useless on a MoneySaving basis.

In addition to fifeken's post...you are charged 33 baht per cheque, but then the rate you get for TCs is around 1% more than for cash.