Thailand - best to get US or GBP Travellers Cheques?

EagerLearner

Just got this e-mail from a friend who came back 2 weeks ago:

"Re the bank charges for taking money out in Thailand – I took money out 12 times (not sure why I thought it was 4 times!) anyway it cost me an average 00.66p at a time but other times it was as little as 0.33p so I paid about £7.50 in charges – but of course I could have afforded to take out money about 5-6 times if I had put some planning into it. I think there is a maximum charge per transaction so they would not charge you too much."

Donnie

As highlighted by pin earlier, the foreign exchange commission charged is not shown on the bank statement, so people are fooled into thinking that the only charge is the cash withdrawal charge.
Tell them to look at the T&Cs of the card. It will be there. The hidden charge is between 2.5% to 2.75%.

EagerLearner

Thanks D - have informed her of the error of her ways.

Have also e-mailed hotel to see if we can get the cheaper rate for the riverside.

Plan to go to PO on Saturday with Mr EL, assuming they are open when he finishes work (1pm) so we can get £300 each in tc's, otherwise, I will go on my own and have them all done in my name (£600 worth). But that means that on holiday it's always me that has to cash the tc's, I prefer to share that joyful task

Donnie

Don't worry too much about it. Overall, we are not talking about huge amounts of money.
Just take whatever is convenient. It will be difficult to exchange TCs late at night.
Maybe half and half?

Donnie

I've already made a provisional booking for the riverside place. They told me that they couldn't guarantee my first night would be in a river facing room. Riverside, 950 baht. Street facing, 840 baht.
So, might see you there, unless I decide to go up-market.

EagerLearner

Hi - got my voucher - all booked up - thanks for your help.

Can you recommend anything I can buy in Thailand to then come back and make a profit on e-bay?

pin

EagerLearner wrote:

Hi - got my voucher - all booked up - thanks for your help.

Can you recommend anything I can buy in Thailand to then come back and make a profit on e-bay?

While not for profit, i do buy toiletaries (sp?) whenever I'm in Thailand, they are much cheaper than in the UK.

EagerLearner

pin wrote:

While not for profit, i do buy toiletaries (sp?) whenever I'm in Thailand, they are much cheaper than in the UK.

OooooOh that's a fab idea that hadn't even crossed my tiny sieve-like brain - so true - thanks a million!!!

alkazar

loads of things cheap in Thailand my wife buys hair colouring 1/3 uk price same quality a friend of ours buy motor cycle leathers to sell on e bay t shirts very cheap so dont pack much, less you take more you can bring home

EagerLearner

Thanks Alkazar - I just worry about the quality of clothes but will certainly look about and see what I can find...