Thailand Currency here or over there??

isotonic_uk

Hi

I was just wondering if anyone could advise me who has been to Thailand about some of my intentions.

Currency
The first question is about currency. I am thinking about taking approx £600 for a 10 day trip. First based in Pattaya and then in Bangkok. I been using the MSE travelmax program and I can currently get about 28000 bahts for this. My plan was to order online and collect at Travelex.

A friend who have been before has suggested I withdrawal only about £50 worth of bahts. Take the remainder in cash, and convert the money over there in Bank of Thailand. He has said I will get a much better rate over there.. What are peoples thoughts of this? I dont mind doing this if the rate will be better. Having had a quick look he is correct about this? Just wanted to see what people thought? if anyone else has done this?

Duty Free or Thailand shops
I am also looking for a RADO watch which I am hoping i may be able to get for cheaper cost than I would get it from the UK.. If I paid for this on my credit card would I end up paying more? Would I be advised to pay in Bahts or in GBP?

Attractions
We are going to Pattaya then Bangkok. We enjoy amusements parks, water parks (if weather permits)... Any suggestions on this one? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Transfers

We didnt order transfers via our travel agent. is there any tips on taxi rates and anything to watch out for?

Thats all I had, if anyone has any useful information they would like to add please feel free. We are departing in early september of this year.

Thanks

jamsandwiches

Is this your kind of thing? Adventure park -

http://www.hotelthailand.com/thailand-activities/pattaya-activity/tree-top-adventure-park-pattaya-thailand.html

was very popular when we were there recently.


http://www.pattayapark.com/ (water park)

water park photos

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=water+park+pattaya&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=670&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=AzVMTrWUC4rzsgbH0uCNAw&sqi=2&ved=0CC0QsAQ

Doshwaster

Djuice wrote: »

Don't bother changing any money before you get to Thailand. You can change £50 when you get to the airport in Thailand. Change only £50 though, as the rate is lesser than the town(though better than the UK)

I wouldn't bother either. I always have some loose change and small notes from previous trips then typically walk straight to an ATM in the airport and withdraw £100-200 in cash then do the same every few days when the money runs out (it's not wise to carry too much in cash on you). There is a 150B withdrawal fee but it's still cheaper than changing in the UK. A quick look on the TavelEx website shows they are quoting an exchange rate of 46.18 for collection at Heathrow. M&S are even worse at 45.64 .

It's rather depressing that 5 years ago the exchange rate was around 75 to the pound. That's when Thailand really was cheap!

businka

ATM in Thailand charge £3.50 per single transaction+bank comission+currency exchange comission. Check on Internet, plenty of info about it, so it is bad idea to take money from ATm, and even worse if you do it in small amounts.

dickydonkin

isotonic_uk wrote: »

Hi

I was just wondering if anyone could advise me who has been to Thailand about some of my intentions.

Currency
The first question is about currency. I am thinking about taking approx £600 for a 10 day trip. First based in Pattaya and then in Bangkok. I been using the MSE travelmax program and I can currently get about 28000 bahts for this. My plan was to order online and collect at Travelex.

A friend who have been before has suggested I withdrawal only about £50 worth of bahts. Take the remainder in cash, and convert the money over there in Bank of Thailand. He has said I will get a much better rate over there.. What are peoples thoughts of this? I dont mind doing this if the rate will be better. Having had a quick look he is correct about this? Just wanted to see what people thought? if anyone else has done this?

You will get a better rate over there - better still if you pay for stuff on a foreign currency fee free credit card.

Duty Free or Thailand shops
I am also looking for a RADO watch which I am hoping i may be able to get for cheaper cost than I would get it from the UK.. If I paid for this on my credit card would I end up paying more? Would I be advised to pay in Bahts or in GBP?

I would not buy a Rado watch in Thailand - duty free or otherwise - far too expensive not helped by a poor exchange rate - and far too many fakes knocking about. This may make you think twice.

King Power has the monopoly on duty free and it shows in the price of their products.

What is cheap however, is the replacement of batteries for a Rado watch. Nearly £60.00 here - 300 Thai Bahts at Rado's official service centre (C Thong Panich) in Bangkok.

Attractions
We are going to Pattaya then Bangkok. We enjoy amusements parks, water parks (if weather permits)... Any suggestions on this one? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Transfers

We didnt order transfers via our travel agent. is there any tips on taxi rates and anything to watch out for?

Taxi from Suvarnabhumi into Sukhumvit area will be around 200THB (Insist on the driver using the meter) and get taxi from DEPARTURES (upstairs) not arrivals. Pay the 'Highway Baht' (Toll) to the taxi driver (70 Thb) and you are on your way.

Of course there is the new airport rail link - but you will still likely have to get a taxi from the the station to your hotel. The taxi is less hassle and will work out cheaper if you are not travelling alone.

Thats all I had, if anyone has any useful information they would like to add please feel free. We are departing in early september of this year.

Thanks

I cannot help much with Pattaya as I have only been once and stayed there for one day.

EDIT TO ADD

If you really want a Rado watch - check out your local Ernest Jones just after Christmas - they have good discounts in the sales - very good at times or if you want a specific watch that is not in the sale - ask for a discount and you might just get a 10% reduction (I did) which is not a bad deal on a watch which will cost you around a grand.

Doshwaster

There's no way I'd buy an expensive brand watch in Thailand as there will be so many fakes floating around. Unless, of course, you don't mind a fake and then there will be loads to choose from whatever your budget. You could get a "Rolex" for a fiver if you want

One option might be that if you fly to Bangkok on Emirates you could buy one at Dubai airport. Apparently more top end watches are sold there than anywhere else in the world.

isotonic_uk

Doshwaster wrote: »

There's no way I'd buy an expensive brand watch in Thailand as there will be so many fakes floating around. Unless, of course, you don't mind a fake and then there will be loads to choose from whatever your budget. You could get a "Rolex" for a fiver if you want

One option might be that if you fly to Bangkok on Emirates you could buy one at Dubai airport. Apparently more top end watches are sold there than anywhere else in the world.

I already booked my flight.... its with Air France... I doubt if there be any deals in Paris though!! probably be really expensive... Thanks for the replies... Has really helped... Please feel free to post more comments..

jamsandwiches

isotonic_uk wrote: »

I already booked my flight.... its with Air France... I doubt if there be any deals in Paris though!! probably be really expensive... Thanks for the replies... Has really helped... Please feel free to post more comments..

Did you not see my post re water parks etc - feel free to thank me on the message :D

isotonic_uk

So I go in less than a week and still a bit unsure about exchanging my good old English pounds for bahts when I get there.

Is the Thailand bank quite common over there, will I be able to locate one either at bangkok airport, pattaya or within sukhmvit road which is where I will be staying when in Bangkok.... I understand sukhmvit road is no small road either lol

If I withdrawal at an ATM will I not be charged by the banks in the uk... I bank with barclays and have a debit card and also have a visa barclaycard which I don't intend on using unless it's a real emergency.

Thanks

Doshwaster

isotonic_uk wrote: »

If I withdrawal at an ATM will I not be charged by the banks in the uk... I bank with barclays and have a debit card and also have a visa barclaycard which I don't intend on using unless it's a real emergency.

If you use your Barclays debit card you will be charged by your bank (check their website for fees) plus a fee from the Thai bank of 150 BHT (about £3) so taking out small amounts is going to be VERY expensive.

If you have a week to go you still have time to get a prepaid currency card.

One more tip: make sure you buy something at the airport (e.g. a bottle of water - you'll need it to rehydrate) to split a large note. Taxi drivers from the airport have a habit of claiming they don't have any change for a 1000 BHT note.

Have a fantastic time in Bangkok and Thailand. It's a crazy place and can be quite bewildering for the first time visitor but just go with the flow and you'll be fine. Sukhumvit good place to stay for a for your first time there (you'll be back - I promise) as it's close the everything and the transport links are excellent.

isotonic_uk

When I go to to the Bank in Thailand either in Pattaya or Bangkok airport will they do me travellers cheques as well as cash?