Thailand - cash advice please

spadge77

hi all our first trip to Thailand in the next few months - we will be travelling around - North Thailand, Ko lanta , krabi area and bangkok. I had just assumed we would use ATM'S BUT have just been reading they charge about £4 per withdrawal plus our banks charge too - I don't mind taking some sterling but don't want to take 3 weeks worth. Just wondering what others do to try to avoid being charged too much - many thanks

Ballard

Thailand generally isn't an expensive country so I wouldn't worry about taking too much cash. It's been a few years since I last went there so other posters would be able to offer more of an insight on prices, though.

I use a Clarity credit card abroad nowadays but there are other options which will be pointed out to you, no doubt.

stevie11

We had a short break in BKK in July. As with most tourists rates the pound fell from around 50Baht/£ to about 45/ overnight following Brexit. We had enough cash pre purchased in the UK for a few days, As stated most things are cheap there so for larger purchases I used clarity and got a decent rate on my statement.

One note I was purchasing a suit and the tailor offered me a discounted price for cash. I went to an ATM expecting to get a decent cash withdrawal using Clarity, before I completed the transaction the ATM quoted a rate of 41Baht/£. Even though internet rates were quoting 44 that day. Ended up paying by credit. I don't know if my experience is common in Thailand but ATM withdrawal was not the feasible option on this trip.:(

PeacefulWaters

spadge77 wrote: »

hi all our first trip to Thailand in the next few months - we will be travelling around - North Thailand, Ko lanta , krabi area and bangkok. I had just assumed we would use ATM'S BUT have just been reading they charge about £4 per withdrawal

Walk into the branch with card and passport and withdraw over the counter.

plus our banks charge too

Get a card that won't charge you. Such as Halifax clarity.

fifeken

Aeon Bank ATMs only charge 150 baht instead of the 200 baht charged by most other banks.

Citibank ATMs don't charge, although there are hardly any of them.

eDicky

stevie11 wrote: »

I went to an ATM expecting to get a decent cash withdrawal using Clarity, before I completed the transaction the ATM quoted a rate of 41Baht/£. Even though internet rates were quoting 44 that day.

When you see this mention of an exchange rate from pounds it means that the ATM has recognised your card as UK issued and is attempting to trick you into accepting DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion). But there is always a choice and you can decline it by selecting the 'Without Conversion' option, to have the conversion done by your card provider and not by the bank operating the ATM.

eDicky

fifeken wrote: »

Citibank ATMs don't charge, although there are hardly any of them.

There are three in Bangkok if you happen to be in the same area, location and maps shown here:

https://www.citibank.co.th/en/static/Location.htm

You can get excellent rates for cash in the often busy but efficient exchange shops, rates at banks are not so good. Avoid the 'airport rates' on arrival by going down to the train link station where there's a 'SuperRich' exchange.

PompeyPete

eDicky wrote: »

Avoid the 'airport rates' on arrival by going down to the train link station where there's a 'SuperRich' exchange.

Super Rich on the ARL [basement] Level is where we'll be heading as soon as we picked up our bags on 4 February.

Doshwaster

I usually go to Thailand at this time of year but the exchange rate is putting me off this time. I remember 10 years ago when you could get 70-something BHT to the pound... Thailand, and Bangkok especially, isn't as cheap as it used to be.

The way I've been managing my money on my recent visits is to use my Clarity card to take about £200, enough for a few days, at a time out of an ATM and just accept the fee. Yes, it may be cheaper to get money over the counter but I always seem to run low on cash late at night when there are no banks open.

Thailand is still predominately a cash culture. Hotels, travel agents and higher end restaurants are fine with cards but paper Baht are more useful everywhere else.

NiftyDigits

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Walk into the branch with card and passport and withdraw over the counter.

Get a card that won't charge you. Such as Halifax clarity.

Only works with credit cards in the main. So Halifax Clarity, Creation Everyday or the old Santander Zero.
Best way to avoid the 200 baht charge without having to carry Sterling.

sazaccount

I would say don't have too much cash on you when travelling on the overnight buses and try and go with the thai buses NOT the tourist ones.

I had 500 bt (£10) stolen out of my bag under my seat on one of the tourist buses going back to bkk from krabi, In have a feeling there was someone going underneath the seats as there is a foot rest which comes up, at one point during the night i had put my foot down and thought i had stepped on someone but half asleep didn't think anymore of it until I was at koh san road and realised it was no longer in my purse!!

On another note I recommend going to Pai when your in north Thailand its a couple of hours by mini bus from Changi Mai, very hippy backpacker vibe, live music each night street night market cheap food and beer :beer: went for a couple of days and ended up staying a week!!!