Can I rely on my credit card in Thailand, and put cash back onto it?

skyrider007

Bring £ or $ AMEX Travellers Cheques. Thai Banks exchange rates are much better than here.

jamesholland

Ok, this is pretty serious now - I don't have time to get a Nationwide card I found out, and I leave in just over a week.

Shall I spend most of my spending money on travellers cheques? Are ones from Barclays good?

jamesholland

I have a Barclays student account also..

skyrider007

Yeah buy the TCs. Make sure it's American Express, VISA or MasterCard branded as those are the most widely recognised cheque issuers in Thailand. They're foreign exchange spots all over Thailand so you'll be fine.

jamesholland

Just called up Barclays and they said US dollar travellers cheques are best value from Sterling, and most widely accepted. I asked if they were AMEX compatible but forgot about Visa/Mastercard, is it likely they will be?

They take a day to order in, good score?

skyrider007

Trust me pound sterling is better value than American dollar. You have to pay conversion fee (£ to $) to Barclays and ($ to Baht) again in Thailand if you bring a $ cheque. Barclays was just trying to make more money from you when you called them.

I brought £ AMEX TCs with me to Thailand (where I am at the moment) and get about 6,100 Baht per £100 cheque. No problem with acceptance. They charge about 20 Baht (30p) commission when cashing each cheque.