another newbie to los needing help !!

[hawkeyes 0]

Hi there

 

This is our first trip to los and having read the forums i am wondering the best way of bringing my hol money.

Would you recommend travellers cheques,bringing a mixture of baht and stirling-and change over there or bring baht and bring my debit card and use the hole in the wall (my bank will charge me £1.5o +2.25% each transaction)

My card is a visa electron will i be able to use it over there.I dont want to take my visa credit as i have read to many horror stories.

We will travelling in Oct and stopping at the green park resort-please tell me its ok!!!!!!!!!

 

thanks

Hawkeyes

[gs joe 1,776]

I take some cash in baht ,and use my debit card .

It said you get a better rate in Thailand .

but never seen a great differance ,

 

Dont know you hotel ,

Joe

[step 0]

hawkeyes

I only bring cash with me, but there are plenty of places to change your cheques. Dont bother getting any baht in the uk, just change some cash when you arrive at the airport in bangkok. You will find the exchange rate the same as pattaya and there are several exchange places. I take my visa card but only for a emergancy. Sorry but i cant help with your hotel.

step

[PigBoy#1 28]

Hi there

 

This is our first trip to los and having read the forums i am wondering the best way of bringing my hol money.

Would you recommend travellers cheques,bringing a mixture of baht and stirling-and change over there or bring baht and bring my debit card and use the hole in the wall (my bank will charge me £1.5o +2.25% each transaction)

My card is a visa electron  will i be able to use it over there.I dont want to take my visa credit as i have read to many horror stories.

We will travelling in Oct and stopping at the green park resort-please tell me its ok!!!!!!!!!  

 

thanks

Hawkeyes

 

I use ATM Card with new US $100 bills as a back up. Usually $500 to $600. If I have troubles, I could always use my credit card to get cash. The first couple of times I used travelers checks, but they are a hassle, having to have your passport, signatures having to match exactly, etc. There are ATMs everywhere in Pattaya.

 

Ty_

 

Only 6 months...

[sinbinjack 251]

hi hawkeye the exchange rate in thai land will get you a lot more baht for your money(was about 74 to the £ last time I looked)and the atms ,no matter what some on the board say ,are sometimes a bit hit and miss (some will accept your card and some wont)the single best way to go money wise is to get a nationwide account (try a search on NATIONWIDE)or get some TCs and take some cash as well, this is much the safest way as the TCs will be safe and you will change up your cash at the airport(in thailand) the use of credit cards is ok in thailand but everywhere will charge you as much as 7%(lek hotel) extra on the bill so that is your best reason not to use them

sinbinjack

[Dungheap 243]

Bring a few hundred pounds and a credit card.

 

Change all cash at the airport and split it -- a few thousand baht in your front right pocket, a few thousand in back left, the rest in your bag/s.

 

Leave your wallet, passport, house keys, work security ID and all other important stuff you don't need on the streets of Thailand in your hotel room safe.

 

When you run out of cash, hit one of the many ATMs with your credit card for an advance. Best to do this in the day time and return credit card to safe.

 

Enjoy.

[rkt 0]

My preference is TCs in £100.00 cheques, get Stirling not Dollars.

 

The ATMs are also OK.

 

[Fireman Sam 336]

My preference is Amex Traveller cheques in £100.00 cheques. If you go for Amex they replace them the next day if you lose them or they are stolen. Was a godsend for myself one time.

[MONKEY01 2]

i would sugest travlers cheques marks and spencers charge only 1% and a visa card as back up if you loose you cash card you are liable if you loose your visa/mastercard the bank are liable

[stevemcm 1]

Take Sterling TCs in large denominations thai banks have a charge per TC, due to the higher rate for TCs you will get back the 1% commission paid in the UK. I also carry Debit & Credit cards as backup.

 

Stevoh.

[Eneukman 1]

Until I moved out to live here, I used my cash card the majority of the time with travellers cheques as a back up. If you have a Nationwide Building Society flex account their debit card will give you a very good rate of exchange and no commission.

 

I wouldn't recommend using your credit card for drawing cash other than in an emergency as there is generally a charge for drawing cash, plus many companies charge you interest from the day you draw the cash to the date you repay the sum due, regardless of the fact that you might, as I do, clear the sum outstanding every month.

 

Jack,

 

That 7% charge you mention. Could that have been the VAT, which in Thailand is 7%?

 

Alan

[stevoman 2]

Dungheap

Not a flame at all but am curious as to why you recommend changing all cash at airport and then travelling to Pattaya with it.

I to am a newbie (at least to Pattaya) and am arriving late at night,and the last thing on my mind is that I want a large amount of Baht secreted on my person whilst connecting to Pattaya.Please elaborate.

[Dungheap 243]

Dungheap

    Not a flame at all but am curious as to why you recommend changing all cash at airport and then travelling to Pattaya with it.

    I to am a newbie (at least to Pattaya) and am arriving late at night,and the last thing on my mind is that I want a large amount of Baht secreted on my person whilst connecting to Pattaya.Please elaborate.

When I say all cash I'm only talking US$3-500. I tend to arrive late at night so banks are generally shut and I don't want to hit the streets of Pattas at midnight looking to change money.

 

Carry whatever you're comfortable with, lock the rest away in the hotel safe.

 

PS, as you can see from this thread, everyone has their own way of sorting out their money.

Edited September 5, 2005 by Dungheap

[weeman 0]

On my many trips to pattaya i have always taken english 50£notes.i change enough for hotel/taxi in airport[i pay for hotel 1-2 months up front,on arrival for a monthly rate]the rest of vacation i use TOPS as it is the highest ex-change rate i have ever found.by the way if you keep watching flucuations you will find wednesday/thurrsday usually good days.mondays the lowest.

ps.if you need to take bht.with you Marks-and-Spencer have the bbest rates in UK.very handy if only going for short stay 5-10days.

chok-dee

[spacebass 0]

Until I moved out to live here, I used my cash card the majority of the time with travellers cheques as a back up. If you have a Nationwide Building Society flex account their debit card will give you a very good rate of exchange and no commission.

 

I wouldn't recommend using your credit card for drawing cash other than in an emergency as there is generally a charge for drawing cash, plus many companies charge you interest from the day you draw the cash to the date you repay the sum due, regardless of the fact that you might, as I do, clear the sum outstanding every month.

 

Jack,

 

That 7% charge you mention. Could that have been the VAT, which in Thailand is 7%?

 

Alan

Yep, Nationwide , no charge for withdrawels(?) mid market exchange rate and total security cannot be beat, also has the lowest overdraft rate on the High Street, plus complete internet account management from any internet cafe of whch there are plenty, might be time to review your banking habits, (no I don't have any commercial connection with Nationwide) it just works!

[geoff123 0]

When I last flew to BKK the airport exchange wasn't accepting VISA Travellers Cheques so I recommend AmEx - large denomination as there's a charge for each cheque.

 

Also, depending on your time of arrival and, in case the airport exchange is shut, take enough Baht cash from home to get you to PTY and pay for your first night's accomodation. 1000B would do me as I usually take the bus but if you're taking limo and like nice hotels you'll need more.

 

TC's are *always* best IMO because they're insured and you get a good exchange rate. For me, plastic is for backup only.

[sinbinjack 251]

hi alan the 7%added to payments by credit card was stated on a card sitting at the end of the reception counter it didnt bother me as i always pay in cash