Is there a currency exchange in the departure area

[bigdelta 46]

so that a person can exchange baht after a VAT refund prior to departure? I have always departed at 5am and never paid attention on prior trips.

[PoolHustler 47]

Yes there is , near all the Duty Free shops. I would imagine you can buy a different currency with your Baht.

[glynbuk 29]

Yes, i used one a couple of years ago and it was by the duty free shops as the above has stated.

 

The rate of exchange wasn't as good as it could be but fair enough.

 

I would assume it is open at that early hour as its a 24 hour airport but cannot be sure.

[sandmen 0]

Yes. There are a few along side the duty free shops

[nkped 1,208]

Don't want to be snarky, but unless you are severely cash strapped or KNOW you are never coming back, better to keep your baht for the next trip. Yes, the exchange rate could improve, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

But to answer the original, legitimate question, many currency booths in the departure area.

[bigdelta 46]

Thanks everyone.

[shambley 109]

NEVER EXCHANGE AT AIRPORT EVER EVER EVER

 

Example flying out I went to an exchange at heathrow for fun and just asked

 

"good deal today sir 40.02 Baht to pound"

 

few hours later in Soi buakowe - 49.2 baht to pound

 

 

holy fecking ripoff - save your baht if you can for next trip

[joekicker 53]

NEVER EXCHANGE AT AIRPORT EVER EVER EVER banghead

 

Wrong!

 

Bangkok (Phuket, Chiang Mai, etc) airport is a fine place to change baht for a major currency. But NEVER change baht in England, anywhere in England. Or New York. Or Manila. Or Iowa. Or Sydney. Or Scotland. Or Brazil. Or ... well, you get the idea.

 

Never change baht outside Thailand.

 

holy fecking ripoff

 

Squinting hard with my reading glasses, and can't see any ripoff. You could easily have found the baht rate in Thailand and you didn't. No ripoff involved.

 

.

Edited November 11, 2011 by joekicker

[jacko 8,822]

NEVER EXCHANGE AT AIRPORT EVER EVER EVER

 

Example flying out I went to an exchange at heathrow for fun and just asked

 

"good deal today sir 40.02 Baht to pound"

 

few hours later in Soi buakowe - 49.2 baht to pound

 

 

holy fecking ripoff - save your baht if you can for next trip

More accurate would be not to buy your baht in the UK, Travelex don't particularly compare well. As to airports, well many say the difference in So-you-want-a-boom-boom to Pattaya city isn't much.

[bigdelta 46]

I can't remember if I ever exchanged money at the departure airport (departure area)heading to my destination.Possibly in the 70s or 80s.I walk by now just for a laugh as the exchange rates are usually 65-70% of the rate on arrival in whatever country.But there are always people in line.

And on top of the awful exchange rate,their is a surcharge of a few $$$ on top to add insult to injury.I am referring to the ones I have seen in the USA.

Edited November 11, 2011 by bigdelta

[joekicker 53]

I can't remember if I ever exchanged money at the departure airport (departure area)heading to my destination.Possibly in the 70s or 80s.I walk by now just for a laugh as the exchange rates are usually 65-70% of the rate on arrival in whatever country.

 

No. Wrong. Not in Thailand. Not true.

 

.

[shambley 109]

Joe the rate at airport was still 1.5 baht lower than on soi baukowe,

much better deal than UK, but still i would not change all my cash at airport as i can get an extra 2 to 3 k by checking out some of exchanges in patts,

 

saying that I have found there are pretty wide margins in patts too

best value conistantly seemed to be soi baukowe opersite LK metro

1 of the T.T. on beach road about the 2nd/3rd one you pass walking from walking street

T.T. exchange on 2nd road on right as you walk fro walking street direction.

 

anyone have any more they think are consistantly better than others?

[joekicker 53]

Joe the rate at airport was still 1.5 baht lower than on soi baukowe,

 

I will bet you that 1.5 baht times 1,000 that the rate is not 1.5 baht different - at the same time.

 

Two hours later? Of course. It's a money market in the Internet age. But at 2pm or 8pm or 10am you will not get a 1.5-baht difference between Pattaya and the airport. Apples and apples, there's no appreciable difference between the airport changers and non-airport changers in Thailand.

 

And yes, money changers WILL give a better rate than banks, but measured in satang, not in baht.

 

.

Edited November 11, 2011 by joekicker

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

Have to agree about the Swampy rates.

 

They used to be almost exactly the same as in Bangkok City/Pattaya.

 

Now they are well over a Baht worse than those outside of the airport.

 

When I arrived at on the 1st November the difference was 1.3 Baht.

 

Time was 0700 at VTBS and was in Pattaya at 1000.

 

I looked online at a couple of Thai bank websites for the historical rates for that day and there were NO wild swings in the rate against the Pound Sterling.

 

The airport booths are screwing their captive audience, but not nearly as badly as in the UK and elsewhere.

Edited November 12, 2011 by The_Fat_Controller

[PoolHustler 47]

Bank Gold on Soi Rungland is my choice when i buy or sell any currency.

Located Opposite International Telephone Exchange on South Pattaya road .

About 50 metres before the traffic lights intersection of 3rd Road

Tel: 038 420097. Just called them today at 10.15am Pound is 48.90. Dollar 30.60

 

Dollars Travel and Service on Soi LK Metro sometimes is worth a call too

Tel:038-720978

www.pattayaexchange.com

[bigdelta 46]

Thanks PoolHustler.

 

 

I can't remember if I ever exchanged money at the departure airport (departure area)heading to my destination.Possibly in the 70s or 80s.I walk by now just for a laugh as the exchange rates are usually 65-70% of the rate on arrival in whatever country.But there are always people in line.

And on top of the awful exchange rate,there is a surcharge of a few $$$ on top to add insult to injury.I am referring to the ones I have seen in the USA.

Edited November 12, 2011 by bigdelta

[bigdelta 46]

Yes.Correct.Never mentioned Thailand.True.

Reading my entire post,it should have been obvious that I was referring to the USA when I concluded,"I am referring to the ones I have seen in the USA".Never mentioned Thailand now did I?

 

 

 

 

 

No. Wrong. Not in Thailand. Not true.

 

.

Edited November 12, 2011 by bigdelta

[wbennetts 1]

I am in Pattaya in 5 weeks.Can someone tell me what the Baht is to the Aussie Dollar on the street at the moment.

 

Thanks.

[jacko 8,822]

I am in Pattaya in 5 weeks.Can someone tell me what the Baht is to the Aussie Dollar on the street at the moment.

 

Thanks.

About 30.5 for cash. You can always check here.

[wbennetts 1]

Thanks Jacko