CCs Travellers cheques or cash?

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

As of right now, 1230 in Pattaya, the UK Pound will get you

 

TT Money Changer = 50.60

 

Bangkok Bank Cash rate = 50.14

 

BB TC rate = 50.44

 

BB TT rate = 50.5725

 

Visa Europe CC rate = 50.614972

 

So, as long as you pay with a CC that makes no charges at an outlet that does not pass on charges, that is the your best bet.

 

Cash at the independent money changers, like TT, is second best.

 

My hotel, Areca Lodge, does not make any charges as long as you pay in Baht, they offer the option for Dynamic Currency Conversion to your own currency, but that incurs a charge from the intermediary bank and a less attractive exchange rate.

 

NEVER ACCEPT DYNAMIC CURRENCY CONVERSION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD !

 

I also bough a TV at Powerbuy earlier this year and they did not add any charges, just paid in Baht.

[Severn 74]

Regarding Credit Card use and misinformation posted on the site. I attach my recent spends on my Nationwide Credit Card which clearly shows the conversion rate. I once again confirm that some smaller businesses feel the need to surcharge by 3% or so in which case don't use the card or go elsewhere.

 

 

 

Once again I say to the original poster mix and match your spending money but don't buy Baht in your home country.

 

 

 

 

 

[pattaya_mad 206]

Regarding Credit Card use and misinformation posted on the site. I attach my recent spends on my Nationwide Credit Card which clearly shows the conversion rate. I once again confirm that some smaller businesses feel the need to surcharge by 3% or so in which case don't use the card or go elsewhere.

 

credit card example.jpg

 

 

Once again I say to the original poster mix and match your spending money but don't buy Baht in your home country.

maybe I missed it on a earlier post, but with these transactions what are the charges from nationwide? Edited November 19, 2013 by MM
moved reply outside of quote

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

If you have certain Nationwide current accounts, as I and probably pattaya_mad do, this makes you eligible for their SELECT VISA card which does not incur any charges on foreign PURCHASES.

 

The conversion rate is available here

 

http://www.visaeurope.com/en/cardholders/exchange_rates.aspx

 

If you use it for cash advances then there are charges, but cannot remember what they.

[Severn 74]

Absolutely correct. If you pay back in full each month these are the rates you get. No further charges.

 

 

If you have certain Nationwide current accounts, as I and probably pattaya_mad do, this makes you eligible for their SELECT VISA card which does not incur any charges on foreign PURCHASES.

 

The conversion rate is available here

 

http://www.visaeurope.com/en/cardholders/exchange_rates.aspx

 

If you use it for cash advances then there are charges, but cannot remember what they.

 

posted from my Samsung using Tapatalk 2.

 

 

[graymatter 153]

For what it is worth (not much I suspect), here is how I handle it. I pre-pay a lot of my hotels with a credit card using Agoda. So far this has worked great and no fees on the card. It does screw you if you change your mind and don't use the reservation (or so I understand I've never done it). I use the credit card at any other hotels I didn't pre-book and maybe for dinner/drinks at a high end location (Hilton bar etc). I've never had anyplace add a fee but there is a hit for "transaction fee" by my credit card company. I always have 3 cards in country but never more than on on my person.

 

I have had trouble with travelers checks over the years. That combined with the extra cost and hassle I quit using them years ago. I go to the bank and get them to give me new $100.00 bills. I carry about $200.00 per day I will be there. I split the bills into envelopes and carry them scattered on my person and carry ons. Figuring that I will not get it all stolen if something happens. While in Thailand, I never carry more than $200.00 on me and keep the remainder in a safe. I use this system everyplace I travel and have had zero issues. However, I never get drunk ever so I can't comment on that. I have (just once or twice) had interactions with a hooker and there have been no issues. I inform my credit card and bank I will be in Asia and have the option of getting cash from them if required but I've only done that once (had travelers checks that no one would cash hence my ban on using the damn things).

 

Most of my stays are for in the 2 week range. If I was going to stay longer I would look into opening a bank account.

 

 

Good advice.

 

I carry cash but it is never all in the same place. My suitcase has a hidden pocket and I keep a few hundred just incase.

 

I have three wallets and three different credit cards. I keep a laminated copy of my passport and drivers license in each. The originals stay in my safe or hotel safe deposit box. My daily wallet rarely has more than 6000 baht which is my daily budget and my second hotel wallet has the same again. Common sense is your best defence and keep your wits about you.

[mrlasvegas 124]

I am primarily a TC guy with some cash involved as well. Cash is the only means of payment I have ever had problems with in Asia. I tried to exchange currency that was new but of a series with a high risk of fraud. So not a bank in Indonesia would touch it. In some countries if the bills have any marks at all they will not be accepted. And living in the tourism capital of North America, casinos routinely test every large bill. So almost impossible to meet the standard.

[filmmakrdan 82]

I ALWAYS use my debit card thru Chase Bank and bring like $200-300 as backup currency. I dont pay a fee on any ATMs outside of their network, and they dont charge me a foreign transaction fee. So I only get charged the 150 baht that the ATMs inside Thailand charge, and they always give you what the going exchange rate is.

[js007 596]

I ALWAYS use my debit card thru Chase Bank and bring like $200-300 as backup currency. I dont pay a fee on any ATMs outside of their network, and they dont charge me a foreign transaction fee. So I only get charged the 150 baht that the ATMs inside Thailand charge, and they always give you what the going exchange rate is.

 

How do you get that deal through Chase?

[DrPat 346]

...So I only get charged the 150 baht that the ATMs inside Thailand charge...

 

Note that the 150 Baht ATM charge is now 180 Baht with some Thai banks, although Aeon and Citibank still don't have any additional fees for using their ATMs.

[ThaiLearner 18]

Note that the 150 Baht ATM charge is now 180 Baht with some Thai banks, although Aeon and Citibank still don't have any additional fees for using their ATMs.

 

Note that the 150 Baht ATM charge is now 180 Baht with some Thai banks, although Aeon and Citibank still don't have any additional fees for using their ATMs.

 

Which banks are charging 180bht?

[DrPat 346]

During my October trip I used the Bangkok Bank ATM in Big C (to the right of the supermarket entrance) and there was a 180 Baht ATM fee.

[jacko 5,949]

Which banks are charging 180bht?

Depends on whether Visa or Mastercard I believe.

The latter being the 180 baht.

 

Never mind, over 51 baht/£ now for TT.

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

My last day here, best rate has consistently been the money changer in Soi Diana between the Orn Bars and the big beer bar complex on the left side heading towards Papagayo, outside the Little Home and Family Mart.

 

Rate for UK £ is 51.30 today.

 

The also accept Scottish notes for a slightly lower rate, thinks it is between 0.3 and 0.4 less.

[ballbag 2]

With my next trip coming up in January I am interested to know how most BMS fund their trips? the last two trips I have bought cash with all the uncertainty if you should have it stolen, before that is was mostly TCs but that is such a pain because of all the passport and signing issues.

Which brings me to credit cards, never done it before but as far as I can make out it is the most expensive option with your bank charging 3% on top of all transactions,with foreign exchange charges too. and what kind of exchange rates do you get?

Stick with the travellers cheques every time

[nickman70 416]

I usually buy packages ( airplane and hotel) at home, so the big expenses are out of the way, usually using Expedia.com, because I always got the best package there after I compared and they are easy to deal with when I cancel. When I have enough travel points, I get the ticket free from the airline and book the hotel from Agoda, in the last three years, every year, I bought 2 tickets and got one free with a combination of points I got from the airlines and by opening their miles credit cards ( I rotate airlines, I did it with American. Delta and United so far).

In the U.S., Capitalone credit card is a Credit card that do not charge any fees or international transaction fee, so I always make sure I take it with me with another credit and bank card.

For most my entertainment money, I use $100 bills to get the best rates, I split them as some mentioned here and when in Pattaya I put them in the safe and only pull out what I need for the day every morning. I am one of them typical "two weeks millionaire", so this worked for me, but if I planned to stay longer, I might look into other options.

[marleyboy 89]

I use mostly Travellers Cheuques. I also take some cash (plus I usually have a fair few thousand bahts left over from previous trip!), then I may use my debit card, sometimes credit card too.

 

Personally I think T.C. are the easiest...........for me anyway! Plus some (H.S.B.C. do anyway!) will give you comissionless T.C. delivered to your door! The only "drawback" I find with this system (I mean when the bank sends them to my address) is for some reason, they will always give me a fair few hundred pounds worth of £10 and £20 or £50 cheuques! This is a pain , as I.M.O. they are such a small amount, so when I go to change them? Im there for "ages"! at the bank/booth countersigning them! (plus! you lose a few baht this way......as you are usually charged a few baht for each T.C.!)

. I much prefer £100 T.C.s then I just change a few T.C.s as and when I need them!

[ThaiLearner 18]

I use mostly Travellers Cheuques. I also take some cash (plus I usually have a fair few thousand bahts left over from previous trip!), then I may use my debit card, sometimes credit card too.

 

Personally I think T.C. are the easiest...........for me anyway! Plus some (H.S.B.C. do anyway!) will give you comissionless T.C. delivered to your door! The only "drawback" I find with this system (I mean when the bank sends them to my address) is for some reason, they will always give me a fair few hundred pounds worth of £10 and £20 or £50 cheuques! This is a pain , as I.M.O. they are such a small amount, so when I go to change them? Im there for "ages"! at the bank/booth countersigning them! (plus! you lose a few baht this way......as you are usually charged a few baht for each T.C.!)

. I much prefer £100 T.C.s then I just change a few T.C.s as and when I need them!

When you order the CC's asked the bank to provide them all in £100

[marleyboy 89]

I tried that! But they can only (as far as I can see) be ordered online, and there is no option of sending a message or option of which denominations you want?! I will try again in a few weeks though............hopefully the site may have been updated! to enable me this option!.

[pattaya_mad 206]

I tried that! But they can only (as far as I can see) be ordered online, and there is no option of sending a message or option of which denominations you want?! I will try again in a few weeks though............hopefully the site may have been updated! to enable me this option!.

yes that's a bitch, I can order online too, but the bastards send all kind of small denominations. I would have all 100s or bigger given a chance

[steamer 158]

The smaller places give better rates but they don't take t-cheques. Prior to that I get commission free cheques and get about 1% better at the big banks. I can get $500 cheques so after all is said and done I used to gain about 120 baht per cheque after the 33 baht fee. Enough for a free drink for the hassle.

[glynbuk 29]

When you order the CC's asked the bank to provide them all in £100

 

I use Lloyds Bank, to get Sterling (pound) T/c's without commission you have to order them online or by phone and either way they say

that you cannot specify the denomination of the cheques.. If you order in branch then you get hit with a 1 1/2% charge.

 

Last Xmas i ordered £2500 of cheques and i got 8 x 200 pound cheques, 4 x 100 and all the rest was crap 50's and 10 pounds which

i brought back and handed them back to Lloyds to credit back to my account.

[ThaiLearner 18]

I use travelex via tesco and can request cheques in £100 denominations

[jacko 5,949]

 

I use Lloyds Bank, to get Sterling (pound) T/c's without commission you have to order them online or by phone and either way they say

that you cannot specify the denomination of the cheques.. If you order in branch then you get hit with a 1 1/2% charge.

 

Last Xmas i ordered £2500 of cheques and i got 8 x 200 pound cheques, 4 x 100 and all the rest was crap 50's and 10 pounds which

i brought back and handed them back to Lloyds to credit back to my account.

It might be good to order £3000 and put back £500 of the small denominations into your account before leaving.

Sort of like a protest.

[helloitsme 129]

 

I use Lloyds Bank, to get Sterling (pound) T/c's without commission you have to order them online or by phone and either way they say

that you cannot specify the denomination of the cheques.. If you order in branch then you get hit with a 1 1/2% charge.

 

Last Xmas i ordered £2500 of cheques and i got 8 x 200 pound cheques, 4 x 100 and all the rest was crap 50's and 10 pounds which

i brought back and handed them back to Lloyds to credit back to my account.

If you ring the number on the back of your debit card and speak to the advisor - tell them NOT to put you through to their travel people. If you get the advisor to order them they can order to your requirements. I've just done it and collected £200 and £100 cheques from the branch of my choice.