Off to Thailand. Where to get Baht?

[8Ace]

In 2 weeks time I will be relaxing in utter luxury in Thailand. Before I go, I need to arrange my cash, so thought I'd find out what's the best way to manage money while I'm there. Which is best? Baht? USD? TRavellers Cheques? If I need to carry a loads of Baht with me, what's the best way of getting hold of some at a decent rate? Somewhere like the Post Office (anxious of crappy FX Rates if I were to change at LHR or BKK).

Ta in advance..

[Nolar Dog]

I always take GBP and buy THB at the local bank.

The rates at the airport are usually good although not sure what it is currently as I've not been since January.

I wouldn't bother at all with travellers cheques.

Where are you going btw?

[Luca1973]

I always just use the ATMs and never had any trouble.

[shirt]

from the pier

[prand]

I got mine from ATMs in Thailand - as I usually do in most places I travel to nowadays. Does anyone use travellers cheques any more?

I've got a Nationwide account so get no charge on transactions and a decent exchange rate.

You might be be surprised how tehcnologically advanced Thailand is. I was able able to find ATMs even on what I thought was the the most remote of islands. Usually next to a 7-11 store.

Edited by prand on Tuesday 17th March 16:16

[BigJonMcQuimm]

I am in and out of Thailand 4 times a year.

Normally swap some GBP at the airport to pay for a taxi.

The rest of the cash is taken out at ATMS.

[Eric Mc]

A "baht room"?

[jimmyd123]

I've never found better rate than offered here

http://www.thomasexchangeglobal.co.uk/index.php

[Dupont666]

jimmyd123 said:

I've never found better rate than offered here

http://www.thomasexchangeglobal.co.uk/index.php

Saw that... read the url... took a double take and thought that was a piss take and then clicked on it.

[AJS-]

I do seem to remember some difficulty in finding a cashpoint at Bangkok airport so taking 1000 baht or so with you might be a good idea. There are plenty of exchange desks in the airport though, so taking a few quid cash would be ok. Otherwise I'd just use ATMs.

It might be that it's perfectly straight forward to find a cashpoint in BKK and just that I am especially dopey and irritable when walking around a busy airport with bags!

A taxi into town should be around 500Bht.

Who are you flying with out of interest? Also heading over to Thailand next month and so far flights seem pretty expensive, so any good offers you may know of would be much appreciated!

[8Ace]

Thanks all - credit card /ATM seems to be the way to go. Holiday is a two centre job - nice part of Phuket and then a look round Bangkok for a day or two before coming back. Some good last minute deals around but flights are scarce; I think we were pretty lucky.

Can't wait.

[2something]

LHR is nearly guaranteed to have the worst rate.

[turbobloke]

Either way the rate isn't brilliant just now, mid-market was about 50THB to 1GBP recently and it's probably not changed much. So, to - maybe - get the best of a bad job, and if you can take some £50 notes to BKK, there's a place called SR to try (address is 47/11 Rajadamri Road, tel [phone]) which has always offered the best rates but that's for £50s not £20s or £10s. Hopefully SR have survived the downturn.

[G'kar]

prand said:

I got mine from ATMs in Thailand - as I usually do in most places I travel to nowadays. Does anyone use travellers cheques any more?

I've got a Nationwide account so get no charge on transactions and a decent exchange rate.

You might be be surprised how tehcnologically advanced Thailand is. I was able able to find ATMs even on what I thought was the the most remote of islands. Usually next to a 7-11 store.

Edited by prand on Tuesday 17th March 16:16

Sadly, Nationwide are stopping that.

[prand]

boo, best get holidaying till it comes in...

[rsv gone!]

G'kar said:

prand said:

I got mine from ATMs in Thailand - as I usually do in most places I travel to nowadays. Does anyone use travellers cheques any more?

I've got a Nationwide account so get no charge on transactions and a decent exchange rate.

You might be be surprised how tehcnologically advanced Thailand is. I was able able to find ATMs even on what I thought was the the most remote of islands. Usually next to a 7-11 store.

Edited by prand on Tuesday 17th March 16:16

Sadly, Nationwide are stopping that.

Yep. In about a month's time.

Current rates in Thailand;

http://www.bangkokbank.com/Bangkok+Bank/Web+Servic...

And there are loads of ATMs at Suvarnabhumi

Edited by rsv gone! on Tuesday 17th March 16:51

[nick s]

i'm also off there in 2 weeks, i usually just use an ATM when i'm in Thaialnd. you get a decent rate and as someone said, they are everywhere!

[pc.iow]

turbobloke said:

Either way the rate isn't brilliant just now, mid-market was about 50THB to 1GBP recently and it's probably not changed much. So, to - maybe - get the best of a bad job, and if you can take some £50 notes to BKK, there's a place called SR to try (address is 47/11 Rajadamri Road, tel [phone]) which has always offered the best rates but that's for £50s not £20s or £10s. Hopefully SR have survived the downturn.

... And make sure the 50's are clean,unmarked,and like new,or they dont like taking them.

[nick s]

AJS- said:

Who are you flying with out of interest? Also heading over to Thailand next month and so far flights seem pretty expensive, so any good offers you may know of would be much appreciated!

i searched for ages. in the end i used wefly.co.uk

we're on Qatar airways, with a 2 hour stop in Doha. £430 all in!!

[prand]

G'kar said:

prand said:

I got mine from ATMs in Thailand - as I usually do in most places I travel to nowadays. Does anyone use travellers cheques any more?

I've got a Nationwide account so get no charge on transactions and a decent exchange rate.

You might be be surprised how tehcnologically advanced Thailand is. I was able able to find ATMs even on what I thought was the the most remote of islands. Usually next to a 7-11 store.

Edited by prand on Tuesday 17th March 16:16

Sadly, Nationwide are stopping that.

Sad but true - but teh good news is it's not going to affect Nationwide customer transactions in the "Visa Europe" zone. Transactions out of this area will be charged a 1% fee after by July 1 2009.