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Home » Reader question » Reader question: Bring money for Thailand holiday in cash or via ATM?
Dear readers,
No doubt my question has already been addressed on this blog, but since I can't find anything I'll ask it anyway. What do you recommend to spend a holiday in Thailand financially, bring your entire budget in euros and exchange for Baht in Thailand, or simply withdraw money from the wall every time with your bank card? My budget (without flight and hotel costs) is 3.000 € for about 18 days.
I prefer the second, but my environment points out to me the cost for each cash withdrawal and a worse rate for a cash withdrawal with a bank card compared to cash exchange on site.
I'm leaving on 18/02, so hopefully your advice will come in time.
Thanks in advance for your answer.
Regards,
Pat (BE)
Simply pin in the atm machine, is the safest, the 3000 is pin 6 times, costs 13,20 Euro and the costs at your own bank charge 2,25 Euro, but has a good rate.
Leen, is it possible that you are making a mistake. 6 times 220 atm costs about 33 euros plus costs in the home country
Leon means 1320 baht – 6×220 – I suspect…….
Bring Euros in cash and exchange in the small exchange offices. Sometimes you can still be a little lucky........
Be careful........
Choqe DEE.
Dear Pat,
It kind of depends on what your situation is.
I always carry cash. Immediately after arriving at Suvarnabhumi I exchange the Euros at the SuperRich exchange office. You will find this at the very bottom of the airport (follow the signs to the SRT, which is the SkyTrain). Otherwise, also take a look at google maps and search for Superrich Suvarnabhumi.
The rate you get here is about the same as the rate you see on exchange rate.nl. The other exchange offices at the airport will certainly give you 2 to 3 Baht less for every Euro.
Then I transfer the money to our Thai account at our bank somewhere outside the airport. The remainder of the journey will then be debited from this account free of charge.
If you do not have a Thai account, this is still attractive. However, there is of course a risk that you will lose the money. On the other hand, if you pint the rate is usually even lower and you also have to pay at least 200 baht per pin transaction, on top of the costs charged by your bank in the Netherlands or Belgium.
So it depends on what risk you are willing to take.
Have fun in advance.
Best regards,
Erik
At the ATM you can only withdraw a maximum of 500 euros per day. Not only have you mentioned the costs above, but you also get a bad exchange rate, you can certainly count on a loss of 2 bath per euro. So at 3000 euros that is certainly 6000 bath.
In the exchange offices you get a much higher exchange rate and there are no costs. Only downside: security.
3000 euros are 6 notes of 500, or 15 of 200. Thinner than your passport. And you shouldn't lose your passport either, you're also the sjaak. You just have to watch your stuff.
It's only 3000 euros and it's not Venozuela here where you run the risk of being robbed.
PS: make sure that the banknotes are neat, if there is a tear or a scratch on them, they often do not accept them!
Pat, rhetorical question…..you pretty much know the right answer! Take money with you and exchange it in an office with the best exchange rate. This way you can avoid costs that banks charge.
Don't take anything with you and just go to the ATM for sure, don't worry that you will lose it because that is more expensive than the costs for pinning. .
Bring cash and exchange it there.
It is scaremongering that it is unwise to bring cash.
I like it excellent never experienced anything.
I brought cash €2000 and exchanged it into CM at a rate of bht 39. I'm tired of ING taking € 2,25 and the Thai bank even € 6.- in total about € 8. per ATM withdrawal. And you can withdraw a maximum of Bht 19000.- at a time (almost €500.-)
Pin with Visa credit card. Make sure you have a positive balance in advance. (deposit the money into your visa account).
Costs withdrawing money are cheaper than with a debit card.
Have fun in Thailand.
Yvonne
Using a credit card is generally the most expensive way of withdrawing money. I only do that in an emergency.
This is absolutely NOT true. With Visa and you get the mid-market rate and furthermore simply pin as little as possible and pay everything with Via card. The purchases are also insured for 30 days.
If you use a visa card, my question is how much cash do you still need? About 200 bath per day. I've been coping for years.
Contact money is asking to be spent. No money no expenses.
Stop misleading everyone.
“Additional withdrawal costs outside the Eurozone
Finally, when you withdraw money in other currencies, you will have to deal with extra currency costs, i.e. the exchange rate surcharge. This is between 1,75 and 2,5%. The surcharge is usually lower with debit cards than with a credit card.
In summary: using a credit card to withdraw money is only smart in an emergency, if there is no other option. Deposit money on the card in advance if you have an ICS Visa or Mastercard.”
Source:
https://goo.gl/NCx7dH
@rori, what you've been doing for years is very nice for you, but it's not at all up for discussion here.
There are people who want cash, and like to be different, and spend more than your 200 Baht, because they might have a completely different idea of their vacation.
The question is cash or bank card, where you can give him advice, or one of the two, or maybe a combination of both.
Your last sentence gives the impression that you want to teach someone how to travel the country as a piggy bank. What was it like staying at home so he could save everything?
With Visa you will never get the middle rate.
I myself pull money out of the wall in Thailand if it is REALLY necessary. Always take cash in euros with you and then exchange it in the well-known exchange booths along the road. This way I keep an eye on my expenses and it is also a “sport” to find out who gives the most. Been doing it for twelve years and I like it... No bank costs etc. and the best rate...
Despite the fact that I know that it is financially more attractive to carry cash, I still debit card for the most part. 700 euros cash and the rest I pin. Choose the option “without conversion” when pinning. I just think it's too risky to carry more cash, but everyone has to decide for themselves.
Last time I used a debit card (ING).
September 19, 2017 middle price then 39.66
10.000 Baht pinned, debited € 263.91
Rate TT-Exchange 39.41
263.91x39.41 = 10.400.
Debit cards are therefore about 4% more expensive than cash exchange.
At € 3.000 that is about € 120.
If you don't like traveling with cash in your pocket, it's better to use a debit card and see the € 6.50 per day it costs extra as an insurance premium so as not to lose your money. It's your holiday, your money and your risk, so what the environment thinks is not so relevant.
And pay as much as possible with Visa or Mastercard. Purchases are also insured. Oh yes, when withdrawing money, do NOT exchange in Thailand, but take euros.
What is “taking Euros at pins?”
I think you mean that when asked whether you want “with conversion” or “without conversion”, you should choose the latter.
But if you don't already know that, you won't get that from your advice either.
If you have a credit card, turn it into a debit card by depositing well above the euro limit and pay as much as possible with your debit/credit card. In addition, exchange € 1000 at the airport for minor expenses. (see above). If you don't have a credit card, get one as soon as possible. First year usually free.
Totally agree. Purchases insured. 1000 Euro are about 40.000 bath?? for a8 days there is a lot of cash because you can pay everywhere with visa or master card. Half is OVER enough.
Well Rori, most places I go there only accept cash.
And how much you need depends on how much you spend. You must know that you have been saving yourself for years with 200 Baht cash per day, but I can already see myself standing in Naklua, with my Visa card to pay for the motorbike taxi.
pay 'everywhere' with your credit card? That's not true, Rori. By far the most smaller shops only accept cash and the shops that do accept a credit card often have a lower limit of 500 or 1000 baht.
What purchase insurance are you talking about Rori?
When I arrive at the airport I have a taxi take me to the apartment that I rent. Both can only be paid in cash. Groceries in the shops, food in restaurants and a drink in bars all cash. Entrance tickets to parks, zoos etc also all cash. There are countless other things that all have to be paid in cash.
I would bring 1000 € and pin the rest
And have a good trip
With card is safe and have the conversion rate converted by your own bank. Don't take any risks for those few euros on 3000 euros.
pat,
I do the same as Leen pointed out to you, have a Thai wife and whenever we return to Thailand I do it that way too.
Bring a little cash with you to have some pocket money on arrival.
I always do the rest via ATM (depending on which ATM bank machine you pay ThB 180 to ThB 220 for this).
Your bank will also charge you for every transaction you make there.
The safest thing, if you want to withdraw money in a store, try not to withdraw from shady shops.
They sometimes dare to debit your bill twice by using tricks (e.g. by saying that their device in the store does not work ... but the amount due has already been settled, but that they do have a device in their workshop and they get it again the amount you owe).
It is best to always withdraw money via ATM machine and also be careful with malicious people behind you and enter your code without people looking over your shoulders or wanting to help you, of course ... just like here in Europe.
The best on your vacation.
Bring cash with you and change it locally.a matter of safety LS you have a hotel you usually have an internship whether or not in your room or at the reception
Hello
I have been going to Thailand for ten years, I always take euros with me, change, for example, 500 euros, and the rest in my safe
I have euros when I need it and I look at the exchange rate of the day is not that difficult after all
Gr Cor
I stand by you getting ripped to the atm. Cost 220 Bath, costs in your home country, you are presented with a bad exchange rate. Bringing cash of course has a risk, but now here on Koh Lanta, 39 Bath. Friend of mine had to bring baths from Belgium, he got 33. Swallow.
always take cash with you and change at the office, debit card with visa is also expensive,
If you stay in hotels where you have a safe in your room, you should consider bringing cash. Otherwise, I think for safety's sake you can only take €500 cash with you and change it downstairs at Bangkok airport and debit the rest anyway.
I always pin the rate on the 19th via Rabobank (the last time I pinned was 38,58). Not bad in my opinion. Always pin the maximum amount of 20000 bht in addition to that, the 220 bht cost or € 5,70. What is that now at € 520.-. I always take a small amount of € with me for the last days if needed.
Please note if your pint always use Non conversion and not the calculated rate. Use the rate of your own bank that saves at least 2 baht per euro.
The disadvantage of cash is, just like with a bank card, that it can be stolen or lost.
The advantage of a bank card is that it is blocked by the bank if it is reported lost, and you must guarantee a certain amount at the most, while the lost or stolen cash is gone for good.
Many also forget that many European banks have a security limit on their bank cards when used outside the EU, so that you can withdraw a maximum of a certain amount per week.
That is why it is certainly wise to contact your bank personally before the trip to increase or adjust this Limit.
If, because of the higher PIN costs, you still decide to take cash with you, it is best to do this in 500 notes, and if necessary a few smaller notes, for the first change.
Despite this cash, I would still take extra insurance, by taking a credit card.
In addition, money in the room safe of a hotel is usually insured up to a certain amount, which is often well below the 3000 euros indicated by you.
Why bring €3000 in cash? Take a maximum of €2000 in cash and exchange it, as indicated above at Superrich at the airport. If you are short, you can still withdraw the remaining €1000 at an ATM. ATMs galore; much more than in the Netherlands. And with English language. Then you probably won't be left with baht at the end of the holiday. And then the pin costs are negligible compared to your total budget.
Of course you can also just take 3000 euros with you and not exchange everything at once. If you fall short, you can use the rest of your euros.
Don't get stuck with baht either, Wil.
But don't forget to make sure your debit card is suitable for pins outside Europe. Otherwise you are suddenly a bit “for the monkey”. :)
Of course it is cheaper to just bring cash. Just about everyone who has ever traveled knows that. If you are afraid of loss or theft, I can give you some golden advice: don't put all your eggs in the same basket! So divide your money in different places.
Pleasant vacation.
Both methods have pros and cons that anyone with common sense can figure out for themselves. Then introspect whether you yourself are a risk avoider or not.
And even more: if you have just withdrawn from an ATM, you also run the risk of losing that Thai cash in an undesirable way
Many complaints that while Thai ATMs say you can withdraw 19/20.000 at a time, it is often only max 10.000 in real life - so that doubles the extra 220 bt (increase already announced) extra you have to pay for that supposed "safety". ” lost.
SuperRich is the city-headquarters next to the big BigC Rajpasong (there are 3 competitors there: orange, green and blue) gives, only during office hours, the very best rate - slightly more for 100/200 as smaller. It's not worth making a special trip to, but if you're in the area...
In front of SR at the airport (at RaillINK) there are often huge queues of Asians - there are other offices there that give the same amount for €. Be a smart Bels/NLer!
Indeed, not only Superrich has an office down there, but also at least 3 others who - I recently compared - give exactly the same course. On average between 2 and 3 baht per euro more than a few floors higher. The relevant offices are 'close to each other' – in other words. The 'ordinary' banks on the same ground floor calculate with a worse rate.
We always take cash for the entire holiday for 2 people for three months. At the exchange office on the street you usually get the highest rate. I always take notes of € 500 and only a few € 50. They are very fond of € 500 notes and sometimes pay a little more than the indicated rate when asked.
We stay far from the money-consuming ATM machines.
Dear Pat, if you are bringing cash then the best advice is to change it at Super Rich eg at the airport on arrival (see Erik's advice at 10:111 above.
And why at Super Rich? Because they give the best exchange rate, apart from possible street stalls. See attached website for today's details. Just indicate at the top that you want to convert from Euro to BHT and then you will get a neat overview of the exchange rates at the various banks. This shows, for example, that it is best to exchange at Super Rich and that it is therefore better to avoid exchanging at Kasikorn Bank. There is almost a 2% difference between the highest and lowest exchange rates.
I am now in Thailand and this morning I checked the current exchange rate at most banks. This website was exactly right and is also updated several times a day. Each bank has its own exchange rate. I made an exchange today at the Bank of Ayudhya (Krung Sri bank)
Website: https://daytodaydata.net/ and then from EUR > THB
Good luck and have fun!
As Pat writes I understand that his budget for the entire holiday including flight is €3000 what remains after buying the ticket I don't know but that is between €2000 and €2400 , economy or bissniss and if he also has the books hotels online from home, another € 400 is deducted and then he already has breakfast.
So Pat does not go with € 3000 but only with € 2000 and if you exchange that at super rich or use notes of € 500, you exchange 38.95 per euro today, download the app and you have a real time exchange rate.
Most hotels also have a safe, so you can put something away so that everything is not immediately lost or stolen.
@Tom bang, Would you read it carefully again, if someone writes that his budget is 3000 euros (without flight and hotel) then this is not included if you write this in your calculation.
If this were the case, Pat would write a budget of 3000 Euro (including flight and hotel costs)
That is why Pat does assume 3000 Euro that he wants to take with him, so that your calculation does not work at all.
Furthermore, most Hotels state in their guidelines for the use of their room safes that they only take a certain amount of cash responsibility.
These cash amounts that are mentioned usually vary from 3000 to a maximum of 10.000 Baht, so that a Budget of 2 to 3000 Euro in a hotel safe in the event of theft is indeed gone for the most part.
Don't get what you're fussing about. Apart from flight and shelter, I manage for 90 days with 2.500 Euro in cash. Change at the booths on the street, but keep an eye on the exchange rate.
Yes. I save that in the Netherlands even after fixed costs. But then I'm not on vacation.
Simply pin with your European ATM card.
Sorry….
3.000 € for about 18 days…..100.000 baht, for convenience….I give you a top house in hua hin for 2.000 baht a day…36.0000 baht..keep 64.000 baht for 18 days…WHAHAHHA…dude , you got it made!WELCOME TO THAILAND!
: )
Ocean Eng, I am not interested in your top house, but I wonder if I can also exchange baht back at your place at the rate you mentioned… 33 baht for a Euro appeals to me!
Dear people, thank you very much for the numerous and very useful responses!
I'm going to take the cash of 3.000 € (indeed without flight and hotel costs) and exchange everything into Baht at the airport at Super Rich.
When I read the costs here for debit card and the costs afterwards at my ING bank, I realize that I have already given a lot of money to the banks in 37 years of Thailand travel.
I only see one drawback and that is that I could lose the money, but luckily I am a very careful person in that area.
Thanks again for the good advice!