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Home » Reader question » Reader question: What is smart, taking debit cards or cash with you to Thailand?
Dear readers,
I would like to know what is smart to do in terms of money. I'm going to Thailand next month and was wondering if I should just use a debit card in Thailand or bring cash? This is because the euro is so low against the baht.
Hopefully you can give me advice.
Greetings,
Miranda
miranda,
If you bring money and exchange it here at an exchange office (note, not at the airport!), you will usually get the best rate.
If you pin it here you usually have the worst rate.
You may export a maximum of 10.000 euros from the Netherlands. Whether you want to travel with so much money in your pocket is then up to you.
Bring cash. Pinning as said costs 150 baht in Thailand. But as far as I know, in the Netherlands, between 3 euros 50 and 4 euros are also debited per time. So 1 pin costs 8 euros each time.
As far as I know most banks give 10 000 baht. There are places where you can pin more, but then you have to find out which and where they are.
If you bring cash you also have a better exchange rate.
At the airport the rate is higher about 1 bath per euro.
But sometimes you need start-up capital for taxi.
Even on Suvarnabuhmi you can get a good course, but you have to walk a little further for it. On Monday, March 2, the exchange rate at almost all exchange offices at the airport was around 33,3, but I knew from experience that I had to go down to the basement level - the level of access to the rail connection to the city - and there the exchange rate was at ValuePlus 36,1. A nice difference if you exchange 800 euros…………
bring cash up to 10000 euros
Just have to see if you can put it on an account there. Would be useful if you can open it (or just already have it) just saves too much. Pins are also quite expensive. First it costs 150 baht to pin and then another rate of one baht less per euro.
Succes
Oh, also look at which bank. But that doesn't make much difference.
And of course don't change at the airport.
The costs for debit cards in Thailand (from a Dutch bank) have now been increased to 180 baht per time. If you are going to withdraw, it is therefore wise to withdraw as large an amount as possible at a time.
Pinning from a Thai bank is free, but you must have an account.
Cash money is therefore the cheapest (if you are not robbed or robbed)
Debit card payments via your Thai account are not always free. Often it is only free at your own bank and in the place where you have your account.
Nevertheless, transferring money to your Thai bank account, if you have one, isn't a bad idea. You then set the course, as it were.
I agree… but is it smart to go to Thailand?
The exchange rate of the Euro against the Baht is very low now. Recently (last week I was still in Thailand) I got 34,28….
Reason for me to question a possible new visit to Thailand. I do expect a change in the situation… but nobody buys anything for that.
@Jan, whether it is smart to go to Thailand now is not an answer to the question there are, there are plenty of people who have already booked a holiday months ago. Sometimes gets a little tired of all those non-reactions. @Miranda, as you can see, most people (including me in the last few years) choose to carry cash. An ATM card will soon cost you around € 10 (180 bht Thai bank, between 2,40 and 3,50 .XNUMX NL'dse bank and the exchange rate difference) calculate your profit…
I read a lot of comments that do not immediately contain an answer (to questions asked).
Now I don't know the circumstances (for example, have hotels in Thailand already been booked?), but countries such as Malaysia and Laos (where I recently visited) are now more attractive in terms of costs than Thailand. That was the reason for me to ask the question (but is it smart to go to Thailand?).
Bring cash.
Exchange at a major bank. I like it very much and above all without risks.
In many places in Thailand, especially outside of Bangkok, you still cannot pin with at least ING, RABO OR AMRO card. Differs per bank whether it is refused, but there are also many stories that the card was eaten right away on the first try.
Of course, debit card is the worst and least sensible way of exchange. Some have been doing it for years and complain bitterly. So bring the necessary cash and only pin in emergencies.
If you go to Thailand regularly, I would take the necessary steps to open a Thai account so that you can transfer money. This is the most beneficial.
Safe journey.
To prevent fraud, most banks in Europe have a certain Limit that you can withdraw per day/or week. You can have this Limit changed for your trip abroad if you give the bank a personal instruction. I doubt whether debit card is the worst and least sensible option, and it only becomes clear in the event of a loss of a large amount of cash, where you have the option to cancel it in the event of the loss of, for example, an EC Card, so that the damage is limited.
Bring cash and exchange at a gold shop for the best rate
It's not 150 baht, but 180 that you have to pay when you pint. In other words, if you withdraw 10.000 baht, 10.180 baht will be debited from your bank account.
An exception is the AEON bank. It asks 150 baht.
My advice is not to withdraw money through the bank.
In January for 15.000 bath 438,00 have to pay via ING and TMB.
ING told me that the Thai bank charged so many costs.
The baht was at 37 so calculate how much it cost me.
I already posted this on thailandbloq but unfortunately had no responses.
I think it's pure theft.
It does not matter whether you bring cash or use a debit card, that is personal for everyone.
The exchange rate is currently 34.72 baht/euro.
You just have to consider the costs of debit cards and the costs of exchanging cash from euros to bath.
Visa card, Eurocard and Banccard and therefore simply pin
I NEVER carry cash with me up to 1500 Bath
Oh visa card assumes mid exchange rate and does not charge any further costs
not true visa does require a fee
and it is quite high
better take money with you and then look at the exchange rate and then exchange
I use my Visa card, I deposit money into my Visa account and I even get 1.4 % interest on it. I can withdraw 30.000 Bth from many banks for the cost of 180 Bth and Visa charges 1.50 euros for this. Provided you have enough money in your account.
If you compare this with the bank, interest is nil and often a maximum of 15.000 Bth withdrawals plus the costs of 180Bth and also the higher costs of the Rabobank.
Make sure you have enough in your Visa account and you earn back the low exchange rate a little bit.
I could always withdraw 15.000 bath and had to pay about € 422 for that in January and indeed my bank still charged about 3 euros for the withdrawal.
Also pay attention, it really makes a difference if you indicate without an exchange rate! with debit cards you can choose to convert immediately or not, so you saved € 20!
on the islands and the large towns you can use your ATM card everywhere.
It is a lot cheaper to just withdraw money in Thailand, there are ATMs available everywhere
As often very little information. How long are you coming, how many people are you coming with? The advice would make you sad because one says debit card, the other says bring cash, the other says open an account... what is it now? Miranda now knows just as much as before, ie nothing.
Opening an account: if you have an ordinary tourist visa (visa at aarival), forget this option because most banks will simply refuse you, with good reason. They know very well under what status you are here, as you have to present the passport, so for how long you are here and they already have enough “dormant bills” from the past. Once out of here, there is usually nothing left on that account, but it was not closed, so they stay with it.
Debit cards: everyone gradually knows that debit cards cost money, whether it is with Visa or something else, costs are charged on both sides.
If Miranda just comes for a holiday, the best solution is to simply bring cash and exchange it here at the daily exchange rate. You are allowed to import and export 10.000 euros, not declared, and as a tourist you can go a long way with that. It is best, if possible, to contact someone in your home country who comes here regularly, to buy off a few thousand Bath so that you do not have to exchange at the airport. Then you can look around afterwards where you can exchange in an advantageous way. You will not suffer a lot of loss as a tourist as I assume that you do not have any capital to exchange that way.
Security: we are big people and know how to handle money I suppose. Never lost anything or something, but yes, I keep my (little) common sense.
Lung addie, permanent resident of Thailand
Just pin!
You must calculate the costs once during your holiday.
If you take large amounts of money with you from home, you run the risk of losing all your money in the event of theft!
Unfortunately, that also happens in Thailand!
Anja is right and so is Simon
Best is Visa because what you buy is also insured immediately??
Oh cash not but purchases are.
My wife and I have a Dutch and a Thai visa card so how to exchange.
Ok for real tourists, carrying a lot of cash is and remains an increased risk, there are gone for less than 10.000 euros, which is about 350.000 baht.
DON'T DO NO CASH
Thailandblog is packed with blogs on this subject and a multiple of these in comments.
The cheapest option is to exchange cash in large (100 or more euros) denominations, preferably not at a bank, but at an exchange office in central Bangkok.
Such as Superrich, Grand Superrich, Super Rich 1965, Linda Exchange, SIA Exchange etc. (Yes there are 3 different Superriches, all near Siam Paragorn, 555)
Look for various offices:
- http://thailand.megarichcurrencyexchange.com/index.php?cur=eur
- http://daytodaydata.net/
- https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=z1bhamjNiHQs.klLed4_ZPr6w&gl=us&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0
Do you (still) change at a regular bank (special travel to BKK center for only the exchange is not worth the money), always compare the exchange rates and especially do not change at the airport.
With regard to your last comment, please read my previous comment. There too, you can exchange favorably if you do not slide your money in at a random exchange counter.
I have seen, but personally I still look in BKK (or whatever your travel destination is that day) so that I can compare various banks. Preferably the aforementioned offices or at least one of the well-known bank chains. Then you must of course already have some baht from the Netherlands with you.
If you don't have baths then I agree with you that it's better to descend to the basement, so basically the rule of thumb "look around before you change somewhere". I have read reports that the exchange near the basement (airport link) was sometimes closed..
I have been changing my cash money for a while now at the Krungsri Bank, where I also have an account, including a Visa card with which I can withdraw money if necessary (NO costs, even if I withdraw from other banks). The test has already been done several times: first call Superrich (in KhonKaen) and ask for the exchange rate of the euro there, then go to the Krungsri bank and they always give just a little bit more (it's about satangs…).
If, after reading all the advice, you still decide to use a debit card in Thailand, don't forget to turn on debit card payments outside Europe at your bank. Most banks only have Europe enabled by default.
yes i just got back from thailand cash why if you pint my experience you get an even lower rate from the bank and the costs are also added but have fun in thailand it's very hot and humid right now and the bath won't get you cheerful and so cheap and the people in Thailand are no longer smiling
Pim
Visa no or few costs? only 20.000 bht pinned with Visa card in Udon Thani, Bad exchange rate and € 22,- costs! Please note: UP TO € 10.000 you may take with you without declaration, FROM this amount, so always declare € 10.000 or more at both Schiphol and Bangkok.
You must ensure that there is money in your Visa account. In your case you have no money in your Visa account, yes then the counter starts running. If you have enough balance on your account, the costs are only a maximum of 1,50 euros. And bad rate? indicate to the ATM that you do not want to use their exchange rate.
Ignorance when using a credit card often causes problems
Always a baht rate above 40 baht, even now
If you come to Thailand regularly .
Open a bank account , I don't live in Thailand , but go to Thailand three times a year.
A Thai bank account opened years ago , and bring cash if the exchange rate is 40 baht or higher .
if the exchange rate is lower, I will not take any money with me, and debit from my Thai account.
This way you always have the highest rate.
gr Pete
are you going to make an organized tour or are you going individually?
If you are going on a tour departing from BKK to the north, my advice is to at least have Thai bath in your wallet instead of just taking your bank card with you.
The driver has his own route that he has to travel and it is not always possible when you go somewhere to pin. If you are going to withdraw money, you should always do so at a bank branch because if your bank card is swallowed, you can immediately walk into the bank.
If you go individually, my advice is to have some Thai bath in advance to make sure if you have problems with your pass that you still have money on hand.
With travel checks you get the most, then cash money, if you pint you get the lowest rate from the bank and you pay for the costs again.
the rate in thailand should be 46 baht / 1 euro
cash is better than debit cards
debit card costs 180 baht and money for debit card and exchange rate is worse
my advice.
go to thailand for a few days and immediately dive into cambodia by train or bus because it is much cheaper there
thailand is now too expensive for europeans and a lot of crime is increasing because less comes in through tourism
success
This is a question that comes up regularly on TB. It is noticeable that we are now taking cash as advice from many and last year that was more something of who takes cash is a bit stupid. Pinning is the norm.
The banks are eternally grateful with your statement (pin is the norm).
The problem is that banks no longer know (properly) what they were founded for.
Example: It has not been possible for me to rent a safe for years. We are, as it were, forced to buy such a safe ourselves… I prefer to have my family and other important documents in a large and well-secured safe at a banking institution.
Over time, the citizen was forced to open a bank account. Handy but nowadays we pay for that fact and generally no longer get a fee/reward for having money in a bank account. With savings accounts it is almost the same.
But it is now even the case that you sometimes have to pay a lot to remove it (see this topic)… A bit of an upside-down world. The banking industry is even considering charging us in case of negative interest…. it shouldn't get any crazier.
Carrying cash seems very dangerous, but in practice it is not so bad. As a bank clerk in the 60s, I often had to literally transfer cash from one bank to another… and that in Amsterdam. Just act… then you won't stand out (and that's how I did).
I'm not going to talk about how it got to the point where the Euro isn't much anymore…. but taking cash with you limits the loss somewhat… Being careful with money is always the message. I always own a hotel with a safe in the room or in the lobby.
Everyone does what seems best to him or her, but I'm not going to fill banks if there is another way.