Travellers Cheques or Cash? Bangkok/Koh Samui.....

Hi all.

We are going to Thailand for the first time in November/December.

Do you advise travellers cheques%26amp;cash or all cash?

We were thinking around 拢700 each for food/trips and drinks for 16days? Is this going to be enough? We drink beer etc etc, not loads but enough. We have breakfast in our hotel so will be paying for lunch/evening meal.

Is it easy to cash travellers cheques outside hotels and who do you suggest getting them from (thinking Post Office/Marks%26amp;Spencers)?

Any advice appreciated.

Travellers Cheques or Cash? Bangkok/Koh Samui.....

There are ATM machines everywhere and generally I have found that the easiest and in some cases cheapest way of getting local currency. This way you can get what you need as you need it.

Travellers Cheques or Cash? Bangkok/Koh Samui.....

There are currency exchange counters right next to baggage claim at the new airport. I%26#39;d exchange a few puunds there for essentials and then use ATM%26#39;s as the previous poster has said. No need for Travellers checks.

Blue Phantom

Dont change money in the UK complete rip off. I am taking travel cheques in pound stirling. I understand the exchange rate is much better in Bangkok than at the airport.

Enjoy you holiday, we are there going next week and can not wait

Hi,

We always take a similar amount as sterling travellers cheques,I%26#39;m not sure if using ATM%26#39;s give the same rate and if our bank charge for the service? If you change 拢 to baht in the UK you%26#39;ll get about 65 ,in Bangkok the rate is about 70(there is a small fee)

There%26#39;s another thread running on this very subject if you want more opinions?

Sorry,

just saw the rest of your question. We get ours from Thomas Cook who match the best deal we can get which is 1% where we live.

There are exchange booths everywhere both in shopping malls and on the roadside all usually give the Thai Bank rate. As for the amount you%26#39;re taking it depends on how you like to live? You can get an excellent meal for 2 and couple of beers each at one of the ';local'; eateries for 10-15 pounds,a bit more if you eat ';fancy';

Traveller%26#39;s Checks are pretty easy to cash at the airport or at one of the many ';mini bank'; money changers all over the place. You do need your passport for identification. The exchange rates are set daily, today may be lower than tomorrow or vice versa - but the change is usually very small. TC%26#39;s get a little bit more than cash, but not too much. There is always a sign or chart showing the exchange rates for cash and TC%26#39;s.

If you get TC%26#39;s don%26#39;t bother with small denominations - get the largest denominations you can, any excess Thai Baht can be changed back to your home currency when you fly home. The fee to cash a TC is 33 baht for each check. Many credit unions sell traveller%26#39;s checks without any fees to their members.

The value of a traveller%26#39;s check is the added security. You can record the serial numbers of your TC%26#39;s on the internet in an e-mail to yourself for easy retrieval.. Use the security box at your hotel for safeguarding your money and other valuables and don%26#39;t leave the safety box key out in plain sight in your hotel!

If you use a credit card in an ATM you will be charged a fee for that service and pay interest on the withdrawal. If you use an ATM take out enough to cover you for several days to avoid lots of small withdrawals with big fees.

Debit cards also work in the ATM%26#39;s. The debit card will allow a withdrawal from your checking account without any interest accruing. My credit union will pay the fees for some of my debit card ATM withdrawals, even those from overseas.

Thankyou all and have a great holiday Fouroaks! Save some sunshine for us!

Will do but I hear that the weather is not to great in Bangkok today my brother travelled on business two days ago.

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