When visiting other countries you have to consider how much money to bring as we do not want to bring too much or not enough money. The main concern is that there is a risk of a thief as tourists are always a target as well as the risk of losing your holiday money. But should I exchange money before I travel to Thailand?
You need to budget what you think your daily expenses would be and bring that amount of money. You should also bring some money that is your home currency as you can get better exchange rates in Thailand. In Thailand, there is an ATM fee of 220 Thai baht when you make withdrawals from an ATM in Thailand.
In this post, we will go through whether should you exchange money before you travel to Thailand. Let’s get started!
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How Much Cash Should I Carry To Thailand?
Technically when you are entering Thailand, the Thai immigration authority expects that you carry at least 10,000 Baht with you. The minimum funds required to enter Thailand which is 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family.
Should I Exchange Money Before I Travel To Thailand?
Yes, you should exchange money before visiting Thailand. The amount depends really on your budget and the length of your visit. A trip to Thailand can be expensive enough without the additional costs of exchanging money.
Currency conversion is an unavoidable expense, and it’s one that you can reduce costs by being aware of the costs and with a little preparation before you travel to Thailand.
There is a number of considerations when deciding if you need to exchange your money before visiting Thailand. These are as follows.
- Using an ATM in Thailand there is an ATM fee on foreign cards. At present, this is 220 Thai baht.
- Using your credit card in Thailand there is normally an extra charge of 3 to 5 %.
- There is a risk of a thief or losing your money.
- When entering Thailand, the minimum funds required to enter Thailand should be at least 10,000 Baht.
You should bring some money that is your home currency as you can get better exchange rates in Thailand.
If you are planning out your budget and wondering how much to bring to Thailand. If you estimate that on average you are going to spend on average $100 a day and you are visiting got 14 days. This includes accommodation and food as well as activities.
You would need $1400 which is around 42,000 Baht. In this case, you could exchange $700 (21,000 baht) and bring $700 and exchange it in Thailand as you need it. As you get a better exchange rate in Thailand.
Only use the ATM card when your cash is gone or in an emergency. As the ATM fee of 220 Thai baht which is around $7 is a rip-off.
Is It Better To Buy Thai Baht In Thailand?
Simply you will get a better exchange rate in Thailand, with hotels or shops usually having a lower exchange rate than the many bank money changers. You do need to bring at least 10,000 Baht with you in the extremely rare chance that the Thai immigration authorities check.
My preference is to bring some Thai baht and home currency. And only use the ATM or credit card for emergencies.
Can I Use A Credit Card In Thailand?
Yes, credit cards are accepted all over Thailand but the more small local family-run businesses will more than likely not have the facilities to accept credit cards. In large cities and touristy areas, credit cards are generally accepted. There is normally an extra 3 to 5% fee added on to the final price when paying by credit card.
How Much Money Do I Need For A Month In Thailand?
You can visit Thailand on a budget of $20 to $40 a day. This includes accommodation and food but it may be a little tight especially if you want to enjoy the nightlife and go doing activities. A good budget would be closer to $100 a day.
Should I Tip In Thailand?
No there is no need to tip in Thailand. Tipping is not expected in Thailand, so there is no requirement to tip anyone, but small tips for good service are appreciated. In bars and restaurants, it is customary to leave behind any loose change in coins as a tip.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, Thailand is a good country to visit but unfortunately, it has properly the highest ATM fees on foreign cards in the world. You should bring at least 10,000 Thai baht and some of your home currency as you can get better exchange rates in Thailand. In Thailand, there is an ATM fee of 220 Thai baht ($7) when you make withdrawals from an ATM in Thailand. ATM should be used only in emergencies.
The ATMs in Thailand have a max withdrawal of either 10,000 Thai baht or 20,000 Thai baht. The withdrawal amount demands on what bank owns the ATM.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on should I exchange money before I travel to Thailand has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.
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