EUR to Thai Baht?

Nameless_87 · 26 Oct 2016 at 10:49

Hi,

I am going to Thailand next week, and just after some advice regarding currency.

I don't live in UK so my currency is in EUR.

The exchange rates here, do not seem that good.

So what's the best thing to do?

Go to Thailand with like 500 EUR cash and exchange it to THB there? How are the exchanges there?
Or just withdraw from an ATM there? (Charges from my bank for this are 3 EUR flat fee + 0.33% of the withdrawn amount)

Thanks

Rotty · 26 Oct 2016 at 11:15

I found the exchanges quite good

If your bank and the Thai ATM are charging then cash may be better

If you do use an ATM here's a little warning for you

They tend to give you the cash BEFORE you get your card back, which is opposite to what we are used to, twice I have been on autopilot and taken the money and walked off without my card

rogue66700 · 26 Oct 2016 at 14:05

I've always found the exchange rate better when you get there, but I'd take €50 in thai baht for the airport and cabs because the rate in the airport before you get to Bangkok or the town you are going too can be quite poor.

Lopéz · 26 Oct 2016 at 17:40

Another warning, if you use a cash machine in Thailand you will be charged an additional 200 Baht per withdrawal, in addition to anything your bank charges you.

horrorwood · 26 Oct 2016 at 17:47

Don't take notes that have marks or pen etc on them, the exchange places can be funny about them and not take them. No idea why.

Cryfreeman · 26 Oct 2016 at 17:58

Taking cash to Thailand will always give you better rates by a good margin, just don't use the exchange booth just after thai passport control, take out ya taxi money needed and get the rest in bkk or what ever.

Grab the 'bell bus' from the airport if you are trying to look after the pennis

GeX · 26 Oct 2016 at 18:01

Another vote for taking cash out / exchanging when you're there but being careful about marked, ripped or damaged notes as they won't exchange them.

I took an amount of cash and exchanged it once in Bangkok, and then used Halifax Clarity to bulk withdraw whenever I needed more (due to the 200BHT fee as mentioned above).

Pawnless Endgame · 26 Oct 2016 at 18:11

horrorwood said:
Don't take notes that have marks or pen etc on them, the exchange places can be funny about them and not take them. No idea why.

Ahhh, that's a law known as lese majeste. Pen marks on a note means that you're de-facing the king (or another Thai royal) and it's against the law there.

demonix · 26 Oct 2016 at 18:11

As Cryfreeman and Gex have stated take cash out and only change what you need to get where you're going at the airport.

There is a place called super rich that is likely to give you the best bang for your euros which is where you can exchange the remainder of the cash you have (Source)

horrorwood · 26 Oct 2016 at 18:25

Pawnless Endgame said:
Ahhh, that's a law known as lese majeste. Pen marks on a note means that you're de-facing the king (or another Thai royal) and it's against the law there.

Oh thanks! My girlfriend is Thai and she didn't know!

Edit: just told her and she reckons not, I believe you over her tbh.

joeyjojo · 26 Oct 2016 at 18:33

demonix said:
There is a place called super rich that is likely to give you the best bang for your euros which is where you can exchange the remainder of the cash you have (Source)

I've used them

Was a bit of a faff finding them though and I probably wouldn't bother next time. Edit: actually looks like they've moved in this video, the name is the same though.

OP - you need to get yourself a specialist credit card for next time.

jamoor · 26 Oct 2016 at 19:12

Nameless_87 said:
Hi,

I am going to Thailand next week, and just after some advice regarding currency.

I don't live in UK so my currency is in EUR.

The exchange rates here, do not seem that good.

So what's the best thing to do?

Go to Thailand with like 500 EUR cash and exchange it to THB there? How are the exchanges there?
Or just withdraw from an ATM there? (Charges from my bank for this are 3 EUR flat fee + 0.33% of the withdrawn amount)

Thanks

Taking 500 euro in cash is the best option, exchange places are extremely competitive and everyewhere.

Otherwise find a citibank in bangkok and take out cash.

JBuk · 26 Oct 2016 at 19:20

I'd take cash and change it while there, last time I was there it was a decent sized difference between the rates offered in the UK v those in Thailand

Pawnless Endgame · 26 Oct 2016 at 20:50

horrorwood said:
Oh thanks! My girlfriend is Thai and she didn't know!

Edit: just told her and she reckons not, I believe you over her tbh.

You're welcome

It's probably best to look it up online to clarify the law. Defacing our Queen Eliz II is against the law too. The difference though is that that we don't really enforce that law in the UK, but in Thailand it is heavily enforced and can lead to fines. The most extreme cases are people who write defamatory comments on open forums such as Facebook.

wez130 · 26 Oct 2016 at 22:09

Would the above advice suit the GBP and NZ$?

I ask as i'm going to BKK in February, but i'm going to New Zealand prior to BKK.

Which would be bet to take? £ or NZ$

randomshenans · 26 Oct 2016 at 23:50

Wonder if their period of mourning will be over by then... it's really strange how they're such Royalists. The death of the king has set everything to a year of mourning, but was a full month of no entertainment, all wearing black and lots of places closed.

Rotty · 26 Oct 2016 at 23:54

jamoor said:
Otherwise find a citibank in bangkok and take out cash.

if you mean Citibank ATM then they are no longer free

Begbie · 27 Oct 2016 at 00:05

Rotty said:
I found the exchanges quite good

If your bank and the Thai ATM are charging then cash may be better

If you do use an ATM here's a little warning for you

They tend to give you the cash BEFORE you get your card back, which is opposite to what we are used to, twice I have been on autopilot and taken the money and walked off without my card

Done this a few weeks back, nightmare!

Went to use my other backup card. "this card is unavailable, contact your bank".

Thankfully that atm just didn't like it. But yeah be very wary of this.

Feef · 27 Oct 2016 at 00:06

Pawnless Endgame said:
Ahhh, that's a law known as lese majeste. Pen marks on a note means that you're de-facing the king (or another Thai royal) and it's against the law there.

This doesn't make sense, as the defaced/torn notes which they don't accept all have pictures of people from other countries on them - keeping in mind this is talking about converting money in to Baht. Many other countries are hesitant about taking them too, including Vietnam, India and China, so I can't imagine it's related to Thailand's lese majeste laws.

Surfer · 27 Oct 2016 at 00:31

randomshenans said:
Wonder if their period of mourning will be over by then... it's really strange how they're such Royalists. The death of the king has set everything to a year of mourning, but was a full month of no entertainment, all wearing black and lots of places closed.

Superrich BKK airport basement level. You will know when you find it because there is usually a queue

So take cash with you and exchange there. Rates ATM are approx 43 - 44 baht to the pound. Best rate you will get IMO (TT is good but can't beat superrich)

If you can change all your notes to £50 pound ones you will get slightly better rate as well.

Make sure every single note has no marks or even TINY tears as they may not accept them because of this (happened to me)

Finally no the entertainment zones are not closed they are very much open..though some places are no lights and no music...though I heard today the music ban is lifted. If you are arriving Nov then fairly normal. Ohh the TV is swamped with tributes on most channels to the dearly departed King RIP.

Anyway enjoy