 |
|
|
#1
10-11-2006, 03:21
|
|||
|
|||
|
Where to keep cash?
During our upcoming 2 month stay in Thailand, i'm a little worried about where to keep my cash safe. I'm probably going to bring mostly cash for our stay along with maybe a smaller amount of travelers checks. One of the places in Patong that we are thinking of renting for a month does not have a safe in the room. It does have safety deposit boxes at the front desk. We also would have a maid coming in daily to clean. So my options are, #1 hiding it in the room. #2 Keeping it in the front desk safe. #3 Keeping all of it with me every where I go. Any suggestions? Is a front desk a safe place to keep a large amount of cash?
|
| Guest Info |
|
+:+:+ Forum Headquarter +:+:+ |
|
#2
10-11-2006, 03:30
|
||||
|
||||
|
Why should you bring a large amount of cash to Thailand ? Everwhere in Phuket / Patong, Bangkok, Pattaya are ATM machines. I recommend to take travellercheques and a small amount of cash. Traveller cheques are insured.
|
|
#3
10-11-2006, 03:34
|
||||
|
||||
|
i agree with klavg, there are tons of atm's around every corner. if you have the most part in cash and it gets lost or stolen you won't get a refund. in case your traveller cheques or atm card get stolen they can be replaced/blocked and you don't lose money. i always just have cash for the next 3-4 days and then i go to the atm again. but it's up to you
 cheers iltis
__________________
Money can't buy love; but it can rent a very close imitation...
|
|
#4
10-11-2006, 03:39
|
||||
|
||||
|
For two of you, I am guessing we are talking about $5,000 to $10,000 (not sure of your budget). This is a lot of money by Thai standards. Let's say three years salary for a hotel receptionist. Do you really want to tempt her/him? Toss that.
If you keep it wherever you go, then you will be paranoid all the time (i.e. on the beach, in bars). If someone sees your wad, then you are a target. Toss that. I keep it in the hotel room in an unconspicuous folder. Put folder in a bookbag, put bookbag in suitcase, put suitcase in closet. Shut closet. Never had any problems. I like to bring over cash because it keeps me to my budget. BTW, bring $100 bills as they get the best exchange rate on notes. The best thing to do is to bring in a few days worth and keep the rest in the bank. You can take out 20,000 baht each day at an ATM (if you had to). My bank charges me 1% fee, which would be mostly offset by the better exchange rate you get in an electronic exchange (yes, better than $100 bills). Like i said, I bring over notes to keep to my budget. The TanMan
|
|
#5
10-11-2006, 03:55
|
||||
|
||||
|
Use an ATM card....forget about Visa/mastercard or other credit cards....they can be abused...get a second card for your bank account, a debit card....both master visa and most big western banks have that solution...and you can always find an ATM in LOS where you can use it..reserve your credit cards for emergencies, adn dont bring traveller cheques...my bank dont buy them back at the same rate as i bought them..never keep large sums of cash on your person...to tempting for some, and never keep them in your romm, unless its in a safe.
|
|
#6
10-11-2006, 04:08
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thanks. I'm a real cheapa$$ and just never use ATMs here at home, or anywhere, because of the fees. When i say 2 months worth of cash, I mean maybe only 2 or 3 thousand. We keep it on the cheap side, eating the cheap local food and such, so I don't expect to be spending THAT much. I'm just trying to avoid the fees that you pay using credit cards overseas, ATMs, even traveler checks they charge for at my bank. What kind of fees would I be paying on a debit card usage at ATM machines in Thailand. I have no idea, since I never use them even here.
|
|
#7
10-11-2006, 04:37
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
generally a $5 flat fee and then you also pay an exchange fee.......but the rate is the best available from any money exchange sorce.... My advice is use the ATM and get a few decent chunks out at a time....so as to keep the fees down.......and then if by some terrible but very unlikely chance you are robbed you still have money in the bank to access.... also use the house safe but make sure your money is in something that it is unrecognisable in.......like an envelope with something else on either side of it so it is well disguised....... I would never leave cash in a room....
__________________
 ....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
|
|
#8
10-11-2006, 04:49
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
__________________
|
|
#9
10-11-2006, 05:21
|
||||
|
||||
|
FYI....i think...not sure though, that the general limit on withdrawel from LOS ATM is around 25000Bath, which should be around 680$....but again that should see you a long way.
Last edited by Einheriar : 10-11-2006 at 05:25.
|
|
#10
10-11-2006, 06:11
|
||||
|
||||
|
if you insist on bringing a large amount of cash..................
open a thai bank account with it............get a card and use that at atm.... i did it............... and left it there..........bringing more next time. dont carry too much.........when out partying.................and definately dont stash in your room.................................jeep
|
|
#11
10-11-2006, 06:26
|
||||
|
||||
|
And for larger amounts you can walk into the bank and let them withdraw your card, not same limits as the ATM.
When I moved here 1999, I used to withdraw 40-50,000 baht (visa debit) and then put it into my Thai account with ATM card where I did my smaller withdrawals. If you use an ATM that belongs to your bank the withdrawal is free, if belongs to another bank it is usually a 20 baht fee. Quote:
|
|
#12
10-11-2006, 08:07
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
1...i'd definitely advise against hiding it in room... 2...I had money stolen from the front desk safe at a hotel on samui..only a few hundred euro but still.... 3...That amount would be madness to keep on you everywhere you.. I agree with the others,atm all the way...My bank charges something like 2 euro/100baht on every hundred/5000baht i withdraw... There is generally a 5% charge on purchases made with visa/mastercard..If you did get one use it for emergencys only...very easy to rack up a big visa bill... Last edited by falanger : 10-11-2006 at 08:09.
|
|
#13
10-11-2006, 08:45
|
||||
|
||||
|
If you really wish to bring cash.. Why not go and open a bank account here in the first few days..
As long as you dont get a bank that insists on a work permit its easy, takes 10 mins, they issue you with a statement book and an ATM over the counter, walk outside put in your pin.. Safe (ish) and convienient, works all over Thailand, cheap, etc. 2 months.. 2 - 3k USD for 2 people.. Assume your not going to be in Patong ??
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
|
|
#14
10-11-2006, 23:30
|
||||
|
||||
|
I fully agree that ATMs are a waste of money. I mean....we give OUR money to a bank so they can play around with it on the stock market, and then we have to PAY them to get OUR money back.
So that's why I keep my cash in the safest place possible: right up my a**. Of course, anyone who sees how I walk down the street might guess where I keep my wad. But one unexpected advantage is that I get a surprising number of freebies when it comes time to pay the bill. But seriously folks.....Dana goes into this subject with neurotic precision on the Stickman site at Thai Thoughts and Anecdotes Part 147.
|
|
#15
11-11-2006, 00:27
|
||||
|
||||
|
Was in Phuket last June for one month. Opened an account with Siam Commercial Bank branch in Kata. Very nice people....took me 10 minutes to get my account setup and ATM card delivered. On top I got an umbrella as welcome gift
Must say that am planning to move early 2007 to Phuket. The account is not lost...left 1'000 bahts on it...
|
|
#16
11-11-2006, 02:08
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Some US banks restricts the use of ATM cards in certain countries unless you notify them in advance. Also US Visa/MC check cards generally have a limit of $500 per day for ATM and $2500 per day for charges.
__________________
|
|
#17
11-11-2006, 02:25
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
I did the same in July at the SCB on Nanai, but that was with the intention of a future relo there. I wrongly thought you needed a visa (which i had) to do this. Made me think that I should have done this years ago, and transfer money in when the baht was weak against the dollar, rather than be subject to the exchange rates at the time of my tour. I think all regularly touring BM's should open an account and transfer in when rates are good. And that BIG purple umbrella was a bonus. But, I didn't want to bring it back on the plane and it was too big to pack so I gave it to the hotel receptionist.  MrDK, what US bank(s) are you talking about? I've had different experience. I have a Bank of America account and they assess a 1% fee. I've never had a Thai ATM fee ever (unless they share in the 1% with BofA). The TanMan
|
|
#18
11-11-2006, 02:44
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
I use Webster Bank and Citizen Bank. Both have no issuing bank fees, but do allow dispensing banks to assess a fee. In the US that is generally $1.50 per transaction. TD North Bank (New England) refunds all fees by dispensing banks world wide.
__________________
|
|
#19
11-11-2006, 02:45
|
||||
|
||||
|
dont give your gf 30k baht and then go get drunk off your ass, walk out of eating with all your friends and gf, go back to her room and puke all over the place
then finish cleaning up the puke and thinking you lost 30k, walk down the street and have your gf see you and stop the tuk tuk and ask what the hell your doing. she will probably call you "stupid farang" or something like that because you forgot you gave her the money don't do that!!!
|
|
#20
11-11-2006, 04:25
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
I think to earn interest, you have to invest in a term deposit (like a CD). The interest will then get credited to your account after the term (net of taxes). Unless we are talking huge funds, I doubt a tax return would be necessary. The TanMan
|
|
#21
11-11-2006, 04:27
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
This must have been one rough night! The TanMan
|
|
#22
11-11-2006, 05:57
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Actually we are going to be spending at least a month in Patong. Arriving in Bangkok and spending a few days there before heading south. After the month in Patong we will have about 2 weeks left. We will probably also visit Pataya. So am I crazy thinking that $3000 would be enough spending cash? Last year we spent 2 months in Cancun and didnt spend all that much. Cancun surely has to be way more expensive than Patong. Our month rental is going to be 17,000 baht, and I probably will have to put half down before the trip. I cant imagine spending that much on day to day activities. We will probably get massages pretty often and do some day trips to the islands and such. But the prices I've seen on most stuff seem less than half the price as we pay in Mexico. We generally eat off the roadside stands, eating what the locals eat. We dont drink much and wont be needing the services of BGs. So that should help keep costs down. Any other big expenses that I'm forgetting? As far as the cash thing goes, thanks for all the replies. The bank account thing might work best, as suggested.
|
|
#23
11-11-2006, 18:25
|
||
|
