Phuket

landofsmiles · #1 22-04-2008, 00:49

A friend coming over is bringing American Express T/Cs. Do all the exchange booths and banks accept them here? He'll just need to take his passport with him each time he uses them won't he?

steve w · #2 22-04-2008, 00:52

yes and yes,used them myself ,no problem just need to let them scan passport.

sarsbuk · #3 22-04-2008, 01:07

In February I came over and remember seeing somewhere a sign saying that only AMEX TC's were accepted! It might have been in an exchange booth.

Also the bigger the TC the better.... They charge per cheque. I took 5 x $500 TC's and this cut down on the service charges!

landofsmiles · #4 22-04-2008, 01:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarsbuk

In February I came over and remember seeing somewhere a sign saying that only AMEX TC's were accepted! It might have been in an exchange booth.

Also the bigger the TC the better.... They charge per cheque. I took 5 x $500 TC's and this cut down on the service charges!

Good tip thanks. I'll tell him.

sishow · #5 22-04-2008, 01:25

Amex cheaques tend to be the better recieved. Ive had trouble with Mastercard ones before. (Also had trouble the morning/afternoon after a heavy night. Just cant seem to right my name out properly!!!)

As sarbuk says, the higher the better!

easyrider_au · #6 22-04-2008, 06:22

I'll add to this by saying in the past I've used AMEX T/C's.
Never had a problem cashing them in any change booth in the tourist areas of Patong, Bangkok, Pattaya. (it's a safe bet if you do this before 8.00pm....I have seen signs in SOME booths saying after these hrs. NO T/C's CASHED)
IIRC it works out be a fee of 30b per cheque ?
Unfortunately, when you order them here in Australia from the post office, you get no say in the denominations you are given........I have tried, but have been told...you get what AMEX give you.....it went along the lines of, for every $1,000 I ordered, they'd give me 5 x 100's & 10 x 50's.

I was a bit negligent one night with a BG in Phuket & didn't lock my bumbag away in the room safe.
Later that day I had a money count & was missing $600 worth of cheques.
I phoned AMEX & informed them of the missing cheque numbers & within an hour after the call, I went & collected the full amount from a Western Union change booth in Bangla.

sishow · #7 22-04-2008, 17:56

IN the UK, if your order your TC's through nationwide online, you can nominate which denominations you want them in. Although its travelex who supply them.

sarsbuk · #8 23-04-2008, 00:42

Last time I was there it was 30THB a cheque and another little charge. I had no issues cashing my TC's anywhere in Patong.

jingjai1 · #9 23-04-2008, 01:18

I used to bring only $500s, always AmEx. Never any problems.

The good thing with 500s is that it's easier to keep track of which ones you've spent. If lost or stolen, you only have a few TCs to keep track of. It's so easy. (ie I had 6 and only cashed 2 of them). Cash them in order and you'll know the numbers easily