Money$$$

[MadNomad]

Ok my question is strickly about money. Im american and wonder how much money I should convert. In addition, do Thai's in Phuket accept US dollors...or is it best to just deal in baht?. Also is there a place near bangla that you can exchange money where the rate is good? if so should I exchange a little US dollor to baht at a time...I would love to hear how people deal with this issue or have delt with this in the past. Lessons learned ect....thanks for all your help btw. I thought for a sec some people werent going to be helpful. My mistakie...you all rock!

[whuakito]

hi madnomad.

yes deal with bath only,no need to pay in $$

exchange what you can spend on a day,or a little more, you never know
exchage offices all over the place in patong
do not carry much money when out having fun.easy to lose when drunk.

btw. whe took good care of your thread.

[whuakito]

one more thing. convert the money once in patong,or at the airport in bkk if you need some baht,no need to convert it in the us.the rate in los is higher

[MadNomad]

im sorry ...so your saying if i convert my US$ in los ill get more bang for my buck..so to speak*?

[whuakito]

yes mad and this is on a serious note

[dbaron]

Originally Posted by MadNomad

im sorry ...so your saying if i convert my US$ in los ill get more bang for my buck..so to speak*?

Just change your money in Patong when you get there as money changes everywhere on the streets. You will have no problem.
Was there 2 weeks ago and changed Australian dollars everywhere.

Cheers

DB

[Dodger]

Madnomad, welcome to the board. May I suggest you try the search function before posting a thread. At the top of the page you will see SEARCH, put in your onw word question and all previous posts will appear. If you cannot find your answer after this then start a thread asking.

People are being very polite and trying to help with your questions, but you do not go until next year and have plenty of time to read the board, contribute to posts you know something about and get all the information you could ever want.

We have the search function as most of the questions you have asked so far have been asked and answered many times over. Have a good read and enjoy the information.

[Bello Uomo]

Change your money when you get to Thailand. Do a little at the airport (enough to pay taxi + first night partying) then each day exchange a bit more in Patong.

There are no direct fees you pay to exchange cash, so I don't see any real point in exchanging all of your $US in one hit. Plus there is more risk of losing your money (loss/theft) that way.

Hope this helps.

[briofoz]

Be aware the money changers close about 9pm, so make sure you have enough baht to last until next day if you are making a night of it.

[Bello Uomo]

Originally Posted by briofoz

Be aware the money changers close about 9pm

Is that right? I could have sworn it was 11pm for at least 1 or 2 popular banks.

[Iltis]

i saw one place on bangla that was some days open until midnight and sometimes it was closed around 9pm...i would make sure to change the money in the early evening that way you're on the safe side.

[Bello Uomo]

Originally Posted by Iltis

i saw one place on bangla that was some days open until midnight and sometimes it was closed around 9pm...i would make sure to change the money in the early evening that way you're on the safe side.

That is good advice Oli. The Swiss are always sensible with money!

[MrDK]

Mad Nomad
In addition to the advise you have gotten concerning exchange, you need to consider the use of ATM card. More often than not your ATM transaction will give you a better exchange rate than cash, plus it is safer to travel with.

Many US banks, however, initiate fraud protection when a card is used in certain countries, including Thailand. Make sure you tell your bank that you will be going to Thailand.

Personally I travel with at least 2 ATM cards - just in cast one is lost or one is blocked. The second actually does not have to have money on the account as long as you are setup to transfer between the accounts on-line. So if you need the second one, then transfer funds from the first account.

[Pinot]

I usually get 10000 baht at a time from any ATM. I then carry about what I need for a day and lock the rest in the room safe with the passport and the credit cards. I usually can roll on 3000 baht a day, food, booze and women. Buying watches, clothes, ringing the MTB bell, multiple women you have to go back to the well.

[IRISH JONNY]

Originally Posted by Pinot

I usually get 10000 baht at a time from any ATM. I then carry about what I need for a day and lock the rest in the room safe with the passport and the credit cards. I usually can roll on 3000 baht a day, food, booze and women. Buying watches, clothes, ringing the MTB bell, multiple women you have to go back to the well.

if only i could do that.......i wish i could discipline myself more when it comes to money !!!!!!!!!!

[Dupree00]

Originally Posted by Pinot

I usually get 10000 baht at a time from any ATM. I then carry about what I need for a day and lock the rest in the room safe with the passport and the credit cards. I usually can roll on 3000 baht a day, food, booze and women. Buying watches, clothes, ringing the MTB bell, multiple women you have to go back to the well.

I usualy get 20,000bht at the ATM.

Each time I use my ATM I get a $5 charge plus a 1% charge from my Bank of America account.

Don't bring all your cash from a America. Maybe $200 worth of Baht. That way you'll have some baht in your pocket when you walk off the plane.

Make sure you notify your Bank and Credit Card company of your travel dates.

[Pinot]

Originally Posted by Dupree00

I usualy get 20,000bht at the ATM.

Each time I use my ATM I get a $5 charge plus a 1% charge from my Bank of America account.

Don't bring all your cash from a America. Maybe $200 worth of Baht. That way you'll have some baht in your pocket when you walk off the plane.

Make sure you notify your Bank and Credit Card company of your travel dates.

Wells Fargo just has just the $5 fee. So I spend $20 in fees for the convenience. I don't think that is unreasonable.

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by Dupree00

Don't bring all your cash from a America. Maybe $200 worth of Baht. That way you'll have some baht in your pocket when you walk off the plane.

No need to even change as much as that in the US. $50 changed into baht should cover any taxi fare + food & drink until finding a moneychanger.
The difference in the exchange rate received in your home country compared to LOS cannot be over emphasisied IMO

[Bushdoctor]

I didn't take any baht with me, there is a currency exchange place right in the airport. Maybe not the top rate but good for a little cash. I brought $100 bills from the US because they actually get a higher exchange rate than other denominations, I don't have a clue why. I don't like paying the bank fees. I also carry several ATM cards, and a credit card or two for emergency use only. I used a credit card to pay for my hotels (airline miles) and had no problem, but credit card fraud is rampant from what I hear. Better never to use them, certainly not for restaurants and shopping. I just locked everything up in my room safe with no problems.

[MadNomad]

Originally Posted by Pinot

ringing the MTB bell,

so exactly what occurs when this bell is rung?.....please...a detailed account...do i buy all a drink in the bar or something?

[Dupree00]

Originally Posted by MadNomad

so exactly what occurs when this bell is rung?.....please...a detailed account...do i buy all a drink in the bar or something?

Dude...relax.....You need to have some suprises when you get there.

It's Big Fun!

[MadNomad]

Originally Posted by Dupree00

Great...now everybody knows

what was I thinking I would actually get an answer ........

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Dupree00;

I usualy get 20,000bht at the ATM.

Each time I use my ATM I get a $5 charge plus a 1% charge from my Bank of America account.

Don't bring all your cash from a America. Maybe $200 worth of Baht. That way you'll have some baht in your pocket when you walk off the plane.

Make sure you notify your Bank and Credit Card company of your travel dates.

B of A charges me the $5 fee only, but there is also a charge of $2.50 or $3 that is charged by the Thai Bank who handles the ATM transaction, so the total of charges is about $8. So unless you only make withdrawals in 20,000 Baht increments, then it is more cost effective to use traveler's checks if you want to handle your money in $100 increments.

[visa2003]

Originally Posted by MadNomad

so exactly what occurs when this bell is rung?.....please...a detailed account...do i buy all a drink in the bar or something?

Try doing some reading first!!!!!


http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/ni...t=ringing+bell