xyzzy Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I don't use them but was reading over on a GG board that the bank exchange places are now charging a fee of 150 baht to cash travelers checks instead of the old 33 baht fee. God those Thais are greedy fucking bastards. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globetrotter Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 They're all I brought this trip, bought them before I knew about the increase, btw its actually 153 tbt, TCs used to be a very good idea in LOS (if nowhere else ) when it was only 33 tbt , maybe next time I'll bring 500 dollar denominations, if I use them at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamSam Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 If you're bringing travellers cheques with you the larger denominations is the way to go for sure. Nothing less that $100 notes. $500 is best. Forget $20s and $50s. I use to use them all of the time as my primarily source of cash but for the past few years I use the ATM (bank card) for on hand daily/weekly cash and keep the TCs in the safe as a fall back/crisis cash source. If I do not use them I simply keep them for the next trip or cash them and redeposit once I am back home. My bank does not charge me a fee for AMEXCO traveller's cheques. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globetrotter Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Ya I only bought $100 denomonatins , but had a problem last year with atm so felt better about TCs (the fee only started on March 1, the day before I arrived , go figure ) btw I was cashing a cheque at Siam bank last night and there was a notice saying they don't cash Visa orThomas Cook TCs , so make sure to bring AMEX (at least I got that right and also get for free from my bank ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 still cheaper than using your atm card , and safer than bringing loads of cash . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globetrotter Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Ya , my feeling exactly , its just getting over the initial shock of such a huge increase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xyzzy Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 **If** you have a card that charges no fees you will get a slightly better rate on a card than travelers checks and both now get charged about 150 baht for the transaction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxpharm Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Disappointing news, but I guess it was only a matter of time - just as Aeon bank changed to the extra 150 Baht ATM fee. Azza had suggested another way to avoid fees - if you preload one of your credit cards with the amount of cash you wish to spend while in LOS, you can do a cash advance to get Baht from any of the money changers that are associated with the Thai banks. (This would also mean you have zero debt on your credit card prior to your trip). Of course some credit cards don't give the best exchange rate so that needs to be checked as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdogg Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I hear that many Thai banks are now charging 180 baht for ATM withdrawals using foreign cards. This is in addition to the fees charged by your bank at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumblebee Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Seems more and more guys are just bringing a lump of cash for the duration of a trip now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azza33 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Seems more and more guys are just bringing a lump of cash for the duration of a trip now. All good as long as you have a Thai bank account to dump it in for safekeeping - Hotels safe are not ideal to say the least. As Rx mentioned, i was using a loaded up credit card that provided wholesale exchange rates and zero fees. AEON ATM served me well for zero thai fees. Was saving me about $50 for every $1000 i withdrew. 1500 baht saved - more bang for your buck - so to speak. Of course the "banks" like to close all the loopholes. I'm did a few checks her in Oz and came up with the Citiplus savings account. Not sure whats available in you neck of the woods, but this accounts offers wholesale exchange rates and zero fees at Citi ATM's worldwide. Lord Buddha, in his kind ways, has offered myself the Citi branch next to Soi Cowboy in BKK and, on my far affield adventures, he has ensured an ATM is only a liesurely 10 min stroll from Walking Street in Angeles City (nearby the casino). Incidently, the Citi ATMs in Phillipines allows a higher per transaction withdrawal than the other banks which seems to max out around 10000 peso. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomcat Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Seems more and more guys are just bringing a lump of cash for the duration of a trip now. thats me... i never bring TCheques since they bounced two back at the airport kiosk after they said the signature was not the same.. i mean , i had a passport FFS.. go figure that out I had to return them for a refund but the girl in the kiosk was a bitch and a deathly plague upon her never ever again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenton42 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thais really don't like Thomas Cook traveler's checks. Back around 2004-5, Thomas Cook had a counterfeit problem in Thailand. If cashiers take a bad check, they're responsible for the money. Thus, many find any reason not to take them. It may also take considerably longer to cash a Thomas Cook check as they often call to verify the serial numbers. Never had a problem with American Express. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomcat Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks Trenton , you answered that one for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamSam Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I've always taken American Express TC and never ever had a problem with them. The kiosks like higher denominations though. At least that has been my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxpharm Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 I hear that many Thai banks are now charging 180 baht for ATM withdrawals using foreign cards. This is in addition to the fees charged by your bank at home. Kasikorn Bank definitely has increased to 180 Baht. Bangkok Bank was still at 150 Baht in August. Likely only a matter of time before all the Thai banks are at 180 Baht for the foreign card fee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixon cox Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I hear that many Thai banks are now charging 180 baht for ATM withdrawals using foreign cards. This is in addition to the fees charged by your bank at home. Kasikorn Bank definitely has increased to 180 Baht. Bangkok Bank was still at 150 Baht in August. Likely only a matter of time before all the Thai banks are at 180 Baht for the foreign card fee. Kasikorn began charging B180 for withdrawals using foreign cards back in March this year. It says so on my spreadsheet Just take out the maximum possible at any one time, providing your daily withdrawal amount on your card can accommodate that. Currently B20,000 at a Kasikorn ATM. I have zero knowledge of travellers cheques. The last time I used one of those was at the end of the last millennium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxpharm Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Kasikorn began charging B180 for withdrawals using foreign cards back in March this year. It says so on my spreadsheet Just take out the maximum possible at any one time, providing your daily withdrawal amount on your card can accommodate that. Currently B20,000 at a Kasikorn ATM. I have zero knowledge of travellers cheques. The last time I used one of those was at the end of the last millennium. Bangkok Bank was still at 150 Baht for the foreign ATM card fee in late August. In addition it allows a maximum 25,000 Baht for a single transaction while most other Thai bank ATMs are restricted to 20,000 Baht. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibound Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Bangkok Bank was still at 150 Baht for the foreign ATM card fee in late August. In addition it allows a maximum 25,000 Baht for a single transaction while most other Thai bank ATMs are restricted to 20,000 Baht. thanks rx, good to know. i've been using krungsri, the yellow atm, which is the only one i've found in LOS that allows B30,000 per withdrawal for the same fee, but now that they've up it to B180 per transaction, the BKKBank at 25k/150 becomes a (slightly) better deal. i've got no bank fees added back home, so the 0.5%--now 0.6% (180/30,000)--at krungsri has been mostly a non-issue, certainly relative to keeping B100,000 in a hotel safe--or, from what i see every day in the pattaya news police reports on tv, in my unzipped pocket sitting drunk on a baht bus at 3am next to a hooker i met an hour earlier... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke007 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 sure it wasnt 5 or 6am TB ?, I've bumped into you walking around the streets pretty sober at 4am sometimes buddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibound Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 i have no idea to what you refer, sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globetrotter Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 ok with the increase in charge was thinking of bringing some $500 Amex cheques, but since I have only used $100 and $50 in the past not sure if I will have any issues trying to cash them, anyone had any experiences positive or negative using $500 cheques Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamSam Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I've used $500 Amex TC in the past however you might have to go to a bank. $100 are not a problem whatsoever. Or at least that has been my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globetrotter Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 exactly $100 never a problem even at the smallest cambio place, but I'm just wondering if the $500 aren't worth the hassle for the relatively little money you save in cashing fees, so will only banks cash them then? if so it will take a bit more organization on my part something I'm not always on top of when on holiday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rxpharm Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Any of the bank owed foreign exchange booths will accept the USD$500 or CAD$500 Amex TCs without a problem, I've used them several times in the past. You will need to show your passport and fill a form out that says what hotel you are staying at. With the Thai ATM fee increased to 180 Baht, TC are the better option now, unless you want to carry cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.