pdogg Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Been to Cambodia once and brought American dollars and my USA credit card and had no problems. Big plus that there aren't foreign exchange surcharges sine I'm withdrawing dollars. I may be going back there, this time for a few months to teach. A three month trip requires more planning than a two week trip. Timing is very bad as it is about the same time so of my American credit cards exprire and not sure if I will have physical possesion of them. Now as a backup I have Thai credit cards. I assume the exchnage rate would be the interbank Dollar/Baht exchange rate but am also wondering what fees the Thai banks will charge. Now of course, I'll wander down and ask the Thai banks where I have account but don't expect a good answer. Even in the States no banker has been able to explain the fees to me and neiother has any customer phine rep. Problem involves both Visa and the issuing bank both taking a cut. Anyone have any experience using credit/debit cards of ASEAN countries to withdraw dollars in Cambo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fridgemagnet Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I don't understand - you said you were withdrawing dollars, so no foreign exchange charges. Withdrawing in which country? Re the Thai cards - I'm waiting for mine. It takes an age between applying at Bangkok bank for a card, and getting it. Been 2 months now. So I can't help as regards charges in Cambodia, but can you tell me how difficult it was for you to get your Thai credit card. Was there a long wait involved? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdogg Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 Hi Fridge, My problem is that my USA credit cards are all expiring by the time I'll be in Cambo and not sure if I'll have the new ones in my posession. So if I use by Thai debit cards in Cambo I will probably incur fees and maybe even a very poor exchange rate, which is what I'm trying to find out. I have 3 Thai debit cards which were issued on the spot. But I have no Thai credit cards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katoeylover Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I would take Thai Cash and exchange there. Either way there will be charges, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 This thread began back in Jan of 2011, so I hope I'm not telling anyone how to crack eggs, given that so many will now know so much more. But a few things. I have used both credit card and debit card to withdraw from ATMs. No problems. I bank ANZ in both Australia and Vietnam, and as most of you who will read this know, there are ANZ ATMs everywhere in Phnom Penh now. Not sure about outside the capital. However, doing that I still incur somewhat rude ATM withdrawal fees. To get around that this most recent trip to PP I took a bunch of Aussie dollars (AUD) I had at home in Saigon. This turned out to be fortuitous. With the currently high exchange rate for the AUD, one can do well in Cambodia - as I do here in VN. I changed my money at one of the changers on the Quay - no charge, as they make their loot by selling the AUD again. This is how I run my finances at home in VN now. I get family or friends coming through from Oz to bring me AUD. I simply put money in their accounts using electronic banking, they withdraw, bring me the cash, and I change it into VND here (at no fee) or USD in PP (girl at changers told me better rate than Camb reil). I save myself hundreds of dollars each time by not having to use ATMs and pay international rate withdrawal fees. Aussie banks hit expats and travellers hard, as we are a group who basically can't fight back. To the Aussie FMs out there, and I know there are a few even though I don't know who you are, think about this kind of option for your next trip. The Aussie dollar is such good value now, and a good financial friend to us when we are abroad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdogg Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 However, doing that I still incur somewhat rude ATM withdrawal fees. Three typical charges: 1) Charge from home country bank 2) Charge from Cambodian Bank 3) Foreign Exchange Fee For Americans there is no FX fee as the machines spit out dollars. If you use Canadia Bank, you avoid the typical $4 fee from the Cambodian Bank. There are about 8 Canadia ATMs in PP, one of those at Sorya Center. A few in Siam Reap, and 1 in Snooky. In Thailand, you avoid Thai bank fees by using Aeon bank, only three of those in Pattaya/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenW Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Coming from the east as I do to enter Cambodia (from Vietnam, that is), it's fun to see the way money varies in its flexibility. On the bus, where the shotgun riders do all the work to get passengers' visas sorted, they only take USD. (25 bucks for a month stay by the way - has to be one of the cheapest visas going around.) Just up the road from the border, once you're done with customs & immigration, the bus pulls into its regular roadside restaurant for lunch. The laminated menu has 4 columns. First column lists the eats, second has price in USD, third has price in Camb reil, last has price in VN dong. I usually take the opportunity to get rid of a bit of VNese small change. These eateries, affiliated with various bus companies, are all located about 1km from the border, in the casino precinct. There must be at least 20 casinos in this small area. Of course they'll take whatever money you turn up with. Last trip it was interesting to see 2 of them covered in cobwebs, security gates chained up, weeds growing by the entrance driveways, for sale signs out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownLoLarry Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Coming from the east as I do to enter Cambodia (from Vietnam, that is), it's fun to see the way money varies in its flexibility. On the bus, where the shotgun riders do all the work to get passengers' visas sorted, they only take USD. (25 bucks for a month stay by the way - has to be one of the cheapest visas going around.) Even cheaper is the correct price for a Cambodian tourist visa which is $20 but I hear that unless arriving at an airport they do their best to shake you down for extra. 30 day Cambo Tourist Visa os 20 USD. 30 day Cambo Ordinary Visa (formerly known as Business Visa) is 25 USD. The Tourist Visa can only be renewed once for an additional month. The Ordinary (Business Visa) can be renewed as indefinitely. Anyone have any info as to the correct price and how to get it going the other way, fom Cambo to Vietnam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dixon cox Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Anyone have any info as to the correct price and how to get it going the other way, fom Cambo to Vietnam? Here's some info on buses and visas between Cambodia and Vietnam. Different travel shops may vary slightly on price by a dollar or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownLoLarry Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 If traveling from Sihanoukville to Ho Chi Minh by bus, is it possible to avoid Phnom Penh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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