Currency, Bangkok

Favorite thing: FX booths are very easy to find in Thailand as are ATMs. They are all bank run and the official rates are posted daily in the Thai Newspapers including the English language ones. There can be minor differences from one bank to the next, but it is normally not more than a fraction of one Baht. If cashing TCs you will need to show your passport. The rate for TCs is a bit better than for cash, but you pay a charge for each TC so that may mean any benefits of an improved rate are negated.

Regards

John

Favorite thing: Major credit cards (CC) are accepted in the major cities like Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, etc. Some companies levy an additional surcharge when purchasing sale items. Amexco, Visa, Mastercard, JCB are all accepted.

Notes are always accepted by currency exchange kiosks while Traveler's Cheques have a lower rate than notes.

Some rural places do not accept CCs.

Fondest memory: Most people smiled and accommodated our requests.

Favorite thing: Thai notes are in the following denomination:

1000 = gray
500 = purple
100 = red
50 = blue
20 = green
10 = brown

Coins: 10 baht, 5, 2, 1. 50satangs and 25.

Fondest memory: Tourist change currency in city proper instead of airport since airports offer lower than city rates. I usually change just enough for transpo charge.

Favorite thing: hopefully not too late w/ this response but at the bangkok airport (Suvarnabhumi), there is a currency exchange w/ two ATM machines next to it. they are located near the elevators after you exit the baggage claim on the first floor. you'll see transportation hawkers. go beyond them and you'll see an elevator. at the elevator, to the right, you'll see the currency exchange office and the ATMs. i think they are Krung Thai Bank or kbb and siam commercial bank.

take the max amount of $$ you can out of the ATM and try to exchange one of the large denominations into a smaller amount for the cab fare.

Favorite thing: ATM machines are widely available everywhere in Bangkok (and are Linked to CIRRUS, MAESTRO, PLUS, DISCOVER international ATM consortiums) and they accept most cards, this is also the best way to change your money, bring your local bank card and get the money in Thailand from an ATM (don't change at your hotel). Tip: There are also 100 Baht notes in the ATM, take for example 2900 Baht out and you have small money straight away.

They charge a minimal amount for an atm withdrawal (about 120 baht) irregardless of amount withdrawn so I suggest you withdraw more than 3,000 Baht or more rather than just withdraw 500-1,000 baht per transaction.

Favorite thing: Thailand uses the Bath as it's currency, each Baht is divided into 100 satang but since 1 bath is just 3 cents (dollar and euro) the satang is rarely used, you might receive 25 or 50 satang coins in the supermarket. For the Bath there are three different coins: the 1 bath coin, the 5 bath coin and the 10 bath coin and 5 different bank notes: the 20 Bath note (Green), 50 Bath (Light Blue), 100 Bath (Light Red), 500 Bath (Purple) and 1000 Bath (Gray/Brown).

The most important thing you have to remember in Thailand is that most shops or taxi drivers do not have change for 500 or 1000 Bath notes. Make sure you always have change in the form of 20 and 100 Bath notes, a good place to obtain your change is to buy something at a 7-Eleven or Family Mart, shops that are open 24 hours a day.

Favorite thing: (as of April 20, 2007)

Siam City Bank
Khaosan road

US $ 100 = ThB 3,441

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(as of April 13, 2006)

TMB Bank Public Company Ltd.
(National Stadium Station) near MBK
US $ 500 * 37.83 = THB 18,915

as of April 11, 2006
Bangkok Bank (inside the airport)
US $ 100 * 37.19 = THB 3,719.00

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as of Dec. 9, 2004
1. The Siam Commercial Bank
inside Bangkok Airport
Tel. # 02-504-3176
US $ 100 * THB 38.70 = THB 3,837.00

as of Feb. 15, 2004
1. Thai Military Bank (National Stadium Booth, Bkk) -
US$ 200 *38.60 = THB 7,720

as of Feb. 16, 2004
1. Thai Farmer Bank (Siam)
US $ 45 * THB 38.20 = THB 1,719
US $ 2 * THB 37.80 = THB 75.60

as of Dec. 31, 2003
1. Bangkok Bank (Silom Road, Bangrak, Bkk) -
JPY 10,000 * 36.24 = THB 3,624

Favorite thing: Bangkok is a good city for using foreign credit cards and getting money from ATMs. Most restaurants, hotels, and bars (even at Soi Cowboy) were happy to accept my credit card. ATMs are very plentiful, especially at the airport, and all I tried accepted my US Cirrus ATM card.

During my visit in May 2004, exchange rates were approx 1000 Baht to US$25, but could vary.