Exchange rate info please.

[migrant]

There is a downside with T/Cs - they charge for every cheque that you change, so ensure that you get large denominations. You bank will probably try to give you a variety of £20 and £50 denomiations - insist on £100 units only.

We also had trouble cashing T/C's anywhere except banks. We didn't stay, or try, at Hilton size hotels, but even at midsize hotels they did not want to cash.

I take cash, and deposit in the joint account my Wife, and I , have when we arrive, and use the ATM when needed.

I take my US ATM but am always concerned that a glitch may happen and I can't use it. If I didn't have cash I could be stuck.

It happened once in Honduras, my ATM card wouldn't work and we were not in a large city, so the side trip was cut short, and cheap, until I got to a place I could sort it out.

[Big Boy]

Ouch!! Not having been for a couple years, I've ordered my T/Cs as usual - should have picked them up yesterday, but was too busy. Luckily, I don't pay for T/C's, and it's not too late to change them back to cash.

Before I do anything, I'd like to hear if anybody else has experienced difficulties when trying to change T/Cs in Hua Hin recently please.

[johnnyk]

The banks really can't be bothered setting different rates for their different kiosks so an airport bank window is the same as anywhere else.

Beg to differ but in my experience BKK airport gives about 1 THB less on the dollar exchange rate than the high street Banks or Kiosks. Worldwide airport exchanges nearly always give a lower rate.

Never experienced it at BKK airport myself.

[johnnyk]

NEVER do f/x at your hotel, you will be guaranteed the worst rate. And why would you? There are banks and f/x windows all over town, HH isn't Nakhon Nowhere.

[PeteC]

.......I take my US ATM but am always concerned that a glitch may happen and I can't use it. If I didn't have cash I could be stuck.

Just as an FYI on this part Migrant. Been using ATM cards from a variety of USA banks here for years and never had any problems. Just stick to machines owned by the major banks which are well marked, and don't forget your PIN number. 3 bad entries and it will eat your card and you'll have to go to the bank branch which controls that machine to get it back. Usually takes 24-48 hours as they have to empty the machine first. Then, you have to call your USA bank and get them to turn on the account/pin again.

As with anywhere, use your other hand to conceal the key pad when putting in your pin number, and if anyone too close behind you in line and possibly staring over your shoulder, turn around and give them the farang stare of death and they'll move back. Pete

[migrant]

.......I take my US ATM but am always concerned that a glitch may happen and I can't use it. If I didn't have cash I could be stuck.

Just as an FYI on this part Migrant. Been using ATM cards from a variety of USA banks here for years and never had any problems. Just stick to machines owned by the major banks which are well marked, and don't forget your PIN number. 3 bad entries and it will eat your card and you'll have to go to the bank branch which controls that machine to get it back. Usually takes 24-48 hours as they have to empty the machine first. Then, you have to call your USA bank and get them to turn on the account/pin again.

As with anywhere, use your other hand to conceal the key pad when putting in your pin number, and if anyone too close behind you in line and possibly staring over your shoulder, turn around and give them the farang stare of death and they'll move back. Pete

Thanks Pete My stare send kids screaming for their Moms and bargirls fainting with laughter

[johnnyk]

falang death stare is a useful life skill!

[hhfarang]

I use my U.S. ATM several times every month with no problems except that the Banks fraud department will sometimes de-activate the card automatically when it is used in Thailand. I suggest you call your bank before you leave and speak to someone in the fraud dept to let them know what dates you will be using the card in Thailand so this does not happen.

[pharvey]

I use my U.S. ATM several times every month with no problems except that the Banks fraud department will sometimes de-activate the card automatically when it is used in Thailand. I suggest you call your bank before you leave and speak to someone in the fraud dept to let them know what dates you will be using the card in Thailand so this does not happen.

I agree with HHF on the card - wherever I am traveling, I give the bank my schedule as best I can and tell them that I'll withdraw x amount from the airport ATM on arrival and then use various ATM's hotels during my trip. Very occasionally however, the bank's fraud department will still block the card, but this is cleared within 10-15 mins after a simple (if annoying) phone call.

When traveling to Thailand/HH, I'll always make sure I have enough cash for the taxi and the first night just in case something does go amiss. To date, I've not had a problem with any of the ATM's/Banks in Hua Hin. Also use the card (Debit or Credit) at Tesco/home Pro et al, so all very easy.

[migrant]

I call both the credit cards I use, and the ATM, but after that one time I had a problem, I carry cash.

Probably never happen, and Honduras is a lot less "advanced" than Thailand, so I should relax, but.....

[lomuamart]

Agree with the above. I had trouble regularly with my UK debit card and ATMs until I finally realised what the problem was - the bank was de-activating it after about 2-3 months. I'd call their security centre and everything would be OK 15 minutes later.
Fortunately, I've been here long enough now that Barclays must have put something into their computer system and my card has never been blocked again - that's for about three years now.
However, I do get hit hard by the charges here in Thailand and back home. So, if the exchange rate is 48 to GBP, I'll end up with about 45.
Userers!!!

[Big Boy]

There is a downside with T/Cs - they charge for every cheque that you change, so ensure that you get large denominations. You bank will probably try to give you a variety of £20 and £50 denomiations - insist on £100 units only.

We also had trouble cashing T/C's anywhere except banks. We didn't stay, or try, at Hilton size hotels, but even at midsize hotels they did not want to cash.

I take cash, and deposit in the joint account my Wife, and I , have when we arrive, and use the ATM when needed.

I take my US ATM but am always concerned that a glitch may happen and I can't use it. If I didn't have cash I could be stuck.

It happened once in Honduras, my ATM card wouldn't work and we were not in a large city, so the side trip was cut short, and cheap, until I got to a place I could sort it out.

Ouch!! Not having been for a couple years, I've ordered my T/Cs as usual - should have picked them up yesterday, but was too busy. Luckily, I don't pay for T/C's, and it's not too late to change them back to cash.

Before I do anything, I'd like to hear if anybody else has experienced difficulties when trying to change T/Cs in Hua Hin recently please.

Sorry for bumping this one, but I need to make a decision soon - has anybody other than migrant had the same experience please?

[uncle tom]

I havn't used traveller's cheques for a decade or more - now that everywhere has ATM's I don't really see the point of them.

However, ATM's do fail from time to time, so I make a point of staying in places that have room safes, and keep a few days drinking money on hand in case the system goes down.

I also have two current accounts with debit cards, in case an ATM swallows a card; and a few credit cards to fall back on as a last resort.

Tom

[Spitfire]

To be frankly honest, I don't see the point to travelers cheques or changing money before you come.

My father visited a few months ago and to get TCs in the UK pound from the Uk you have to pay commission, plus if you want baht from the UK end then they shaft you on the exchange rate, sorry, "their" exchange rate. US dollars had no commission to the bank now but then you have to convert it at "their" exchange rate to dollars, then you have to change them again when you get to LOS, so you are exchanging your money twice , excuse me while I bend over .

Just told pops to bring cash and visa/switch/ATM cards, change the/some cash at the airport and use plastic cash advance if you need any more.

No credit card transactions, cash is king, plus it's safer so you don't get exposed to any scams regarding plastic at hotels/restaurants etc after you've left or before. Withdrew 2000 pounds later as a cash advance from Bangkok Bank at a mall and they charged a flat rate 50 quid.

We changed a thousands pounds cash at the airport in BBK and ended up 5 thousand baht better off for it than changing it in the UK before. After you have changed your money twice with TC then would have been worse off as well.

Cash and plastic is the way to go IMO.

[Big Boy]

I'm sorry to have to tell you Spitfire, but you are quite a way off the mark

to get TCs in the UK pound from the Uk you have to pay commission

I don't pay one penny for mine.

visa/switch/ATM cards

At 150 Baht per transaction Plus my cards will only allow the Thai equivalent of £250 per day, so thats a lot of 150 Bahts.

cash is king

If you lose your cash in any circumstances, you are stuffed . With T/Cs, you can throw them in the bin, burn them, even hand them out on the street corner. A simple phone call, and they have been replaced - holiday continues as planned.

We changed a thousands pounds cash at the airport in BBK and ended up 5 thousand baht better off for it than changing it in the UK before.

How much more would you have received with T/Cs?

Cash and plastic is the way to go IMO

Please see above.

As nobody else is reporting problems changing T/Cs, I will take a chance with them. We have plenty of currency left over from previous trips to see us through if we need to wait for bank opening times. I will report my success, or otherwise.