May I ask a couple of simple money questions to smooth the beginning of my 3 month or so stay in Hua Hin? - Arriving 7th Feb.
I've read that it should be possible to open a "savings" account with a Thai bank and also get issued with an ATM card to go with it. Can anyone confirm if I can do this in any of the branches in Hua Hin. Or do you "old hands" think it better to just use an ATM to draw from my UK account with a UK card?
My favorite way of moving money abroad is to open an account locally and transfer using my XEtrade *dot* com account to get the full bank rate. Any idea if one of these Thai bank savings accounts would allow receipt of an electonic transfer in US dollars (converted by the bank on arrival into Baht at the local bank rate)?
I'm planning on bringing some cash with me for the short term (GBP stirling), does anyone know what kind of rate I'll get at the moment and where I should be going to get it? Change at the airport? Change in Hua Hin? In a bank? Somewhere else?
Any pointers to reasure me I'll be doing the best thing will make me very happy!
Thanks guys 'n gals.
Marvo.
Just because you're not paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get you!
I've held a Nationwide debit card for several years, used it over here on my holidays and have lived here now for approx 4 1/2 years.
Never ever had a problem and the exchange rate is as good as any.
Onlyme.
PS. No commission.
Any idea if one of these Thai bank savings accounts would allow receipt of an electonic transfer in US dollars (converted by the bank on arrival into Baht at the local bank rate)?
Marvo, I've had no problem doing this from a UK account in stirling with a swift transfer. Opening an account is no problem, the subject is covered somewhere on the forum if you have a look around.
Onlyme wrote:I've held a Nationwide debit card for several years, used it over here on my holidays and have lived here now for approx 4 1/2 years.
Never ever had a problem and the exchange rate is as good as any.
Onlyme.
PS. No commission.
Out of curiosity, how do you get hold of your new atm card when it expires as i've heard nationwide do not post overseas?
for security your best getting it sent to an addres in the UK but still have the card deactivated and DHL it to Thailand then activate it when you have your hands on it
I do the same thing through my daughter's house in the States with credit, debit and ATM cards. Mine all show up deactivated though and you have to call the bank, answer some security questions and then they activate it. Some you can activate on-line through their web sites. Pete
Thanks for that - I'll make enquiries with my bank.
As I've posted before, I leave an ATM with my daughter, and transfer funds to pay for things such as my granddaughter's education. Arrival of a new card rarely coincides with a visit to Thailand. I'm always on edge when I send her a new card through the post (generally there's never more than 5 Pounds in the account, and no overdraft facilities), just in case it gets intercepted.
BB, I have my daughter FEDEX everything like that. The cost is worth the peace of mind and it's here in my hands within 48 hours from the West Coast USA. Pete
The general postal service is very hit or miss - I know several people that sent my daughter Christmas Cards this year, not one got through.
However, for anything important I use the Post Office's signed for service, and have experienced 100% success. Usually delivered within 5 days at a cost of just under 5 Pounds. As I've said, there's never any money in the account unless I need to pay for something in Thailand, so I think the risk is acceptable - regardless, I still worry.
BB, due to my nomadic lifestyle, I’ve had to get ATM cards sent to me for years. From my bank the card usually arrives about a month before the old one expires, and isn’t active until then, so as long as you receive it before that date, there is no problem. Obviously if you don’t receive it you have to call the bank to cancel it before it becomes active. I use normal mail in Europe and a courier service to Asia and, incidentally, these services normally charge you for a document service which allows you half a kilo, so get whoever is sending to stick in anything else you need to make up the weight, even if it’s only your local newspaper.
Its pretty much as prcscct said, just call teh bank and ask them not to activate the card, once its arrive you just call up and answer a few security questions and they activate it on the spot
