How much cash should I bring for my stay in Thailand, and is using a Wise card advisable?

Don’t get in a situation where you are reliant on just one card (even wise). I went to transfer funds using my wise card and it took 9 calendar days to sort out because they wanted to verify my source of income on no notice and then took a long time to verify my uploaded documents. It took a phone call and emails and several upload attempts to finally get access to my money again.

Wise card is good use it any Atms

I travel with emergency money which is in excess of 20,000 THB.

What will be the result if you lose all your cash?

It is said you need 20,000 baht in cash to prove you have enough money to support yourself as a requirement to enter the country. Not everyone is checked but it’s something that can be held against you if immigration doesn’t want to let you in. If you want to use bank transfer apps I would say bring enough cash for one or two months because you never know when some website decides to stop working or your email starts claiming you typed the wrong password and you get locked out of your money. In Thailand the currency exchange places give different rates based on what bill. So bring the biggest bill for example USD $100 or whatever currency you use. Make sure to bring the absolute nicest newest bills you can. Any little scratch or writing on the bills or wrinkles they may tell you they wont accept it.

Bring both the card and cash

What is the max withdrawal amount in local ATM in Thailand? Or is there even a max withdrawal. I incurred a lot of bank charges in Macau where one can only withdraw a maximum of 3000HKD per transaction and each transaction cost me bank charges of about 200 baht. I have to withdraw about 10 times to get HKD and cost me 2000 baht bank charges. Anyone know what about Thailand? The last time I drew money from ATM in Bangkok for 5000 baht is ok.

If you must bring cash.... make sure that they are crisp new large denomination bills (ie $100 or similar). Banks here can be picky.

One is supposed to have 20,000 Thai Baht when entering. But this is an old rule and very rarely ... IF EVER... asked for by Immigration and Passport Control. Just dress properly and do NOT look like you are a typical backpacker (shorts and T shrt that have have seen better days if you get what I mean). Appeearence is key) and smile a lot and be polite!

ATMs work perfectly here ... use ones at actual bank branches always a better and safer. Make sure you do not request conversion and when using in a major store always ask to pay in Thai Baht (better rate).

I just arrived on 60 visa asked nothing at passport control just stamped and said welcome to Thailand

When taking cash from ATM as part of your free monthly Wise allowance if you find one of those AEON ATM machines the price as I recall is lower than the 220 of the other bank ATMs. I think it was 150-170 per transaction. Been over a year since I used it as have a Thai bank account now

ATMs charge 220

Baht per withdrawal. It’s steep, even could be considered extortionate, but far less than the cost of losing a pile of cash.

I’d price the 220 in and consider withdrawing 20-30k at a time. You’re looking at 1% or less in terms of transaction cost. Is 1% worth the insurance and peace of mind?

Cash!

I have Wise card, been here 7 months and have only used it when traveling to other countries for hotels, restaurants and shopping.

You can use in Thailand but debit/credit cards are mostly accepted more in larger stores, hotels etc.

Cash is king

Just use any ATM. Select, “Continue without conversion”, and you will get the best rate and only pay the 220 baht atm fee. 🙏🏽

I am here from Australia, my bank provides fee free credit and debit cards. It pays the 220bht ATM fee. I have an App that gives me the daily exchange rate. I have Google wallet on my phone and Villa and Big C Supermarket chains allowed me to swipe. For all the hassle involved I don't bother carrying heaps of cash. Unless you are in the country side order drinking and smoking in shady bars. I wouldn't bother with heaps of cash. In Bangkok I use a travel card on the train and the Grab app for most taxi rides. The motor bike rides cost 20-25 bht. I just drawer 5K from the ATM as needed. Yesterday my bank exchange rate was 22. on the 3000bht I withdrew. The ATM offer was 21., and the money changer offer was 21.9. The Australian bank official rate was 22.9. Do yourself a favour check your banks and get a card with no fees, large amounts of cash also leave you open to having it stolen.

Cash is king . Better rates .

Cash....then you can exchange when the rates get favourable in countryinstead of accepting the poor rates from banks plus fees...its like getting burned twice using atms

Thailand they speak 2 languages first is thai second is cash

Cash, use your credit card when you can as long as you have a card that doesn't change extra for international transactions. Also try to have direct payment on your card to pay every month automatically.

New 50 pound notes order them from your bank then you can't get done for money laundering and anything £ or over you have to declare it

Cash

Plenty of cash. Wise let’s you take 200 a month free but atm May charge. I put it from wise into my girlfriend’s account as we need it so if you have someone you trust you can literally stand at the atm. Put money to them from wise and in 10 seconds draw it out.

Ive been in Thailand for 16 years and have always looked for the cheapest way to exchange my own currency (pounds). After 14 years i realised i could save about 5-6% by bringing my own currency then exchanging it here. You save the 220thb ATM fee plus you get a better exchange rate than your own bank give you via thai atm (avoid tourist area exchange kiosk where rates will be poor) plus your bank also charge an international withdrawal fee. So if you spend 2000 euro a month in cash youll save perhaps 100-120 euro a month. Obvious downside youll be in charge of a big lump of cash which could get lost or stolen.

Wise card will cost you 220 baht for every ATM withdrawal

You can likely ask for a currency exchange at your bank which will likely be a better exchange rate.

Major places will take credit like 7-eleven, lotus’s, big c…etc. but many many vendors will only take cash or pay by phone app which you probably won’t have.

You can be asked to show 20k baht cash or equivalent in a major currency on entry. They don't often ask but can do. Also ATMs will charge you a withdrawal fee every time you use them