Is it better to withdraw cash using ATMs in Thailand or exchange Euros at the airport?

Jan 24, 2025
6 days ago
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Isn't it more beneficial to just take Euros with you and to exchange? Pay now each atm withdrawal is 220 baht plus cost from my bank in the Netherlands? Mvg deep down

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Is het niet voordeliger om gewoon euro, s mee te nemen en om te wisselen? Betaal nu ben elke atm opname 220 baht plus kosten van mijn bank in Nederland? Mvg jeroen
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The consensus in the discussion suggests that while taking Euros to Thailand and exchanging them can be more economical due to lower fees compared to ATM withdrawals, it may not be as safe. Participants recommend using exchange services at Superrich, especially in the airport's basement where rates are favorable. They advise against changing money in the upper levels of the airport or in your home country before traveling, as rates are typically worse. Additionally, using a combination of cash and a credit card is suggested for convenience, but care should be taken when using ATMs to avoid dynamic currency conversion fees.
Ron **********
Je zou ook een multi-currency account bij Wise kunnen nemen.
Eroll *********
Euro’s gemakkelijkst en een goede koers is in de kelder van Bangkok airport. Daar staan 3 hokjes naast elkaar met een goede koers.

(Route) beschrijving hier.

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Leroen ***************
Zijn twee superrich. Je moet de oranje hebben, niet de groene!
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Bart **************
Het is wel voordeliger, maar natuurlijk niet veiliger. Maar inderdaad, neem er wat mee en wissel die om bij Superrich. En dan pinnen als het op is.
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
dat pinnen wil ik juist vanaf, lees mijn eerste bericht, bedankt voor je reactie🙏
Bart **************
@Jeroen ******
nja als je wat langer gaat moet je wel erg veel eurootjes meenemen. Afhankelijk van hoe lang je gaat is dat misschien niet het handigste.

Je kunt tegenwoordig ook op veel plekken met credit card betalen. Dan heb je nog wel een variabel wisseltarief, maar in ieder geval niet die vermaledijde 220 baht vaste kosten erbij. Als je gewoon vaak met cc betaalt kan je het op zich wel redelijk lang volhouden met een paar honderd euro.

Accommodatie kun je soms in euro's betalen via boekingswebsites zonder er überhaupt op te verliezen.
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
die boeren willen niks van plastic geld weten hier, sommige scannen qr code maar dan moet je weer rekening hebben
Bart **************
@Jeroen ******
ah, dino tijdperk. Altijd leuk 😜
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
dank je maar heb boerinnetje met huis dus alleen eetgeld nodig en voor wat uitjes😁👍woon daar in pha luat of all places, 30 km van uttaradit
Nongnuch ********
What’s best when travelling to South East Asia and Thailand: cash or credit cards?

A good mix of cash, plus one or two credit cards will do the trick.

In Thailand, Cash is king. Restaurants, street vendors, clothing shops, night markets = everyone loves your cash.

At the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok you can get one of the best exchange rates in all of Thailand.

BE CAREFUL: you can't get this best rate in the arrival area or in transit, or on the level with the shops and restaurants. Briefly explained - you should NEVER change your cash in the upper floors of the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

There are bank exchange booths, but at these you get a terribly bad rate, which is at least 3-5 THB per Dollar or Euro or Pound Sterling worse than the rate at the money changers in the basement.

If someone tells you that the exchange rate at the airport is bad, it's because this person has only seen the upper levels exchange booths, and has never been to the Suvarnabhumi Airport basement.

You should also never change in your home country before you travel, the difference is 5-6 THB compared to the rate you will receive in Thailand.

After you have passed Immigration on your arrival, you will be in the area with the baggage belts - before Thai customs. You will see a first ATM in this venue, at which you could withdraw cash with a credit card. NOTE: There are no ATM’s in the concourses BEFORE Immigration.

Drawing Thai Baht at an ATM using your credit card offers the daily foreign exchange spot rate, and that's a really good rate. If your card-issuing bank doesn't charge any commission for using the card abroad, it means you will get Thai Baht for a really, really good exchange deal.

It would actually be a better exchange rate than anything you would get with those money changers in the streets and on the beaches.

The bank that operates the ATM will charge a flat 220.- THB fee for each withdrawal. So you should spread this fee across the maximum amount which you can draw at the ATM.

At most ATMs you get 20.000.- THB in one draw. At the yellow Krungsri Bank ATM you can get up to 30.000.- THB with one draw.

You shouldn't withdraw 2000.- THB or 5000.- THB from the ATM. The 220.- THB fee would hurt a lot!

CAUTION is advised at an ATM: if the ATM offers to show you the exchange rate in your currency on the monitor (dynamic currency conversion), you should ALWAYS refuse! You will lose a lot of money if you agree with the “conversion”!

You will never see the exchange rate applied when using the normal withdrawal method. You will be able to check the rate much later on your account statements. However, I can rest assure you that the credit card provider rate is a very good rate!

One of the advantages of a credit card is: You don't have to take a lot cash with you.

The disadvantage of a credit card however is: If you lose it, or make a mistake at the ATM and the ATM eats your card, you will be left standing in the rain

PAY ATTENTION: at a Thai ATM, the bills will come first, followed by the card! This might be different from the ATM’s in your home country. Many people get caught off guard and forget to take the card from the slot, and Bingo! - the ATM eats your card

WHERE at the airport are the money changers with the best exchange rates?

After passing Thai Customs, you need to take the escalators or the elevators down to the basement of the airport, which is called "Floor B” – or just follow the signs to the "Airport Rail Link"- this is the shuttle train to downtown Bangkok.

Right at the platform of the “Airport Rail Link” there are three money changer booths. With them, you can get the best exchange rate of the whole of Thailand. This is NO exaggeration! At the booths of Superrich, HappyRich and Kasikorn, you will get an identical rate.

Maybe you may get a marginally better rate at the Superrich Head Office in downtown, but you don’t arrive there after your flight. You should take your chance and exchange your cash right here in the airport basement, and right now.

Large denomination banknotes will get you a better exchange rate than smaller denominations. The banknotes should not be creased or torn, or contain any markings and scribbles.

The three money changers in the airport basement are open from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m

On the southern islands the exchange rate is always by far less. On the islands I recommend you exchange over a bank counter. Always compare between the bank rate and the rate offered by private moneychangers.

The exchange rate over across a bank counter is rather mediocre, but in the south and on the islands, it is usually the better choice.

Using your credit card or debit card for a change across a bank counter saves you the 220 THB fee that would otherwise be charged at the ATM, but the rate is not as good compared to a withdrawal at the ATM

Exchanging cash right after arriving at the Suvarnabhumi BKK airport is a perfect choice for all travellers. It saves you from having to find a private money changer.

Don’t forget: exchanging cash at private money changers will not get you any better rate than if you are drawing at an ATM with your credit card. With the exception of a marginally better rate at the green and orange Superrich booths in Bangkok and the yellow/black TT-Exchange booths in Pattaya, your credit card is the perfect choice.
Farang ******
Klopt. Beste bij superrich airport in kelder. Of superrich elders in bkk. Biljetten moeten er wel als nieuw uitzien. Hogere biljetten hebben iets betere wisselkoers.
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Oh en weet je toevallig of contant bij elke bkb atm te storten is want heb vrouwtje pas een rekening laten openen😁had achteraf niet gehoeven
John ******
@Jeroen ******
geen idee. Ik stort nooit geld. Waar zou dat vandaan moeten komen? Uit dezelfde atm. Klinkt wat onhandig
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *****
nee geld uit Holland, wisselen bij superrich en storten op Bangkok account
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Laatste vraag, ben hier nu voor 4e keer in 13 maanden dus reis wel met wat Thais geld maar keek vandaag wat het kost om van de abn amro naar Bangkok bank over te maken, maar ben me de pest geschrokken(dievenbende die nog bestaan nadat ze met ons belastinggeld gered zijn) maar vraag? Neem aan dat superrich achter de douane zit of niet?
John ******
@Jeroen ******
ja je verlaat gewoon vlieg gedeelte, passeert immigration pakt je bagage van de band en verlaat airport gedeelte. Neem lift of roltrap naar laagste verdieping waar de trainer vertrekken en vlak daarbij staan boxen van de geldwisselaars. Kom niet in de verleiding direct achter douane waar je koffers oppikt of ng erger voordat je de douane bereikt, je geld te wisselen. Dan krijg je een bodemkoers. Weggegooid geld !
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *****
👍🙏
Bart **************
@Jeroen ******
achter de douane inderdaad.

Overmaken naar Thailand kan je het beste doen met Wise. Rechtstreeks is inderdaad erg duur.
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Farang *****
dank je, ik land op suvarb. Int. Airport en ga naar uttaradit, kom ik daar 1 tegen, en atm Nederland geeft alleen maar 50 euro biljetten
Stefan *******
@Jeroen ******
de betere koers is vanaf 50 euro.
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stefan ******
was ook van plan om volgende keer alleen 50 euro biljetten mee te nemen
Farang ******
@Jeroen ******
Ja klopt hoger dan 50 zijn zo goed als niet te krijgen in NL en is ook verwaarloosbaar. Of je moet een ton aan euro inwisselen.😆. In de kelder is een lange roltrap volg die en je komt superrich tegen 👍🏻
Jeroen *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
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