Ask question

What are the best travel money cards for use in Thailand?

Travel Money Cards Expat Finance Thailand Travel Visa and Banking Money Transfer Currency Exchange

Nov 18, 2021

3 years ago

Neville *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi any advice on travel money cards

1,607

views

1

likes

41

all likes

26

replies

0

images

15

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around the various travel money cards suitable for use in Thailand, with users recommending options such as Starling Bank, Monzo, Revolut, and Wise. Key points include the lack of conversion fees, ease of use for ATM withdrawals, and favorable exchange rates. Some users suggest carrying US currency and converting it locally for better rates, while others highlight the importance of low fees and ease of topping up cards via mobile apps. Overall, there are multiple options available, and users share personal experiences on the pros and cons of each.

Neville *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Still dont know which to get I want something I can top up at anytime with mobile app can draw from atm

Like

Reply

Terry ********

Halifax Clarity

Like

Reply

Jack *********

Caxton fx. Used for 10 years never had any problems and its free.

Like

Reply

Mma *******

I tend to think just bring cash and change it here at small booths to get best rate. I personally have never had a bad experience here or lost money so what's the point of getting a money card... If you 'take care' you don't really need those money cards. Rinse 2k in cash then use ATM if you run out.

Like

Reply

Jeannette ***********

Monzo is good

Like

Reply

Hans *********

Bangkok Bank Travel Card !

Very easy.

Like

Reply

Sheen ************

Use Starling and Revolut

Like

Reply

Drew *******

I use Revolut, good exchange rate. Load with sterling, if overloaded you can use it as a debit card on your return.

Like

Reply

Nick *******

Once loaded with Sterling, fo you then have to convert to baht or can you keep £’s on the card and the baht conversion is done for you when spending?

Like

Reply

Drew *******

never used wise for transfer, as yet. Revolut take about 2 working days and cheaper than my uk bank and far better exchange rate. UK bank was 5 banking days.

Like

Reply

Nick *******

Ok cheers for all the info. 👍

Like

Reply

Drew *******

👍

Like

Reply

Reply to

Drew *******

Reply

Drew *******

I normally transfer funds from my UK bank account and have varying rates upon either withdrawal or purchase.

Like

Reply

Drew *******

you keep in £'s and it converts as you spend.

Like

Reply

Nick *******

Thanks, so to clarify and to make sure I’ve got my head around this. You can either load the card in baht guaranteeing a single fixed rate or you can load in sterling and pay varying exchange rates upon each purchase?

Like

Reply

Drew *******

The rate you get is the current rate I also use my revolut acct to transfer money to my Thai bank account.

Like

Reply

Nick *******

So you transfer UK bank to Revolut to Thai bank? Have you found that’s a better route than going via Wise?

Like

Reply

Reply to

Nick *******

Reply

Martin ********

Wise has a debit card that you can load with baht. You convert your home currency to baht at the time you transfer to your card balance. You load it up when the rate gets good. Last month I think the rate got up to around 33.7 to USD so I transferred in at around that time. Wise fees are quite low, at least for ACH transfer to the card balance.

The card has a Mastercard logo and chip.

A member of the group has one. He will be in Thaland next week. I asked him to let me know how it worked out for him. I will encourage him to post his experiences.

Like

Reply

Alain ***************

@Martin *******

i use the wise debit card for everything here. Food delivery to pay phone/electricity bill. I have swiss franks on it, convert to thb with a fair exchange rate and almost no fees

Like

Reply

Bob **********

@Martin *******

you will still pay the 120 baht ATM fee at banks in Thailand maybe more depending on the bank a Schwab debit card returns all ATM fees

Like

Reply

Martin ********

Just been looking at that card and it looks good. I was a little concerned about exchange rates, but it says that it offers very fair rates. I'll consider getting one.

Like

Reply

Martin ********

I was thinking more to use it for making purchases rather than pulling cash. I just want to lower the amount of cash that I would be carrying.

Like

Reply

Bob **********

@Martin *******

don't know how that will work a lot of businesses charge and extra 3% to use a card good luck

Like

Reply

Reply to

Bob **********

Reply

Sodi *********

TransferWise, now called just

. Download the app or use the website.

Like

Reply

Hovvard ******

I carried quite a bit of US currency in my money belt. If I had a a visitor to my room the belt went right into the safe. When that ran out I would take a good amount out of a bank atm.

Like

Reply

Lisa ********************

Starling Bank is a proper bank card but no conversion fee. Other Money cards I use are Monzo & Revolut. What do you want to know ?

Like

Reply

Reply to

Lisa ********************

Reply

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

... members · 60% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

What is the best way to send money from the UK to Thailand and use the Wise card effectively?

78 comments

2 months ago

What are the best apps for sending money to Thailand besides Wise?

61 comments

6 months ago

What are the cheapest options to obtain Thai currency while in Thailand?

32 comments

7 months ago

Which credit card is better for travel in Thailand: Amex or Mastercard?

39 comments

a year ago

What are the best options for carrying money to Thailand without incurring high fees?

105 comments

a year ago

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

78 comments

a year ago

Is Wise a good choice for withdrawing money in Thailand?

54 comments

a year ago

What is the best bank for opening an account in Thailand for expats?

21 comments

a year ago

What is the best travel card for foreign currency in Thailand?

50 comments

a year ago

What are the best options for transferring money from the US to a Thai bank account?

14 comments

2 years ago

What are the best and cheapest options to transfer money from the UK to Thailand?

156 comments

2 years ago

What are the best ways to access cash in Thailand if you've lost your debit card?

47 comments

2 years ago

Is it better to carry cash or use cards for travel in Thailand?

106 comments

3 years ago

What are the best banking options for expats traveling to Thailand?

21 comments

3 years ago

What are the best ways to manage money while living in Thailand?

64 comments

3 years ago

What are the best options for exchanging money or bringing cash to Thailand?

57 comments

3 years ago

Is it worth getting a Wise card for money transfers and spending in Thailand as an expat?

13 comments

3 years ago

How useful is the Wise multi-currency card for Canadians traveling to Thailand?

14 comments

3 years ago

What are the best ways to obtain THB when in Thailand?

83 comments

3 years ago

What are the pros and cons of using a cash travel card versus a regular visa debit card for spending in Thailand?

25 comments

3 years ago

Is it easy to use the Wise Card for money transfers in Thailand?

8 comments

3 years ago

What are the benefits of using a Starling Bank account in Thailand?

36 comments

4 years ago

What are the best ways to withdraw money in Thailand without incurring high fees?

32 comments

4 years ago

What are the best money transfer services for sending money to Thailand?

71 comments

4 years ago

What are the best ATMs to use in Thailand for low withdrawal fees when using a Starling card?

37 comments

5 years ago

Data protection policy Terms and conditions Disclaimer Privacy policy Refund policy

The asq:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.