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

Travel CardsForeign CurrencyThailandVisaMasterCardATM FeesWise CardRevolutCharles SchwabCash in ThailandExpat Finances
Oct 10, 2023
a year ago
Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
What is the best travel card to use in Thailand for foreign currency
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the best travel cards for use in Thailand, emphasizing various options for handling foreign currency. Participants suggest that while cash remains king, cards like Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted in stores. Important insights include using the Charles Schwab account to avoid ATM fees, along with recommending Wise and Revolut for good currency exchange rates. Some cautions are raised about fees associated with Australian travel cards, preferring cash for places such as markets. Various debit and credit cards are mentioned that do not incur foreign transaction fees, making them suitable for expats in Thailand.
Joe ******
Caxton is good
a year ago
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Charlie ******
Starling
a year ago
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Pierre *******
Any card with a Visa or Mastercard label will do. Amex is limited to high end retailers and hotels.
a year ago
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Rajeev ********
Capital one venture one credit card and Schwab debit card - No foreign transaction fees!
a year ago
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Ji ***********
Cash and visa master cards.
a year ago
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Chuck ******
Just had great success (trip from USA) with using Wise. I reloaded it a couple times while there from WF account and it worked as a ATM and Debit Card. It took two weeks to get my card in the mail
a year ago
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Brandon ******
I don’t need money, have a Thai wife sugar momma!
a year ago
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Daniel ******
@Brandon *****
 yeah you look like a real catch , does she need optometrist ffs
a year ago
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Brandon ******
@Daniel *****
 💯
a year ago
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Brandon ******
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Wyn **********
Starling.
a year ago
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Chris ****
Citizenship?
a year ago
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Dean **************
Chase or Monza.
a year ago
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Luc ************
Wise and Revolut
a year ago
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Ricky ******
Chase or Starling Bank for card free ATM (and shop) use. The ARM will still charge you a flat (usually 220b) fee.
a year ago
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Pop ********
Use revolut with no.problems
a year ago
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John ********
If in Bangkok and you use the BTS city trains

Buy a rabbit card in the station
a year ago
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Gary *********
Baht !!
a year ago
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Jack *******
The only way I’ve figured out to avoid large fees is buy either money transfer to my Thai partners bank…. Yes we don’t all have one of those but this is a great travel trick.

Use western union to transfer money to yourself, then go to a WU, show ID and transfer number, pick up cash…. So easy and costs $1-2 .

I’ve done this heaps of times and Western Unions are everywhere.
a year ago
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Lye **********
Credit card
a year ago
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Justin *********
For cash, Schwab is a good credit card because they’ll refund all the ATM fees.

For credit, you can just use any MasterCard or Visa that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees. Apple’s MasterCard is nice from a security perspective because it doesn’t have a visible number, and if you’re using it online you can click a button on your phone to change the number or cvv.
a year ago
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Francois *******
Revolut has better rates than Wise
a year ago
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Luc ************
@Francois ******
 says who? I have both, Wise is better.
a year ago
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Francois *******
@Luc ***********
 Say the apps. I made earlier conversion a conversion for real. Since you got both apps, you may give your self a try right now.

Revolut : THB 38. 975 - Wise THB 38.7917
a year ago
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Luc ************
@Francois ******
 after deduction of cost?
a year ago
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Francois *******
@Luc ***********
 Of course : whether Wise or Revolut, there NO hidden cost, the app show you exactly what you will get, same amount credited on your account, nothing more nothing less - which what I did completing the transaction with Revolut. Wise basically has 0.67% transaction fee for THB, Revolut only the interbank rate which is a bit less, except on week-ends.
a year ago
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Francois *******
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Tony *********
@Francois ******
 - not when I checked recently in fact when you took into account any sneaky add ons or the exchange rate actually given no one got even close to Wise.
a year ago
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Francois *******
@Tony ********
 I did change a few days ago within the app. I also have a Wise account, Right now for 1000€, Wise gives THB
*****
and Revolut THB
*****
. There us no such add ons, only a mark up during the week end.
a year ago
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Tony *********
@Francois ******
 - a mark up is an add on. When I checked Revoult had a much lower exchange rate so taking fees and exchange rates into account Wise returned more money to the customer. I have a very good link that checks it in seconds and it's easy to see who comes out on top but companies change almost daily I'll check my link again lol
a year ago
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Francois *******
@Tony ********
 Wise takes 0.67% - this is a mark up on top of the mid market rate. I made the change for real with Revolut, I got the mid-market rate with NO mark up - that was 3889.44THB on my Revolut when Wise was giving me abt 200THB less.
a year ago
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Francois *******
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Mike *********
Any card that has no international transaction fees. ie Amex Master card Visa etc. depending how long you stay there you can use one of those credit cards to pay for your hotel getting some miles from your Travel card. Otherwise you can bring up to $10,000 US cash .  Schwab visa debit card is great too for more cash
a year ago
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Bob **********
Charles Schwab card returns all ATM FEES
a year ago
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Rick ********
Take gold 💀
a year ago
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Garip ***********
@Rick *******
 way
a year ago
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Garip ***********
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Kevin *******
use Wise.
a year ago
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Noel **********
I think you mean debit/credit card? Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most shops and you can withdraw cash from ATMs. But be aware that, in addition to the fees mentioned in other comments, there is a big mark up on currency exchange which can mean you paying a lot more than you thought. Also get the app WISE for transfers to bank accounts
a year ago
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Bobby *********
Visa is the best here I used it everyday here
a year ago
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Neil ********
I use a multi currency wallet called Wise. Great transfer rates from your local bank and you can leave in your account in whatever currency you want.

Agree that the 200 baht adds up so most take out 10,000 cash or more at a time then it’s a 2% cost or less each time
a year ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes I have heard of that card and that there fees were minimal and currency rates were good ,thanks for your thoughts on that .
a year ago
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Phil ******
@Darren ********
 Agree with Neil. I have a local card (bangkok bank for 13 years) now Im living here more now but have this as backup still.
a year ago
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Neil ********
@Darren ********
 of course you need to set it up in your home country so crack on and do it if you are traveling soon
a year ago
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Neil ********
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Brian *********
From where (country) for what uses?

I use Schwab for cash because all fees are returned and at 200+ baht, it adds up.
a year ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
From Australian currency into Thai Baht
a year ago
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Wayne *********
@Darren ********
 all Aussie travel cards get hit with 220baht cash withdrawal fee at atm, if only going for a holiday cash is king most places prefer cash, markets etc definitely cash
a year ago
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Wayne *********
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Johan ********
Visa and MasterCard are accepted in stores. Elsewhere: Cash.
a year ago
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Darren *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes I understand cash is good ,but having to much cash on a person leaves you vulnerable to undesirables.
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Darren ********
 there are bank machines everywhere you go. Take out 30k baht at a time, cost is 220 baht.
a year ago
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Geoff ********
@Todd ********
 WHAT BANK gives 30,000 baht?
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Geoff *******
 all Krungsri ATM’s. The ‘yellow’ bank
a year ago
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Todd *********
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David *******
Cash is king
a year ago
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David *******
all hotels have a safe in the room to keep beloved cash also
a year ago
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David *******
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