What is the best way to get cash in Thailand: cash or card?

If you’re not scared of loosing the cash, it’s the best you can do.

Exchange rates of cash are better than what revolut can do.

But paying with revolut is ok too, if you can (I use my Wise debit card almost everywhere).

Pulling cash from atm if you don’t have a Thai bank account is a bad idea - they take 220 per transaction.

Wise is best

If you don’t take cash then using Western union is better I have found in the past. The fees are low decent exchange rate and you can take a lot more than in an ATM.

I take cash with me and a wise card

ATM of own bank

For those of you that are Americans and use credit cards with favorable rates, which (branded) credit cards are you using?

Take a mixture of cash and card. Revolut or Wise are good but ATM fee is ฿250 per transaction.

When I used to come here on holiday I used to bring 50,000 THB and when I needed more I would use either a starling or chase debit card which I had preloaded. That way I could use the atms with only the atm charge no exchanges.

In Pattaya I was refused entry into the bank by security who told me I could only use the.🏧

If uv been going for years, why dont u have a bank account?

Many comments say cash is king but they mean baht when paying for anything. You can bring a pile of cash and convert it all or have to find a good exchange every time you need, all while risking your now two piles of cash, or you can use an atm and pay the 250 fee ($7 usd) each time you withdraw 10 or 20k baht and think of it as insurance. Let's say you spend $2000 during the trip, that might be about $20 in fees to have easy access and keep safe. Just a different perspective and is how I have seen it.

Wise card

I use Wise..excellent rates.

Yea take cash the ATM over there charge 250 baht which is about $12 so expensive revoult card is good for restaurants and anywhere you can use the card but not at a ATM

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 airside BEFORE Immigration (although some people have mentioned that since 2024 there is an ATM across from the counters where citizens of some countries have to buy the Visa-On-Arrival)

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 250.- 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 250.- 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.

Charles Schwab debit card...no atm fees

The MALL has better Rates because they want you to shop after Exchanging your money to Baht!!!!!

Two words, Charles Schwab.

Starling monzo wise don't charge to withdraw,the atm will charge a fee though

Lead pipe and a balaclava

Cash is the best option by far for Thailand. Not only is there a 250 baht ATM fee, the exchange rate will be worse. For large purchases like hotels and airlines then a credit card with no FX fee is best.

Another option now is the KBank Pay&Tour prepaid card. This allows paying with PromptPay "QR code". Which is literally everywhere including street vendors, night market vendors, even BTS. I have a Thai Bank account and in the past 2-3 years have only used cash at 7-11. The only downside is the conversion rate is at the KBank exchange rate which is bad. Thai Baht cannot be loaded directly. For example CAD rate at SuperRich is 23.25 and KBank is 23.93

Find someone with a Thai bankcard and also Revolut, then you can ask that person to take cash out without paying anything.

I always take cash. The higher the note value the better exchange rate. Try to get £50 notes but they must be clean no ink scribble or creases. If your changing a considerable sum it’s possible to negotiate a better exch rate than offered

Just bring you cards and 20.000 Baht to show Immigration.

In Thailand, cash is the best solution... at a good money changer, of course! You lose a lot with a credit card.

I take cash and my revolution and use it to pay in restaurants and shops works well for me

Gold btc

Do you get charged with revolut ?

Best way for me is take it from my wife’s handbag when she’s had a few! Best way for you…. No idea!

I use my credit card for everything and the rate is good and rarely are there any fees.

Cash is king

Bring cash is the best way.

ATM will cost you 250 baht now per transaction. also not too bad if you take 30k in one go. but maybe your bank charges foreign fee and has a bad rate.

Always have a stash of hard cash....always....

Take cash to start then after you're getting low take your arse to the bank with your card and passport take out whatever you need, it'll cost you nothing for the withdrawal, if you have a safe in your room take more if you don't, take less