My parents dropped me into an Egyptian kindergarten. We had only recently arrived in Egypt and the culture and expected behavior was vastly different from the USA. Nobody spoke one word of English, and I spoke no Arabic. I was punished for my western attitudes and behaviors with absolutely no idea what I might have done to deserve a teacher screaming at me and cuffing me around the head and ears.

It was an extremely traumatizing experience I still remember vividly, decades later.

What you are proposing is potentially cruel and harmful.

Nothing wrong with Thais or their schools, but leaving your home and family for school can be traumatic enough, without adding cultural and language barriers.

I find it amazing that you are framing this as an economic problem without thinking first about what’s best for your child’s well-being.

@Terary *********

Go to google maps and search for Cannabis dispensaries.

@Evan ******

Good luck! There’s no place in the world I would rather be.

@Evan ******

I always first transfer from home bank to Wise and then from Wise to Bangkok Bank. Never tried skipping the intermediate step. 

@Steve ******

Should work for you. I’ve never been asked to show one, but some have.

@Steve ******

Sorry - I always get the two confused. Thanks.

So to the OP - why not take advantage of Visa exempt?

Looks like you’re American? Why not just apply for Visa on Arrival?

@Dave ********

Above I was talking about a Thai bank card, not the Wise card. I never use the Wise card for Thailand payments or purchases. But the Thai bank card gets used at Villa, Central Market, Lazada, etc.

I do use the Wise card sometimes to pay bills in the USA from my Wise balance.

But the number one usage I make of Wise is to move funds from my USA bank to Thai bank.

Wise doesn’t really come alive until you link it to a Thai bank account. Sure, it’s useful without one, but opening a Thai account with an associated Visa/MC debit card and online ap is a complete game changer.

@Evan ******

Just go to a good agent with 3000-5000baht in hand, and literally a couple hours later you’ll be all set up with an account, debit card and online ap at a reputable bank like Bangkok Bank. A small price to pay for a lifestyle-changing improvement in how you deal with your finances. In Pattaya, Manareet’s in Soi 13-2 is hard to beat, but there are others.

I know this is a very controversial subject, so spare me the virtue-signaling outrage from the usual suspects. Yes it’s certainly possible to do it cheaper on your own, but it will likely cost you more than you expect in terms of time spent tracking down a branch and bank employee who will see you through to a successful conclusion. To each his own.