mangkut70

Wow ... Guess I'm a cheap charlie then 😛

Interesting Question! No idea but there is Google AI... "In Thailand, prepaid cards like the Caltex Prepaid Card and Planet SCB Card can be used as a convenient and secure alternative to cash. These cards can be loaded with funds and used for various transactions, including paying for goods and services, withdrawing cash, and managing finances Caltex Prepaid Card: This card, offered by Bangkok Bank, is specifically designed for use at Caltex petrol stations. It can also be used for other purchases where a prepaid card is accepted. Planet SCB Card: Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) offers the Planet SCB card, which is a prepaid card that allows for spending in multiple currencies. It can be used for cash withdrawals and payments in Thai Baht and 13 other currencies. "The Bangkok Bank's Caltex Prepaid Card has an ATM withdrawal fee of 20 baht per transaction when using it at Bangkok Bank ATMs, according to the provided news release. The maximum withdrawal amount is 5,000 baht per transaction, with a daily limit of 20,000 baht per user account. The card also has a monthly maintenance fee of 50 baht (VAT inclusive)." If this information is true maybe there is a solution for cash withdrawal. I have no personal experience with these mentioned cards. Would be interesting if anyone here is using this and if it is possible for a tourist to get one at all.

For the last few years I only managed to visit Thailand once a year and updated the BKK bank book also just once a year. Never had any issues.

Hi! You referred to my post. I use Wise a lot while traveling around SEA. The good thing: it’s transparent about fees. You pay the fees when you exchange money within your Wise account into a THB, SGD, MYR, etc., balance. Including the fees, the exchange rate is usually better than any money changer. Later, when you use the card for purchases, only the exact amount of the bill is charged in the respective currency. I can’t recall ever having to pay extra in a shop for using the card or Apple Pay. As I mentioned before, ATMs are different. There’s an extra fee when you withdraw cash. I do have a Bangkok Bank account but rarely use it for small daily transactions. I’ve used QR codes a couple of times, mainly to test if they work. The Wise card (directly or via Apple Pay) and cash work best for me. countryside cash is king!

Things have changed a lot over the last few years, I think. We—customers, travelers, expats, tourists now have more options. Not long ago, it was absolutely necessary to have a "real" local bank account if you stayed long-term, and it surely was very useful for tourists visiting regularly. But now, I would say 90% of the usual transactions an expat needs can be managed with Wise (or a similar provider), covering basically everything related to payments—and paying is what we do most of the time anyway. 😛 A Wise card connected to Apple Pay, Grab, etc., goes a long way. (Getting cash at an ATM, however, is another story; there will be fees.) Only if you earn money in Thailand and receive THB would you really need a local bank account, I guess. (Sadly, Wise does not provide a local bank account number to receive Thai Baht.) For genuine tourists, apps like Wise combined with a card should be absolutely sufficient. Just wondering: Are there other countries in the region where it was/is possible to open a bank account as a tourist? I always thought this possibility was quite amazing.

It’s been very interesting to read about these experiences with Wise here. Thanks for the extra info! I primarily use Wise during trips, and the Wise card has worked like a charm so far – I linked it to Apple Pay and apps like Grab or booking platforms. Super useful! When I occasionally transfer money from the Wise balance to my Bangkok Bank account, it’s over 50k thb, and the transfer has always taken one to two days. Good to know that sending less than 50k and avoiding the “for long-term stay” option might be faster. I’ll give it a try. By the way, it seems impossible to send more than 50k from Wise to a Thai account other than my own.

Well, that's probably not correct. As far as the media in Germany has reported (following the leaked call between some high ranking military officers), the operation of (at least) the Taurus missiles is not possible without the direct involvement of the Germans. So, if the Bundeswehr is involved on the ground, there's a good chance that Russia will define Germany as a party to the war. This was probably also the reason why the former chancellor blocked the delivery of Taurus.

Hello! Hopefully this is the right place to post this. I have a question for people who have experience with renting out student rooms in Thailand (dormitories), specifically regarding taxes on income generated from such rentals or general fees for running a dormitory. Situation: My mother-in-law runs a small dormitory. The maximum possible income — based on the number of rooms and the rent per room — is slightly less than 150,000 THB per year. She has no other income. We built the house several years ago; the family lives downstairs, while students stay upstairs (separate entrance). I never really cared much about this (everything worked like a charm and this setup was sufficient to support the family) But now I'm wondering because my mother-in-law says she has to pay some kind of tax every year — it's around 10,000 THB — and it seems to be negotiated depending on how many rooms are rented out. I'm not sure which authority is responsible for collecting it. My question: Is there some kind of special general fee or tax per room when renting out student rooms? As far as I understand Thai income tax regulations, if you earn less than 150,000 THB per year, there should be no income tax at all. Am I missing something?

father in law owns this stretch - it is also the access to his farm land. Probably would be a good idea to purchase it from him before we spend money upgrading the road. The picture shows one of the better spots. Generally its on slightly elevated ground so it is not too muddy. but some parts are just on the edge of the neighboring paddy field and would need to be stabilized.

Hello! My wife recently inherited a few rai farmland and we plan to set up a little second home there. Pretty much off-grid; the property is located about 500m away from the next road and is connected only with a small trail. Allegedly, cars could use this path as well, but I would not dare… especially during raining season... I like to upgrade this to a road (approximately 3m wide), so we have reliable access. Hope to find a reasonably priced solution. Doesn’t have to be a beauty just a bit broader and more solid than now I guess large concrete panels would be the way to go? Any thoughts, experiences or advice? Cheers M