kiwiinasia

I'm the last one to defend the 150 baht Thai ATM fee...

But really, it sounds like you ought to focus on finding a better home bank.

True if there was a choice, but sadly there is not.

The NZ banking industry is small and dominated by Australian banks with little or no real competition.

I have created the spreadsheet and worked out that at B20K I can save about 212baht by using TT to my Thai Bank (BAY if I could find the book).

I can save even more if I use a forex company, which I am going to do once I find the bank book.

Is it worth crying over 3 pounds?

There are plenty of other countries to live in.

Some people are so sensitive to being 'taken advantage of'.

It is worth crying over and being very careful about money.

You earn your money once, you pay tax on it and then some bank wants to charge you $$$ for an electronic transaction that costs pennies and involves no human being.

Its a monopoly fee in effect where all the banks have the same attitude of pay it.

Since I created my post I have been setting up bank accounts and forex trading accounts and come to the realisation that for me as a New Zealander to transfer money to Thailand I should use my b@st@rd bank after all but send the money as a TT of NZ Dollars to get the much better rate offered by my Thai Bank (Ayudhya).

So my advice to all kiwis is to:

1) get a thai bank account

2) tt the money in NZ$ to the thai bank

On 10,000NZD I got 3800 baht more than a TT of Thai baht from NZ.

So I get at least one more nite out on the turps and thats very much worth it.

I'm the last one to defend the 150 baht Thai ATM fee...

But really, it sounds like you ought to focus on finding a better home bank.

True if there was a choice, but sadly there is not.

The NZ banking industry is small and dominated by Australian banks with little or no real competition.

I have created the spreadsheet and worked out that at B20K I can save about 212baht by using TT to my Thai Bank (BAY if I could find the book).

I can save even more if I use a forex company, which I am going to do once I find the bank book.

Why I don't like the fee...

1) 150 baht for a 10 baht activity

2) My NZ bank charges me ANOTHER NZD7.50 (170 baht) for using my atm card overseas

3) My NZ bank charges me a 2.5% fee (commission/whatever) for ALL FX transactions

4) MY NZ bank charge me NZD5.00 a month for having a bank account with money in it

5) MY NZ bank pays me no interest on my current account balance (free money for them)

So if I can avoid the b150 I feel better!

Thus I always go for the maximum withdrawal to minimize the fees I pay

Am going to change to Thai bank (yet again) and TT in money every 3-4 months (NZD25 fee)

(ps I am glad I posted this as I verified everything with my bank and found that they had increased the charges the b*st*rds!)

Various airlines policy on accepting a one way traveller to Thailand will vary...but if you show your GoldCard or similar they will accept you anyway.

I have NEVER had the Thai Immigration ASK for proof of return ticket or onward flight, but I have had airlines ask for it. The credit card satisfies them.

Hi,

10k for a new grad sure, pay more and you are generous especially out of BKK.

The level of english here is very very poor even with Uni grads. So add in some training for raising the level.

The loyalty you will get will last as long as a paycheck, about 3 days.

If you expect a deadline to be met in Thailand, then I have a bridge for sale in Sydney, one state owner in good condition with no debts. :cool:

Well the best place for a cheap steak is of course the 'Japanese SteakHouse' in Patpong about 60 metres in from McDonalds...

As for rubbish english food try 'Bobbies Arms' (?) in Silom Soi 4. I ordered the old Roast Pork with crackling, of course it was delivered with ketchup, but the really funny part was the crackling! It was those Thai Pork skin nibbly bits that come in plastic bags for 10 baht, 3 pieces, I nearly fell of my chair laughing.

The pork was not ROASTED either it was Pork Loin!

At least the beer was real!