Money

[mr.buffalo]

After paying for my house in Ban Saray I seem to have 200000baht left over that I want to take back with me to the UK middle of next month. So what would be the best way to take it back considering the state of the baht at the present time ? The travel agent Going Places normally give a good rate ( I think their forex side is run by Travelex ) but I think it is a buy back scheme.

I read in one of the local Pattaya rags that there are 75 gogo bars in Pattaya and was wondering if there is a definitive list because I need to have a Singha in every one before I go back , reckon it'll take 6 nights , if there is no list might do it myself.

Would really like to join the members on 17th but I am off to Phuket for a week.

[Chang_paarp]

If you want to take it with you. Go to the various exchange booths and see what you will get as an exchange rate and buy pound, euros or US$ and take that with you as there is no limit to the foreign currency you can take out of the country.

On the other hand if you want to put the money to good use in the country you can donate it to any one of a number of worthy causes. My pet one is Mercy Mission ( www.mercypattaya.org ).

Needless to say in your tour of the bars you will meet a number of worthy causes that will put up convincing arguments for sponsorship and donations.

[naka]

200k, Just spend it. Hardly worth the bother !

Naka.

[Axel]

...as there is no limit to the foreign currency you can take out of the country.

Not really correct. You can bring any amount of foreign currency into the country but cannot take out more than brought in resp. declared on arrival.

Means if you intend to take out larger amounts you have to declare it and will get a copy of the declaration to be shown at departure.

[mr.buffalo]

The Mercy Mission is in line for a donation for sure but will still need to take some wedge with me back home , or I could leave it here for furniture etc. As for 200000baht being a small amount I didn't know there were so many well off people contributing to this site, hope they are contributing to the charities as well.

[Kerryd]

The Mercy Mission is in line for a donation for sure but will still need to take some wedge with me back home , or I could leave it here for furniture etc. As for 200000baht being a small amount I didn't know there were so many well off people contributing to this site, hope they are contributing to the charities as well.

I contribute to the "Poor, Sweet, Innocent, Farm Girl Fund" on a regular basis (not quite every night, and convenient. You can leave donations at pretty much all 75+ a-go-gos, no questons asked !)

But seeing as you've jut paid for a house in Thailand, shouldn't you be leaving some money in a bank here as a "rainy day" fund or something ? Might save you some hassles (and transfer costs) in the future.

[Chang_paarp]

...as there is no limit to the foreign currency you can take out of the country.

Not really correct. You can bring any amount of foreign currency into the country but cannot take out more than brought in resp. declared on arrival.

Means if you intend to take out larger amounts you have to declare it and will get a copy of the declaration to be shown at departure.

I think this is one of those "open to interpretation" situations. According to to a quote on this thread, the limit is the amount of Baht taken out of the country. Post #3

Link from previously posted thread, see part on currency i've highlighted in bold:

Custom Duties

Custom Duties:

Importation of all goods is subject to duties and taxes according to customs laws and other related laws

Duty free allowances for persons entering Thailand are:

Two hundred cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or equal weight of cigars

One litre of liquor

Personal effects for personal or professional use in appropriate quantity not exceeding 10,000 baht

Prohibited and Restricted Goods:

Import or export of certain goods is prohibited. Importing or exporting of Narcotics, Pornography, and some species of wildlife are strictly prohibited. Smugglers and Narcotic offenders will face severe penalty that may include death sentence.

License or permit from authorities are required for import and export of the following items

Item Authority:

Firearms, ammunitions, explosives Police Department

Buddha images, art works, antiques Fine Arts Department

Radio transceivers, and telecommunication equipment Post and Telegraph Department

Living plants and planting materials Department of Agriculture

Any animals and animal products Department of Livestock Development

Medicine, chemical products Office of Food and Drugs Administration

Currency:

Anyone can freely bring any amount of Thai or foreign currency into Thailand.

Anyone can take out any amount of foreign currency but may not take more than 50,000 baht of Thai currency. Anyone traveling to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam can take out up to 500,000 baht.

Customs Clearance:

Visitors are required to complete the �Customs Declaration Form� before going through customs.

Visitors with goods to declare should proceed to the �Goods to Declare� aisles.

Visitors who have nothing to declare should proceed to �Nothing to Declare � aisles.

Accompanied dutiable items can be cleared upon arrival under following conditions:

Items are not of commercial values

Value of the items does not exceed 80,000 baht

Payment of customs duties and taxes are made in cash on arrival

Dutiable Items or Restricted Articles in Transit:

Any valuable, dutiable and restricted articles that are not intended for use in Thailand must be declared and deposited in �Customs Bond�. These items can be reclaimed upon departure.

A.T.A. Carnet:

All travelers bringing in goods subject to temporary import by using A.T.A. carnet document as guarantee are required to inform the customs officer at the �Good to Declare� aisle where additional paperwork may be required. They must also inform customs officer when departing and exporting the goods from Thailand.

All travelers (including Thai travelers) temporarily taking out goods using A.T.A. carnet document as guarantee are also required to inform customs officers for inspection before departing Thailand.

Warning

Failure to declare dutiable, restricted, or prohibited articles may lead to a fine up to four times the value of articles, in addition to duties and taxes. It may also lead to confiscation and/or imprisonment. Do not break the law. When in doubt, please ask a customs officer.

Source: Bangkok Airport Customs Office

Tel. (66-2) 535-1269, 535-1153, 535-1680,535-6463

Axel I appreciate this is part of what you do in the real world, but I would interperate the highlighted section the way I have in my origonal post.

[Axel]

Yes, you are right, my apologies. Had quoted from the previous rules that disappeared when the customs declaration forms for travelers were abandoned.

OK this one is valid:

The import and export of local currency is limited to Bt50,000 per person or Bt100,000 per family with one passport. The import and export of foreign currency is unrestricted.