Using a USA based credit card for purchases in Thailand

[RegularGuy77]

When I pay for a purchase in Thailand the seller will ask if I want to charge using Thai Bhat or US dollars. 
Today, given the strength of the bhat vs. the dollar, what currency should I use when they ask?

 

 

[Upnotover]

Baht.  Always.  Look up Dynamic Currency Conversion to see why.

[DaLa]

No matter where you are in the world ...ALWAYS pay in the local currency. Firstly if you pay in any other currency you will be  subject to additional charges and secondly your credit card will offer better exchange rates.

[DFPhuket]

Always, always, always choose the local currency. 

 

Sometimes you'll be given a little slip showing what the charge would be in US$. Keep that (but choose to be charged in THB) and compare it to the USD amount that appears on your credit card statement. What you save by choosing the local currency over the Dynamic Currency Conversion can be shockingly large. 

[RegularGuy77]

Thanks for the responses to my question.

Definetly will be use local currency to save money.

[Thomas J]

Just a suggestion, check to see if your credit card charges you extra for foreign purchases.  Some will charge an exchange fee.  That is in addition to the conversion fee which may or may not be better than the local rates.  You may find using a U.S. dollar based credit card is costing you extra for each and every transaction. 

[thaikahuna]

Check with your bank. You could also accrue up to 6% in foreign transaction fees.

[mtls2005]

A lot of cards (U.S.) charge 3%, which ends up being about the same as DCC.

 

However it is pretty easy to find cards which do not charge any fee for foreing transactions:

 

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/top-cards-with-no-foreign-transaction-fees/

 

I maintain a BofA Travel Rewards Visa card (no annual fee) for this purpose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 11, 2021 by mtls2005

[flbkk]

Recently, at the top and Tesco, even though I requested Thibaut, and it was wrong and I bought, it shows right on there, the DCC was done anyway, and a huge percent penalty be safe.

[madisongy]

baht

Edited January 11, 2021 by madisongy
duplicate

[madisongy]

I find the credit card exchange rates are typically the best of any bank or currency exchange, so yeah, charge in baht.   So when I need cash, I use my Schwab Visa ATM card and I'll also charge on my USA Visa card.   For security/liability reasons, I never use the ATM card for purchases.

 

This is the rate calculator for visa.

 

https://usa.visa.com/support/consumer/travel-support/exchange-rate-calculator.html