Travelers Checks

[Deez]

Hi all

Not sure if this has been discussed before , but when they show an exchange rate at the bank, one column is for T/C. Is this for travelers checks?

If so would this not be a good way to avoid the "spread" you pay and also avoid the ATM fee? My bank in canada offers no fee checks.

Also, the exchange rate for T/C is always better.

Thanks

[BuckBee]

T/C does stand for Traveller Cheque.

Yes traveller cheques can be a good way of getting funds.

Worth checking that your Canadian bank is actually free of charge for Canadian $ traveller cheques. Based on my UK knowledge most of our banks state free traveller cheques but if you order British £ you get a fee of 1 to 1.5% & if you opt for another currency you get stung by the banks exchange rates which are quite greedy to be polite.

If you can get US $ cheques & can stipulate your cheque sizes order quite large value cheques as you will get the same charge per cheque regardless of cheque value, basically a $5 cheque will cost 33฿ & a $500 cheque will also cost 33฿ in fee & tax.

Edited June 8, 2009 by BuckBee

[Carmine6]

The fixed fee is important. The free traveler's cheques my bank gives are mixed denomination packs. So $500 is a mix of $100's, $50's, and $25's. Ends up being not really better than the ATM. I saved the $50s and $25s for Vegas because losing about 1 baht per dollar wipes out the benefit.

$500s and $1,000s are the way to go. I had no problem changing those at banks in Bangkok. I recommend AMEX versus VISA or MC. I saw a place say they didn't do a VISA TC that someone had. Can't remember where, but they changed my AMEX ones.

[Pakaty]

I brought $3000 in $100 denominations of American Express TCs thinking I would get a better exchange rate. I did not realize there was an additional charge for cashing the checks. It was more work and ended up costing about the same as an ATM withdraw would have been. I don't remember if larger denominations was an option at my bank. I'll check next month as I'm going back.

[aussiep]

I brought $3000 in $100 denominations of American Express TCs thinking I would get a better exchange rate. I did not realize there was an additional charge for cashing the checks. It was more work and ended up costing about the same as an ATM withdraw would have been. I don't remember if larger denominations was an option at my bank. I'll check next month as I'm going back.

Coming from Australia each trip I get AUD$2000 of AMEX cheques in AUD$200 size.

The cheques in AUD cost 1.1% ($22)

To cash each cheque in Thailand 33THB

Do not get THB cheques in your country.

The rate to day is Cash 26.82THB

" " " " " T/C 27.15THB.

There is a minium charge buying checks so you have to get about $2000 worth.

American Express T/C are excepted everywhere in Thailand but once was asked for perchase receipts upcountry.

Overall it works out about the same as cash/bank notes. BUT

There is the added security, there no good to anyone but you and can be replaced, keep a record of the ones used.

BTW the best place to change cash is at SUPER RICH (Thailand) CO, LTD The green one.

45-45/1 Rajdamri Road Patumwan Bangkok Ph 02 254 4444 (near the canal)

You can phone them to get the rate, take your passport with you.

T/C are only good value in Thailand, in Vietnam the charges are over the top.

ATB...aussiep