Baht To Canadian Dollars. Lump Sum.

[littlehobo]

I am a teacher moving back to Canada after a wonderful 6 years in Thailand.

What do I have to show for it.... well, about 200,000 baht. (cheeks blush, eyes downcast)

I want to exchange it for dollars in country as the bank transfer route seems pricey and complicated.

I am not really hip about all things money. (As you can perhaps tell from my meager savings)

From some research it seems I can go to a bank and just get it changed before I go.

I will be leaving from Samui but have two more months in Bangkok.

It seems to the best place to exchange is in Bangkok but I hesitate to carry that much cash with me down to Samui.

Any advice? Just do it in Bangok, or will a bank in Samui be just as good (would they even have dollars?!?) and worth the piece of mind?

Thought about just doing it at Swampy but most advice seems to warn against that.

Seems the Bangkok folk deal with large sums of money on a daily basis, so I thought someone with more experience (more dolla' bills) may be able to lend some friendly advice.

Thanks.

[georgey]

Vasu between Sukhumvit 7 & 11 is one of the best. Superrich is OK too. Both are much much better than any of the banks. But whether you are saving enough by using them to make it worth losing the lot in Samui is a decision only u can make. i certainly wouldn't do it (not these days, not Samui). If I were u what I'd do is to take a slightly earlier flight from Samui to BKK (I'm assuming u r leaving from BKK, not SIN), & take a taxi into town & do it all on ur last day......I don't believe there's a decent moneychanger on Samui

[JusMe]

Or, if you won't get too nervous carrying it in your pocket on the plane, Royal Bank here in Canada will do the exchange for you.

Leave it all in your Thai bank account until shortly before leaving, then withdraw it all and carry it.

Actually, maybe leave fifty to a hundred baht in that account. Banks often charge an extra fee for closing an account, whereas if you just drain it, .....

[littlehobo]

Thanks guys.

I would like to just change it in Canada but I hear that you can only take 40,000 baht out of the country? Just what I heard (and I think I saw the signs in the airport)

The earlier flight is a good idea but my flight does not leave until very late and I am going to be a wreck that day. Not sure if I can fathom bouncing around Bangkok.

Wish I could just transfer it with no issue.

Thanks for the heads up about the money changers. It is worth it to me. 50 buck is 50 bucks.

Appreciate the help.

[Bpraim1]

Just send it swift to your bank in Canada.

Ask them to do the conversion here and send Canadian dollars. Onshore rate is better.