Hello everyone,

I was shocked in an upmarket hotel in Phuket this morning when i asked reception to exchange £200 for me into Thai baht, i was told the rate today (at the hotel) was 38 baht per one pound so i would of received b7600 for the £200 Gbp, After picking myself up from the nicely polished floor i politely said, 'Oh.. it doesnt matter, thankyou, i was just asking' then i left.

I then went to a currency exchange shop in the shopping area and was told (25 minutes later) that i could get a rate of 47.3 baht per one pound thus giving me Thb 9460 for £200 Gbp, thats a whopping 1860thb difference!!

When i got back to the hotel i got the wife (she is Thai) to ring reception and ask the rates for today (10th June 2013), she was given as follows:

Gbp: 38. (in the exchange shop was 47.3)

Usd: 24.

Euro: 32

Aud: 22.5

If anyone is in a hotel (as many will be i think) could you let me know what kind of rate/s you are getting please?

(as a topic of interest as to how much these hotels, money shops or bars are offering).

Thanks.... Kevin

P.s, Sorry if there is already a thread or Topic on this, i could not find one.

Edited June 10, 201313 yr by metisdead
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I think its called service charge

think the service charge of 7 extra baht per unit in a rented room is a bit more offensive

only totally inexperienced travellers change money at a hotel reception.

Check the exchange rates given by Thai banks/ATMs for notes, checks, TT, etc., at this site: Link. Might help in the comparison. But if using the ATM be sure to keep in mind the Thai bank ATM foreign card fee of 150/180 baht plus any foreign transaction fee the home country bank issuing your card will charge. Use an AEON ATM if available as they don't charge the 150/180 baht foreign card fee.

Exchange rates given at hotels is just another cash cow for them...they will milk you any time of the day or night--and be super polite in doing so.

only totally inexperienced travellers change money at a hotel reception.

If you only want to change a very small amount of money and its late at night when everything is closed OK.

It is an abject emergency facility.

Good on the OP for bringing this up. Will probably save future travellers some money.

Edited June 11, 201313 yr by kennedy

only totally inexperienced travellers change money at a hotel reception.

If you only want to change a very small amount of money and its late at night when everything is closed OK.

It is an abject emergency facility.

Very true! A convenient place to change money, especially after 10 pints of stout in the lobby bar.

Edited June 11, 201313 yr by Morakot

The bigger hotels' fiddle is the 'helpful' offer when one settles the bill with CC to convert into one's home currency. Always decline.

Edited June 11, 201313 yr by yoshiwara

The discover of the hot water has been finally made!