I'll be back in Thailand; Pattaya mostly; on my holidays in a few weeks. In years gone by I've used Travellers Cheques to change money but now the cost of changing a cheque has gone through the roof I'm considering all other options. Do banks and money changers in Pattaya accept and change 50 pound notes? Please can some of the locals or fellow travellers give me some feedback? Thank you, in advance. Champers.

Banks will accept £50 notes.

But be careful that there is no tear or writing on the note.

They can be rejected.

So look through them before you leave the UK, to avoid any nasty surprises.

As Costas says good clean notes are acceptable almost everywhere-

No problem. Rumours say that Scottish notes sometimes lead to confusion

No problem. Rumours say that Scottish notes sometimes lead to confusion

Scottish notes are fine but some places give a reduced rate for them I've seen.

Crisp new £50 notes will get their attention as they aren't as common here as 20 quid notes.

Otherwise, they may take time sifting through the pile, pulling out 'suspect' bills for another teller to check. Then that teller will reject another, smaller amount from that pile before it all goes to the Forex desk manager and he accepts the lot anyway!

Take time and get your UK money launderer bank to get you new ones and save any hassle. My poor wee bank in Scotland had to order them special from London.

I am not the one to advocate the caring of large amounts of money as it could easily be lost or stolen, best is if you are a frequent traveller to LOS is to get a Thai bank account and wire some money before you depart, and top up by online bank transfer as you need.

Seems the days of drawing money out of of an ATM with UK debit card and pay very little commission are long gone while your bank, the Thai bank and every other fat cat in between gets rich at your expedience.

If you are going to carry large sums of cash:

• £20 are best, if you are changing large sums of cash through a money changer with variable rates then crisp new £20 with sequential serial numbers will get you the best price, also easier to note the serial numbers if the are stolen.
• Be aware of limits on the amount of cash you are allowed to carry in and out of every country you depart, transit and arrive at.
• Take note of any travel insurance you may have as the limits for cash covered are low.
• Keep your money safe while in Thailand, difficult really most hotel safe are not secure, give the money to the hotel to look after in their safe seems a good idea but again if it goes missing will they compensate you?

The big thing is do not put all your eggs in one basket but use a number of options and have some backup means of obtaining funds.

Edited November 11, 201411 yr by Basil B

New crisp notes are preferred & if you go to say TT with £1000 worth & ask for a better rate they sometimes will give it to you.

Usually only .05 but it'll pay for a beer if you cash a grand.

They will refuse old damaged notes & offer less for Northern Bank or Scottish notes.

They also either refuse or offer lower rates for old versions of sterling.

They are very up to date on new currency issues & the latest counterfeit versions

New crisp notes are preferred & if you go to say TT with £1000 worth & ask for a better rate they sometimes will give it to you.

Usually only .05 but it'll pay for a beer if you cash a grand.

They will refuse old damaged notes & offer less for Northern Bank or Scottish notes.

They also either refuse or offer lower rates for old versions of sterling.

They are very up to date on new currency issues & the latest counterfeit versions

Thanks Sid. Making my own isn't one of my options.

Thanks Sid. Making my own isn't one of my options.

I have a stash of newly made (by myself so I know they,re good) £50 notes guaranteed to pass any scrutiny for only £52 each come and collect anytime

Is this information current, 2018 ,regarding changing 50 pound notes in Pattaya, Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand. Thanks in advance for accurate information.

1 hour ago, The manic said:

Is this information current, 2018 ,regarding changing 50 pound notes in Pattaya, Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand. Thanks in advance for accurate information.

I think it's more true now than it was four years ago - perhaps due to the lower value of the pound they're seeing more of them. I've changed fifties without issue at the TT booths this year, and at places like Super rich in Bangkok they post a slightly better rate for fifties. 

the money changer next to Lek hotel will accept 50 pound notes with writing on..Also a good rate.

No problem with 50 pound notes anywhere,but be careful with Scotish or Irish ones ,most wont take them ,as for the old advice about writing on them ,i remember a long time ago that it was illegal to mark a note ,my how those days have changed , but they usually will not accept ripped ones .

On 11/12/2014 at 6:56 AM, petermik said:

I have a stash of newly made (by myself so I know they,re good) £50 notes guaranteed to pass any scrutiny for only £52 each come and collect anytime

Good for a long stay at the Bangkok Hilton... 

£50 pound notes are not common in the UK, they are not dispensed at ATM's and I assume only dispensed at banks if you request them, Cameron wanted to do away with the £50 note as it was in his words the currency of tax dodgers and criminals.  

Its best not to carry too much cash...as for the notes they can be easily exchanged

On 9/25/2018 at 6:54 PM, Basil B said:

Cameron wanted to do away with the £50 note as it was in his words the currency of tax dodgers and criminals.  

Thanks to Cameron's genius the £50 note of 2016 is now worth less than £40.