Use of AIS sim and ATM card in Singapore

[Chongalulu]

traveling to Singapore for 3 days next week and asked AIS shop and my Kasikorn bank if respective sim and ATM card worked there. Neither could answer ..typical customer service I guess. I have a prepaid sim and standard bank account. I have a separate Internet AIS card for my mifi but probably can use hotels wifi.Any answers and charges advice ? I do have a UK bank ATM which would be better from view of not doing double exchanges but not sure of ATM charges in Singapore. I also have a UK active SIM card which costs 40 pence per text,but wouldn't use it for calls(£1.50 minute!) I'll need cash so am I better buying my $ Singapore here or taking baht to change there. I noticed there's a very small difference in buying/selling spread of $ in Thai banks and rates generally for exchange are good compared to when I transfer £ over here using various fx companies.......any other tips on Singapore generally welcomed,we're dropping our daughter off there to start her years exchange at NTU university in west Jurong although had to book wife and my hotel a distance away in west coast ferry road due to lack of availability nearer to NTU where my daughter has a room.

[NanLaew]

Since we do not know what voice and/or data packages (if any) you are subscribed to, it's impossible to say what your AIS connectivity and charges will be. Maybe better to go to a main branch of AIS and specifically ask for what you need in Singapore rather than confuse them with what can I get in Singapore.

As for the bank card, in my experience in Singapore, the credit card is king when it comes to hotels. If your local branch is challenged in advising you, maybe try a larger branch with a specific foreign exchange desk as those staff will have a better command of your language. Or get the wife or daughter to ask?

Once you suss out your cards capabilities at the ATM, just pull some cash from the machines at the airport on arrival but get your wife and daughter in the taxi rank conga line first though! I recommend a one-time ATM withdrawal since you are only there for 3 days.and then you will only have a single ATM/foreign transaction charge.

Edited July 31, 2015 by NanLaew

[Cpkt8]

My AIS prepaid SIM card is usable in Singapore. I didn't specially apply for international roaming though. Getting a prepaid SIM card in Singapore might be cheaper and easier in my opinion.

West coast ferry road is very far away from everything. Transport/getting around might be a problem. Have you confirmed the hotel booking? If no, you may want to consider other hotels near to MRT stations.

[Chongalulu]

Since we do not know what voice and/or data packages (if any) you are subscribed to, it's impossible to say what your AIS connectivity and charges will be. Maybe better to go to a main branch of AIS and specifically ask for what you need in Singapore rather than confuse them with what can I get in Singapore.

As for the bank card, in my experience in Singapore, the credit card is king when it comes to hotels. If your local branch is challenged in advising you, maybe try a larger branch with a specific foreign exchange desk as those staff will have a better command of your language. Or get the wife or daughter to ask?

Once you suss out your cards capabilities at the ATM, just pull some cash from the machines at the airport on arrival but get your wife and daughter in the taxi rank conga line first though! I recommend a one-time ATM withdrawal since you are only there for 3 days.and then you will only have a single ATM/foreign transaction charge.

My AIS card is just a basic prepaid phone card (no contract) so I would have to preload it if I could use it,but of course I would need to know that beforehand,as well as what sort of charges for texts or calls are incurred.if very expensive I may as well use my UK sim and not put a lot of credit on AIS sim which would then expire time wise before I use it up here.

I have a UK credit card which I will use by default but will need some $ Singapore cash as well and it was obtaining that which I needed guidance on. e.g.get it in thailand,take Thai baht to exchange there, or withdraw via ATM there using either my UK card or my kasikorn card( if the latter would even work.) I avoid using ATM's for my UK debit card here in thailand due to 180 baht charge in addition to my own UK banks charges,so wondered if Singapore ATMs charged similarly

[bamnutsak]

Assuming you have AIS/3G/One-2-Call/2100/pre-paid, and have enabled international roaming, it should roam on M1, SingTel and StarHUB. Note the special roaming packages.

http://www.ais.co.th/roaming/en/3g-prepaid/package-rate/1/Asia/156/Singapore

http://www.ais.co.th/roaming/en/3g-prepaid/prepare-for-abroad.aspx

http://www.ais.co.th/roaming/en/3g-prepaid/registration.aspx

Also look through the sections about using IR.

You can also get a local SIM in Singapore.

Not sure about K-Bank, maybe grind through their website; a quick search here on ThaiVisa came up with a few dozen threads with many successful first-hand experiences using K-Bank ATM cards in nearby countries.

[martin81]

If your thai ATM card is VISA or Mastercard logo then you should be able to use it in Singapore. With some fees if you use it in an ATM.

But it will probably be cheaper to buy some SIN $ in places like Super Rich before you go.

Edited July 31, 2015 by martin81

[Heng]

BBL Be-1st card works fine with no issues. AIS post paid sim works fine as well. If you go often, I recommend keeping a Singtel prepaid sim active. Note, they do the same Sim registration there thing there that they are just now doing in the LOS.