Changing money at the airport on arrival

[Apostate]

Hi where do I get the best rate for exchange at the airport? I would like to use an ATM but have heard there is a 200B fee which might make exchanging hard currency better value.

I am arriving from the UK.

[Bangkokhatter]

All the exchange booths are about the same. Best change a bit for your transport costs then change more at your destination. Though to be honest, unless your changing shed loads it does not make much difference.

[MaeJoMTB]

Bring cash and travelers checks.

ATMs are expensive.

[dash]

+Superrich1965+ at airportlink station

[thrilled]

Yeti have found that the exchange rate at the airport and the bank near where you are staying are nearly the same.A little difference but not much.

[DogNo1]

Cash is best. There's now a fee for cashing traveler's checks.

[BKKdreaming]

Work out the numbers

last time it was 34 baht / US$ at Airport and 35 at Super rich ,

i would bet the ATM rate was 35 or so

it does not take that much to pay for the 200 baht ATM fee !

and if I am using the ATM I would take out enough baht for 3-4 days

But Superrich gives best rate for $100 bills and maybe not as good for 100 UKP notes , you can check the website

[donnybay]

How long are you coming for, and how much cash are you bringing? a few thousand quid wont matter where you change it much, on the other hand do want to carry that cash, obviously your first trip so safely in the bank might be better, despite costing you 4 quid to withdraw a few hundred each time

[smokie36]

+Superrich1965+ at airportlink station

This is the only exchange place worth using at the airport.

The rest are all a massive rip off.

[KhunBENQ]

+Superrich1965+ at airportlink station

This is the only exchange place worth using at the airport.

The rest are all a massive rip off.

There are actually at least two booths at the entrance to the airport rail link.

Both with good rates.

A bit of a long way down to the basement floor.

Whether the long walk is worth depends on the amount of course.

ALL other exchange on the airport premises have identical exchange rates which are at least 4% worse.

Other alternative: just change "taxi money" and do exchange in town.

Edited January 23, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[FritsSikkink]

Yeti have found that the exchange rate at the airport and the bank near where you are staying are nearly the same.A little difference but not much.

nope, airport is a lot less

[KhunBENQ]

Yeti have found that the exchange rate at the airport and the bank near where you are staying are nearly the same.A little difference but not much.

If loosing 4%, 5% and more is little to you, then yes

[donnybay]

Yeti have found that the exchange rate at the airport and the bank near where you are staying are nearly the same.A little difference but not much.

If loosing 4%, 5% and more is little to you, then yes

Doubt the airport is that much different, banks charge the same rate wherever they are, lets say the rate is 52 to the pound, your saying at the Bangkok airport you only get 49.2?

[smokie36]

Yeti have found that the exchange rate at the airport and the bank near where you are staying are nearly the same.A little difference but not much.

If loosing 4%, 5% and more is little to you, then yes

Doubt the airport is that much different, banks charge the same rate wherever they are, lets say the rate is 52 to the pound, your saying at the Bangkok airport you only get 49.2?

That is about it yes.

A bank might give you 50.5 and Super rich 51 or so.

Just shop around but not at the airport.

[FritsSikkink]

Yeti have found that the exchange rate at the airport and the bank near where you are staying are nearly the same.A little difference but not much.

If loosing 4%, 5% and more is little to you, then yes

Doubt the airport is that much different, banks charge the same rate wherever they are, lets say the rate is 52 to the pound, your saying at the Bangkok airport you only get 49.2?

banks don't charge the same at the airport, every airport in thailand has crap rates

[Thian]

Phrong Pong station gives the best rate, Twelve Victory money changer.....check it out.

[impulse]

For anyone coming to Thailand for the first time from the countries run by bankers (you know who you are), you'll be pleased that swapping currency here won't result in that confusing question "where's the rest of my money?" - not to mention that royally reamed feeling that has followed every single retail foreign exchange I've ever done back home.

I was pleasantly surprised the first time I landed in BKK and swapped just what I needed at the airport, then found a currency exchange kiosk on almost every street corner with rates so similar that it's hardly worth the effort to shop around.

Shop around, get your best deal, sure. But don't let it keep you from enjoying even a minute of your holiday.

Edit: Unless you're coming from one of the countries with unpopular currencies. The buy/sell spread on some of those is atrocious and you'll be wanting to bring your Vaseline. Swap to USD, GBP or Euros before you leave home. But that's not just Thailand.

Edited January 24, 2016 by impulse

[Thian]

For anyone coming to Thailand for the first time from the countries run by bankers (you know who you are), you'll be pleased that swapping currency here won't result in that confusing question "where's the rest of my money?" - not to mention that royally reamed feeling that has followed every single retail foreign exchange I've ever done back home.

I was pleasantly surprised the first time I landed in BKK and swapped just what I needed at the airport, then found a currency exchange kiosk on almost every street corner with rates so similar that it's hardly worth the effort to shop around.

Shop around, get your best deal, sure. But don't let it keep you from enjoying even a minute of your holiday.

Edit: Unless you're coming from one of the countries with unpopular currencies. The buy/sell spread on some of those is atrocious and you'll be wanting to bring your Vaseline. Swap to USD, GBP or Euros before you leave home. But that's not just Thailand.

Well on the airport you get 1 baht less then in the city for a euro. And always count the money well becuase they might make a mistake.

[Rhys]

Hmmmm..using an ATM... pray the machine gives you back your card...just think of the hassle you will meet if you loose it... the Thai banks have their procedures and you will be SOL... Bring some cash from home and have it exchanged.. you will cover both bases until you find you way with money exchanges..

Cheers mate

[JHolmesJr]

I always carry home about 1,000 b home from previous trip to use the next time I arrive.

[MrTee]

Work out the numbers

last time it was 34 baht / US$ at Airport and 35 at Super rich ,

i would bet the ATM rate was 35 or so

it does not take that much to pay for the 200 baht ATM fee !

and if I am using the ATM I would take out enough baht for 3-4 days

But Superrich gives best rate for $100 bills and maybe not as good for 100 UKP notes , you can check the website

£100 notes are always best. that is probably why they are so hard to find

[SunLover2]

+Superrich1965+ at airportlink station

This is the only exchange place worth using at the airport.

The rest are all a massive rip off.

There are actually at least two booths at the entrance to the airport rail link.

Both with good rates.

A bit of a long way down to the basement floor.

Whether the long walk is worth depends on the amount of course.

ALL other exchange on the airport premises have identical exchange rates which are at least 4% worse.

Other alternative: just change "taxi money" and do exchange in town.

This is correct. Anyone who disagrees with this is either unaware, cannot do math, or is unconcerned about the 4% clipping.

FWIW the 4% clip is when you buy baht upon arrival. When you sell baht upon departure it is only about 1% less than the going FOREX rate.

SL

[gk10002000]

Hmmmm..using an ATM... pray the machine gives you back your card...just think of the hassle you will meet if you loose it... the Thai banks have their procedures and you will be SOL... Bring some cash from home and have it exchanged.. you will cover both bases until you find you way with money exchanges..

Cheers mate

yes. If you have to use an ATM so be it. But try to find the ones that just swipe and don't roll in your card.

[impulse]

This is correct. Anyone who disagrees with this is either unaware, cannot do math, or is unconcerned about the 4% clipping.

FWIW the 4% clip is when you buy baht upon arrival. When you sell baht upon departure it is only about 1% less than the going FOREX rate.

I don't disagree with your comment, just the practical implications.

If I worked 50 weeks to get 2 weeks off and travel, I'm not squandering a minute of my precious vacation time worrying about a 4% delta in the exchange rate. 20%? Maybe. But not 1-4%.

For expats and long termers who have all kinds of spare time, know the lay of the land, and will probably wander by some of the lower fee kiosks in their daily activities anyway, sure- shop around for it.

But anyone coming in on holiday will be better served by being informed that the clip job is ONLY going to be 4%, unlike back home. That's about one beer for every $100 you exchange.