People often wonder the best way to
handle their finances when visiting Phuket, Phang Nga
and Thailand. Everyone has a preferred method,
sometimes firmly held against all reason.
The banks in Thailand will give you
the same exchange rate at the airports as they will
anywhere else. Of course, hotels and private money
changers will usually give you a significantly less
advantageous exchange rate as they don't typically
exchange large amounts of money daily and must absorb
greater risk. But, generally, you can expect a fair
shake from a bank's foreign exchange booths - even at an
airport.
Count your Thai money carefully and in
front of the clerk, keep the money on the counter where
it is visible to the cameras that all banks have. Don't
feel that you must move over for the next customer just
because you are handed your money. The transaction is
not complete until you carefully count your money - just
as the clerk did. It is not uncommon to be shorted by a
clerk hoping the stack of money you receive will prove
too daunting to count - by what he hopes and suspects is
a very tired and jet-lagged foreigner.
For most people, their ATM card will
give them the most advantageous exchange rates and if
you take out larger amounts of cash each time you will
minimize the fees charged by your bank. ATMs are almost
everywhere and only rarely out of order. Tourist
destinations will always have ATMs in handy locations,
while in some rural small towns you'll have to find them
at their respective banks.
Traveler's checks are becoming relics
of the past and are actually a bit of a nuisance. The
larger denominations people typically carry are
difficult for smaller businesses to cash and many
smaller businesses don't cash them anyway. They are
quite useful, however, if you are unsure of your ATM
card or if you are transporting large amounts for the
purpose of resettling in Thailand.
Thailand and Phuket/Phang Nga area are
safer than most Western countries and you have less to
fear about robbery. That said, use the same common
sense you would use back home- be safe and use the lock
boxes provided by most hotels and always be aware of
your wallet.
Money
Exchange in Phuket and Phang Nga - Foreign Exchange
