Which is Better, Paper or Plastic? Preparing to Make Payments for Your Thailand Vacation

Which is Better, Paper or Plastic? Preparing to Make Payments for Your Thailand Vacation

If you are planning to spend your holiday in Thailand, it is definitely a good idea to avoid using paper and plastic as much as possible while you are in the country.

Given that I am a frequent traveler to the Land of Smiles, I always have a few thousand Baht leftovers from a prior trip to the country. Along with it, I'll pack roughly 500 US dollars in cash to get me through the first few days of the trip. You should avoid exchanging money in your own nation.

For a variety of reasons, I have discontinued the use of traveler's checks. I don't have a local bank account; instead, I do all of my financial transactions online. As a result, if I wish to get traveler's checks, I will have to pay a charge. After that, I'll have to pay a little charge to get the cheques cashed at the local bank. It is also inconvenient for me to be constrained to just being able to access monies while the banks are open.

Because of the poor rate of exchange offered by hotels, I would never cash a traveler's check at one of their locations. I wouldn't recommend using them unless you are able to acquire them for free.

Using your credit card in Thailand is an extremely dangerous proposition. Even in the most luxurious hotels, the indigenous workforce receives very little compensation. It is really simple to skim and clone your credit card information. It is possible that it will not be utilized for months since the bad people will wait until you return home before using it.


If you have no choice but to use your credit card, keep a close check on it. Don't allow it to escape your sight. Allowing the hotel desk employee to carry it to the rear room is not permitted. Continue to refuse to allow the waitress to carry it back to the cashier. Do not utilize it unless you have no other option and are desperate for money.

Using a debit card in conjunction with an ATM machine is the quickest and most convenient method of obtaining local money. A week or two before I go for Thailand, I move the monies to a second account that is just for Thailand. As a result, I'll be able to tell you precisely how much I have available when you come.

ATM machines may be found around every 10 feet in Thailand, and they can be found in even the smallest towns and villages across the nation. You will get a favorable exchange rate, and you will be able to access them at any time of day or night.

You should still exercise caution while using ATM machines since bad individuals may be found almost everywhere. I make an effort to utilize ATMs that are located in a foyer or within a shopping center. If you attempt to get entry to one on a narrow, barely lighted street at two a.m., you are unquestionably putting your money and your life in danger.

If you want to do any online banking, avoid logging into your account using any of the internet cafés available. No one can tell what kind of software is installed on such machines, or if someone has installed a keyboard logger with the intention of stealing your password. Using your own laptop will provide the same level of security as doing so at home. To be on the safe side, it is essential to complete as many of your online banking transactions as possible before you leave.

As a result, while on your Thailand holiday, you should utilize a mix of paper and plastic. Bring enough of your home money to last you for the first few days in the country. You may swap this at any of the currency exchange kiosks located around the Thai airport. If you don't want to carry about a large amount of cash, you may always use your debit card at the airport's ATM machines to get cash.

I would recommend that you utilize ATM machines for your day-to-day finances once again. Keep your plastic locked away in a safe together with your passport, aircraft ticket, and any other valuables throughout the day to provide you with extra protection.

Never carry more cash than you will need for your day or night activities, and always save the balance in a safe deposit box. If you find yourself in need of extra dollars, you may always return to your accommodation.

In the event that you have any Baht left over at the conclusion of your trip, you may exchange them at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, or you can store them in a safe place until your next Thailand vacation.