How should i take money to Thailand? ATM fees in Thailand (2024)

Best way to exchange money in Thailand?

Traveling to another country with another money can be confusing, here is the common questions:

How to withdrawing money in Thailand ?
Exchange money in Thailand?
Travel money in Thailand?
How should i take money to Thailand?
Is it better to change money in Thailand?
Paying by credit card in Thailand?
Best way to exchange money in Thailand?
Atm fees in Thailand?

First, one thing to remember is:
THE BANK ALWAYS WIN!
I know it sucks, nobody like to pay to withdraw there own money but that the world we live in.

We will look first at the different way you can use your money Thailand and going to the conclusion on what the best way to bring money to Thailand.

Starting with the best option!

Online Bank with Traveller Credit Card No Fee!

This is one of the best way, Wise, one of the best tool to transfer money and they offer free Visa cards, you can do a lot on directly on the app.
You can do bank transfer in THB and pay for services in Thailand, you also get a debit card and can keep many diferent curency.
Exchange rate are the best in the markets.
Get a Free fee transfer at the link below:
1 Free Fee transfer with Wise

Exchanging your money for Thai Bath from your home country?

Usually this is a bad idea, as your bank will give you low exchange rate plus a service fee.

Exchanging your money for Thai Bath at the airport before leaving your home country?

Some exchange place can have a competitive exchange rate, the problem, is that most of the airport exchange place will have bad exchange rate and it s hard to compare and find the good one on the spot.

Exchanging your money for Thai Bath at the airport on arrival in Thailand?

Same story as above.

Withdraw money at Atm and Atm fees in Thailand?

First ATMs in Thailand are multilingual usually in English, Chinese and Japanese and Thai of course.
ATM’s in Thailand charge a fix fee of 200 THB per withdraw! It means if you withdraw 100 THB you still get charged 200 THB! The exchange rate will be the ATM’bank exchange rate of the day, which can be ok or low depending on the banks (and you will not even know it). So the best if withdraw money at ATMs is to take out the maximum per withdraw, some ATMs allows 10 000 THB (about 250 Euro or 285 Dollar) or some others allows 20 000 THB.
Another things know it that Atms will let you withdraw once or twice every 24h, even if you bank limit is way more than the amount withdraw! This can be a problem, most of the paying directly to the shops by credit card still works in this case.
Least and not last, the card comes out of the ATM after the money (opposite than Europe) so many people forget there card and it get swallowed in the machine.
(You can usually get it back 24 to 48h later by contacting the bank).

Paying by credit card in Thailand?

Thai banks take up to 5% on credit card payment processing to businesses, depending on local card, international cards, visa, MasterCard etc…
This is a huge fee for businesses (in Europe or US banks charge a low 0.75% or so).
Big businesses like hotel, supermarket etc… will increase all there prices by 5% included the card fee in there prices for a seamless experience. So if you pay cash you basically pay 5% extra…
Small businesses like us, will set there lowest price and let customers decide what the best for them. If you want to pay cash you pay the normal price if you want to pay by card you can withdraw at Atm of pay the card included card fees.
This offer the choice to customers to decide for themselves.
Some card machines a PIN-less and you have to sign the slip, some have pins, depending on banks.

Exchange money in a currency exchange booth in Thailand? (in the city)

There is plenty of currency exchange places in Khao Lak and everywhere in Thailand.
Some better than others, you can find good values in the exchange rate by comparing the different ones. You can ask us which one we knows are good while in Khao Lak, then up to you to walk and sweat around town…
Be aware that you will need your passport for that.

Paying in your Euro or Dollar in Thailand?

No many shops allows you to pay in Euro or Dollar in Thailand, hotels exchange rates are usually a rip off (low rate), never exchange money in an hotel or pay in your own currency.
Smaller shop can take payment in Euro or Dollar usually at close rate the exchange place in town as they will exchange it right away, as they have no use for it.

Make a bank transfer to a Thai Bank account?

If you have to pay a company by bank transfer, it will involve international bank transfer fees and the bank will exchange the money at there mid-day rates.
It can take about a week for the money to arrive on the Thai bank account.

Make a bank transfer to a Thai Bank account?

If you have to pay a company by bank transfer, it will involve international bank transfer fees and the bank will exchange the money at there mid-day rates.
It can take about a week for the money to arrive on the Thai bank account.

Western Union in Khao Lak?

A few banks are doing western union transfer in Khao Lak. Krung Thai Bank (KTB) near the main traffic light and Tanachart Bank next to Mac Donald. Western Union fees are high but it can be useful if you have no choice.

Withdraw money with your card at a bank counter?

You can withdraw higher amount of money than in ATMs directly at a bank counter with your credit card and passport. Be aware that you might wait for a while.
The bank will use the mid-day exchange rate plus whatever fee they charge you.

Conclusion:
So You gonna has me:

How should i take money to Thailand?