US Dollars or Thai Baht? - Bangkok Forum (2024)

Level Contributor

76 posts

101 reviews

113 helpful votes

You will want to wait until you land and do it at the exchanges in the airport - no fees for currency exchange in airport

The usual advice is to only change a small amount at the airport as the rates are not as good as in town.

If you are asking if you can spend US dollars in Thailand, the answer is no, Thai baht only.

Airports and hotels usually give bad exchange rates. You'd want to exchange at tellers such as http://www.superrich1965.com They give much better rates.

The Thai Baht value has been quite weak lately, so it's nice for visitors. Have a pleasant trip.

"Is it advisable to exchange to local currency?"

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You have to use Thai baht in Thailand! This means changing dollars, travelers checks and/or using debit cards in ATM's. There must be over 500 posts on changing money when you do a forum search.

You get a better rate in Thailand than in the US. No problem changing some money at the airport when you arrive and in the city. Read FAQ's and old posts.

Exchange rates change daily but the lowest rate is still better than changing in the US.

http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx

Be a good idea to read the FAQ's and some of the old posts on how to use a taxi from the airport too!

Good luck.

Hi, dollars will be no use to you in Thailand as you pay for everything in Baht so as the others have said change enough at the airport to pay for a taxi, we usually get around a 1000baht then change in the city.

Destination Expert

The only time that I have really used USD in Bangkok is when someone brings/delivers something to my hotel room and I don't have any small Baht notes/coins at the time. Then I give US dollar bills.

What baht coin do you substitute dollars for? When you visit next, look me up; I have plenty of baht coins I will exchange with you!

Some established stores, catering to tourists will accept foreign currencies. The problem is that most will set the exchange rate to their liking.

Destination Expert

**What baht coin do you substitute dollars for?**

Ha....

I usually have a bunch of coins in a glass in my room that I use...but sometimes I have none and give $1-2 USD.

Destination Expert

Please read our FAQ: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293915-s601/Thailand:Banks.And.Money.html

Messenger52, on just how many country forums are you going to ask this question before you get the message? So far there's Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. And the replies have been identical in each and every one.

If you are in a foreign country, you use the currency of that foreign country. Period. US dollars are only legal tender in the USA, and strangely enough, Cambodia. Everywhere else in the world they are not legal tender. It would have been far better to ask how you change your US dollars into the local currency.