Cash or Credit in Thailand

[TotallyOz]

When you visit Thailand, do you use cash or your Credit Cards? I find that most of the time I will go to the ATM and get cash and use it. Part of the reason is most places I have used CC in copy down the number in the machine. I don't like my number being stored anywhere. What do you do in LOS cash or credit?

[Guest Astrrro]

Now I have money in a Thai bank account and use the ATM.

 

As a tourist I was able to get free traveler's checks in $500 denominations and found that to be the most cost effective way of getting money.

[Guest fountainhall]

I used to use almost exclusively overseas based credit cards. The extra points and airline miles justified the extra charges. Now that charges are on the way up, I find I am becoming much more cash-oriented for most purchases here.

[Guest MonkeySee]

I use either cash or traveler's checks. I used to use credit cards until my bank started charging a transaction fee for overseas transactions.

[Guest laurence]

For pricey meals and big purchases I use credit cards since I don't want to deplete my meager budget.

[Guest pingalicker]

On my 1st trip to Thailand I used travlers checks and my credit card. When I returned to the US and recieved my cc statement I discovered I was charged a transaction fee and the conversion rate of baht to USD was much lower that they used. So now I take 100 dollar bills, fold and iron them and tuck them into my money belt, which has never caused me any problems. Simple and easy. I do still use the cc on major purchases, but some hotels do not take credit cards, so I just pay in baht that I've converted at a decent rate. The money belt looks just like a regular belt, one would never know it was loaded with cash.

[Guest]

 

I use both cash withdrawn by ATM from my Nationwide account in the UK & cash taken with me from the UK.

I've never paid for anything in Thailand with anything other than cash.

[Guest RichLB]

Major Warning. I have learned NEVER to use a credit card except in the ATM machine. I have been stung 3 times in my 10 years here and each time for major dollars. It seems there is a handheld machine which copies that black strip on the back of your credit card. That electronic information is then sold to a middle man who makes a duplicate credit card in the name of a future purchaser. When swiped through the cc machine in a store, it is the information on the copied black strip which access and charges your credit card account - not the numbers on the front of the card. The poor merchant has no way of knowing that the holder of the bogus card is not the true owner since the fake card will be made in his name, signed by him, and he will have proper identification. You, of course, will not know until you see your account statement that your card has been charged.

 

Luckily, the credit card company returned the pilfered funds, but Visa did cancel me because of the fraud. The cards had been used in Korea, England, and Hong Kong each time for several thousand dollars - enough to raise a flag for the cc company. As my passport proved I had not visited those countries during the period in which the card was used, I had no problem other than bureaucratic ones. As I had been in the habit of always using my credit card for casual purchases in Thailand, I would have never known or been able to prove if the charges were mine or not.

 

I've learned my lesson and do not use my cards for in store purchases.

[Guest fountainhall]

It seems there is a handheld machine which copies that black strip on the back of your credit card.

 

Not only handheld machines. Twice I have had my Visa card stopped after use in Thailand. On the first occasion someone had been using the number in Korea. On the second, in London. The thief's modus operandi was to start with a small purchase, wait for 30 minutes then make a slightly larger purchase . . and so on. Thankfully, Visa's security department picked it up both times and all charges were refunded to my account.

[Guest RichLB]

In fairness to Thailand, i should have added that the hand held electronic strip copiers I referred to above are not limited to use only in Thailand. I was informed by the credit card company they are in wide spread use throughout most of the world.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I transfer cash through my credit union, which doesn't charge me a transfer fee. I am working on making Bangkok Bank my direct deposit for Social Security starting in April.

 

When I use credit cards, I watch the accounts closely online, and can catch an unauthorized charge very quickly.

[PattayaMale]

I have given up using credit cards unless I need to make an airline reservation or other online reservation. I am not so worried about the card being captured as I am about spending too much.

 

When I use to want to purchase something it was so easy to take out the card. Now I carry cash only.

 

I also save the 3% fee so many merchants try to charge for a card use.

[Guest buckeroo2]

For pricey meals and big purchases I use credit cards since I don't want to deplete my meager budget.

 

Don't you still have to pay your credit card bill? I am not seeing how putting pricey meals and big purchases on a credit card helps you stay within your budget. What am I missing?

[Guest JoeM]

I use credit cards for shopping and dinners, travler's checks for spending money, and the ATM for quick infusions of cash when it is a big night. Been doing this many years without any problems.

[Guest laurence]

Don't you still have to pay your credit card bill? I am not seeing how putting pricey meals and big purchases on a credit card helps you stay within your budget. What am I missing?

 

I use the cash I have budgeted for everyday expenses when in Thailand. For the larger and maybe unplanned purchases put on the credit cards, I pay them over time once I have returned home. Same reason people put purchases on credit cards, buy now, pay later.

 

[Guest Steve1903]

I try not to use credit cards abroad. Bit dodgy. That said, mine have all been removed from me now so cash it will have to be every time, or a debit card.