The money issue is always acute. We will tell you where in Thailand to withdraw money from a card without a commission, where it is better to change currency and with what money to go. How to quickly convert baht to rubles? Security when exchanging and withdrawing from an ATM.
Nowhere and never do not travel without health insurance. Use the services - Cherekhapa and SravnRu. They will compare all offers and help you choose insurance that is suitable for the price and conditions.
Exchange rate: 1 Thai Baht (THB) ≈ 2.2 RUB.
We recalculate baht to rubles
During the trip, the question constantly arises - how much does it cost in rubles? When we first came to Thailand, the ruble to baht exchange rate was 1: 1. Very comfortably! I paid 10 baht for a trip to a songteo in Pattaya, and you realize that you spent 10 rubles.
Since 2014, the Russian currency began to lose ground sharply. Today the rate of the baht (THB) to the ruble (RUB) is 1: 2.04. You can easily convert Thai prices to rubles using a currency converter. If you don't want to take out your smartphone once again, just multiply by 2, or better by 2.1. They gave 5000 baht for the excursions, which means they spent a little more than 10 thousand rubles. Withdraw 20 thousand rubles from your card - you will get about 9800 baht in your hands.
What money to take to Thailand
If you are carrying cash, then come with dollars and euros. Large bills have a better exchange rate. Travelers checks are a good option.
Cash rubles are not changed everywhere. Even in tourist Pattaya, where earlier it was possible to exchange the currency of any country, now rubles are exchanged only in large exchange offices, and not around every corner.
It is not necessary to transfer everything to the cache! Pay with a Russian card in supermarkets, large restaurants and hotels. Cards are accepted even in 7-eleven stores, provided that the purchase amount exceeds 300 baht.
Currency exchange in Thailand - where is the best
There is only one currency in the country - the baht. Where is the best place to change money in Thailand? Exchange a small amount at the airport to cover minor expenses and travel to the resort. The rest of the money is already in place.
Most exchangers in Bangkok and tourist centers are in Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui. In ordinary cities, and even more so in remote villages, it is better not to count on currency exchange offices. There you can only get cash in baht through ATMs or bank branches.
If you are arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport, you can use the exchanger located on the lower level, opposite the entrance to the Airport Rail Link station. The course is always good there. The best currency exchange in Thailand at Super Rich online exchangers. The most disadvantageous rate is offered in hotels and guesthouses.
How can I withdraw money from the card without commissions?
No commission ATMs in Thailand are in the past. Now, at each ATM, you leave 200-220 baht for each transaction, so it is more profitable to withdraw larger amounts. Almost all ATMs have a withdrawal limit of 20 thousand baht.
Suppose you used ATM machines 5 times during your vacation in Thailand. So you left 220 baht x 5 = 1100 baht on commissions. More than 2200 rubles!
To save money and get your hard-earned money without commissions, go to the bank branch... Keep in mind that not all Thai banks are ready to serve tourists with Russian cards! From our experience, we will say that questions did not arise in Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri), #Uob and Bangkok bank.
The bank branch you need is almost guaranteed to be found in the nearest large supermarket - BigC, Tesco Lotus, Macro, Central Plaza and Mega. Do not forget to take your card and passport with you. At the entrance to the bank, there is a machine for issuing tickets for the queue to the operators. Usually, an employee meets visitors and helps to take the coupon in the right window.
If there is no assistant, switch the language on the display to English and click on the transfer / deposit button. The machine will issue a paper coupon with a number. You just have to sit in a chair and wait for your turn. The customer's number is displayed on the monitor and announced loudly in Thai. Your turn and window number will be announced in English.
Show the employee your passport, card and say I want to get cash from credit card. English is spoken in bank branches. Together with a passport and a card, the word cash is easy to understand. Name the amount you need. Less than 5000 baht, as a rule, they refuse to rent.
Thais are ordinary people. They worry when they serve foreigners, and they make mistakes out of excitement. You ask to withdraw 7 thousand baht, and the operator hears 17. We have encountered such a situation more than once, so we advise you not only to speak, but also to write the amount in numbers.
The employee will take your card and passport and make copies of them. You don't have to enter a pin code. The operator will insert the card into the terminal and ask you to sign the check. Sometimes it is necessary to indicate the phone number (it can be Russian) and the hotel in which you are staying. If there are no queues, the whole procedure will take 5 minutes at most.
There is one problem when contacting Thai banks. Most branches only work on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. In large shopping centers, banks adjust to the store's opening hours. There branches are open, as a rule, from 11:00 to 20:00 any day, seven days a week.
Security issues when exchanging and storing money
We have lived in Thailand for over 8 years and we believe that the Land of Smiles bypasses many other countries in terms of financial security by 100 points ahead. About 5-6 years ago, in Pattaya and Bangkok, there were problems with scammers who were withdrawing large sums from the cards of foreigners, but the Thai police coped with it.
The safety rules are simple:
- Be careful in front of ATMs. Withdraw money in crowded places. Choose ATMs that are located near bank branches. If a problem arises, you can always contact the bank employees for help.
- Don't put large amounts of money in your shoulder bag or purse. In resorts such as Pattaya, thieves on motorcycles appear from time to time. They dashingly rush past tourists and grab things from their hands on the go. Stow your money in the inside pocket of your backpack, carry it on your shoulders, and your savings will be more difficult to reach.
- Do not bring large sums of money or valuables to the beach. This rule is obvious, but every year there are tourists who go to swim in the sea and leave wallets with money and cards, gadgets, cameras and passports on the shore. Don't give such gifts to thieves!