THB question

No, just use your ATM/debit card to gain foreign currency in Thailand. How many times has the employee st the bank traveled internationally?

Yes, ask the gal at the bank when she was last in Thailand.

Thank you as always. Love this forum!

ATMs are all over, but try to use one attached to a bank building (not a free standing kiosk in a 7-11, for example). Best bet is to hit the ATM at the Bangkok airport. Try to get "odd" amounts if possible so you don't end up with all large notes (hard to spend in markets and smaller venues). Though funny story: in Vietnam, the ATM gave me only very small notes (about the equivalent of 50 cents) and I couldn't fit them all in my wallet! Have a wonderful trip!

Just returned from my 3 week trip in Thailand. Did not bring any THB, and withdrew small sums from many ATMs. For each withdrawal, 200THB (~6USD) was charged for non-network fee. This was the highest such fee I had encountered. Thank goodness all the fees were refunded by my debit card company.

Could this be the reason the bank teller suggested getting the money before I leave??? What is the max that could be wthdrawn...maybe too much to carry

No. The gal at your bank is just clueless. Well-motivated perhaps, but clueless.

Whether you're in Bangkok, Berlin, or Boston, it's never smart to withdraw small amounts of cash many times. Of course, if you have no idea how much 10, 100, 1000, or 10,000 of any currency is worth, it's hard to make the right choice while standing at an ATM (this can actually be a real problem when first doing this is a far away land). The fix for this is to 1) have an idea what those numbers translate to in your own currency, how much that can buy locally, and how much cash you think you will be needing for the next while, 2) withdraw enough cash to keep you solvent for a few days (but not so much your pockets are overflowing with oodles of cash), and 3) use credit cards if/when they make sense.

At the current exchange rate, one THB is worth about 3 cents US. US$100 is about 3250 Baht.

You need to know if your credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee (FTF) or not (some do, some don't). If yours does, don't use it overseas (unless you have no other choice and its a serious emergency). OTOH, if you card doesn't charge a FTF, I see no reason not to use it - I use my no-fee credit cards all over the world (including in Thailand) all the time (I might as well earn points...). Just as in Europe (or North America), small shops may not accept credit cards (or may not like doing so) so you will surely need some cash, but most businesses a tourist is likely to interact with will take them, so you do not necessarily need to live an all-cash life there.

(Be sure to call your credit card issuer before you leave to let them know what countries you will be in so they don't suspect fraud and lock your card).

Bottom line: there's no reason to buy Baht at your bank (other than enriching your bank) and lots of reasons not to.

Have fun in The Land of Smiles!

As a general rule the least expensive way of getting local currency is from an ATM at your destination and you should not encounter any problems using your card. However, it's always a good idea, in my opinion, to have some local currency in hand when you land. Getting a couple of hundred in the local currency from your local bank will cost you a little more, but it eliminates the hassle of trying to find a machine, the stress of hoping it works (they do occasionally malfunction), and doing it all while somewhat jet lagged. To me the small amount extra it cost to have money in hand when arriving is money well spent, and the extra cost relative to the overall cost of the trip is not, in my opinion, that much. Just one point of view

Many thanks for all the advice, I'm feeling much more confident about this adventure. One last suggestion from a well meaning friend was just to bring cash and exchange over there. I like the idea of bringing a small amount of thb just to avoid arrive stress and use the bank ATM for the rest. Solved!!!

I was just in Thailand last month. I had no trouble using an ATM at the airport when I landed in Bangkok. Later in the trip, I exchanged some dollars at my hotel. I think they gave me the same rate as the ATM. No need to get Thai money before leaving the US.

There are ATMs at the Bangkok airport. It's easy. I don't remember BKK very well, but in many international airports, there are ATMs and currency exchanges in the baggage collection area before customs. Just ask. It's a good idea to take a not round amount, like 29,000 baht instead of 30,000. That way you'll get at least a few smaller notes. If you only get big notes, go to the currency exchange and ask if they will change one of the large notes. Then duck into the toilet and put most of the cash in your money belt before going through customs.

Check what fees your bank charges. If they take a % then it doesn't matter how many times you withdraw, but most take either a set fee per transaction or a minimum plus %. If it's a flat fee, take larger amounts and stick the extra in a money belt, along with your credit and debit cards and your passport and any other very important papers. Mine is the list of PINs and passwords.

Whether you're in Bangkok, Berlin, or Boston, it's never smart to withdraw small amounts of cash many times.

With my two debit cards that do not charge fees for ATM withdrawals, and refund non-network fees, I only withdraw a small sum at a time, enough to cover a couple of days' expenses. I pay no fees, and don't have to worry about how to safeguard a large sum of cash.

"As a general rule the least expensive way of getting local currency is from an ATM at your destination..." If using a zero foreign transaction fee, no other fee and issuing ATM fees rebated, I am unaware of any cheaper method to gain foreign currency at the retail traveler level.

There are always exceptions to rules -- that's why they are called "general rules".