Money and ATM's
 

Are ATM's readily available in Bangkok, The Golden Triangle and Cambodia? Should I bring all the cash I think I will need or will I be able to access cash at an ATM?
Thanks

Everywhere in Bangkok, in Chaing Rai, (I can't remember about Chaing Sean), and very rare in Cambodia (two in SIem Reap and several in PP, not necessairly reliable).

I should perhaps mention that the currency of choice in Cambodia is the US dollar. Take lots of small bills as well as $20 for your temples pass, visa, etc. You may get a few rial in change in Cambodia, but spend them or give them away before you leave the country as they are utterly worthless outside of Cambodia (and nearly worthless inside Cambodia). In Thailand, of course, you'll use the local currency, the baht. There are ATMs in the arrival area at the airport in Bangkok as well as exchange windows

kathie has hit the nail on the head...take your $$ with your from usa...its a pain...

We did find a few ATMs in Chiang Sean (Golden Triangle) - one, I recall, was on that wide street leading to the bridge/border into Myanmar/Burma. And, when crossing back, there was an ATM amongst all the vendor shops/stalls further down that street.

In Cambodia we used USD, but many of the vendors were glad to accept Thai baht. Hotel, restaurants and vendors will give change in Rial, which are only good for your photo album or travel journal... no value.

In Thailand it's the baht and there are ATMs everywhere in BKK.

What about Laos? Anyone know if there are ATM's in Luang Prabang?

When I was in LP, there wasn't even a bank. You changed money at a post office...

I haven't heard any recent reports of ATMs in LP. The Lao kip comes in such small denomination bills that when I exchanged a US$20 bill, the kip I got were the size of a brick... entirely filled my waist pack!

No ATMs in Luang Prabang.

us dollars are best for LP as well....with no atm available...

i think sandi is wrong....she has the wrong town name....the town leading into myanmar with the big bridge is mae sai i believe....

chiang saen is where the golden triangle is and the hotels like the anantara...there may be a bank and/or an atm there but i did not see one....i took B with me from bkk i believe...

Check on the VISA card web site, they list all the ATMs for Thailand. There are literally thousands in BKK area. Easy to use and I found the exchange rate to be very good. For other major towns consult the web site for the locations.