Hello,

How much currency should I bring with me on a 2 week trip to Phuket & Bangkok? All hotels are already paid for.

Also, are US credit cards widely accepted? Or, is Thailand a cash only type of place?

Thank You!

If you have an ATM card, you can do cash withdrawals at the many ATM machines that are everywhere. If you are shopping in malls or dining in "better" restaurants, you credit cards will be fine. If you are shopping the weekend market (Chatuchak) or buying from street vendors, you will need Thai Baht. Taxis will want Baht, as will small shops and food courts at, say, MBK mall.

I always take US$ (100s) to exchange at VASU on Sukhumvit Road (best exchange rate I've found). You need the newer style $100 bills with the large face in the center. The older style bills, or those with writing or lots of wear and tear, are often not acceptable.

Carol

A caveat to the above is to check your bank's fees for using your ATM card overseas. Some (like B of A) charge some ridiculous fees for using ATMs.

I always have a couple of $100 bills in my wallet for emergencies, but otherwise I use my Thai ATM card to get cash everywhere in SE Asia.

Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted in most 'tourist' places. Smaller shops may not take Amex or may charge you more for using them. As Carol says, you need cash for taxis, markets and small shops.

I take US cash and traveler's checks to be exchanged. I get the traveler's checks in hundreds since there is a fee to exchange them....less than a dollar per check, but the exchange rate is a bit higher than with cash.

Of course, there's always the ATM card. I personally have never used my American-issued ATM card abroad. I prefer not to. But, many like using ATM cards. My American bank charges $5.00 per withdrawal.

I've never had a problem, in a decade, using a credit card unless it's some small store or restaurant that only takes Thai Baht cash or is somewhere off the beaten path. Happy Travels!

As for how much for you to take, that depends on your own personal lifestyle.

I usually budget, to wherever I go in the world, $100. a day, after the accommodations are paid for. Of course, I don't always spend $100. a day, but I also budget in for emergencies...like when I had the knee problem and went to Bumrungrad Hospital Bangkok and saw a specialist and paid for the visit and medication. It was only the equivalent of $40. for the medical visit and medication, but it did come out of that day's budget.

Thank goodness I haven't had to be hospitalized for stomach sickness. I've been able to just go to the pharmacy and get something for that. So, traveler's need to also budget for possible emergencies. Happy Travels!

<Of course, I don't always spend $100. a day>

I would pay to see someone contain Guen to 100 US per day if that was not her pleasure, lol

Aloha!

HT, darlin'...sometimes I do go over that $100. a day limit, but I'm not counting my SJ purchases in that $100. a day limit. Those purchases are on a separate budget. LOL! Happy Travels!

I travel all over North America, Asia & Europe. I always use my Capital One money market ATM with 4-digit PIN. I always keep about US$50 worth of currency at home for about 7 or 8 of the countries I visit most often. Comes in handy for the rare cases when I can't immediately find an ATM upon arrival.

I carry the cash and skip the ATMs and credit cards as much as possible to avoid all the fees. I do carry a credit card for insurance purposes. Bring along a security wallet and keep your cash there or in your room safe assuming you are staying in a 4/5 star property. I have been doing this for years all across the globe and it works fine- everyone takes cash!