Hi, forgive me for asking so many questions, but I'm off on my very first trip to Asia (Thailand) and have never traveled abroad other than Paris. There are so many seasoned travelers here with such good advice, I can't help but try to mooch off some of your wisdom So...<BR><BR>1. Can anyone advise on if there is a better credit card to take to Thailand, say if I had to choose just one? I don't want to carry anything more than I have to (in case gets lost or stolen). Is Amex accepted very many places (hotels, restaurants, shops)?<BR><BR>2. What have been people's experience with exchange rate using a credit card? I know it obviously depends on WHAT the exchange rate is, but is it better just to pay cash, or use a credit card at all?<BR><BR>3. Are traveler's checks widely accepted there? (Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket)<BR><BR>4. Any suggestions on how many bhats to carry around? I know depends on many factors, but just don't know who takes credit cards, travelers checks or just plain old bhats <BR><BR>Thank you for any words of advice. Scott

Author: Scott ([email protected])<BR>Date: 04/10/2002, 02:11 am<BR>Message: Hi, forgive me for asking so many questions, but I'm off on my very first trip to Asia (Thailand) and have never traveled abroad other than Paris. There are so many seasoned travelers here with such good advice, I can't help but try to mooch off some of your wisdom So...<BR><BR>1. Can anyone advise on if there is a better credit card to take to Thailand, say if I had to choose just one? I don't want to carry anything more than I have to (in case gets lost or stolen). Is Amex accepted very many places (hotels, restaurants, shops)?<BR><BR>2. What have been people's experience with exchange rate using a credit card? I know it obviously depends on WHAT the exchange rate is, but is it better just to pay cash, or use a credit card at all?<BR><BR>3. Are traveler's checks widely accepted there? (Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket)<BR><BR>4. Any suggestions on how many bhats to carry around? I know depends on many factors, but just don't know who takes credit cards, travelers checks or just plain old bhats <BR><BR>Thank you for any words of advice. Scott<BR><BR> <BR>

Having been to Bangkok and Phuket Thailand the last 2 years I had no problem using a visa credit card in hotels, better restaurants. Other cards I do not know. Traveler checks are also easy to exchange in hotels, although money changing places usually have the best rate. I cannot say how many baht you might need as it depends on how much you intend to spend in markets, cheaper eating places,etc. American cash is also easy to use. Have a great trip. I am leaving May 13th for my firt trip to Paris so I have the same questions there. I have been told there to wait and change your euros as banks in the states charge a high fee.

Hi Scott:<BR><BR>I cannot tell you about Amex in Thailand, but I can tell you that a couple of times I had problems using it in Belize and Costa Rica. It wasn't the places didn't take Amex, it was that their lines were down or was busy at the time. I did not carry another card on me and if it wasn't for my two friends I would not have been able to purchase the stuff I wanted because I didn't have enough cash on me. It happened in Costa Rica twice in the same day. My advice is don't leave home with out Amex, but take a back up!

Visa best, Mastercard next. Amex not so popular. For ATM cards stick with Visa.

Hi-<BR>I've been to Thailand a number of times. I usually use ATMs-not for VISA cash advances, just to take cash in Baht out of my checking account. I've also used my VISA card to pay for larger purchases and hotels. Never needed traveller's checks. You'll get the best exchange rate using ATMs and a credit card. Don't forget if you use a credit card to get cash you will pay interest on it from the date of withdrawl.<BR>If your ATM card has Plus or Cirrus, you should be fine.

Excellent advice, really helps....thanks all! Scott