|
Thai currency is called baht. Currently trading around 40 to a U.S. dollar, it takes a lot of baht to buy something . . . which means it takes very little US$ to do so. A decent hotel, meaning clean and somewhat spacious, will run you around 1,200 baht a night or US$28. A scrumptious meal for two about US$18 and a Big Mac Deal US$2.50. Most all prices are negotiable, so learn to barter well because though there’s little value in baht, it all adds up.There are money exchanges all over the city, especially where tourists congregate. A bank of them at the airport too, right outside the arrivals hall. The rates here aren’t bad so you’ll want to exchange a bit of cash to cover your transportation to your hotel, (should run around 500 baht) bell hop tips, etc. to tide you over ‘till you cash a few of the $100 bills in in the morning. Your hotel will exchange money for you. They are glad to do so because the exchange rate will greatly favor them. Don’t do it. Walk outside, hit the first exchange booth you pass and you’ll get a better deal. The best rates I’ve found are at a small jewelry store on the outside of the Narayana Phand Building which is next to Gaysorn Plaza across the street from the World Trade Center on Rajdamri Road. Narayana Phand has a “wholesale” mall downstairs where you can get your souvenirs cheaper than anywhere else in Bangkok with the exception of the weekend market so it’s not a bad little jaunt to make for both shopping and money exchanging. Take the BTS to Chit Lom, walk through Gaysorn Plaza, a block down the street and there you’ll be. The exchange shop is a store or two to the left of the mall’s main entrance . . . signs out front identify it as a money exchanger. You have options in getting some baht into your pocket. You can exchange cash, cash in travellers checks, or withdraw it through an ATM. I’m not a big fan of travellers checks, they’re just not as usable as cash. The exchange rate is a bit better than it is for cash normally, but then there is a fee for using them to make the exchange and you could actually end up with less baht than if you had exchanged cash. Your call. If you exchange cash, you get a better rate on $100 bills than smaller denominations, So stock up on ‘em before leaving home. Get the new bills and the freshest looking ones you can. Most money exchangers won’t take the old bills any longer and soiled and/or heavily used bills won’t pass muster with them either. Getting money from your bank account through an ATM is a breeze. But watch it: the fees charged can quickly add up. Your bank may charge you for using an ATM that isn’t theirs even if it is on their system. Visa and MasterCard both tack on a exchange fee and your bank probably does too with both easily adding up to 3% and higher. Check first before you go, it might be better to take the cash with you. If you do opt for the ATM, they are all over the place in Bangkok, just like in your home town. The nice thing about baht is that the notes are different colors and sizes with the larger denominations being the larger size bills. Makes it easier to pull out the correct bill in a dark bar. Most countries except for ours use this system . . . maybe someday we’ll wise up too. What’s the baht worth today? Here’s a link to an exchange site that’ll come in handy in planning your trip:
|
