Take rubles or dollars to Thailand. How much money to take to Thailand on vacation

The national currency of Thailand is the baht, officially designated THB. One baht consists of 100 satangs. In Thailand, you can only pay in baht, with the only exception being Duty Free shops at the airport (they accept dollars and euros). Therefore, when you arrive in the Kingdom, you will have to change money or withdraw from your card in local currency. Otherwise you won't be able to buy anything.

Thai money is divided into banknotes in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 baht and coins - 25, 50 satang and 1, 2, 5, 10 baht.

On the front side of any banknote you will see the same image of King Rama IX of Thailand. The reverse side has a unique design. On the front side in the upper right corner it is written in Arabic numerals what value each bill has. All banknotes are different in color, so they are easy to remember.

Thailand's coins vary in size and color. Today there are only brown coins in denominations of 25 and 50 satang, while the rest are coins of larger denominations - 1,2,5 and 10 baht. Their color can be golden or silver.

In Thailand, being careless with money is considered an insult. Banknotes cannot be crushed, walked on them, drawn on them, etc. This is perceived as disrespect for the king himself, and there is even criminal liability for this.

Thai baht exchange rate

In 2017, the Thai baht exchange rate is set as follows:

1 USD = 35.05 THB;
1 EUR = 37.35 THB;
1 RUB = 0.59 THB.

1THB = 0.028 USD;
1THB = 0.026 EUR;
1THB = 1.69 RUB.

At exchange offices in Thailand, the rate may differ slightly, as banks charge a commission.

What money should I take with me?

It is best to keep the rest of your money on the card. The bank card must be in an international format. What currency your card is in doesn’t really matter, since you can only withdraw money in baht, and money conversion will be done by your payment system (visa, mastercard) and your bank in your home country. Therefore, if you receive income in rubles, then take a ruble card. There is no point in changing rubles for dollars and putting them on the card.

I have a separate article where I wrote. I advise you to read it. There I described in detail how currency exchange occurs when withdrawing cash from a card.

How much money should I take?

Thailand is a relatively inexpensive country, so your costs won't be too high. Of course, we are all different, we have different needs and financial capabilities. From my experience, I can say that if you are traveling on a tour package for 2 weeks or less, then it is enough to take $1000 per person. This amount will be enough to have a snack in a cafe, go on excursions, visit various entertainment at your resort, buy souvenirs, clothes, and groceries.

As for me, I go to Thailand on my own and budget $1000 for one month. This amount includes rental housing ($300-400), motorbike ($100), food, gasoline, mobile communications, clothing, souvenirs and entertainment. I go on excursions quite rarely. This amount is quite enough for me. Although I know quite a few guys who manage to live in Thailand on $500.

To better understand how much money to take to Thailand, I recommend reading my article, where I outlined the main cost items.

How to withdraw money from a card?

You can withdraw money in Thailand at a bank or ATM. The easiest way to do this is at an ATM, as they are located everywhere and operate 24 hours a day. The ATM charges a fixed fee of about 200 baht for withdrawing money. Therefore, it is more profitable to withdraw a large amount once than to do it many times and pay a commission for each operation. But please note that each ATM has a maximum withdrawal amount of 20-30 thousand baht; you cannot withdraw more than this amount.

You can also cash out money at the bank itself. There are quite a lot of them in Thailand and they differ in color. Many tourists prefer to withdraw money from a bank, as some of them do not charge a commission, unlike ATMs. I will not name which specific banks do not charge a commission, since the rules are constantly changing. It’s better to go to several banks yourself and ask to withdraw money from the card without commission, then you will know for sure. First of all, I advise you to look at Krungsri Bank (yellow) and Bangkok Bank (blue). To withdraw money from a bank, you must present a passport, and the card must be international and your name must be written on it.

Read more about this in my separate article.

How to change money?

There are a large number of exchange offices in all tourist cities. You can also exchange currency at the bank. The rate at different banks may differ, but not by much. The most unfavorable exchange rate is at the airport, so I do not recommend changing money there. To exchange currency, some banks ask to show your passport.

An interesting feature is that the exchange rate for dollars in Thailand is set depending on the denomination of the banknote. The most favorable exchange rates are for 50 and 100 dollar bills. Therefore, if you take cash dollars to Thailand, exchange them for large bills.

When you arrive in Thailand, keep your cash, cards and other valuables in a safe. Most hotels provide this opportunity. You should not carry large amounts of money with you. Despite the fact that Thailand is a religious country, cases of theft also occur here.

The Thai baht to ruble exchange rate for today can be found in the online calculator. Enter the amount to exchange and find out the amount in baht that you will receive for Russian rubles.

Currency Converter

All travelers who are thinking about visiting Thailand, no matter whether it is Pattaya or Phuket, are trying to understand what is more profitable to bring to Thailand in 2019 - dollars or rubles. I’ll answer in advance - the formulation of the question is not entirely correct, you need to start from the question in advance: what money do you have?

Previously, in 2008-2012, importing the ruble was not profitable at all. The fact is that previously rubles were exchanged for Thai baht through the dollar, so the conversion took about 1.5% and it was unprofitable to carry rubles. In 2012, the first banks appeared in Pattaya that directly exchanged the ruble - baht.

List of Thai banks and their ruble to baht exchange rates online:

Services for clarifying the exchange rate of the Thai currency to the ruble:

History of the ruble to baht exchange rate for the last 30 days

Favorable exchangers in Pattaya

As a rule, the most profitable exchangers are the yellow Siam Bank and blue TMB. It’s even more profitable to change only
some guides or black money traders, who also exist in Pattaya. Let me remind you that to perform such currency transactions except
I don’t recommend using an exchanger; this will result in more than one year in Thai prison.
When purchasing, pay attention to the inscription “Corrency Exchange” in the exchanger if you do not want to overpay.

Thai baht to ruble exchange rate in Pattaya

What kind of money should I bring to Thailand: rubles or dollars or euros?

Carrying euros is not always profitable. The rate is very unstable, I advise you to check the rate at a specific moment so as not to make a mistake.

Dollars are always respected and can be exchanged for Thai baht. But if you buy these dollars at home and change them back to baht in Thailand, it’s better to take rubles and change them at the exchange offices listed above. Disadvantages - you will have to travel around and look for the optimal and most favorable exchange rate for the ruble to Thai baht.

The most profitable thing is the dollar, provided that you did not buy it in Russia, but, for example, earned it or had a stash. Please note that you should not take bills less than $50, as they may not be accepted or converted at a lower rate.

Should I take dengue or hryvnia to Thailand?

Do not take it under any circumstances. The exchange rate for dengue and hryvnia is simply extortionate: on average, this is no less than 10-15% of losses, and not every exchange office will accept them. For citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, take only dollars.

Vacation, a long-awaited vacation in distant Thailand... In the process of preparing for such a desired trip, I want to not miss anything, so that the vacation is not overshadowed by any shortcomings. The route has been planned in advance, tickets have been purchased, hotels have been booked, all issues have been resolved except one - what currency to take with you to Thailand.

In fact, this is quite a significant problem - after all, the right choice in this case can help save a decent amount. That is why most tourists become interested in this before their trip. But reviews say different things about what currency to take to Thailand. The reason for this is the fact that all of their authors visited Thailand at very different times, in addition, they stopped and exchanged currency in different places.

This article will help travelers not get confused and decide for themselves which currency would be best to take with them on a trip.

Baht is the national currency of Thailand

This material would be incomplete if we did not briefly mention the national currency of Thailand - the baht.

It is a national currency, issued in the form of coins and banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 baht (metal coins), as well as 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 baht (we are talking only about paper bills) . One baht is in turn divided into 100 satangs, which are small coins.

All coins and banknotes in one way or another depict Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is highly revered by the inhabitants of the country and is considered by them to be a semi-divine person. That is why we recommend that you handle with care

The Thai Baht is the only currency used in Thailand for payments, so you will need to buy Thai Baht upon arrival in Thailand. Here is the approximate exchange rate of the baht against the currencies discussed in the article as of April 2015:

1 dollar = 32.5 baht;
= 35 baht;
1 ruble = 0.7 baht.

Why should you take cash with you to Thailand?

Some people will be very tempted to take less cash with them, opting for money on a plastic card. This path, of course, has a right to exist. Firstly, you can have money on the card in any currency, and when making payments/cashouts in Thailand, it will simply be automatically converted into the settlement currency - baht - at the rate of your bank. No problem about what currency to take to Thailand, right? Secondly, in Thailand almost all large shopping centers are ready to accept cards for payment, and there are no problems with ATMs there.

But in the same way, many points are still not equipped with POS terminals - and they are unlikely to acquire them in the near future. This is especially true for truly Thai markets and shops, small massage parlors, small simple cafes - in general, those places where you can truly feel the whole atmosphere and authenticity of this beautiful country.

At the same time, the conversion rate of your bank can be completely extortionate, and when withdrawing money from an ATM, in addition to this, a commission from the bank that owns the ATM will be withheld. And it is no less than 150 baht, regardless of the amount.

Rubles in Thailand

Since Russians make up a significant part of the tourist flow in Thailand, it is not surprising that many local exchange offices here - currency exchange in English - will be ready to buy rubles from you and sell baht for them.

That is why many Russians ask the question: “What currency to take to Thailand, rubles or dollars?” After all, in addition to the dollar, your native ruble can also be exchanged for baht right on the spot.

So, practical calculations show that it is almost always more profitable to make a double conversion “ruble > dollar/euro > baht” for a trip to Thailand, buying Western currency in your home country, rather than exchanging rubles for baht in Thailand. Most likely, the reason for this is the desire of Thai banks and exchangers to play it safe - after all, the already low (compared to the dollar and euro) confidence in the ruble has now fallen even lower due to the low oil price and the current political crises.

In addition, quite a few currency exchange offices accept rubles - but not all!

So, we leave aside the ruble as the least profitable option when traveling to Thailand.

Euro in Thailand

It is quite expected that the euro in Thailand is accepted for exchange wherever the dollar is accepted - since Europeans (a significant part of which are Germans) are found everywhere in this country.

So let's ask ourselves what currency to take to Thailand - euros or dollars.

In fact, everything here is almost identical. Euros in Thailand are accepted wherever dollars are accepted. But there is a small factor observed in the current period - since 2015, the euro has been in a fever, and there has been a persistent downward trend in its value relative to all other currencies.

In addition, payments in euros are not yet so common, and the dollar remains the most popular and widespread currency. That’s why we give the euro second place in our ranking.

Dollars in Thailand

In the voting on the topic “which currency is better to take to Thailand,” the American dollar is clearly in the lead. It’s hard to be surprised by this, because the dollar has been and will be the most “main” and famous currency in the world. Fluctuations in the dollar are rare; it is accepted at any exchange offices throughout the country.

In addition, it is worth remembering exactly how the development of Thailand as a tourist country began, because it was the Americans who started it. During the Vietnam War, many American soldiers stopped in Thailand to rest, which predetermined the vector of movement of many people towards providing services to visitors.

So, the dollar is the most “native” currency for Thailand. Of course, after the baht. And the most authoritative - all over the world.

AmericanExpress Travel Checks

Until 2013, it was possible to take dollars into Thailand in the form of American Express. Unfortunately, now this profitable option (the exchange rate for them was usually even better than cash) is not available to many, since travel checks are no longer available in Russia. However, if you still have the opportunity to purchase them, you can safely choose such a solution. In addition to the benefits, it is also safe, since traveler's checks are personal, and only you can exchange them for real money, and only with the provision of a passport.

Features of currency exchange

In addition to the currency and its exchange rate, such an aspect as the denomination of the exchanged bills is also important. So, bills of 50-100 dollars and euros are exchanged at one rate, more profitable, while money with a lower denomination is exchanged at a different rate - lower. The most unfavorable exchange rate is for very small cash with a denomination of 1-2-5-10 dollars/euro. Remember this when you decide which currency is more profitable to take to Thailand, because it will be best to purchase large bills.

Also, do not forget to have a copy of your passport with you or, even better, its original. Without this document, many currency exchange points will simply refuse to serve you. This phenomenon is not universal - some currency exchange offices are happy to change money just like that. However, if you want to be absolutely sure that your currency will be exchanged for you, you should make sure to carry at least a copy of your passport with you if you are afraid to carry its original.

In what currency can I pay directly?

In Thailand - only in Thai baht. The first and most likely last place in this country where you will be accepted for dollars or euros will be the border control point at the airport (if you are not a Russian citizen and pay for a visa upon arrival). Next, it’s worth having some baht with you.

It is possible that somewhere they will be ready to accept dollars or euros from you, but this will most likely be the exception. The majority of Thais are even wary of the dollar, since many have not even seen it and are afraid of being deceived when paying in dollars.

Summary

In any case, there can be no clear advice on the question of what currency to take to Thailand. Yes, the dollar is in the lead, but this is only for today. Before your trip, pay attention to exchange rates and their fluctuations, read the latest world financial news, and it would be a good idea to monitor the situation with exchange rates in Thailand. Only by comparing all the data can you decide which currency to take to Thailand.

Instructions

First, you should decide how it is more convenient for you to import currency into Thailand. This can be done in two ways: cash or plastic cards. There is also a third way - traveler's checks, but it is not very popular in Asian countries; it is not recommended to bring such checks to Thailand, since exchanging them for money can be very difficult.

Rubles. Oddly enough, in Thailand it is quite possible to make purchases using Russian rubles. But this will not be possible to do everywhere. Rubles are accepted in some places in Pattaya and Bangkok. They can be exchanged for baht at the country's main airport - Suvarbanahumi in Bangkok. However, the course is extortionate, so this method can be considered extreme.

In general, if you fly to Bangkok airport, you can take with you almost any currency of a major country in the world. Right at the airport, even before passport control, you will see exchange offices, and the list of currencies in them is impressive, as are the rates, which are very far from the real exchange rate ratio. You can find exchange offices that accept a variety of currencies in all major cities in Thailand. The rate there is usually a little more favorable than at the airport, but it depends.

Thai baht. This option seems the most obvious and reasonable, but not everything is simple with it. Finding a bank in Russia that issues Thai currency is very difficult, even in Moscow. If you have little time in the capital, for example, you are making a short transfer in Moscow, then it will be unrealistic to exchange rubles for baht in advance.

Dollars or euros. If you are going to travel with cash, then this option is the most profitable. Dollars and euros are accepted at any exchange office, the rates are usually acceptable. A strange feature of Thai exchangers: the larger the dollar or euro bill, the higher the rate at which it will be exchanged for you.

If you take a plastic card, make sure that it is international. Some Russian banks issue cards that are accepted only in Russian banks. It is best to have a card of at least a standard Visa Classic or Mastercard Standard. One or more accounts can be linked to; their currency does not matter: conversion when withdrawing money through occurs automatically.

When withdrawing money from a bank card, you should keep in mind that conversion usually occurs through dollars at the bank’s internal rate. So, if your account is in rubles, then there will be two conversions, rubles-dollars, and then dollars-baht. Sometimes conversion is carried out through euros if the account is in euros. If your bank charges a fee for using someone else's ATM, they will charge it. There is also a commission from the Thai bank itself, usually it is at least 150-180 baht. It turns out that it is better to withdraw money less often, but in larger amounts.

Another way to receive money from a bank account: you need to come to any Thai bank with your card and passport. Some banks allow you to withdraw money without commission. It happens that the branch does not have a device to service the card, then they will recommend that you use an ATM.

Updated: 10/16/2017

Oleg Lazhechnikov

861

It seems that I have already written more than once about why they are needed in general, about that, but the specific answer to the question of what money to take to Thailand remained behind the scenes. Although this is said somewhere in the comments or briefly in the articles themselves... But since I receive this very question with a certain frequency, I am filling the gap in the form of a separate article.

I would like to note that this post is relevant not only for Thailand, but also for other foreign countries, especially for those where the currency is tugriks (not euros or dollars).

The currency in Thailand is Thai baht. In Russia you can’t buy them everywhere, and I wouldn’t do it either. And why? Take dollars with you and you won’t go wrong; there are exchangers in Thailand at every turn. Only in Russia it is better to find a better rate at an exchange office.

Another no-labor option is to take with you your bank cards, which you use in everyday life. The main thing is that this card is accepted abroad, that is, those intended only for Russia will not be suitable. Any will do, but it’s better not lower than Visa Classic or Mastercard Standard. The currency of the bank card account (if you don’t bother) is not so important, but all other things being equal, dollar cards are preferable. In general, I already wrote that when traveling, I recommended using travel credit cards for payments or debit cards for withdrawing cash at a good rate. I’ve been trying to minimize cash spending for a long time, although in Thailand it’s hard to do this; terminals are only in large stores.

Details about what money to take to Thailand

I answered the question briefly, now let’s take a closer look at all possible cases, because if you go deeper and try to minimize losses on currency conversions, you will have to understand a little about the topic. But if you don’t want to, then I’ve already written the advice above.

All options on what to take

Rubles. In Thailand they are taken mainly only in Pattaya/Phuket/Bangkok and not everywhere, so they can be considered relatively useless, you will have to look for an exchanger, and the rate will be so-so. I also read that Bangkok Bank has started accepting them, but I haven’t checked it myself. The rate is listed on their website and it is extortionate.
Cash dollars and euros. On the spot, they can be exchanged for Thai baht at any exchange office or bank, of which there are more than enough in the country. This option is great for those who don’t particularly use bank cards, or simply don’t want to bother.
Bank card with ruble account. In my opinion, one of the most convenient options without any problems if you are going on vacation for a couple of weeks. All this hassle with special cards for the sake of saving a couple of pennies is useless. And you need to know that a bank card is much safer than cash. If you lose cash, it will be over, and the card can always be blocked, plus there are transaction limits. In Thailand, you can use a ruble card to pay for purchases in supermarkets. There will be two conversions, usually through dollars (THB=>USD=>RUB).
Bank card with dollar account. More profitable option. But it is suitable for those whose income comes in dollars, or who monitors exchange rates and purchases in dollars and euros on time. For such a card there will be only one conversion (THB=>USD). Withdrawing money occurs in the same way: at ATMs and banks. It is better to take Mastercsrd, it usually has lower commissions.
Bank card with euro account. Usually so-so, because it is needed for countries where the euro is used, and not the tugrik. You need to find out from your bank how conversions occur, because there is a risk of getting into 2 conversions (THB=>USD=>EUR).

Cash dollars

Most vacationers simply take cash dollars with them. As I said above, this is a good option for those who don’t want to understand. We went to the exchange office, bought a few thousand (well, or as much as you need there) and that’s it, no additional actions or hassle with finding out bank card fees. Actually, you can continue to do this. Even if the exchange rate suddenly changes for the worse for you (the ruble rises and the dollar falls), then in a short period of time (vacation) you are unlikely to lose much. That is, changes in rates will not be noticeable to you.

However, I would still advise stocking up on a bank card, ruble or dollar. Since money can run out, it’s better to keep emergency reserves in a bank account rather than in your pocket, it’s safer. Well, winterers, in my opinion, can’t live without a map. It’s one thing to plan expenses for 1-2 weeks, another thing to plan for 6 months.

How to reduce commission costs

Is there a difference in what kind of money to bring to Thailand if you are going for the winter and not for a couple of weeks on vacation? I answered “no” for myself, and I travel further with bank cards (different currencies) and take some cash with me just in case. However, here's what else you need to do to reduce your commission costs:

Find out which banks are in your city and find out what their real commissions are for conversions (call the bank, read on forums), and also who does not have a commission for withdrawing cash from an ATM of a third-party bank. Thus, you can try to reduce expenses on all sorts of commissions, of which there can be a lot during the entire winter. True, this will take time. You can use my selection of cards as a starting point.
Withdraw not from ATMs, but at the bank's cash desk; there is no commission of 180 baht for withdrawal.
Convert your income into dollars, get a dollar bank card in Russia, open an account in a Thai bank and get a Thai card to which you can transfer money from Russian accounts or withdraw WebMoney profitably (if you have them).

Well, after you have decided whether to take dollars, rubles, or bank cards, you will need to find out. True, during wintering expenses can be completely different, both less and more.

P.S. Just in case, it’s always good to have a few hundred cash bucks in your wallet for any trip abroad, you never know what will happen to the card, or some other situation where it is impossible or inconvenient to withdraw from the card, but cash is needed urgently.

P.P.S. Due to the instability of the ruble, it makes sense not only to take a dollar card, but also to transfer half (or even more) of your savings into foreign currency.

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