Using currency dealers to sell £ or $ and buy Baht

[setaputra]

The op was looking for changing sterling to baht. Your TT calculation are irrelevant to him. And he does not have to change large sums to get a dealer rate

Also I have not given any misinformation. I qouted the rate for sterling to baht cash as shown on the internet

Do you think savvy airline staff would go to banks rather than a dealer booth and why do you think there are always queues

With the greatest respect you just don't understand how dealers and their customers operate

TT and spreads are not relevant if only selling and buying cash

[9999]

TT and spreads are not relevant if only selling and buying cash

Not really, you're right. But the whole point of these discount lenders, is you get the TT rate for cash. Anyway, enough shit fighting for me. I just been in Chiang Mai city. BKK bank booth and the other 2 private dealers were all giving the exact same rate. Things may be different in BKK, and yeah I spose a tourist can benifit from a low vig dealer if he's going to spend a shitload or stay a while. Just one thing, please tell me the minimum transaction to get the rates you quote from super rich?

I don't know the scene in BKK so will have to take your word for it that the tourist booths are undercutting the banks

And for the record, I'll admit to being wrong if you can get that rate for less than 5K quid.

[9999]

"But the cash rate for banks and booths are about the same." No , they are not which is why people changing cash go to dealers not banks, airline staff for example.

So why do the major banks have their own booths right next to the 'other' booths? So everyone can see how crappy their prices are?

[9999]

What happened to Sep? Not here to clear the air as to why BKK have a booth next to Yellow Jonny's currency van, with the exact same price (in Chiang Mai)? Is it different in BKK or not? Are the regular tourist booths you see giving this rate you quoted? Or do you need to find specific currency dealers and trade a certain minimum to get that rate.

Anyway word is sep has been chased off the forum with TDers wielding pitch forks, so don't expect anymore insight from this guy.

[DrAndy]

^ all that gibberish is missing the point

it is not a good idea to carry around a bunch of cash so using some form of debit card is the best option

you just have to find a card provider that doesn't add all sorts of extra charges for using your card

I recently used my Santander card abroad and have found a charge for using it outside the UK, a new ripoff

maybe Nationwide is cheaper?

but carrying cash around can be the most expensive method

[9999]

it is not a good idea to carry around a bunch of cash so using some form of debit card is the best option

Good point, I beleive ATM withdrawals are also TT rate, but then there's the other fees like on the Thai end, plus the ripoff mentioned above.

Best way is to have a Thai Bank acc, and TT as needed, but of course, not practical for the tourist.

edit: holy shit what did sep do to get so many reds??

[DrAndy]

Best way is to have a Thai Bank acc, and TT as needed, but of course, not practical for the tourist.

yes, but even then you may travel to adjoining countries for a holiday

[david44]

Unless in IDCs urely life in LOS is a permanent holiday?

[Makmak456]

I have looked at the Local K-bank rate in Jomtien, off the top of my head, it was
30.00 (no I dont remember the exact day) My hole in the wall cash shop rate that day was 30.48 , so 1000 USD would net me 30,480TBH, at the hole in the wall shop. At K-bank I would net 30,000TBH, oops a baht bus fee of 10 B each way, so a net of 30,460. it is on average .48-.52 B over the last 2 1/2 YEARS.

That is for cash, not for/fx/TT/interbank etc.............you maybe right for a electronic transaction, but then you have other fee's to pay.

Just for a guess, you are one of those people who pay over 1000-1500B for a taxi to patts, where I take the 134B bus