Here is an overview of how much your money in Thailand is worth, where you are Save money when taking off and what you should pay attention to when withdrawing and securing the money - with a few additional tips included.
With credit card in Thailand
When planning your vacation you will eventually come to the question of the budget. How much money do I need, to be fine in Thailand? Should I take cash?
Some prefer to exchange money with the bank before traveling. While this may be useful, the course that the local bank in Germany uses for the foreign currency can be detrimental to you. But you can withdraw the cash with the credit card for Thailand.
It's also a good idea to bring a credit card with you to Thailand, because money is spent on vacation faster than you sometimes think, or something happens to cash - so you have a good emergency plan.
The debit card or Maestro is a good idea, but the card will be significantly more expensive than a withdrawal of cash by credit card, because the fees are higher. If you have the right credit card, you do not pay anything to pick it up in Thailand!
In this article we focus on two very popular, different examples of one Travel Credit Card - the DKB Visa Card and the 1plus Visa Card from Santander. There are other credit cards that could be recommended, but these two stand out for their conditions.
What is money worth in Thailand?
Everything you need to travel can also be bought in Thailand. This makes sense in many ways, as it saves space when packing and you can take home nice keepsakes.
Many tourists buy souvenirs or clothes, which they later remember the wonderful time they spent in this impressive country.
The national currency in Thailand is the baht (฿). For 1 Euro you get about 38 baht. In addition, staying overnight in Thailand, as well as eating and drinking, on average, cheaper than in Germany.
A local dish can cost around the 40 baht on the street, in the average restaurant around the 100-120 baht. This small amount is also worth spending, because the Thai cuisine has a lot to offer!
So it is not surprising that many German pensioners decide to retire in Thailand. Also souvenirs and adventure tours, such as snorkeling or kite boarding in, are usually cheaper.
Have enough money when entering Thailand!
If you only want to spend up to 30 days in Thailand, you should not worry. You do not need a visa for the first 30 days and get a stamp on your passport.
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand and apply for a tourist visa for several months, you should be careful: Thailand like to check tourists on arrival to see that you carry enough cash!
It is more about travelers who plan to spend several months in Thailand and the sum amounts to about 500 Euro (20000 Baht). So, if you have a tourist visa and are leaving and coming back from Thailand, then you should first withdraw enough cash with the credit card to be on the safe side.
It is always advantageous to carry the credit card for Thailand or debit card separated from the cash. So you best carry the cash in your wallet and the credit card safely stowed in a pouch or in a backpack. In an emergency you reduce the likelihood that you are suddenly on the dry land.
Why travel by credit card to Thailand or abroad?
If you arrive in a foreign country, you need money in the local currency. Anyone who has not previously informed will exchange money in exchange offices with a loss of euros in baht (see below). If you want to avoid this, you can take advantage of a credit card.
In the EU, USA, Australia & New Zealand it is now very common to pay for everything with the card. In Thailand, it is only the hotels that are happy if you pay the bill by credit card.
Overall, the locals in Thailand, but also in other countries are happy about it, if you pay in cash. In addition, that often happens foreign fees in restaurants and bars, which are passed on directly to the customer.
Debit cards are not even recommended, because withdrawing money with Maestro is associated with very high withdrawal fees and V-Pay is not even accepted by vending machines in Thailand - more on that later.
In addition, you can book flights, travel and hotels in Thailand with a credit card for Thailand. Very often, accommodations require a credit card number that can be charged on no show. In an emergency, a good credit card is worth gold to bail itself out. Some credit cards even give you a bonus on the tank money.
Best credit card for Thailand
There are two Travel credit cards, which are used by long-term travelers and are highly recommended for when traveling in the world. These are the DKB Visa Card and the 1plus Visa Card from Santander.
The reason is that you can use these credit cards abroad withdraw money for free can, provided that no fees are incurred at the machine by the operator. Other benefits include no fees for the account management and the maps are also also free.
The 1plus Visa Card from Santander is very well suited to travelers because it allows you to get reimbursed in the case of withdrawal fees at the ATM, such as in Thailand, these fees. Usually a short e-mail is enough.
However, there is a liftoff limit of 300 Euro per day.
The DKB Visa Card is also worth it, because you can withdraw abroad for free. In Thailand you have to pay the machine fees, but that does not make the map here less attractive - on the contrary.
If you would like to pay by credit card, the foreign service charge will be refunded 1,75% the following month. In Germany, the card can be used to withdraw free of charge at many banks via Visa.
You can also withdraw significantly more money, so that lift fees often relativize. However, this only works if the ATM operators have not set a withdrawal limit on the machine.
Which exchange rate?
Who pays on holiday with a card, is faced with the decision whether the amount should be calculated in euros or baht. Here you should definitely choose baht or generally always the national currency the place in which you are.
The reason is that the immediate conversion from the foreign currency uses a fixed exchange rate that is up to 10% below the real rate. This is called "Dynamic Currency Conversion".
Later, you look at the credit card bill and get annoyed about the lost money. This also applies to the withdrawal of cash by credit card in Thailand.
It is recommended, if one has short Internet access, sometimes a look at the current course between the own currency and the foreign currency watch. The courses do not flow very much within a short period of time. Accordingly, you only have to check every few days or once a week.
Exchange offices in Thailand
Despite the Fees at the ATMs It is preferable to withdraw money by credit card in Thailand, than to go to an exchange office and exchange Euros directly in baht. The bureaux de change make their money by indicating a worse rate than the actual daily rate.
So you lose money when exchanging coins, coins and notes. If you do not feel like it on holiday, you can pay it off at the vending machine or in the bank, and if you have the right credit card, you can foreign fees catch up again.
It is always worthwhile to look at the exchange rate on the Internet, because then you quickly realize that the bill for an exchange in the currency exchange is not worthwhile.
How much does it cost to withdraw by credit card in Thailand?
Unfortunately, a few years ago, ATM operators in Thailand decided to charge fees for withdrawing money. These are not connected with any fees on the part of the credit card issuer and amount to around 150–200 baht or 4–5 euros. With traditional credit cards, there are often additional fees for withdrawing money abroad.
If you own a DKB Visa Card or a 1plus Visa Card from Santander, you only need to use the ATM at the ATM local fees numbers. The credit card of the Santander Bank allows one to have the fees reimbursed in addition, so that you have no costs in the end.
This is very useful to reduce the travel budget! If you use the DKB Visa Card, you can withdraw a bit more in Thailand to keep costs proportionately lower on the amount of money paid out. Many banks have an upper payout limit of about 20.000 baht (~ 510 Euro).
If you withdraw that much money, you will pay less than 1% of the total amount of money. Compared to EC cards, this is actually very little, as a fee of over 10 euros can apply here.
If you want to completely avoid this, you also have the option of using the Credit card in Thailand go to the bank and get cash at the counter. It costs nothing there to withdraw money directly from the bank, if you have the right credit card. The DKB Visa Card is very well suited for this because the local withdrawal fees only take place at the ATM and not at the counter.
If this bothers you can alternatively use the 1plus Visa Card from Santander, because here foreign fees be reclaimed by the bank - even if Santander does not charge the fees. These are collected by the operator of the ATM.
The ATMs often pay bigger bills national currency such as 500 baht bills or 1000 baht bills, which are used in everyday life in Thailand by locals less. It is advisable to change these bills, for example in hotels, into smaller ones and then start with smaller amounts. The rest should certainly be accommodated at the place of sleep, even if Thailand is considered a safer destination.
A basic requirement for all trips is: Always run around with as much money as you need to pay for meals, taxi and tours. Loss of money not only happens through things like theft, but the pouch bag can also be easily forgotten on the beach. This is annoying, but does not hurt as much as when the travel money is gone for the next four weeks.
If you have the advantage, you should also take advantage of it: prefer to withdraw twice and reimburse the fees, than to withdraw one time and lose the money.
Use of the credit card in Thailand
As already mentioned, the use of payment methods such as Maestro or V-Pay is a rather European phenomenon. In Thailand, this will only be of limited use. Although it is possible to pay by Maestro debit cards and withdraw money, but unfortunately the fees are much higher than you would expect.
This is due to the lack of dissemination of a similar procedure. V-Pay is much less - if ever - common. It is more likely that you will get a message at the machine in which it is said that the cash of the card can not be determined.
You tend to pull out your credit card in Thailand when shopping or when paying for an overnight stay in a hotel. The best solution is to have cash available by going to the ATM with your credit card.
Where can I withdraw money in Thailand?
Thailand is a country that relies a lot on tourism and therefore offers all the offers for tourists. Foreigners are not a rarity in Thailand and so it is easy for tourists to get money when needed.
ATMs where you can withdraw money can be found enough, even on the islands. Of course this does not apply to trips to remote island beaches, so in that case it would be better to take some cash with you if you would like to buy something on the boat.
In case of doubt, you will find at least one ATM (ATM) at every 7-11 supermarket.
Security when picking up with credit card in Thailand
Everyone has had the experience themselves or knows someone who tells the story similar. You're abroad and you're taking off a bit more money so you do not run back to the machine all the time.
It has been withdrawn for free or only for a small fee. Then you sit in the restaurant, eat, turn around and suddenly the bag is gone - including the money.
Others report unfortunate events in the hostel, where the purse is hidden under the pillow and still gone the next day.
Here are a few tips to counteract the unnecessary loss:
- Stow away the cash after taking off
It's tempting to go around the corner for a quick bite and have something to eat. But then you all see that you're carrying a lot of money with you right now - and that's unfortunately an invitation for some on this planet to try to take the money.
It is better to go with the money in the trustworthy hotel or hostel and there to stow.
- Good secure
Most of the facilities you can stay in Thailand have at least one option to include valuables. Often there is a safe or a locker directly in the room. If it can not be included, you should ask the staff for replacement or alternative options. It is better to include valuables every night than to wake up or come back and not find them again. This not only applies to cash, but also to your passport or laptop.
If it is not possible to lock things away, then you can ask the receptionist if there is a place where you can store the valuables.
- Only save as much money as necessaryIt is much easier in Thailand to get through the day with very little money. You can take precaution and withdraw money for the whole month, but it's better to go to the machine twice.
- Make big bills smaller
An 1000 baht bill has a value of approximately 25 Euro. In everyday life, it is hardly possible to pay with such notes, or there is a risk that you get less change than expected back or he is not even accepted.
Hotels are a good place to make big bills small. Alternatively, you can also go to a bank and pay off the big money in everyday life suitable grades.
Always pay attention to the correct change. - Go out with as much cash as you can
The more money you take with you when you go out, the more money you can potentially lose. How much you plan to spend, of course, everyone knows best and the amount of money taken is also different. Nevertheless, you should be careful not to take too much money. In Thailand, a meal costs between about 40 and 120 baht. The Full Moon Party on Haad Nok Beach costs 100 Baht or the equivalent of 2,50 Euro. - Take care when lifting
Not only in Thailand, but actually everywhere you should be careful when you stand at the machine. People who are after your money are everywhere on the planet. Therefore, you should keep the input field hidden when entering the pin, to screw up potential viewers the tour.
It is also good to pay attention to fraudulent automaton essays. Often criminals put a reader on the actual machine on it and then read the map data and the input pin directly.
What if the credit card is gone anyway?
No matter how well you pay attention, the credit card may be lost, crushed or stolen. If this happens, you should immediately lock your credit card. Luckily, there are cost-effective ways to have a new credit card sent to Thailand when traveling.
Anyone who has an active account with DKB-Bank will receive a credit card that allows them to withdraw cash for free abroad. If you lose these, the credit card replacement is free and you can have it sent to you. If you do not have an active account, you will have to expect a replacement fee.
Which credit card in Thailand?
If you are interested in traveling to Thailand, you should get a credit card first. Even if you already have one, having a second one from DKB Bank or Santander is a good idea.
Since the account and the credit card are free, it is worth considering getting them. In addition, as I said, you can withdraw cash with the credit card for free abroad.
Many other credit card issuers have attractive terms, but each time they withdraw cash abroad they are charged extra fees. It is worthwhile to be informed and to benefit from your personal benefit!
Overview of the two cards we recommend:
| DKB debit card | Santander 1plus credit card |
|---|---|
Advantages
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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Disadvantages
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| Apply here | Apply here |
As you can see, there are ways to save some money if you're in Thailand by credit card and Safely withdraw cash want. The above cards are particularly popular with, precisely because they help save money. So you don't have to worry about money on vacation anymore!
Which card is more recommended ultimately depends on your situation: If you want to have a “real” credit card, we recommend the Santander 1Plus card order here online, In addition to the advantages listed above, you will benefit from the advantages of a credit card including the option of paying in part. A corresponding credit rating, or usually a regular income are a condition for the successful application.
If you do not fulfill these conditions or you are not exposed to the temptations of a credit card, the DKB card is probably the better solution. You can order these as a credit or debit card. The debit card is also suitable for foreign assignment. The online application is filled out quickly and is usually easily accepted. So you can hold your DKB card very soon, even if you are still studying or have no permanent job. The application for the DKB card is ready Right this way.