Cheap Thailand Holidays

Where ever you are in Bangkok you will never be very?far from an ATM, both master card and visa are excepted. Using one is straight forward, insert your card and enter your pin number, all Thai ATM's have the option to select English. You will then be prompted to select a savings account, current account or fast cash, not to complicate matters it is best to select the fast cash option. The next screen allows withdrawal denominations from 300 baht?up to 10,000 baht.
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Which ever option you select the charge by the bank with be 150 baht, this will be in addition to your own personal bank's?currency transfer charge. Obviously frequent use withdrawing small amounts will involve you in unnecessary costs and better to take larger amounts. In such cases deposit money as soon as possible in you hotel safe, it being unwise to carry large amounts on your person.
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It is far better to take several cards with you to Thailand as a lost or damaged card will be impossible for your bank to replace.?Irrespective of what your home bank might tell you about a replacement card being?sent out to you in Bangkok this will not happen. Phone calls back to your home bank will involve you in considerable cost, time wasted on the phone and frustration.?In the event of your card being damaged or not working for any reason, in an emergency you can be guaranteed to obtain at least 10,000 baht at a money exchange on production of the damaged card and your passport.?
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A far better system is to take enough cash with you for the duration of your trip, and on arrival at the earliest opportunity open a bank account in Thailand. This is not as complicated as it might sound and only takes 10 minutes to complete. To open a bank account all that is required is your passport, provide a contact number and deposit the money. You will be given an ATM visa card for which there is a small charge of 100 baht. Unlike european banks there is no delay as the card is given to you on the spot, along with your personal pin, the bank will help you if you wish to change the pin number to one of your choice. You will also be given a passbook which you can amend your self at many dispensers for this purpose, or by calling into the bank itself.
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There are two of the advantages of opening a bank account in Thailand irrespective of the duration of your stay. Firstly if you should loose the card or becomes damaged it is a simple case of calling into a branch of the Thai Bank along with your passport and you can obtain a replacement straight away for a cost of 200 baht. Also if you might intend to return to Thailand in the future you can electronly transfer money from your home country to your Thai bank account before your trip.