Thai money. Where is the best place to change currency in Thailand?

In Thailand, the local currency of Thailand – baht (THB) – is accepted to pay for products and services. When traveling to the Kingdom, which currency should you prefer?

Modern Thailand: exchange rates for today

Payments in euros and dollars are not carried out in Thailand, with the exception of payments to guides and tour guides who come to work in Thailand. Currency rate for today:

1 USD – 36.1632 THB
1 RUB – 0.53395 THB
1 EUR – 40.7509 THB

Upon arrival at the airport, you can change some currency for small expenses. The rate will be acceptable, but you shouldn’t change all your cash; in cities you can find a much better rate.

Exchange offices at hotels are not the best choice due to the low exchange rate. The ideal option is “Exchange” points or banks, which have branches in large supermarkets.

Important! Official exchange offices often require a passport.

Thai currency to ruble: exchange features

Due to the weakening of the ruble against various currencies, the baht exchange rate began to rise, approaching 1:2. The Thai currency against the ruble today is:

1 THB – 1.88 RUB;
1 RUB – 0.53 THB.

Please note: there is no direct baht-ruble exchange rate. Conversion of Thai money into rubles is carried out through the dollar. It is difficult to find a normal ruble exchange rate in the Kingdom, except for one exchange office in Bangkok, one in Pattaya and a couple in the center.

Eliminate unnecessary searches for exchangers; take rubles with you only for the return trip.

Which currency is more profitable to take to Thailand?

In Thailand, all exchange points freely exchange euros, dollars and about ten world currencies. The world generally accepted ratio of their rates also applies to Thailand. At exchange offices the rate may differ by only a couple of kopecks. So which currency is more profitable to take to Thailand?

The average Russian knows almost nothing about checks, but this is the most advantageous scheme for importing funds into Thailand. In Russia, checks can be purchased at Sberbank at par and sold with virtually no losses in Thailand. You can bring significantly more money with checks than in cash.

When exchanging Thai baht, it is better to take small banknotes, since tuk-tukers need to be given a specific amount of the fare, otherwise you will not see change.

Thai currency against the dollar. Where is the best place to exchange?

The Thai currency has been stable against the dollar for more than 5 years. Now the rate fluctuates in the range of 34-36 baht per USD. When exchanging dollars throughout the Kingdom, there is a system of different rates for small, medium, and large denomination bills. One, two dollars is the cheapest.

It will be advantageous to take with you dollars in denominations of 50 or 100. Large bills are popular, they are accepted more expensive than small banknotes. At the same time, if the money is clean, not wrinkled and younger than 2001, you will earn money on the exchange transaction.

At each exchange point, banknotes are not broken, so if you have a piece of paper worth 100 USD, but you need to change 20 USD, then the branch employee will not give you change - he will change everything.

Thailand. Which currency is more profitable when exchanging?

When planning a trip, tourists think about what currency to take to Thailand. Which currency is more profitable?

There are many nuances when exchanging dollars. You won't find such subtleties anywhere else:

banknotes with an issue date after 2001 are subject to exchange at a high rate;
undamaged, new banknotes are also accepted at a favorable rate;
The most profitable exchange is the sale of high-denomination banknotes.

Therefore, it is more profitable to exchange dollars in Thailand than euros.

Coins of Thailand

In addition to banknotes, Thailand uses coins in denominations ranging from 25 satang to 10 baht. 1 baht is equal to 100 satang. Coins with denominations of 25 and 50 satang are made of yellow alloy, 1, 2, 5 baht are made of nickel. Bimetallic coins have a denomination of 10 baht. There are no denominations up to 10 satang. They were produced until 1987.

The reverse side of the coins depicts Thai landmarks and national political figures. Thai coins are used in the country for exchange. In addition to those that are in free circulation, there are also collectible ones.

Banknotes of Thailand

Thai banknotes are most often used in trade and when paying for services. Banknotes have been issued in the country since 1902. As of 2012, 16 episodes have appeared. Series 15 and 16 are still in circulation today. There is also a 13-series of banknotes, which includes commemorative bills to mark holidays and anniversaries.

The main banknote denominations are 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 baht. Satangs are issued only in the form of coins. Banknotes of different denominations and series differ in color. For example, green ones are worth 20 baht, red ones are worth 100 baht. The largest ones may be gray or brown, depending on the date of issue.

Tipping in Thailand

Tipping in Thailand is given in restaurants and cafes, hotels, during or after excursions. Taxi services usually do not expect tips.

The average amount is 10% of the cost of the service, as throughout the world. There is no additional payment required here, even if it is accepted at the establishment. So, in a restaurant you can give the standard 10% if this is not included in the price of the order. At the hotel - for parcel delivery, assistance with luggage or small receipts - 20 baht is enough. Tipping is not accepted in taxis, but it is considered an rude gesture to take change from the driver. If you want to reward him, you can leave a little more - up to 40-50 baht.

History of currency

The history of Thailand's currency began in the 14th century, when the “baht” was first mentioned. At that time, this was the name for Siamese tikal, which was circulated throughout Indochina. Until 1860, silver and gold coins were minted here. They resembled small round ingots. The local currency acquired its European appearance by the second half of the 19th century, and in 1898 the country switched to a decimal counting system. The first paper bills in Thailand appeared in 1853. Until 1928, the main units were tickels, then renamed bahts. Since the beginning of the century, 16 series of banknotes have been issued.

Bitcoin in Thailand

Unlike many other countries, Thailand works not only with conventional national currencies, but also with cryptocurrencies. In particular, you can cash out “bitcoins” here.

Bitcoin in Thailand is exchanged not only in small exchange offices, but also in banks. To do this, it is enough to have access to your account in the cryptocurrency system and an identity document. Exchange rates vary from exchanger to exchanger, and the easiest way to cash out “bitcoins” is at a banking organization. Here this is considered a completely legal transaction and is not prosecuted in any way.

Traveler's checks/plastic cards

When going on holiday to Thailand (and especially to a popular resort during the high season), you are taking a risk if you take cash with you. The easiest and safest way is to use traveler's checks/plastic cards. Even if they are stolen, they cannot be used and you will not lose money.

Traveler's checks are not as convenient to use as a card, but they cannot be used to pay without your knowledge. If it is stolen or damaged, you can restore it free of charge and quickly. A plastic card is a little more convenient, but it requires more attention. Yes, you can block it immediately, but you can use the money that is stored in the account of a stolen or broken card only with a high commission.

Friends, hello! Let's talk about money, languages and seasons. Before traveling to Thailand, many people wonder how to take money with them, whether it is worth going to Thailand with cash, or whether it is more profitable to store money on a card. Some people are confused by the issue of not knowing the language, as well as the fear of being in the country during the rainy season. In today’s article I will talk about how to bring money, how to withdraw money in Thailand without commission, when to go and whether you need to learn the language before vacationing in Thailand.

What money should I take to Thailand?

The currency of Thailand is the Thai Baht (THB). At the time of writing, the Thai baht exchange rate is set as follows:

RUB — 0.94 baht
UAH — 2.79 baht
USD — 32.87 baht
EUR -44.74 baT

Cash in Thailand

All payments in the country are made in the local currency - Thai baht. If you plan to go to the popular resorts of Thailand - Pattaya and Phuket - with cash currency, you can take Russian rubles, dollars or euros with you. True, the exchange rate for the Russian ruble has recently been completely unfavorable.

If you are planning a vacation on the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan or traveling around the country, then it will be problematic to exchange Russian rubles for local currency. You should not carry large amounts of cash, because, despite the fact that Thailand is a fairly safe country, and most hotels have safes, anything can happen, so it is wiser to keep some of the money on a card.

It makes no sense to take small money ($5, $10) with you, because the exchange rate for them is higher than for banknotes of a larger denomination. Better take $50 or $100 bills.

Plastic cards for Thailand

Before traveling, be sure to check with your bank to see if it blocks card transactions made in Thailand. The fact is that Thailand is on the list of countries with an increased risk of fraud, so many banks automatically block cards in the Kingdom. You may have to write an application to open a special card service regime. At Sberbank, such an operation is carried out over the phone. You just call the number indicated on the back of the card, listen to music for half an hour, and then, when an employee of the institution finally answers you, you say that you are planning a trip to Tai, saying that you need to sign up for a special service regime. In some banks you can apply for a special regime online in your account.

In many supermarkets, cafes and hotels you can pay with a plastic card, but not everywhere. For example, most 7/11 stores, Makro supermarkets, cheap eateries, scooter rental places and inexpensive bungalows do not accept cards. Also, if you pay with a Russian bank card in Thailand, another 3% will be added to the amount.

How to withdraw money in Thailand:

1. The easiest way: find any ATM (it says ATM), insert the card, enter the Pin code. Most ATMs charge a fee for each cash withdrawal. Previously it was 150 baht, but before leaving Samui I withdrew money from several ATMs, the commission was already 180 baht.

2. You can withdraw money in Thailand without commission. To do this, you need to find a cash desk or bank branch. Krungsri(yellow), present your passport and card, wait a little and receive your money in baht without commission.

ATMs in Thailand have a cash withdrawal limit of 20,000 to 25,000 baht at a time depending on the bank. At Krungsri ATMs, the one-time cash withdrawal limit is set at 30,000 baht.

Krungsri bank cash desk

Language in Thailand

In Thailand they speak Thai. Many people are confused by the fact that they do not know English, so people buy trips from travel agencies rather than organize a trip themselves, whereas a self-organized trip could be much more interesting. If you're heading to Thailand, don't let the language barrier stop you. Most Thais themselves do not speak English. For example, when I had to communicate with Thais, I often understood them much worse than friends who did not know English at all, but skillfully expressed themselves using facial expressions and gestures.

Rainy season in Thailand:

You can go to Thailand at any time of the year. It is better to buy air tickets to Thailand in advance, it will be cheaper.

A special feature of holidays in the kingdom is that each resort in the country has its own season. The peak of tourism occurs in December - March, when it is winter in our latitudes. Conveniently, during these months Thailand experiences wonderful weather - the so-called “velvet season”, when the air temperature is quite comfortable (+28 - 30 C) and there is no rain. From April, the thermometer begins to rise, and the average daytime air temperature is +35 - 37 C. The sky is often overcast, and sometimes it can rain.

Koh Samui in the rainy season

The rainy season in Thailand conventionally lasts from May to early December, but each resort has its own climate. For example, at the beginning of December last year there were downpours in Koh Samui every day, which could last an hour or two, but after December 10th it was as if someone had turned off a big tap in the sky and the rains suddenly stopped. At the same time, the sun was shining in full in Phuket since November.

The sky was overcast in early December

Conclusion: What you need to know when traveling to Thailand:

It is best to bring cash to Thailand in dollars, euros or rubles.
You can withdraw money in Thaland without commission at Krungsri Bank branches.
They speak Thai in the country, all signs are in English, and in popular resorts (Pattaya, Phuket, Samui) there are signs in Russian, and menus in restaurants are in Russian, but prices are noticeably higher.
Holidays in Thailand are possible at any time of the year, but from May to early December there is a rainy season in the country.
The most convenient way to get from Moscow to Thailand is by plane.
Article prepared by the author momondo.ru

Thailand: money, language, rainy season. Information you can’t survive in Thailand without!

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Every year Thailand becomes more and more popular among tourists who come here from all over the world. Russia and the CIS countries are no exception. It is not surprising that the Thai baht became one of the most used currencies on the planet in 2014 - it entered the top ten. What this money looks like, what its exchange rate is in relation to the ruble and dollar, and what a tourist needs to pay attention to - read about all this further in the article.

Appearance of banknotes

The Thai baht is issued in banknotes in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 baht. On the front side of all banknotes is the current King of Thailand - 88-year-old Bhumibol Adulyadej. The international designation of this currency is THB. The brownish 10 baht notes are no longer issued and have been replaced by coins. You will not be able to exchange them in official institutions, but they still circulate in your hands and are quite common.

The 20 baht note is slightly larger than the 10 baht note. It is colored a dull green. This often causes difficulties for tourists. In low light it looks a lot like a 1000 baht note. There are often cases when taxi drivers were paid a thousand instead of the required twenty. The 50 baht note is noticeably different from all other banknotes. It is made of a plastic-like material and is printed in a vibrant blue color. This is a very common denomination that is convenient for payments in any situation.

100 baht are issued in reddish tones. The appearance of such a monetary unit has remained almost unchanged for decades. Starting from this denomination, banknotes have a special metallized strip on the left side to combat counterfeiters. The 500 baht note is also made of plastic material. It has a bright purple hue. As for the 1000 baht, the bill looks rather dull. The print is made in brownish color on a white background.

How to distinguish a fake?

Oddly enough, the largest denomination of the currency is not particularly popular. Not all merchants can give change from a banknote, and some are afraid to accept it due to the large number of counterfeits. Here's how to distinguish a fake from a real 1000 baht:

A three-dimensional watermark in the form of the head of King Bhumibol must be visible in the light. It is quite difficult to counterfeit this element convincingly, so it is one of the easiest ways to detect counterfeit money.
On the opposite side of the watermark there should be a strip with metallized elements.
To the right of the king’s portrait, a thin silver strip is woven into the bill itself, which is visible only in the light.
And finally, the banknote material itself should be dense, but thin. It feels dry and smooth to the touch, unlike counterfeits, which can sometimes be slightly sticky from fresh ink and raised from trying to replicate the special features of the original.

Coins

As mentioned above, the 10 baht note is now only issued in metal. When such money first appeared about 10 years ago, vending machines accepted it for 2 euros. But the error was quickly corrected. Also available in the form of coins are 5, 2 and 1 baht. Such small money will be useful for tourists to pay for bus trips. One Thai baht is 100 satang. And you can find coins in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 1 satang. These are very small amounts, so they are almost impossible to exchange outside the country. Many tourists bring satangs as souvenirs or try to give them away in the form of tips or alms.

Exchange rate of Thai baht to ruble and dollar

If you are going on an overseas trip, you must be aware of the ratios of currency values. This way you can properly plan your expenses and adequately evaluate the price list for purchases and services in a foreign country. In April 2016, in exchange offices, the Thai baht to the ruble was in the ratio of 1: 1.89. A year ago it was a little cheaper - 1 to 1.6-1.5. Then the Thai baht fell to 1.4 rubles. for 1 baht, and after that its value began to increase.

In January 2016, when the ruble fell sharply, the Thai currency rose in price to 2.25 to 1. But with the subsequent stabilization of the Russian money exchange rate, there is a tendency for the value of the baht to decrease, which will be very useful for the beginning of the holiday season. What is the state of the Thai baht against the dollar? In 2015, the Thai currency fell slightly, but steadily. The current exchange rate of the baht to the dollar is 35.14 to 1.

The standard of living in Thailand is quite low. Therefore, many locals consider a foreigner to be lawful prey, which cannot be robbed. Use these tips to save your hard-earned money:

Exchange the desired amount of currency in your country. To do this, you will need to place a corresponding application with the bank, which is processed within about 5 business days.
Make sure you always have small money with you - a few 50 baht bills. Taxi drivers, bus drivers and small merchants may refuse to accept large banknotes. And dishonest businessmen will give you change in crumpled, folded form. When you unwrap the bills and discover that you have been deceived, the scammer will already disappear into the crowd.
Pickpockets will immediately notice a tourist and try to rob him. Therefore, carry only the amount you plan to spend on one trip and keep the money in several different places.

Current Thai baht exchange rate:

Now let's move on to the physical embodiment of the Thai baht, coins and bills.

Coins of 1, 5 and 10 satang (actually the equivalent of 1, 5 and 10 kopecks) are rare. Some sources state that they do not “walk” at all. These coins are used, not all of Thailand is rich enough to ignore them. Although they are not readily accepted in shops and cafes in resort areas. Most likely, you won't even see them.

Now pay attention, all the coins depict the same person, this is Bhumibol Adulyadej, the current king of Thailand. We won’t talk much about it, read the material “Thailand, general information about the country.” Everything that concerns the king is sacred; no images of the king can be insulted, under any circumstances. Be careful with Thai coins, don't trample them or do anything else bad with them, you could end up in jail for this, seriously. Please especially note that Thai money should not be thrown at another person in anger, this will also be considered an insult to His Majesty.

There is one more feature. It is very rare to find coins from old issues; they do not have Arabic numerals. That is, you pick up a coin, but you cannot understand what denomination it is. The chances of this happening to you are almost zero. Almost all of these coins have been taken out of circulation, but if this happens to you, don’t be surprised, feel free to take a coin as a souvenir.

Well, one last thing about coins, many commemorative coins are issued in Thailand. The denomination of these coins can be either regular, 1, 5, 10, or higher, namely 20, 50 and 100 baht. We won’t tell you where and how to get them; you should ask about this on numismatists’ websites.

Tourists often step on a coin if it is rolling or step on a banknote if it flies away from the wind. Many do this out of habit, insulting the face of His Majesty..

Banknotes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 baht. In banknotes, the principle “the higher the denomination, the larger the size” also applies, although banknotes differ only in length, the width of all banknotes is the same.

A good feature of baht banknotes is that each denomination has its own color, regardless of the series of issue. That is, you can hold two bills of the same denomination, they have a different design, but the color is the same, this is convenient.

In Thailand there are some peculiarities of money exchange; exchange offices are very jealous of banknotes in poor condition, often simply refusing to exchange them, many tourists complain about this. Just try not to take banknotes in bad condition; getting rid of them can be more difficult in Thailand than in other countries.

You can exchange money at the airport or, although the rate is not the best, you can’t call it extortionate either. The starting amount “for the first time” can be changed here. Money in Thailand is usually changed either at a hotel, or at exchange offices, or in banks. Just look at the rate and change according to the most profitable one. Traditionally, these establishments do not charge any commissions, so if you see the wrong amount, just take the money back and go to another place, since there are many of them. We recommend banks, where the exchange rate is favorable and safe. In Thailand, they do not require documents when exchanging currency; you don’t have to take a passport. All of the above is not approved by law; we talk about how this happens in most cases.

When in Thailand, appreciate small change. Thais are not that rich, and 1000 baht is “decent” money. Often small traders may not have change for thousands, and taxi drivers even more so. Banks, on the contrary, try to give large bills. Try to “break” a thousand in a large store.

For other interesting facts about Thailand, read our other articles ( links below).

While snowstorms are raging in our country and there is snow everywhere, somewhere in the south of Asia they are swimming in the sea and enjoying the warm days. Somewhere, for example, in Thailand. Now it’s gorgeous there: warm, sunny, beautiful beaches and green nature. Already want to fly? First, find out what currency to go to Thailand with in 2018, what to take with you: rubles, dollars or something else? We have something to advise you, as well as reviews from tourists.

Your long-awaited trip to Thailand has finally arrived. The suitcases are already ready, you close your eyes and imagine how you go into the sea... but something is not ready yet, right? Yes, you need to understand how not to end up on vacation with money and what currency to take with you. Let's think together.

Rubles.
And so, our native currency is rubles. So why not go on holiday with rubles in your pocket? The question is quite reasonable, but not very smart. After all, for you and me, rubles are a currency, but for Thais it is the same currency, only not very familiar. And if so, then they will accept it at a very unfavorable rate for you. If you are going to exchange rubles for local currency in banks, then the rate there is even more or less normal and you will not lose much. But you still have to get to the bank. Stand in line there, and then explain what you want and why. Plus, some banks set a limit and may not change a large amount of money.

You don’t have to go to banks and pay everywhere in rubles, but it will cost you even more. Firstly, no one will sell you a product or provide a service for rubles at the official exchange rate. Sellers will set their own rate, which will be two, three, or even five times higher. And this is justified. First of all, they don't know if all your money is real. And secondly, then they also go to the bank and exchange rubles, and this is unnecessary trouble.
Conclusion: rubles are not the best currency for traveling to Thailand.

Baht.
The national currency of Thailand is the Baht. It is in use here, it is accepted everywhere and all prices are necessarily indicated in it. And if so, then you need to take it and that’s it. But it's not that simple. First, you need to exchange it. This can be done in Russia in local banks. But here again, not all banks perform such operations. The baht is a currency that is popular only in Thailand and our banks do not have this currency in stock. Unless central banks can change you a couple of thousand and that’s it. And if so, then the exchange rate of the baht to the ruble is not the most favorable. For example, as of today (February 3, 2017), 1 ruble will buy you only 0.59 baht. This is very little, considering that in the opposite direction the cost of 1 baht will be equal to 1.69 rubles!
Conclusion: it is not worth exchanging rubles for baht in Russia.

Euro.
The European currency is currently the most expensive in the world. It trades above the dollar and is often paid off. It is also popular in Thailand. But in use, does not mean that it is accepted in all shops, cafes and bars. No, few places accept it. But the local exchange rate of the baht to the euro is such that you will also win on the exchange. But remember that there are legal exchangers, for example, banks, and street money changers, who always make the rate lower. If you urgently need money, you can change euros right on the beach, where there are plenty of money changers.

If you have time, it is better to go to the city and exchange euros for local currency in banks. The course there is excellent and there are no restrictions. Also keep in mind that the higher the denomination of the bill, the more favorable the exchange rate! That's how it happened here. And if you have a hundred 1 euro bills in your hands, then when exchanging you will get less than for one 100 euro bill.
Conclusion: you can travel to Thailand with euros.

Dollars.
Our favorite dollars. No matter how good the euro is, the economy of the whole world still depends on dollars. The dollar is the most popular currency and in Thailand many prices are indicated in both baht and dollars. This is very convenient and you don’t have to change them upon arrival. Convenient does not mean profitable. Smart Thais indicate the price in baht alone, and when they convert it into dollars, they do it at the official rate, but always round up. For example, if when converted to dollars the price turned out to be 1.22 dollars, then they will make it 1.30. And this is normal, because after that stores also have to change the currency, and it changes a little every day, but it changes in banks.

And in order not to rewrite prices every day, we immediately round up. It was not uncommon to see some merchants rounding everything up to the nearest $0.99. That is, if after converting to dollars the product cost $4.37, then on the price tag they indicated 4.99! They especially like to do this in markets, because tourists don’t always know the course and don’t always start doing math and translating everything in their heads. But visiting Europeans and Americans do not pay any attention to this. For them, these cents are not so critical.
Conclusion: dollars are the best and most convenient currency for traveling to Thailand.

Credit cards.
Every person has one or more credit cards. And it would seem logical to take them with you. This way you don’t risk losing cash, and if the card is stolen, it can be quickly blocked. But it's not that simple. Thailand has its own ATMs, which charge a fee for withdrawing money. Plus, bank ATMs will automatically convert your rubles on the card into baht and again you will lose on the exchange rate. If you urgently need money, and it’s on the card, then try to withdraw a large amount at once. This way you will pay the commission once, and you won’t lose much on the course.
Conclusion: cards are needed in Thailand, but they should be used carefully and not often.

Summarize.
So. The best currency for traveling to Thailand is dollars. There is an excellent exchange rate for dollars here, and all shops and merchants accept them as payment. In second place is the euro. They are not accepted for payment, but banks can exchange them at an excellent rate for local currency.

A little help.
Let’s say right away that there are many tourists in Thailand, more than five million. There are also a lot of different currencies in banks and money changers. And if so, then there are plenty of scammers who are trying to deceive everyone. There is a lot of counterfeit currency out there and if you are not careful you will get scammed.
Also keep in mind that crumpled, torn and unworn money is not acceptable here. They will either not be accepted at all. Or they will accept it, but at their own rate, which is 30-50% lower than the official one. So check all the money, and if it is wrinkled or torn, then do not take it, even from banks.