Currency in Thailand for tourists. Where is the best place to change currency in 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 Visa Classic or Mastercard Standard 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.

Are you going on vacation and have chosen Thailand (Phuket) for yourself? The money of this country is something that every tourist will have to deal with. And this applies not only to Phuket and other popular places. The Thais are known to have an extremely respectful, even reverent attitude towards their own currency and an extreme reluctance to make payments in euros or dollars, which are so widely quoted among us. That is why, once at the Bangkok airport, foreigners have to immediately exchange part of their cash for local currency units. Since 1928, this has been the Thai baht.

The international classification code for Thai money is ISO - 4217, and Thai currency is abbreviated as THB.

What kind of money will you find in Thailand?

Nowadays, paper bills of only five specific denominations are in circulation in the country: 20 baht (a bill with a predominantly green color in design), 50 baht (predominantly blue), 100 baht (red), 500 baht (purple). The largest one is a “money” worth 1000 baht, decorated in brown tones.

The metal money of Thailand is represented mainly by Thai baht in denominations from 1 to 10. One- and five-baht are minted in silver, but the second of them is larger and, thanks to the original form of minting, at first glance looks like faceted. A two-baht coin (made of yellow metal) can be found much less frequently than a 1-baht coin.

The largest coin in terms of thickness and diameter is 10 baht. It is bimetallic - a silver ring running along the edge borders a yellow central circle.

About Thai trifle

Each is equal to one hundred satangs - Thai "kopecks". In circulation you can find small coins of 25 and 50 satang. Both of them are bronze-red in color. The likelihood of the average tourist getting acquainted with this kind of money during an ordinary short trip to this country is not very high. This is due to the fact that prices in shops and markets have long been rounded up to baht.

Occasionally, you can get change as change, but you will hardly be able to use it as money - you won’t be able to buy anything with it, you can only throw it as alms on the street or keep it as a souvenir.

Coins are minted in Thailand similar to American coins - you can look at the reverse side by turning them from top to bottom (vertically), and not like in Europe - horizontally. And at first it can be confusing.

Get used to the baht

When going to Thailand, get ready to spend money only in the national currency, and therefore information about its current exchange rate is always up-to-date. This data is constantly updated by SCB Bank, one of the largest in the country.

At resorts, if you go to the exchange office of any other bank, you may encounter a slight discrepancy in rates, but the differences are not so great as to cause serious damage to the tourist budget.

You can also exchange our Russian rubles for Thai money, but in recent years such an exchange has not been very profitable. Although relatively recently their mutual exchange rate was 1:1.

Where is the best place to exchange currency?

The exchange rate is not the same everywhere. As in any country actively visited by tourists, changing money right at the airport is the most unprofitable thing for foreigners. Any bank knows that a tourist needs local banknotes immediately upon arrival. If, for example, the purpose of your trip from the airport through Thailand is Pattaya, you need money for both the bus and just to have a snack along the way. And therefore, the purchasing rate for dollars or euros at airports is always artificially low.

It is not very profitable to change currency at exchange offices located in hotels and guesthouses. When exchanging a 100-dollar bill, a tourist loses on average from 80 to 100 baht, which is equal to the cost of lunch at a local cafe or a couple of bottles of beer. Exchange rates may differ even in two neighboring points, since all banks in Thailand dictate their own conditions to their branches located at resorts. Those who want to save money are advised to go around several such points in a row and choose where Thai money is offered the cheapest. Fortunately, there are enough exchangers in the country, especially in tourist destinations. Many of them, for example in Pattaya, work until late in the evening.

Features of dollar exchange

Those planning a vacation to this country should remember the stable exchange rate of the Thai baht in recent years, but its minor fluctuations occur literally every day. You can save a little more by bringing money (especially American dollars) in large bills. The exchange rate displayed by banks on the board exists, as a rule, in three options:

for one- and two-dollar bills (the least profitable for the dealer);
for banknotes in denominations of 5, 10 or 20 units (slightly more expensive);
for dollars in the form of banknotes of 50 and 100 units (the most optimal from the point of view of a tourist).

Oddly enough, there is no such gradation in relation to other world currencies, including the euro. Also know: old American dollars (year of issue earlier than 1966) will not be accepted at a street exchange office; you should take care in advance to bring newer bills with you.

Important nuances

Russian citizens recently should not have any problems exchanging rubles for Thai money - such a procedure is quite accessible in most places popular among tourists. Sometimes the direct exchange rate may not be displayed on the information board, but this does not mean that the procedure is impossible - you just need to contact the operator.

Important nuance! Do not forget that any money in Thailand, both bills and coins, contains the image of the king. The country's own monarch is highly respected by the country's inhabitants, and therefore any manifestation of disdain for the royal person is fraught with severe retribution for desecration - from attacks by an angry crowd on the street to criminal charges.

That is why never show disrespect towards Thai banknotes - do not crumple them, do not throw them to the ground and do not step on them under any circumstances!

A short excursion into the past

The history of the Thai baht (THB) dates back to ancient times. The concept of “bat” was used by the population of Indochina to designate the so-called tikal, which also served as a unit of mass. From 1350 until the 19th century, on the territory of Siam, the strongest and most powerful Thai state, silver and gold bars of non-standard convex shape, large in weight (1.215 kg), were minted. Since 1861, the English mint began to produce ordinary, European-looking round coins for the needs of Siam.

Banknotes called tikals and tamlungs were also issued at that time. They finished printing them in 1918. The Thai baht as an independent national monetary unit was “born” on April 15, 1928 and remains in this capacity to this day.

About small coins

The name satang - a small Thai small change coin - is translated from Pali as “one hundredth”, which is true. The satang has been minted since 1898, which means that it officially appeared before the baht. 25 such small coins are colloquially called “salueng”.

Thai coins have always been distinguished by a variety of weights and shapes. The largest ones in terms of value are those that cost 10 baht. Small ones - 25 satangs. Each of the coins, as already mentioned, is issued with the image of a royal portrait. It is applied on the front side, and on the back there may be various mythological characters, etc. Reverses with minted temples are often found, the importance of which is difficult to overestimate.

Russia - Thailand: money (rate, local features, etc.)

In a sense, our tourist has it easier than, say, a Frenchman or a German. You won't have to deal with complicated calculations if you're going to Thailand. Money (it’s difficult to accurately name the exchange rate to the ruble, since it constantly fluctuates, albeit slightly; for example, at the beginning of April 2017, for 100 baht they ask for approximately 163.2 Russian rubles) here they cost about the same, and the Thai currency is converted into similar values to our ruble figures. Thus, when calculating future expenses for a vacation in this country, our tourist can operate with prices in familiar monetary units. In addition, many goods and services here are much cheaper than in Russia.

You can cash out Thai currency at a huge number of ATMs that accept most standard bank cards, such as MasterCard or Visa. Their commission is fixed (150 baht), cashing limits are from 20,000 to 30,000 baht. Without commission, you can withdraw money from the card through the bank by presenting a scan of your passport.

How much money should you have to go to Thailand? When going to the country for a long period of time, it is worth stocking up on dollars, since during the cashing process, banks initially convert rubles, euros, and other money into American dollars. If the trip is short, you can take a card with rubles on it. If you are importing an amount over $10,000, you will need to declare it at Russian customs.

On the issue of tipping

They are accepted in the service sector of any country, and Thailand is no exception. Their size is usually kept within reasonable limits. It is not customary to throw money away here, but at the same time, if you receive a handful of change, the staff may feel insulted. The size of the tip cannot be higher than the cost of the service itself. The taxi meter is simply rounded up. Although this does not always happen.

In hotels, the “extra” money is left for the maids and luggage porters. It is not customary to tip in dollars.

It is better not to make attempts to “buy off” from paying for something prohibited (such as smoking in unauthorized places) - it will definitely not be possible to avoid a fine.

If you follow these simple rules, then you can relax in this beautiful country at a very reasonable cost, wisely spend your planned budget and get the most excellent impressions.

Many travelers ask the question: what currency to take with them to Thailand? Rubles? Dollars? Euro? Or something else? I will be looking at the two most common currencies in this article: dollars and euros. And compare them with the ruble. Neither Ukrainian hryvnia, nor Kazakh tenge, nor Belarusian rubles are accepted in Thailand. Therefore, immediately change them to dollars or euros.

What is the currency in Thailand?

The official currency of Thailand is the Thai baht. Banknotes in circulation are in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 baht. There are 100 satangs in one baht. Coins can be found in 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht. Satangs come in denominations of 25 and 50, but they are of particular value only for philatelists. Satangs are not accepted in souvenir shops, restaurants and, just as in Russia, pennies are frowned upon. You can get satang for change in pharmacies, grocery supermarkets and 7-11 stores, in short, in those places where the price of goods is not rounded up to the nearest baht.

In restaurants and souvenir shops, only Thai currency is accepted for payment. Merchants are reluctant to accept payment in dollars; they usually do not know the real dollar exchange rate and can give a very unfavorable price. Therefore, upon arrival, we quickly run to the bank and change money. You can exchange currency for baht at any bank and points marked Exchange. On most Phuket beaches you will find banks and official bank exchange offices, in more remote places - only private shops. In any large store there is one or more Thai banks or exchange offices with a favorable rate. It is better not to change currency at Bangkok Suvarnaphum Airport due to the low exchange rate. The only good exchange office is located on the ground floor in front of the train entrance. At the exit from Phuket International Airport, on the street, there is a TMB exchange office, where the exchange rate is lower than in the city. I recommend changing a small amount there and then finding a bank or exchange office near your hotel.

What currency should I use to travel to Thailand?

The exchange rate for all banks in Thailand is approximately the same, differing within tenths of baht. The highest rate is at UOB bank, but its branches are not so easy to find in tourist areas. In second place are red CIMB exchangers. The third most profitable bank is TMB, its exchange offices are made in blue tones. In any exchange office of the yellow bank of Thailand, Auddhaya Bank, you can not only change money, but also receive a Western Union transfer. If there is no bank on your beach, at the reception of any hotel you will be happy to exchange your dollars or euros for Thai baht. Bringing rubles to Thailand is not profitable, just like, for example, buying baht in Russia. You can exchange “wooden” currency in some banks - Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank, Siam Commercial, TMB, CIMB. Banks in Thailand are open from 9 am to 5 pm; in tourist places, exchange offices are open until 8-10 pm. There are a couple of 24-hour exchange offices in Patong, but the rate they offer, alas, is not the most favorable. It is better not to take rubles with you, but to exchange them for dollars or euros, since the ruble-baht exchange rate is extremely unfavorable.

Let's pay attention to the currency exchange rate. In each exchanger you will see an electronic display or a printout with the exchange rate for today. At first, the presence of three dollar rates and one euro rate is surprising. The fact is that in Thailand, dollars really change depending on the denomination of the bill. The most unprofitable “green” ones are in denominations of 1 and 2 dollars. The second rate is for 5, 10 and 20 bills, and the third is for 50 and 100 dollars. The exchange rate difference is slightly less than one baht. Therefore, it is better to exchange small banknotes and exchange large ones. The euro has only one exchange rate for all banknotes. I recommend taking large dollars and a variety of euros with you. Please note that at the exchange offices they will not break the banknote for you, that is, if you need to change 20 euros, and you only have a hundred-dollar bill, they will not give you change in foreign currency, they will only change the whole 100 euros.

Exchange rate baht - dollar - euro - ruble

Another argument in favor of the euro is its independence from the year of issue. Some exchange offices do not accept dollars older than 1996 for exchange. I can’t call this situation, associated with a large number of counterfeits in the world, a problem, since there is always the option of contacting another exchanger or bank in Thailand.

The benefits of dollars and euros in relation to the ruble and baht cannot be clearly stated. In one situation it is better to buy dollars in Russia and then exchange them in Thailand for baht, in another - euros. You can find out the exchange rate of the dollar and euro to the baht at any time by looking at the sign in the right column on my website. This is the real exchange rate at a given time and is based on the exchange rates of the largest Thai bank, Bangkok Bank. Please note that dollar rates are shown for 50 and 100 denomination notes only.

Large stores and many restaurants and bars accept plastic cards Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club and others. ATMs are available almost everywhere, even in such places as remote from foreign tourism as. Near any 7-11 store, as a rule, there is an ATM of one of the largest Thai banks, and on the remote beaches of Phuket there are ATMs right in the hotel.

Thai baht not such a weakened currency as the ruble, and the dollar and euro in Thailand are less capricious. In any case, changing the ruble to the dollar or euro, and then to baht is a little more profitable than exchanging ruble-baht directly.

When going to Thailand, you need to prepare not only luggage, but also money for the trip. Otherwise, you cannot avoid losing your hard-earned money on unfavorable exchange rates, all sorts of commissions and conversions, unnecessary and ridiculous expenses.

The monetary unit of Thailand is the Thai baht (code THB). Introduced on April 15, 1928. The predecessor was the Siamese Tikal, which was subject to 1:1 exchange during the reform. Tikal was the common name for the currencies of the four states of Indochina, derived from the local unit of the same name for measuring the mass of precious metals (about half a troy ounce). Moreover, in Siam, which became Thailand in 1939, tickals were called baht back in the 14th century.

The country's currency is called satang. Nowadays, only yellow roundels in denominations of 25 and 50 satang remain in circulation. But in reality they are little used. Another thing is the nickel coins of Thailand in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 baht and bimetallic 10 baht. Just keep in mind that giving them as a tip is considered bad manners. There are small bills for this, and in general, tips in this country are not required (except for those indicated in the menu and restaurant bill).

The banknotes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. The obverse of all banknotes and coins features an image of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, enthroned since June 9, 1946.

Note:

The means of payment in the country is only the national currency;

In Thailand, you cannot crush, trample with your feet or otherwise demonstrate a careless attitude towards local money - this is equivalent to insulting the king and is a criminal offense;

All banknotes and coins of Thailand indicate the denomination both in the form of local hieroglyphs and Arabic numerals;

The 100 and 1000 baht banknotes have a similar color - count the zeros every time so as not to get confused.

Exchange rate

Currently
T:

1 USD = 35.55 THB;

1 EUR = 39.11 THB.

1 RUB = 0.56 THB;

1 THB is equal to:

Of course, the rate is different in Thai exchangers and banks; commissions are not taken into account here.

What currency to take to Thailand

It is best to bring US dollars to the kingdom. Both in cash and on a dollar plastic card (there will be only one conversion, in other cases - two: for example, from ruble to USD and from dollar to baht).

But if you don’t have a bank card with a dollar account, then there’s no point in purchasing one for one or more rare trips abroad.

And if you have enough euros for the trip, we do not recommend exchanging them for dollars before the trip - you will not win anything. Depart with euros and change directly to baht upon arrival.

You should not take cash rubles under any circumstances. There are very few exchange offices that accept Russian currency in Thailand, and the exchange rate is unfavorable.

Take cash dollars and euros in large denominations, because:

The main thing is that large bills are exchanged at a higher rate;
Small payments are not needed for payments - it is not even customary to give tips with them.

Try not to take old dollar bills (issued before 1993): not even every Thai bank will accept them for exchange.

Maps and traveler's checks

Before leaving with money on your card, inform the bank that issued your Master Card or Visa where you are going. Yes, this is your personal business, but many banks automatically block the card after the first transaction in Thailand, since it is a high-risk country. Most accept applications for a special mode of servicing “plastic” or simply “not blocking” through Internet banking, mobile banking or by phone. But even if you need to go to the office and write a statement, be sure to do it.

It should also be taken into account that:

“Plastic” is not accepted in inexpensive bungalows and some chain stores and supermarkets;
When making payments with a card from a foreign issuing bank in the kingdom, an additional commission of 3% is charged.

You can withdraw cash from any ATM marked ATM. Alas, in addition to the commissions of the issuing bank and the financial institution that owns the ATM, a commission of 150-180 baht is also withheld, regardless of the transaction amount. This can be avoided by finding a Krungsri bank branch - they will check your passport, card and issue cash in baht without commission.

Briefly about traveler's checks: it is not popular here, and few banks sell them, but in Thailand they accept them. If the security that travel checks provide is paramount to you, take it, preferring a large denomination: 500 and 1000 dollars.

Another advantage of traveler's checks, unlike cards, is the absence of an expiration date.

One of the largest issuers of traveler's checks is AMEX - American Express. American Express checks are accepted everywhere - at any exchange office. You can cash it at a bank, you can also pay with it in hotels, restaurants, and rental offices. Moreover, they can be exchanged at a more favorable rate to the baht. It is worth considering: the less developed the banking system in the country, the higher the commission for cashing a check.

I am looking for a currency exchange

Do not use exchange offices at the airport or hotel: if you refuse to search for an exchanger, you will receive an unfavorable exchange rate.

Meanwhile, you don’t need to look for a long time for a place with an Exchange sign in Thai resorts - you can find them at every step. If you want to save a little, take a walk along the high street and compare rates at all the exchange offices you see, and then return to the one that offers the best option.

There are exchangers that work until late at the resorts, but it is easier to find them in the city center.

Have a pleasant experience - and no problems with finances!

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% more 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 carry out 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 held in high esteem 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 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.