I moved to Thailand 6 plus months ago. Thank you for this video. I have been paying the ATM conversation rate.... And my first week I had left my card in the ATM. Awesome video.. thank you
@charleslamar3472 How do you deal with the 2 factor authentication required to transfer funds from our home bank to our Thai bank? Thanks for your great informative videos!!
@@benguenther1162 good question and I have heard other people use different techniques. I continue to pay and keep my U.S. phone number . I have a cell phone that has dual SIM card. So: one for US phone, and the other for Thai phone. The US phone is kinda pricey and I need to develop a longer term less expensive strategy. If others have experience with this; would be helpful to chime in?
Thank you Alain 🙏🙏🙏. Have one coming out this week on Bangkok Wat Pho / reclining Bhudda! But be sure to watch this one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rLQkGQeNDfw.htmlsi=jYM9HVgACS2TNszE
Take a little cash for when you first arrive for taxis/tranfers etc but I always exchange it to the local currency at home (UK) before travelling, saves time looking for somewhere to change it or paying expensive airport rates, you're ready to go as soon as you've picked up your luggage & cleared immigration.
@@wanderlustingwithjoequestion we see these mall atms kbank machine however we are reluctant cause they dont have visa mastercard logo stickers, also kinda weird not much english language, is this legit? will the machine accept our card or just eat it/error..
@@roaringcat14 all the ATM’s I have used in Thailand ask me in the beginning my language preference. I have never had an ATM in Thailand eat me card. However, I am careful not to give the machine any problems. I have heard ATM’s eat cards when people repeatedly punch in wrong passwords. Hope everything works out 👍
I always use a ATM in the airport on arrival… traveling SE Asia currently and on month #2 + …. I use a CC for pretty much everything I can but always grab $200-$300 US dollars of local currency at the airport depending on how long I’m staying… has worked great so far… fyi
@@wanderlustingwithjoe yes.. I have Charles Schwab debit card just for this trip… we have been watching your Bangkok videos…great help! Thanks so much!
5:45: not every ATM on the world is charging an ATM fee for international card transactions. My guess for ATMs in Austria is that less than 50% of ATMs will charge this "direct access fee" to cardholders from abroad. Average in rest of Europe might be higher, but I'm very confident that it's far from "every" ATM.
I have never seen an ATM in the world that does NOT have an ATM fee for using that machine unless you are a customer of that bank. However some cards do reimburse other banks atm fees like Charles Schwab. Why would a store give away its product for free? Same with ATM. In Thailand, the usual fee is 220 THB
Chase bank UK & Halifax clarity card are both foreign free cash withdrawals and give google exchange rate ..🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 Excellent cards for UK CITIZENS 👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Same ATM ripoff in Mexico. I carry a backup debit card and a backup credit card, and always keep them totally separate fro. the primary two. Also keep 2 copies of emergency numbers (cc/banks) in case of loss. As a solo traveler on the other side of the planet I'm paranoid.
I think the point you are making at the end of the video is that, since the $6 ATM fee is unavoidable, people should make fewer but larger withdrawals than they normally would. Also, I’ve seen a few videos that say the best currency exchange rates at the airport are on the lower level by the bus and taxis stations. Are there any bank ATMs at the airport that you can recommend?
You are correct about the unavoidable ATM fee. 220 THB per transaction no matter size of withdrawal- so, larger and fewer withdrawals are wiser choice! I only use Bank ATM’s - never independent “no name” ATM- I don’t have any specific atm inside airport
WISE, or formerly Transferwise. As far as I know WISE gives you a very good exchange rate. They also offer a debit card which you can top up from your bank account. @Joe, what's your opinion on Wise ?
I use wise when I must convert / transfer larger amounts. Can sometimes be a cumbersome process until you figure out the method. But; yes, WISE is a competitive way to transfer and convert cash
When you can used an ATM that attached to a bank. A few years ago while travelling in Southern India i used a ATM attached to a bank one evening. It gave me the cash but did not return my card. Early the next morning I went to the bank and explain what had happened. A bank employee went out to the machine and returned with probably thirty cards. Showed my passport and they returned my card. If it had been a stand alone ATM no idea how long it would take to get my card back if ever at all.
You are so lucky the bank returned your card that fast! Many ATM’s - even attached to banks are serviced by outside companies and require a long bureaucracy to attempt to return of card. Most just cancel and get new card. Now can do card less withdrawal 👌👍
Not if you're using a UK card but some do if you're using a foreign card, the same in Thailand, no charges for using a Thai bank card but charges for using a foreign card, I think that's how it works in most countries worldwide.
The cost you incur depends on the size of the transfer - I have never known western union to be cost effective- the atm “small fee” on the Thai end is 220 THB - about $6.50 usd - on a large withdrawal, it is small change
I have only used ATM card inside machine- never needed or wanted to have the conversation with language issues inside the bank if I can do it with reduced or no fees myself
I try and go into the bank in Thailand as much as possible. Staff usually speak good English and i don’t pay the 220 baht atm fee. It’s not always possible but in tourist areas there is always a bank. Siam bank always seem to have the best exchange rate. You need to take your passport. This is always the best option in my opinion as you don’t need to worry about Atm returning your card, I have had issues twice with Atm not returning my card in Thailand. I have also taken my Money and left the card in the machine it very common for tourists to walk away from Atm thinking all is good as you have the money not paying attention to the ATM card that comes out right at the end after cash and slip, some machines you need to push return card after receiving the cash. Another tip I have is if you do use ATM try and go inside a mall or use a Atm connected to an actual bank, these are unlikely to have been tampered with due to security and cctv and a lot safer than using a Atm on the street outside 7/11 for example.
Some banks and independent ATM’s do that! Sleazy! Give you choice but if you don’t choose their preferred method; cancel! 😳. Go to another ATM. I find the bigger banks honor the choice
Thank you for bringing that up, it happened to me once In another country I visited. I didn’t know what to do, I needed the cash, it was late at night so I ended up accepting it.
I addressed ATM picks in video. I don’t offer specific bank picks. Just not independent shady ATM’s that are not under video surveillance- and always refuse “currency conversion”. In my opinion
If you have a Charles Schwab account / atm card it does not charge fees and even absorbs the fee charged at all other ATM machines! Yes! The Thai atm charges about 220thb - there may be other cards like this? I don’t know 🤷♂️- but I like it!!! 👍
@@wanderlustingwithjoe Yes they only dispense Thai baht. What I meant was can you choose the particular bills that come out of the ATM? Meaning how many 500 baht bills? How many 100 baht bills etc?
