Thailand Travel Cash vs Card

Hello, this is your travel partner Jonesgo! Today, I will talk about cash, which is essential for traveling in Thailand. If you are planning a trip to Thailand, you may be wondering how much cash you should bring and whether it is better to use a card. I will share with you my personal experience with ATM fees in Thailand and tips for traveling without cash.

Vietnam, Malaysia vs Thailand: Is the Difference in ATM Fees Really True?

I love traveling, so I have visited many countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. In particular, Southeast Asia is a place where you can travel without burden because the cost of living is low. However, the ATM fees in each country are really different.

In Vietnam, I was able to withdraw cash without a fee by using the Travel Wallet Card at VP Bank ATMs. It was really nice because there was no separate fee. Malaysia is better than Vietnam in that you can withdraw cash without a fee at most bank ATMs, which was very convenient. Comparing Vietnam and Malaysia, in Vietnam, only VP Bank and 1-2 other banks had no ATM fees, while in Malaysia, almost all bank ATMs had no fees, so you could just go to any ATM with your card and withdraw cash. However, the situation was different in Thailand.

Why are Thai ATM fees so expensive? and Avoid Expensive ATM Fees

Now it's time to compare Thailand. Thailand is a place where travelers from all over the world gather, so everything else is good, but if you need cash, the fact that the ATM fee is ridiculously expensive for a single cash withdrawal is shocking to travelers.

First of all, using a card in Thailand can cost a lot of money because of the fees.

In Thailand, you had to pay a fee of over 6 dollars every time you used an ATM to withdraw cash. Moreover, since it is a fixed fee regardless of the withdrawal amount, it was even more burdensome when withdrawing small amounts. Since it is a fixed fee for withdrawal, you also feel the burden of having to withdraw a large amount of money at once. It cost about 13,000 won in Korean currency, and 220 baht in baht. Since the fee is fixed no matter how much you withdraw, you feel burdened to withdraw a lot of cash at once.

How to fully enjoy your trip to Thailand without cash

If you find Thai ATM fees burdensome, I recommend minimizing cash usage and using cards or mobile payments. These days, there are many places in Thailand that accept cards or mobile payments, so you can enjoy your trip without inconvenience even without cash.

Transportation: Use mobility services such as Grab or Bolt. Another tip for your trip is that if you have to take a boat to cross the river, you have to pay 4.5 baht one way, but it seems that only cash is accepted. If you don't want to take a one-way trip, you can purchase an all-day pass that allows you to travel to 11 districts by boat for about 20 baht using your phone with GNL or Alipay.

Food: Use mobile payment services such as GNL or Alipay

Convenience stores: Easy payment with Alipay at 7-Eleven

Tourism: Some tourist attractions accept card payments. However, when visiting the Grand Palace of Bangkok, I am satisfied that there is a dedicated card ATM machine so that I do not have to pay an ATM fee when purchasing the admission ticket. However, the Grand Palace of Bangkok has the largest admission fee of 500 baht, so the high admission fee is a burden for travelers.

Thailand travel tips of Thailand Travel Cash vs Card by JonesGo

Currency exchange: It is recommended to exchange money in advance before traveling to Thailand. In particular, if you exchange money in advance when the Thai baht exchange rate is low, you can travel more economically.

So if you need cash before coming to Thailand, I recommend exchanging money in advance. I think it is mentally stable to always stock up on Thai cash while living. If you exchange money when the Thai currency is cheap, you will be able to travel comfortably without having to think about exchanging money when you come to Thailand later. Thailand has a lot of food and various events for travelers, so it is definitely a country that you should visit again in your life.

Alipay: Using Alipay makes traveling to Thailand more convenient. You can pay with Alipay at various places such as 7-Eleven and street food stores. It’s okay if you don’t use cash. These days, you can move around or buy food without any problems if you just have a cell phone. The above-mentioned story is limited to museums, art galleries, and palaces that only accept cash. When you move around, you can use Grab or Bolt, and for food, you can pay at restaurants with GNL or use Alipay. Then, don’t worry because you only need a cell phone.

And in Thailand, it’s really easy to use 7-Eleven using Alipay. You can download the Alipay application, easily charge it, and if you show the barcode to the clerk, the clerk will scan the barcode and make the payment.

GNL: GNL is a mobile payment service that many Thai locals use. With GNL, you can make payments at small stores all over Thailand.