Travellers cheques to Thailand?

wrote:
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 14:08:10 +0000, Who Goes There wgt@home wrote:


Markku Grönroos wrote:

"Who Goes There" wgt@nowhere kirjoitti viestissä
...


Hi all

I think I've decided to take some travellers cheques to Thailand with me

in


March and also a small amount of in Thai cash. I basically want to find

the


best value for money so does anyone know if it makes a difference if I get
the cheques in $US or GBP?


No it does not. Perhaps there is still a 23 baht tax fee per note but for
200 euro notes that is only 0.2% or so.


Yes it does. If the OP is in the UK getting TCs in US$ will incur a
currency exchange charge. If he doens't spend all of his TCs in
Thailand (unlikely, I know) he'll then have to pay another currency
exchnage charge to cash them in back in the UK.

thanks for this. I just know banks like to have charges here there and
everywhere so now I know this I'll get them in GBP.

Now to find somewhere that buys them back free of charge as I expect the
bank will charge me to pay them into my account.

wrote:
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 14:35:31 +0000, Who Goes There wgt@home wrote:


Alfred Molon wrote:

In article , Who
Goes There says...


Hi all

I think I've decided to take some travellers cheques to Thailand with me in
March and also a small amount of in Thai cash. I basically want to find the
best value for money so does anyone know if it makes a difference if I get
the cheques in $US or GBP?

The reason I'm taking cheques and not using my debit card in ATMs is because
my bank charge me a 2.75% overseas transaction charge plus 2% (minimum £2)
for cash advance. I think it's a bit cheeky but that's their rules.


Are you sure you are not confusing a credit card with an ATM card ? Cash
advance is usually done with credit cards, not debit (ATM) cards.

In any case, changing banks would be a good idea.

Here is the reply from my bank when I asked about ATM charges using my
debit card:

snip

Hello

Thank you for your message.

When using your card overseas, two charges can apply. However you use
it, you'll be charged a 2.75% overseas transaction charge (which will be
included in the transaction on your statement).

If you're getting cash with your card (either over the counter or at a
cash machine) there's also a 2% (or at least £2) cash advance fee.

The cash advance fee applies even if you're buying currency in this
country, if you use a Visa debit or credit card.

The best value is to buy the currency directly from us before you go.
You can visit any of our branches, or we can send you the currency by post.


Complete ********. The best value is to wait until you get to Thailand
where you'll get an average of 10% more for your money even if you
take sterling notes to exchange.

The VERY best advice is to get yourself a Nationwide Flex account. You
can use their ATM card at any cash machine worldwide and they charge
you NOTHING for using it. The cash machine owner may make a charge but
I've never been charged in Thailand and I use nothing else.
Furthermore if you want to buy TCs, as a Nationwide account holder,
you can buy as many as you want and all they will cost you is £3.50
delivery charge.

A Flex account sounds like the best deal I'll find. I'll go into
Nationwide tomorrow to chat to them.

Thanks for the info :-)

kirjoitti viestissä
...
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 14:08:10 +0000, Who Goes There wgt@home wrote:

Markku Grönroos wrote:
"Who Goes There" wgt@nowhere kirjoitti viestissä
...

Hi all

I think I've decided to take some travellers cheques to Thailand with
me

in

March and also a small amount of in Thai cash. I basically want to find

the

best value for money so does anyone know if it makes a difference if I
get
the cheques in $US or GBP?


No it does not. Perhaps there is still a 23 baht tax fee per note but
for
200 euro notes that is only 0.2% or so.

Yes it does. If the OP is in the UK getting TCs in US$ will incur a
currency exchange charge. If he doens't spend all of his TCs in
Thailand (unlikely, I know) he'll then have to pay another currency
exchnage charge to cash them in back in the UK.

Shouldn't we all know this. Naturally he did not ask this but whether one of
the two currencies has smaller exchange granulation over the other in
Thailand. In this respect the two currencies are similar. So, if one of the
two currencies is native then naturally one buys cheques for that currency.

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 15:03:08 +0000, Who Goes There wgt@home wrote:

wrote:
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 14:08:10 +0000, Who Goes There wgt@home wrote:


Markku Grönroos wrote:

"Who Goes There" wgt@nowhere kirjoitti viestissä
...


Hi all

I think I've decided to take some travellers cheques to Thailand with me

in


March and also a small amount of in Thai cash. I basically want to find

the


best value for money so does anyone know if it makes a difference if I get
the cheques in $US or GBP?


No it does not. Perhaps there is still a 23 baht tax fee per note but for
200 euro notes that is only 0.2% or so.


Yes it does. If the OP is in the UK getting TCs in US$ will incur a
currency exchange charge. If he doens't spend all of his TCs in
Thailand (unlikely, I know) he'll then have to pay another currency
exchnage charge to cash them in back in the UK.

thanks for this. I just know banks like to have charges here there and
everywhere so now I know this I'll get them in GBP.

Now to find somewhere that buys them back free of charge as I expect the
bank will charge me to pay them into my account.

They shouldn't do if you're paying a GBP traveler's cheque into a GBP
bank account. A traveler's cheque is not really different from any
other kind of cheque. They should be able to credit your account with
its full face value and process it normally through the clearing
system.

Chris

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 08:02:59 -0600, (Miguel Cruz)
wrote:

Who Goes There wgt@nowhere wrote:
The reason I'm taking cheques and not using my debit card in ATMs is because
my bank charge me a 2.75% overseas transaction charge plus 2% (minimum £2)
for cash advance. I think it's a bit cheeky but that's their rules.

Why would you continue to leave your money at such a bank? You are rewarding
them for their punitive behavior.

Its been mentioned here many time before, but for anyone traveling
from the UK, a Nationwide ATM or credit card is the only way to go.
There's no charge for using their ATM abroad, and an exchange rate as
close to the interbank rate as you'll get anywhere. The same exchange
rates apply to using their credit card, so use that for purchasing
items or paying hotel bills.

Chris

"Hello bank. Thanks for your message, but no thanks. You charge exorbitant
amounts that is way beyond other banks. Please close my account and take
your charges to where the sun don't shine."


"Who Goes There" wgt@home wrote in message
...

Hello

Thank you for your message.

When using your card overseas, two charges can apply. However you use
it, you'll be charged a 2.75% overseas transaction charge (which will be
included in the transaction on your statement).

If you're getting cash with your card (either over the counter or at a
cash machine) there's also a 2% (or at least £2) cash advance fee.

The cash advance fee applies even if you're buying currency in this
country, if you use a Visa debit or credit card.

The best value is to buy the currency directly from us before you go.
You can visit any of our branches, or we can send you the currency by
post.

Enjoy your trip!


snip

PeterL wrote:
"Hello bank. Thanks for your message, but no thanks. You charge exorbitant
amounts that is way beyond other banks. Please close my account and take
your charges to where the sun don't shine."



I'll be changing banks when it's convenient to do so.

"Who Goes There" wgt@home wrote in message
...
PeterL wrote:
"Hello bank. Thanks for your message, but no thanks. You charge
exorbitant
amounts that is way beyond other banks. Please close my account and take
your charges to where the sun don't shine."



I'll be changing banks when it's convenient to do so.
Travelers checks have become a joke these days..don't you have an ATM card?

"justme" kirjoitti viestissä
...

"Who Goes There" wgt@home wrote in message
...
PeterL wrote:
"Hello bank. Thanks for your message, but no thanks. You charge
exorbitant
amounts that is way beyond other banks. Please close my account and
take
your charges to where the sun don't shine."



I'll be changing banks when it's convenient to do so.
Travelers checks have become a joke these days..don't you have an ATM
card?

Not in Thailand. I will build my travel budget mostly on them when visiting
the kingdom next summer.

justme wrote:
"Who Goes There" wgt@home wrote in message
...
PeterL wrote:
"Hello bank. Thanks for your message, but no thanks. You charge
exorbitant
amounts that is way beyond other banks. Please close my account
and take
your charges to where the sun don't shine."



I'll be changing banks when it's convenient to do so.
Travelers checks have become a joke these days..don't you have an ATM
card?

Absolutely true. Particularly in Thailand. ATMs appear all over the
place in malls, banks, store fronts, etc. Difficult to find a place
that *doesn't* have an ATM. Traveler's checks are a thing of the past.
Why give American Express your money to use for free?