While major cities and tourist areas in Thailand typically accept debit cards, some smaller shops, local vendors, or remote locations may only accept cash. Carrying some Thai Bahts for these situations is always a good idea.
Cash is still commonly used in Thailand, especially in more rural and remote areas. You'll be able to use a card in major cities, large hotels and restaurants and in touristy areas. However, it's always a good idea to have some cash on you for day-to-day spending.
Money can often buy you a lot more in Thailand than in the Western world. A budget of 100 pounds could provide you with meals, accommodation and activities for a few days or more in Thailand if you budget wisely.
All the credit cards are widely accepted across all the major cities of Thailand. If you want to shop in Thailand, you can use your Visa/MasterCard to make purchases. Many high-end local shops also accept American Express, Discover, Citi Bank credit cards to make purchases.
Money in THAILAND - 15 Worst ATM and Exchange Mistakes
Should I bring cash to Thailand?
Taking cash & cards to Thailand
We recommend that you change some money into Baht on arrival and it is advisable to carry local currency in small denominations (20, 50 and 100 Baht notes) for tipping and the purchase of small items.
There is no Uber in Bangkok, but there is a ride-hailing service called 'Grab,' which operates the same way. Still, relying on rideshares and taxis when you're traveling can quickly eat up a day's budget. The more economical way to get around is by having a rental car.
For a full-day private tour, tipping your guide 300–500 baht per day is common if they've provided exceptional service. For group tours, 100 baht per person is sufficient. Tipping 100–300 baht per day is a fair amount for private drivers who take you around for extended periods. For shorter trips, 20–50 baht is enough.
Tipping in Thailand is not expected. Instead, a service charge will normally be added to your bill. The service charge will usually be declared on the menu if you're in a cafe or restaurant, for example, and is paid directly to the company rather than to an individual member of staff.
Is it better to exchange money in Thailand or the UK?
Whether you should buy baht in the UK before travelling to Thailand is a personal preference. A lot of people feel better prepared to have local currency in hand when they arrive in a new country. It's very simple to order currency online in the UK and have it delivered to your home or a local bureau de change.
I hold British passport. Do I need a visa? Nationals of the United Kingdom and over 93 other countries are eligible to travel to Thailand, for tourism purpose, with the exemption of visa and are permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 60 days. Therefore, you do not need a visa.
Using ATMs in Thailand is generally safe. However, that doesn't mean you should throw your good security habits out the window! Boost your financial safety by choosing secure locations, inspecting ATMs for signs of tampering, shielding your PIN, and monitoring your account activity closely.
The average cost of a basic Thai meal in a restaurant is 90 – 150 baht. Seafood invariably costs more. A plate of noodles in a basic restaurant in Sukhumvit is around 100 baht. Thai portions are often smaller, so you may end up eating an extra meal or snacking during the day!
You'll see a queue machine where you can get a ticket that also points you to a corresponding lane number where you'll wait for your ride. The average price for a Bangkok taxi service is about THB 350-500 for the metered fare, THB 50 for the airport fee, plus THB 100 for highway tolls.
Bangkok's beaches are easily accessible via car, bus, or ferry. Pattaya and Hua Hin can be reached by a short drive or bus ride from Bangkok. For Koh Samet, you'll need to take a bus to Ban Phe and then a ferry to the island.
Taxi fares are very low in Bangkok and haven't increased for a long time. Most rides across the city cost between 50 and 100 baht and if you're doing a long journey to or from either airport you should expect a maximum of around 500 baht on the meter depending on where you depart from and how much traffic there is.
Minimum Funds Requirement: The Thai immigration authorities require each traveler to have a minimum of ฿10,000 per person or ฿20,000 per family when entering Thailand. This is part of the Thai customs regulations to ensure that tourists have sufficient funds for their stay in the country.
You don't need to get Thai baht in the UK, you can exchange pounds in Thailand. You can also use your Wise card at a Thai ATM and have it automatically convert the currency for you.
Courses or boosters usually advised: none. Other vaccines to consider: Diphtheria; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Rabies; Tetanus; Typhoid. Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: Japanese Encephalitis.
Important Note: The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is a free government service. If you are on a website that requests a service fee, you are NOT on the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) government website.
