Cash on hand when travelling

[just]

Traveling to Thailand in the next couple of weeks.

I know the best/cheapest way to get local currency is using a debit card to pull cash from an ATM in the local currency. However after one time of my bank blocking my card (even after a travel notification) when I did this and being stranded at a train station with no way of calling them and no way of getting cash except a cash advance from the ATM on my credit card, I'm always nervous about this option.

Right now, my anxiety about this trip is high (regular anxiety pointed towards the trip), so I'm trying to 'outsource' any and everything that will allow me to stop worrying about stuff quite so much - paid to pick seats so I don't have to worry about us getting middle seats, paying for travel vaccination rather than trying to work it out with my PCP, etc. etc.

Should I just bite the bullet and convert some dollars to Baht? If so - should I take time off work to go to the only branch of my bank who does currency, pay for parking, wait in line; or just change a small amount for a shitty rate at a bureau de change at the airport?

[goldengirlz]

An increasing number of airports have regular bank ATMs. Could you Google and see if that’s the case where you’re going?

When we travel abroad, we usually look for an ATM after clearing customs.

I also find that getting the international data/phone plan allays some trip anxiety.

[ESF]

I once landed at the Montreal airport in January at midnight only to find the only accessible ATM machine was out of order, so I can appreciate the anxiety.

That said, the only time I got foreign currency before leaving the US was in 1994.

To protect against problems, I usually don't leave the US without a few hundred USD cash on me. I figure if I was ever really stuck, I could find someone who would take American dollars. Second, while I've had my ATM card frozen after giving travel notifications, it's never happened that I wasn't allowed to make a single transaction. They don't know you have unusual activity until you actually have it. So I can't imagine you'd be blocked from making that first withdrawal. My first transaction is always to the ATM in the airport.

If you are having a lot of anxiety, then by all means, do what you need to do to get peace of mind. But I don't think it's necessary if you bring USD and go to the ATM immediately on arrival.

[rupertpenny]

Are you landing in BKK? I was just there last week and we had no problem with the ATMs and there were plenty of exchange places in case you decide to bring some USD with you. If your phone is unlocked you can pick up a cheap SIM card too, I think I paid about $6 for one that was valid for a week. So that would help the issue of being able to call your bank and would also allow you to call a Grab (similar to Uber) to get you to your hotel.

Alternatively you could ask your hotel to arrange an airport transfer just to make extra sure you don't get stuck in the airport without a way to pay for transportation.

[GilliC]

We always just hit up an ATM at the airport, but I understand your concern, since we have cards blocked fairly often*. In our case, we just travel with cards from two different banks, so that if one gets blocked we have a backup until we can get it sorted out. If you're especially concerned, I would just take a bit of cash in USD and plan to hit up a traditional currency exchange if there's a problem.


*It's typically my own fault, because my bank has an online system to set up regional clearances for a fixed time period that you're traveling. I just forget to do it! I actually added it as an item on my packing list, because it was happening so often!

[mrsukyankee]

We're fortunate as there are very good exchange places in London, so we usually get enough cash before we go on a trip for at least the first day (taxi, dinner, etc). But if you don't have that, then bring some $ and exchange it at the airport if need be.

[mich1]

What I would do is have a couple hundred $ in cash on me when I leave.

Before you leave the airport, use your ATM card to get bhats. If it works, all is good. If it doesn’t, you are still in a position to exchange $$ at the airport.

[wildrice]

I think the idea to bring some USD for peace of mind is a good one. Honestly, I have never had a problem and haven't worried about it in the past. I always just take money out when we get there (and did in Thailand, too).

The good news about Thailand is that unless you are going super far, cabs should be cheap. You shouldn't need much cash so if worst case scenario happens and you are stuck without money until you can get to your hotel and call someone, you shouldn't need more than like $20-50 USD to get you there. I personally would not bring hundreds of USD with me. I'd worry about being mugged or pickpocketed (or stupidly losing it) more than I would able being completely barred from accessing an ATM.

[just]

Thanks all! I’ll just squirrel away some dollars and find something else to stress about!

[neonpink]

I was in Thailand in May. There are lots of ATMs around, I hit up the one in BKK airport and one outside my hotel. I'd take some US dollars with you if you need them.

It's crazy when you spend 1000 baht bills and then realize it's $30.00. I have a really hard time when currencies are so different from what I'm used too.

[audry80]

I am able to request foreign currency online through BOFA and they will mail it to my house. I always bring local currency with me since I am a spaz. I like the idea of being US dollars too.

[sillygoosegirl]

We normally bring a few hundred USD in 20s. Last time I was in Asia, small USD denominations had some value too, so we had those with us as well, in case we needed them, but I don't know if that is still true. You can always change cash for local currency. You won't get the best exchange rate that way, but it'll work in a pinch if there is an issue with your debit card. Most likely, you'll just carry all those 20s home, never having exchanged them, and spend them over the next few months.

I've been to 45-ish countries in my life, and had a problem 3 times (one time--in the 90s--the connection from Europe to America was down, another time the bank couldn't conceive of a vacation lasting over 5 weeks, so our cards stopped working on week 5, and in China many ATMs only accept 6 digit PINs). So yes, it does happen sometimes. Not often, but it's good to be prepared!

[keweenawlove]

I'm in the "have a couple hundred in US dollars" camp. We haven't had a card not work yet but I just assume we'll be able to change it if we have to. And most places I've been do seem to accept USD but that's a last resort usually.

I do like to keep cash in a few different locations because I'm more worried about losing a wallet with all my cash.

[rupertpenny]

Oct 29, 2018 22:57:18 GMT -5 sillygoosegirl said:

We normally bring a few hundred USD in 20s. Last time I was in Asia, small USD denominations had some value too, so we had those with us as well, in case we needed them, but I don't know if that is still true. You can always change cash for local currency. You won't get the best exchange rate that way, but it'll work in a pinch if there is an issue with your debit card. Most likely, you'll just carry all those 20s home, never having exchanged them, and spend them over the next few months.

I've been to 45-ish countries in my life, and had a problem 3 times (one time--in the 90s--the connection from Europe to America was down, another time the bank couldn't conceive of a vacation lasting over 5 weeks, so our cards stopped working on week 5, and in China many ATMs only accept 6 digit PINs). So yes, it does happen sometimes. Not often, but it's good to be prepared!

USD is the de facto currency in Cambodia and Myanmar, but I’ve never heard of people using USD in Thailand.