Bringing cash to exchange, using bank credit and debit cards from home, and pre-loaded travel cards and multi-currency debit cards are all popular means of making purchases and obtaining Thai baht to spend when you’re a foreign tourist on vacation in Pattaya.
In case of mishaps or emergencies, the more options you have to spend and obtain baht in Pattaya, the better.
Here are the popular ways of getting Thai Baht when you visit Pattaya. If you are interested in making your money go further in Pattaya here’s how to get the best hotel deals, have more fun by getting cheap tickets to attractions, and avoid mobile roaming rates by buying a Thai SIM card.
Exchanging Foreign Currency in Pattaya
Money changers are plentiful in Pattaya’s popular tourist areas. You must take your passport with you. Ensure you bring clean, crisp, undamaged, unmarked notes; otherwise, they won’t be accepted.
Most money exchangers offer better rates for large denomination notes, such as 100 USD and 50 GBP, for example.
It’s worth shopping around, but T.T. Currency Exchange Company usually offers the best exchange rates in Pattaya. Look for the yellow T.T. booths (see photo above).
Click on the link https://ttexchange.com to view current exchange rates and locations of T.T. Currency Exchange booths and compare the rates against other currency exchangers in Pattaya.
Airport vs Pattaya Currency Exchange Rates
Changing currency at airports is usually NOT recommended, but:
If you land at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, you might find the rates at the currency exchange booths on Floor B next to the Aiport Rail Link better than those in Pattaya and much better than those in the airport arrivals area or customs hall.
There are several exchange booths next to (left of) the Airport Rail Link. One recommended often is Super Rich (1965) https://www.superrich1965.com/en, one of three similarly named currency exchange companies in Thailand. Look for the orange booth.
Buying Thai Baht in Your Home Country
You can use the links (above) to compare rates, but rates are usually far better if you change your currency to Thai Baht when you arrive in Thailand.
Using Foreign Debit & Credit Cards in Pattaya
All major credit and debit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, DISCOVER, and American Express, are accepted in Pattaya. You can use them to make purchases and withdraw cash from ATMs like you do in your home country.
To prevent your card from being blocked, let your bank know you will be using it abroad.
You are never far from an ATM in Pattaya. They can be found inside and outside banks, convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, shopping malls, supermarkets, and department stores.
When you use a foreign bank card to withdraw cash from an ATM in Thailand, you will be charged a fee (typically around 220 baht).
The withdrawal limit at most ATMs in Thailand is 20,000 baht, the exception being Krungsri Bank ATMs, which have a limit of 30,000 baht.
Besides the ATM fee, your bank might be charging additional fees such as foreign currency conversion and cash withdrawal fees.
There might also be a maximum daily or one-time withdrawal limit. To minimize ATM and other card usage fees you should consider asking your bank to raise the withdrawal limit to match the maximum that you can withdraw from an ATM in Thailand.
Best ATMs in Pattaya to Use Foreign Cards
It doesn’t matter which bank’s ATM you choose, they all offer the same exchange rate, set by Visa, Mastercard, or whatever network your card uses.
For safety, the best ATMs in Pattaya are those inside and ouside a bank, where they are monitored 24/7 by CCTV and a security guard is always nearby during opening hours. And if you encounter problems such as the ATM eating your card you can report it inside the bank immediately.
Debit Card vs Credit Card
You should use your debit card, not your credit card, to withdraw money from ATMs in Thailand. Using your credit card might mean paying additional fees to your bank, such as “cash advance” fees.
Credit cards are better for in-store and online spending because they usually offer better protection against fraud and often come with many perks such as cashback, miles, etc.
Pay in Baht
When using your debit card to withdraw cash from ATMs or your credit in hotels, restaurants, and stores you might be asked if you would like to pay in your home currency or in Thai Baht.
Choosing to pay in your home currency means the ATM or merchant uses Dynamic Currency Conversion. According to this article on dynamic currency conversion by Investopedia.com, the rate is almost always worse than the rate used by your card/bank.
That means, in most cases, you get a better rate by choosing to pay in Thai Baht.
Decline ATM Currency Conversions
ATMs in Thailand somewhat deviously present you with an option to accept their own currency conversion rate using Dynamic Currency Conversion, see image below.
The rate they offer is typically a lot less than the one used by your bank/card. You should always select the option to continue without conversion.
Another thing to remember is ATMs in Thailand dispense cash before returning your card.
Travel Money Cards
You can use pre-paid travel money cards and multi-currency debit cards in Pattaya, just as you can use an ordinary bank debit card to withdraw cash from ATMs and make in-store and online purchases.
Not being linked to your bank account means they are a safe option if you lose one.
Wise Account
Opening a Wise account is a good idea regardless of how else you spend and obtain baht in Pattaya.
You can have a physical and virtual debit card with a Wise multi-currency account.
Some advantages of having a Wise debit card in Pattaya include being able to transfer/convert currency to Thai baht for little cost when exchange rates are favorable. Then, as long as you have Thai baht in your account there are no exchange rates when you withdraw from an ATM.
Using Wise to Transfer to a Thai Bank Account
You can send and receive money with Wise like you can with an ordinary bank account. If you have relatives or friends you trust who have a Thai bank account in Pattaya, you can get the most Thai baht for your money by using Wise to transfer money from your bank account to their Thai bank account so they can withdraw Thai baht for you.
If you plan to stay in Pattaya long-term or wish to change or withdraw large amounts of travel money while on vacation, it’s worth opening a Thai bank account. That’s easier said than done when requirements differ from one bank to the next, but there are agents in Pattaya, Tik Tok Services, for example, that can help.