Dollar exchange in Thailand. Where is the best place to change currency in Thailand?
The Kingdom of Thailand is one of the unique and exotic paradises on the planet, where tourism is relevant all year round, and the service is at the highest level. The weather conditions of the country are a little peculiar and they are associated with the climatic zones that prevail in the Thai state, so during the period when Masonic heavy rains prevail at one end, you can safely enjoy a comfortable stay at the other and vice versa.
About bahts and satangs
In Thailand, locals pay with money called "bats". The main currency is 100 satang. To date, ten banknotes are in use, which are not often encountered, twenty, fifty, one hundred, five hundred, one thousand baht and white coins, denominated in one, two and five baht, as well as ten baht metal.
The baht system is very similar to the Russian currency. Satangi, in turn, are yellow coins worth twenty and fifty units. The national bank is called the Issuer.
The capacious name of the Thai currency appeared at the beginning of the 19th century and existed along with "tikal"- so called money until 1925. Historically, like almost all currencies in the world, the baht originated as a measure of the weight of a coin.
Currency exchange
It must be understood that the baht and the ruble do not have a fixed exchange rate. This is not done by chance. Only using the dollar can you transfer the baht to the Russian ruble. Buying housing in Thailand, which is denominated in baht, it rises in price. Thanks to this, it is protected from the depreciation of the ruble. In the event that a foreign citizen wants to earn money by renting out the purchased property, this will also be fixed by the baht exchange rate.
Well
The rate of the Thai monetary unit, baht, is very stable today: 1 dollar equals 31-33 baht. This ratio has been maintained for the past five years. Due to this, the baht does not depend on the fall of the ruble, respectively, during the crisis, the baht against it, as in the case of the dollar, will also be very high in value.
What currency is more profitable to take to Thailand
It is most profitable to exchange checks like American Express or Thomas Cook, as their rate is likely to be higher than the cash currency. But the exchange of such checks carries with it an accrual in the form of a commission. As a result, an exchange worth one hundred dollars will be approximately equal to exchanging a banknote for the same value, but if the check is equal to five hundred dollars, the transaction will be much more profitable.
Of course, what currency to take to Thailand must be decided based on the local rate. That is, all the money to carry in dollars, since our monetary units are not quoted.
It is best to take money with you in bank cards, while it will be safer to have at least two pieces with you. After all, it is not known what force majeure can occur.
The card may be blocked. Or you will have to pay for the same service more than once in the same institution. It's great if the bank allows you to use the bonus "Virtual card", it will also greatly facilitate the process of buying goods in a foreign country.
To pay in the markets, in small shops and tips at the hotel, you must have cash in local currency with you. Since the people of Thailand use only their native baht. Throwing a dollar bill to the seller, you run the risk of being left without goods, the store owner will only look at the visitor in bewilderment, then at the strange green piece of paper.
Local ATMs, which are called "ATM", allow you to easily withdraw the required amount of money in Thailand.
Samples of all banknotes of Thailand
If you are going to go to Thailand on a long-awaited vacation, then you should take care of booking a ticket in advance, especially when it comes to high season time (-). For a budget holiday, it is better to choose a period from to when prices for tours drop significantly due to the rainy season. The gentle sun, snow-white sand, picturesque unique landscapes and exotic species of flora and fauna can immerse anyone in sweet dreams.
A convenient circumstance for Russian travelers is the fact that no tedious visa applications are required to come to Thailand. A visa stamp is placed at the airport for vacationers (completely free of charge) indicating the maximum allowed time in the country (30 days). The only formality is filling out a migration card indicating the address of temporary residence.
The name of the country comes from a Germanized combination of the words "Thai" and "land".
The territory of the country is located in the western part of the Indochina Peninsula and also occupies the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, washed in the west by the waters of the Andaman Sea, and in the east by the Gulf of Thailand, which is part of the South China Sea. Almost the entire country is covered with tropical jungles. The territory of the state exceeds 514 thousand square kilometers.
The population of Thailand exceeds 67 million people. Despite the fact that the vast majority of the country's population is Thai, there are also many Laotians, Chinese, Khmers, Vietnamese, Malays and Hmong. The official language in the country is Thai.
The capital of the Kingdom of Thailand at this time is the city of Bangkok, located in the northwest of the Indochina peninsula. In addition to the capital, a number of other large cities of the country should be noted, such as Nakhon Ratchusima, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai and others.
The history of the country begins in the period of the 13th century, when the kingdom of Sukhothai arose on the territory of modern Thailand, which was replaced by the state of Ayutthaya in the 14th century. For centuries, the people of Thailand have been influenced by the culture of India and China, forming on the basis of this their original culture. The emerging state of the Thais constantly fought with its neighbors - the Burmese, who carried out predatory campaigns here, and, starting from the 18th century, with European colonialists, in particular Britain. Finally ceding its southern provinces to Britain, Thailand, then called Siam, remained the only independent country in the region. In 1939, Siam became a constitutional monarchy and was renamed Thailand, supporting Japan at the time. During the Second World War, Thailand was formally neutral, which ultimately saved its sovereignty and territorial integrity. In 2006, a military coup took place in the country, which culminated in a change of government, which changed the strategic course of the country's development.
At present, the Kingdom of Thailand is a fairly developed state of its region with a constitutional-monarchical form of government, which has a significant impact on the political processes taking place in the region. The main branches of the national economy of the country are still agriculture, tourism, mining, processing and electronic industries.
The monetary unit of the Kingdom of Thailand is currently Thai baht(THB code 764). The term "bat" was in use in Indochina as early as the 14th century and denoted the common name of the currencies of the countries of the region.
Since the 14th century, the national currency called Tikal has been in circulation in Siam. The country minted large convex coins of gold and silver tikals, which were universally accepted as a single means of payment in the kingdom. Since 1861, coins were introduced into circulation, which were minted in Birmingham and had a traditional round shape. They received the local name "ryen" and were made of copper, zinc, silver and even gold, depending on the denomination. In 1898, Siam switched to the decimal division of the main monetary unit, abandoning the British system. Now one tikal was divided into 100 satangs. Since 1928, the government of Siam decided to introduce a new monetary unit, which was called baht. This currency is also in circulation in modern Thailand.
The national currency of Thailand in its history has experienced quite a lot of upheavals associated with crises and upheavals in the country. At the moment, its rate is such that when exchanging for 1 Thai baht, you can get about 1 Russian ruble in banks. For 1 US dollar they get about 30.5 baht, for 1 euro - 40.6 baht, for 1 Ukrainian hryvnia - about 4 baht, for 1 pound sterling - about 48 baht.
1 Thai baht is divided into 100 satang. The name of the monetary unit comes from the Pali language and literally means "sata" - "hundredth" and "anga" - "part".
Currently, the Bank of Thailand, which forms the issue policy in the country, has issued banknotes in denominations of 20 (twenty), 50 (fifty), 100 (one hundred), 500 (five hundred) and 1000 (one thousand) Thai baht. Coins with a nominal denomination of 25 (twenty-five) and 50 (fifty) satangs, as well as coins with a denomination of 1 (one), 2 (two), 5 (five) and 10 ( ten) baht.
Thai baht banknotes, although not devoid of a small amount of originality in terms of design and decoration, are still for the most part typical of states with a monarchical form of government. So, on the front side of banknotes of all denominations, the king who rules in the country now, Bhumibol Adulyadej, aka Rama IX, is depicted. The denomination of banknotes in digital format is shown in the upper right and lower left corners of the bill. The reverse of the banknotes is also decorated with images of the kings who ruled the country earlier. So, on a banknote of 20 baht there is a full-length portrait of King Mahidol Ananda and a bridge in Bangkok named after him, in 50 baht - a monument to King Rama IV and the world's highest temple stupa Phra Pathom chedi Banknote in the background, in 100 baht - a statue of kings Rama V and VI with servants and children, at 500 baht - a monument to King Rama III and the Buddhist temple of Bangkoke Wat Ratchanadda in the background, at 1000 baht - a full-length portrait of the current king Rama IX and an image of a dam in the background.
Thai banknotes were printed and printed at the Royal Thai Mint in Bangkok.
The coins of Thailand, depending on the denomination, differ in size, the material from which they are made, and the pattern of minting on them. So on the obverse of all coins of Thailand without exception, a profile portrait of the current king Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) is minted. On the reverse of the coins, images of national architectural monuments are minted. So, for example, a 25-satang coin depicts the country residence of the kings of Thailand, 50-satang coins depict a Buddhist temple in the south of the country, 1 baht depicts the royal palace with three pagodas in Bangkok, 2 baht depicts the royal palace of the early period, 5 baht - a Buddhist monastery in the north of the country, at 10 baht - the old coat of arms of the country. Coins in denominations of 25 and 50 satang are made of copper, 1 and 5 baht are made of copper-nickel alloy, and 2 bads are made of brass. The 10 baht coin is made in a bimetallic way: the core of the coin is made of brass, and the rim is made of copper-nickel alloy. All coins of Thailand currently have a regular round radial shape.
All coins of the Kingdom of Thailand were minted at the factories of the Royal Mint in Pathum Thani.
For numerous guests and tourists arriving in the country, exchanging their currency for local is quite easy and simple. Exchange offices are located everywhere in areas of mass congestion of tourists. And these are airports, seaports, recreation centers, hotels, historical and architectural centers. The exchange can also be made in banking institutions, which are located mainly in large cities and the capital of the country. In the resorts of Thailand, local residents are happy to accept US dollars, euros, and pounds sterling as payment for services and goods, so you should not worry about the exchange. The customs legislation in the country regarding the import of currency is also quite liberal and does not provide for restrictions of this kind.
The current exchange rate of the Thai baht:
Now let's move on to the physical embodiment of the Thai baht, coins and banknotes.
Coins of 1, 5 and 10 satang (actually the equivalent of 1, 5 and 10 kopecks) are rare. Some sources state that they don't "walk" at all. These coins are used, not all of Thailand is rich enough to be ignored. Although they are not readily accepted in shops and cafes in resort areas. You probably won't even see them.
And now pay attention, the same person is depicted on all the coins, this is Bhumibol Adulyadej, the current king of Thailand. We won’t talk much about it, read the material “Thailand, general information about the country”. Everything that concerns the king is sacred, no images of the king can be insulted, under any circumstances. Be careful with Thai coins, don't trample on them or do anything else bad with them, you can go to jail for that, seriously. Especially note that Thai money cannot be thrown in anger at another person, this will also be considered an insult to His Majesty.
There is one more feature. Very rare coins of old issues, they do not have Arabic numerals. That is, you pick up a coin, but you cannot understand what denomination it is. The chances of this happening to you are almost zero. Almost all of these coins have been withdrawn from circulation, but if this happens to you, do not be surprised, feel free to take a coin as a keepsake.
Well, the last thing about coins, many commemorative coins are produced in Thailand. The denomination of these coins is as usual, 1, 5, 10, and higher, namely 20, 50 and 100 baht. Where and how to get them, we will not tell you, you should ask about it on the websites of numismatists.
Often tourists step on a coin if it rolls or step on a banknote if it flies away from the wind. Many do it out of habit, insulting the face of His Majesty ..
Banknotes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 baht. In banknotes, the principle “the larger the denomination, the larger the size” also applies, although banknotes differ only in length, the width of all banknotes is the same.
A good property of baht banknotes is that each denomination has its own color, regardless of the issue series. That is, you can keep two banknotes of the same denomination, they have a different pattern, but the color is the same, which is convenient.
In Thailand, there are some features of money exchange, exchange points are very jealous of banknotes in poor condition, often they simply refuse to exchange, many tourists complain about this. Just try not to take banknotes in poor condition, getting rid of them in Thailand can be harder than in other countries.
You can exchange money already at the airport or, although the rate is not the best, you can’t call it predatory either. The starting amount “for the first time” can be changed here. Money in Thailand is usually changed either at a hotel, or at exchange offices, or at banks. Just look at the course and change for the most profitable. Traditionally, these establishments do not charge any commissions, so if you see the wrong amount, just take the money back and go to another place, since there are a lot of them. We recommend banks, where the rate is profitable and safe. In Thailand, they do not require documents when exchanging currency, you can not take a passport. All of the above is not approved by law, we talk about how this happens in most cases.
While in Thailand, value small money. Thais are not that rich, and 1000 baht is “decent” money. Often, small merchants may not have change from a thousand, and even more so for taxi drivers. In banks, on the contrary, they try to give large bills. Try to “break” a thousand in a large store.
For other interesting facts about Thailand, read our other articles ( links below).
Money, currency of Thailand - where to exchange: in official exchangers or "around the corner"? What currency to take on a trip? Is it safe to use plastic cards in Thailand? Current exchange rate and all about tips. Details in the article!
The national currency of Thailand is the Thai baht, which, according to international standards, is designated as TBN. The country uses paper banknotes of the following denominations: 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000, as well as coins of 10, 5, 2 and 1 baht.
One baht is equal to 100 satang. Satangi (in our opinion - a penny) come in only three denominations - 50, 25 and 10. In the kingdom, this type of coin has practically gone out of circulation.
The currency of Thailand is the exchange rate of baht for rubles
- Russian ruble VS Thai baht
More recently, Russian tourists in Thailand were attracted not only by an unforgettable vacation, but also by the convenience of monetary calculations. Before the crisis, the rate of the Thai baht was equal to the rate of the Russian ruble, in a ratio of 1:1. In recent years, the situation has worsened somewhat, and now, in order to understand how much this or that thing / service costs in rubles, the Thai amount needs to be multiplied by about 1.6.
How to calculate the cost of a thing or service in Russian rubles (2018)
1 TBH = RUB 1.6*
* Approximate calculation of the Thai baht to the ruble
The exchange rate of the ruble to baht periodically changes up or down. As of the first quarter of 2018, 1 Thai baht costs 1.6 Russian rubles.
Thailand money - what currency is better to carry to Thailand? Is it possible to use bank cards
Despite the high tourist activity, dollars and euros are practically not used in the country. Street vendors, of course, will sell you souvenirs or provide services in exchange for American money, but they will do it - at an incredibly overpriced rate. The kingdom recognizes only the local currency, so when you come to rest in Thailand, it is best to take dollars or euros with you to exchange.
Also in Thailand, you can easily exchange several other world currencies, including Russian rubles. However, unlike dollars and euros, the exchange rate of these currencies is disadvantageous for tourists.
Please note that the exchange rate in the kingdom depends on the denomination of monetary units. For example, it is more profitable to exchange large dollar bills ($100 or $50 denominations) than small ones ($20, $10, $5). In some exchangers, the difference between the rates (Small and large banknotes) can reach 2-3%. In addition, please note that not all banks in the country accept dollars issued in 1996 and earlier. This restriction is due to the fact that this year a large batch of counterfeit banknotes was issued. And the banknotes themselves have a very shabby appearance.
If we talk about what is more profitable to use in Thailand - dollars or euros, then there is not much difference in the final amount. Therefore, take with you the currency that you have available.
Where to exchange money in Thailand?
Currency exchange services in Thailand are provided by: banks and private exchangers. Exchange points in this country are marked with the generally accepted inscription Exchange. When issuing Thai baht in banks, as well as official exchangers, you may be required to have a passport.
It is most convenient for tourists to change money at the airport. However, as in other countries, not the most favorable exchange rate is practiced at airport exchange offices. As a rule, the difference is not critical, but noticeable - it is optimal for exchanging a small amount for initial needs.
Exchange branches are located on every corner: in large stores and shopping centers, on tourist streets, in hotels and inns. Exchangers can be found even on the beach!
National banks of Thailand work exclusively on weekdays from 8:30-9:00 to 22 hours. The opening hours of small banks and private exchange offices are usually reduced to 15:00-15:30. Some exchangers operate around the clock.
Plastic cards and ATMs
Many tourists do not use cash at all in Thailand, because. In this country, you can pay with a plastic card almost everywhere: from shopping centers to small souvenir shops. At the same time, your bank itself will convert currencies at the current rate.
Helpful Hint: Thailand's banking system is in the high-risk category! For security reasons, when using a plastic card, your bank may block it. To prevent this from happening, notify the bank in advance of your trip. As a rule, this can be done by phone or through online banking services.
As for withdrawing cash from plastic cards, there are no significant difficulties here either. ATMs can be found almost everywhere: in shopping centers, hotels, supermarkets, on the street, etc. Since when withdrawing funds, the exchange is carried out not by a Thai, but by a Russian bank, there is no difference which ATM of which Thai bank to choose. Some ATMs offer to convert funds at the rate of local banks. This service should be canceled by selecting the "without conversion!" the rate of Thai banks is categorically disadvantageous.
ATMs have a fixed fee of THB 200. The amount of the commission does not depend on the amount of withdrawal, therefore, it is more profitable to cash out money from Thailand to the maximum.
Almost all ATMs in Thailand have a limit on the maximum withdrawal amount, which is 30,000 baht. The limit at ATMs of small banks can be 20,000 baht. ATMs in Thailand are labeled ATM.
Exchange of traveler's checks
If you have the opportunity to purchase traveler's checks, take them with you to Thailand, because. exchanging traveler's checks is more profitable than buying cash. Traveler's checks can only be cashed at banks and bank exchange offices. Please note that there is a fee of 30 baht for this service and 3 baht for the stamp. Accordingly, you can feel the benefits only when using traveler's checks of a large denomination (from $ 100 and above).
Tipping in Thailand
As in other tourist countries, it is customary to leave a tip for the services provided. Of course, if the service of these services satisfied you.
For example, a small monetary "compliment" (in the amount of 20-50 baht) is usually left to porters and taxi drivers. “For tea” for guides, as well as hotel workers, you can leave about 30-50 baht.
As for catering establishments, here, as a rule, tips are already included in the price. In the menu and checks, this is indicated in a separate line - “service charge”. If this line is missing, you can leave the generally accepted 10% of the order value.
Telling you about the rate of the Thai baht against the dollar, I still missed a rather interesting topic about Thai money. I hasten to fill this gap. In Thailand, the main monetary unit is the Thai baht, the designation of which is THB. Each baht is made up of 100 satang. Banknotes come in 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1000 (brown) baht, coins - 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht. There are also coins of 25 and 50 satang. Currently, several series of banknotes and coins are in circulation. You can come across batas with the image of Rama IX and the current king Rama X. Sometimes you even come across real rarities, released 15-20 years ago.
As in Russia, there is no free circulation of foreign currency in Thailand. That is, in the supermarket you will not be able to buy food for yourself, having only dollars, euros or rubles. That's what exchangers are for. In rare cases, in ordinary stores they will be ready to sell you goods, but at a rate lower than the official one.
I will not go into the history of the Thai baht and will talk about banknotes and coins that are in use now. Their design is constantly changing, but the last few years, since 2003, when the 15th series of banknotes was printed, has remained the same. So, for example, eight years ago I remember a transparent window in a bill of 50 baht, now you don’t see such money.
On the front side of each banknote is depicted or X in the uniform of the supreme commander, incomprehensible icons at the bottom left is the Thai designation of the banknote, and in the upper right corner is the Arabic designation. But the reverse side is unique.
The Thai "twenty" depicts King Rama VIII, His Majesty Ananda Mahidol, the elder brother of Rama IV, who died under strange circumstances. The banknote itself is green, and in the background there is a picture of His Majesty visiting ordinary people and the Rama VII Bridge in Bangkok.
On the 50 baht bill, you will see His Majesty King Mongkut, Rama IV, in front of a telescope, globe and Phra Pathom chedi in Nakhon Pathom province. The note itself is blue.
"Hundreds" in Thailand are of two types. The front side remains unchanged, while the reverse side depicts either a monument to the great reformer Rama V, His Majesty King Chulalangkorn at Chulalongkorn University and scenes from Thai learning in antiquity, or a portrait of the monarch himself. The color of the banknote is red.
The reverse side of 500 baht depicts a monument to Rama III, His Majesty the King of Nangklao at Maha Chetsadabodin Pavilion, Loha Prasat metal castle at Ratchanaddaram Temple in Bangkok and a Chinese ship. The note itself is purple.
And on the banknote of 1000 baht, Rama IX himself, His Majesty Adulyadej Bhumibol, is depicted against the backdrop of the Pa Sak Thiolasit dam in Lopburi province. The color of the note is light brown.
Thai coins are very diverse. 10 baht, for example, has a silver rim, and 2 baht, which are not so easy to find, come in white and yellow. Satangas can be found mainly in large supermarkets, like pennies, they are not very valuable.
In 2017-2018, a new series of Thai banknotes and coins was released with the image of the current King Rama X. The color scheme remained the same. Old banknotes work too.
Now you know everything about Thai banknotes and coins. It remains to be reminded that you need to store everything in safes and in no case leave wallets and bags with money unattended.