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[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1399309]Thanks. I based my info off of my girlfriend trying to wire money to me in the USA from Ireland a few years ago. She couldn't because nobody in Dublin knew what a routing number was and nobody in Atlanta knew what a Swift Code was.[/QUOTE]Did you speak USA English? If so, they probably did not understand you.
[QUOTE=Gg2002; 1399212]Can you please elaborate on this?
I was planning to exchange cash in the US before my trip but I can also get travelers checks and exchange them after I arrive.
Where is the best place to exchange while in BKK?[/QUOTE]I can't tell you where since I'm not in BKK, What I do noticed in Pattaya, and it has been a while since I went around looking for the best exchange rate. When I did, about a year ago for example I noticed that the booth inside Big C Extra near the video outlet which by the way is a Bangkok Bank Booth, but seem to have much better rates than Bangkok Bank branches throughout Pattaya? They were also higher than all the banks around Pattaya.
I walked by this booth for G. P. Since the Dollar to Baht ratio has been dropping. What I noticed is for a 100 USD note for example it is around 29. 43, Traveler checks says 29. 51, so like I said if you don't have to pay for these Traveler Checks to be issue at home then you can come out ahead I guess? But if you have to pay for them to be issue coming out ahead most likely wouldn't happen unless the rate is so much higher to offset the cost of TC?
From my experience if you exchange your USD cash for Baht at U.S. the rate would be even lower than in Thailand.
LBM
[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;1399457]I walked by this booth for G. P. Since the Dollar to Baht ratio has been dropping. What I noticed is for a 100 USD note for example it is around 29. 43, Traveler checks says 29. 51, so like I said if you don't have to pay for these Traveler Checks to be issue at home then you can come out ahead I guess? But if you have to pay for them to be issue coming out ahead most likely wouldn't happen unless the rate is so much higher to offset the cost of TC?[/QUOTE]I cashed in $100 in TC yesterday at Kasikorn. The rate was 29. 32 baht-60 baht fee-6 baht stamp duty. So for US$100 TC I ended up with 2866 baht.
I had not signed the top line where it says sign here when received. The lady at the first booth went ballistic and refused to cash it because there was no signature there. I said no problem I can sign it now. So I signed it and still nothing. I went to the one down the street and the guy cashed it. I have very limited experience with TC (this is my second time using them. Both times awards from work) so I am not at all familiar with the ins and outs.
[QUOTE=Josh Inyu;1399386]This is really good advise. Be sure to ask them about Recurrent Electronic Wire Transfers. With E-W-T's you can wire any amount to a chosen account. There is a little bit of paperwork to complete in order to set up the account. But no more than you are filling out each time you want to send a regular wire transfer. It may take as long as a week to have the account configured by your bank. Once completed, you need only call your banks recurrent wire transfer number, punch in the account info and your passcode and you can transfer your funds to your Thai account. If done before 11 am (EST-USA) the funds typically show up the next business day. I pay a fixed fee of $30 USD for each transfer regardless of amount. Simple, easy, and reliable. I've done this for years without any problems and typically transfer larger amounts to improve the dollar-cost average.[/QUOTE]With Citibank you do not need any form signed and can do everything online. I've never put foot into a Citibank branch not even to open the account, for which I received a bonus of $150. Outgoing wire fee is $30 ($20 for Citigold accounts). When sending to Kasikork, someone then takes $15 and neither bank will disclose who did. Sending to Citi Thailand account is free, but apparently Citi Thailand requires a work permit to open an account.
[url]https://online.citibank.com/JRS/portal/template.do?ID=MoneyXfrCompare[/url]
[QUOTE=Mr Enternational; 1399492]I cashed in $100 in TC yesterday at Kasikorn. The rate was 29. 32 baht-60 baht fee-6 baht stamp duty. So for US$100 TC I ended up with 2866 baht.
I had not signed the top line where it says sign here when received. The lady at the first booth went ballistic and refused to cash it because there was no signature there. I said no problem I can sign it now. So I signed it and still nothing. I went to the one down the street and the guy cashed it. I have very limited experience with TC (this is my second time using them. Both times awards from work) so I am not at all familiar with the ins and outs.[/QUOTE]Not sure of all the extra's required or not! My opinion was based on what I see on the board so if
You or someone recently cash TC. And the rate is higher but you have additional charges it might
Not be worth bring TC even if you don't pay for them in the USA etc. Then when you add up
Everything it is the same or lower that cash then of course why even bother?
LBM
[QUOTE=LittleBigMan; 1399603].
Not be worth bring TC even if you don't pay for them in the USA etc. Then when you add up
Everything it is the same or lower that cash then of course why even bother?
LBM[/QUOTE]TC's provides safety. If lost and stolen you can get replacement for them unlike the bank notes.
[QUOTE=Duniawala;1399702]TC's provides safety. If lost and stolen you can get replacement for them unlike the bank notes.[/QUOTE]True but my reply was only on the higher exchange rate offer compare to cash!
LBM
Just heard back from my Chase rep. They want 3% of each foreign withdrawal!
So, on a $500 withdrawal, that's $15, plus the $5 that the Thai bank gets.
I don't care how badly banks need to "make a living." This, as my UK friends say, is taking the [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url].
So, this April I'm just going to bring a wad of Benjamins. Screw these people.
[QUOTE=Phordphan; 1400374]Just heard back from my Chase rep. They want 3% of each foreign withdrawal!
So, on a $500 withdrawal, that's $15, plus the $5 that the Thai bank gets.
I don't care how badly banks need to "make a living." This, as my UK friends say, is taking the [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url].
So, this April I'm just going to bring a wad of Benjamins. Screw these people.[/QUOTE]My account is with Bank of America. I used the AEON ATM at Terminal 21. I paid $5.00 plus 1 percent. So for example, I made a THB40,000 withdrawal for which my account was hit for US$1306.29 plus fees of US$18. 06 (US$5. 00 + US$13.06).
[QUOTE=Paul Kausch;1400381]My account is with Bank of America. I used the AEON ATM at Terminal 21. I paid $5.00 plus 1 percent. So for example, I made a THB40,000 withdrawal for which my account was hit for US$1306.29 plus fees of US$18. 06 (US$5. 00 + US$13.06).[/QUOTE]When the Thai banks started charging $5 I was not happy. When my CU then followed suit, I was less happy. But JFC, I have to hope that a bank provides a complementary tube of KY when you open an account with them.
[QUOTE=Paul Kausch;1400381]My account is with Bank of America. I used the AEON ATM at Terminal 21. I paid $5.00 plus 1 percent. So for example, I made a THB40,000 withdrawal for which my account was hit for US$1306.29 plus fees of US$18. 06 (US$5. 00 + US$13.06).[/QUOTE]I don't think you are done yet.
I bet they shaved off more profit in the currency conversion you don't see in the $1306. 29 What day did you take the money (where was the exact rate on that day) so you can figure how much they took on this component.
BOA has been screwing people since I angrily left them in 1987 and they have always been leading the way for the rest of the pack. I honestly don't know why people go to them in the first place. Once I went with Charles Schwab in 87 and I never looked back. Best thing I ever did. They are competitive and never any nickle and dime-ing account charges the whole time I have been with them.
[QUOTE=Ehunter; 1400534]I don't think you are done yet.
I bet they shaved off more profit in the currency conversion you don't see in the $1306. 29 What day did you take the money (where was the exact rate on that day) so you can figure how much they took on this component.
BOA has been screwing people since I angrily left them in 1987 and they have always been leading the way for the rest of the pack. I honestly don't know why people go to them in the first place. Once I went with Charles Schwab in 87 and I never looked back. Best thing I ever did. They are competitive and never any nickle and dime-ing account charges the whole time I have been with them.[/QUOTE]Well, let's do the math: 40, 000/1306. 29 = 30. 62. At the time the exchange rate was 30. 63+- and I was getting about 30. 4 for $100 bills at Superrich1965. So I would have come out ahead had a brought a stack of $100's with me, but the amount of cash I burned through on that trip would have required a rather large stack of $100's. I've been with BofA for over twenty years. I pay no fees on things like accounts, wire transfers, travelers checks, etc. So I can't complain. Of course they pay next to nothing on the balance I maintain, so indeed these services are not free. I manage an elderly relatives financial affairs and her bank incessantly solicits my business. They can't beat "free" and the interest they pay is more or less equally pathetic so I stick with BofA. But I'd move my banking if another bank made a better offer. Of course, first I'd go to BofA and ask them if they're interested in keeping my business. Glad your happy with Chuck. Most people can't say the same about their bank.
As this is my first time visiting Thailand (Phuket and Bangkok) , I was wondering if anyone can advise me as to the need for any innoculations prior to my trip.
I asked my doctoer and he advised me to look at the CDC website which does advise to get Hep B vaccine as well as other precautions.
Do any of you do this? Is this necessary?
Thanks
[QUOTE=Gg2002; 1400593]As this is my first time visiting Thailand (Phuket and Bangkok) , I was wondering if anyone can advise me as to the need for any innoculations prior to my trip.
I asked my doctoer and he advised me to look at the CDC website which does advise to get Hep B vaccine as well as other precautions.
Do any of you do this? Is this necessary?
Thanks[/QUOTE]No, it is not. And I'm not saying that because "I never got it".
[QUOTE=Gg2002; 1400593]As this is my first time visiting Thailand (Phuket and Bangkok) , I was wondering if anyone can advise me as to the need for any innoculations prior to my trip.
I asked my doctoer and he advised me to look at the CDC website which does advise to get Hep B vaccine as well as other precautions.
Do any of you do this? Is this necessary?
Thanks[/QUOTE]Absolutely get the Hep vaccines. While your there get and updated tetanus which includes most importantly diphtheria & pertussis. Lastly, may as well get a shingles shot. I had a mild case a few months ago and I'm well below the age for that vaccine or malady. It was mild but now I have a natural immunity for a while but a full-blown case can be hell and easily avoidable.