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Apparently all alcohol serving places close at midnight tonight? Was told this in Soi Cowboy last night, where mamasan said to make sure I come early tonight for a good pick. She was saying it's Buddha birthday or something. Can anyone here validate this?
[QUOTE=Lcale1982;2814690]I told my friend I doubt it but he was wondering if they ladies take crypto currencies. Trying to find a way to spend his crypto without Uncle Sam finding out LOL.[/QUOTE]Not a chance.
[QUOTE=Lcale1982;2814690]I told my friend I doubt it but he was wondering if they ladies take crypto currencies. Trying to find a way to spend his crypto without Uncle Sam finding out LOL.[/QUOTE]He's a tax cheat? Tell him we have enough wackos and scammers here, find a better place to infect.
[QUOTE=ZenMinded1;2814508]Can you be a bit more specific on where in soi 6 and which massage parlors?
I got BBFS just yesterday for 1 k but that was Chiang Mai. In BKK across town I never got shop+BJ for less than 1 k, let alone FS.[/QUOTE]Are you ok with girls with wide heavy arms and legs. Old with odd teeth missing, etc.
Don't fall for his prices. His girls are not that in Demand.
Hello,
I saw some posts in the forums for how you should NOT use the ATM machines and instead should change cash.
There was even an advice of not using the change booths on the 2nd floor of BKK airport, preferring the ones on the Train Link floor (underground).
My findings as of 2023-06-20 are as follows:
1. My comparison is based on HKD (Hong Kong Dollars).
2. The rate on the 2nd floor of BKK airport was 3. 95 . This was both before immigration and after immigration.
3. The rate on the Train Link floor was 3. 98 .
4. When using the ATM in Pattaya (TTB machine on the street), there was an extra charge of 220 Baht. This could be significant if you only withdraw small amounts, but I have withdrawn THB 20,000 and then it's not very significant.
5. I was charged HKD 4650.05 by my Hong Kong bank, based on the bank transaction record.
6. The actual exchange for the transaction was therefore 4. 35 .
7. The "effective" exchange rate for the entire transaction (Paid HKD 4650.05; received THB 20,000) was therefore 4. 30 .
8. For reference, the posted average exchange rate between THB and HKD for the date of ATM withdrawal was 4. 45 .
I believe the ATM option was still much better in my case.
Please consider the above if you need cash.
[QUOTE=UnLe70;2828906]Hello,
I saw some posts in the forums for how you should NOT use the ATM machines and instead should change cash.
There was even an advice of not using the change booths on the 2nd floor of BKK airport, preferring the ones on the Train Link floor (underground).
My findings as of 2023-06-20 are as follows:
1. My comparison is based on HKD (Hong Kong Dollars).
2. The rate on the 2nd floor of BKK airport was 3. 95 . This was both before immigration and after immigration.
3. The rate on the Train Link floor was 3. 98 .
4. When using the ATM in Pattaya (TTB machine on the street), there was an extra charge of 220 Baht. This could be significant if you only withdraw small amounts, but I have withdrawn THB 20,000 and then it's not very significant.
5. I was charged HKD 4650.05 by my Hong Kong bank, based on the bank transaction record.
6. The actual exchange for the transaction was therefore 4. 35 .
7. The "effective" exchange rate for the entire transaction (Paid HKD 4650.05; received THB 20,000) was therefore 4. 30 .
8. For reference, the posted average exchange rate between THB and HKD for the date of ATM withdrawal was 4. 45 .
I believe the ATM option was still much better in my case.
Please consider the above if you need cash.[/QUOTE]Looks like you got your change at the airport? I feel like that's the worst place to get it. It's the first booth youll see and easiest access so they don't need competitive rates.
My trip was in Jan of 2023. I went to like 8 different ATMs at Bangkok to see if it did give better rate than those booth. Like he mentioned, they all seem to charge the 220 flat fee. Some though will charge a percentage fee so watch out for those ATMs. The first one I went to I got a little better rate than those booths all around Bangkok. But all the others was a lot worse rate then the booths, and I'm not even taking into account the flat fee since I get reimbursed for that. I was always google the rate at the time I took money out from ATM to compare. Base off of per $100 US the fee came out to as low as 8 baht but mostly in the 30's baht per $100 US I exchanged. Don't recall the exact rate at booth but I believe it was around 12 baht fee per 100 $ based off of the exchange rate I'd see on google. It's very minor difference but from my short experiment I'm sticking to booths, unless I'm out of US 100's and need more cash.
The "baht fee" is what I'm calling the difference in the exchange rate I see on google than what I receive. So if google has it at $100 US to 3400 baht and I got back 3380, the baht fee would be 20 bhat per 100.
Also if you're at a place that takes credit card. I always got exact rate or even better (compared to google) at time of purchase. Did that like at more expensive restaurants and other activities, like bowlling, watching movie. Of course use a CC that doesn't have foreign transaction fee.
Charles schwab reimburse ATM fees, not sure if people outside of the States can make an acct with them or not. They could be other banks that has this same offer with reimbursement for fees.
TLDR: use the booth to exchange, CC for places that accept them, and last resort ATM and hopefully you have one that reimburse ATM fees.
[QUOTE=Lcale1982;2829174]
Charles schwab reimburse ATM fees, not sure if people outside of the States can make an acct with them or not. They could be other banks that has this same offer with reimbursement for fees.[/QUOTE]Fidelity does the same thing and they also provide a good exchange rate.
A few times I've looked at the cash exchange rates posted and then did my Fidelity ATM withdraw. The next day I would check my Fidelity online statement and Fidelity has always given me a better overall exchange rate than the cash exchange booths.
[QUOTE=HorseTrader;2829184]Fidelity does the same thing and they also provide a good exchange rate.
A few times I've looked at the cash exchange rates posted and then did my Fidelity ATM withdraw. The next day I would check my Fidelity online statement and Fidelity has always given me a better overall exchange rate than the cash exchange booths.[/QUOTE]Exactly right.
[QUOTE=HorseTrader;2829184]Fidelity does the same thing and they also provide a good exchange rate.
A few times I've looked at the cash exchange rates posted and then did my Fidelity ATM withdraw. The next day I would check my Fidelity online statement and Fidelity has always given me a better overall exchange rate than the cash exchange booths.[/QUOTE]Ahh nice, guess your Banks card is another variable to consider, didn't seem worth it with Schwab.
[QUOTE=Lcale1982;2829293]Ahh nice, guess your Banks card is another variable to consider, didn't seem worth it with Schwab.[/QUOTE]Why do you say it did not seem worth it with Schwab? You absolutely do not have to pay anything and get the best rate plus you get interest on your account. So hell, they are paying you to use it! I have had Schwab for years and it is definitely worth it. I used to bring money to exchange and deposit it into my Thai account. I do not even bring cash anymore. I just withdraw it from Krungsri or TMB (can withdraw 30,000 baht at a time with them) and deposit it into my Kasikorn (used to have the most ATMs, but after covid you can hardly find one) account. Before Schwab I had HSBC because they had machines in a lot of countries so I did not have to pay a fee.
[QUOTE=Lcale1982;2829174]Looks like you got your change at the airport? I feel like that's the worst place to get it. It's the first booth youll see and easiest access so they don't need competitive rates.
My trip was in Jan of 2023. I went to like 8 different ATMs at Bangkok to see if it did give better rate than those booth. Like he mentioned, they all seem to charge the 220 flat fee. Some though will charge a percentage fee so watch out for those ATMs. The first one I went to I got a little better rate than those booths all around Bangkok. But all the others was a lot worse rate then the booths, and I'm not even taking into account the flat fee since I get reimbursed for that. I was always google the rate at the time I took money out from ATM to compare. Base off of per $100 US the fee came out to as low as 8 baht but mostly in the 30's baht per $100 US I exchanged. Don't recall the exact rate at booth but I believe it was around 12 baht fee per 100 $ based off of the exchange rate I'd see on google. It's very minor difference but from my short experiment I'm sticking to booths, unless I'm out of US 100's and need more cash.
The "baht fee" is what I'm calling the difference in the exchange rate I see on google than what I receive. So if google has it at $100 US to 3400 baht and I got back 3380, the baht fee would be 20 bhat per 100.
Also if you're at a place that takes credit card. I always got exact rate or even better (compared to google) at time of purchase. Did that like at more expensive restaurants and other activities, like bowlling, watching movie. Of course use a CC that doesn't have foreign transaction fee.
Charles schwab reimburse ATM fees, not sure if people outside of the States can make an acct with them or not. They could be other banks that has this same offer with reimbursement for fees.
TLDR: use the booth to exchange, CC for places that accept them, and last resort ATM and hopefully you have one that reimburse ATM fees.[/QUOTE]Not so sure in Bangkok but Casino's have the best exchange rates. Agree with CC with no foreign fees, always charge in local currency. F you are an "accredited investor" then Schwab, Fidelity, VAnguard, Etrade no charges at all.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2829302].. You absolutely do not have to pay anything and get the best rate plus you get interest on your account. So hell, they are paying you to use it! I have had Schwab for years and it is definitely worth it.[/QUOTE]We have established that Fidelity and Schwab return the 220 baht ATM fees and give good exchange rates. Are there any others? I know that Wells Fargo, PNC, and M&T do not give a sweet deal. Discover Bank ATM cards are not even usable in Thailand.
[QUOTE=HorseTrader;2829404]We have established that Fidelity and Schwab return the 220 baht ATM fees and give good exchange rates. Are there any others? I know that Wells Fargo, PNC, and M&T do not give a sweet deal. Discover Bank ATM cards are not even usable in Thailand.[/QUOTE]No idea. I think before someone said TD Ameritrade but they changed the policy.
[QUOTE=HorseTrader;2829404]We have established that Fidelity and Schwab return the 220 baht ATM fees and give good exchange rates. Are there any others? I know that Wells Fargo, PNC, and M&T do not give a sweet deal. Discover Bank ATM cards are not even usable in Thailand.[/QUOTE]These are the only two I am aware of. Schwab has been a mainstay for years now and I have always used them for my travels.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2829302]Why do you say it did not seem worth it with Schwab? You absolutely do not have to pay anything and get the best rate plus you get interest on your account. So hell, they are paying you to use it! I have had Schwab for years and it is definitely worth it. I used to bring money to exchange and deposit it into my Thai account. I do not even bring cash anymore. I just withdraw it from Krungsri or TMB (can withdraw 30,000 baht at a time with them) and deposit it into my Kasikorn (used to have the most ATMs, but after covid you can hardly find one) account. Before Schwab I had HSBC because they had machines in a lot of countries so I did not have to pay a fee.[/QUOTE]So from my experience I got better rate at the booth compared to ATM, that's what I meant, but yea definitely better than the other ATM cards that don't reimburse. ID save like 1 us dollar per 100 exchanged with the booths so very minimal difference.