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lrw301jl
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Hello brothers,
I just like to get your opinions, which one do you prefer to bring? Cash or Traveler cheques?
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:20 pm on Aug. 8, 2005
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Diddler
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I would suggest a few $100 bills to change at the airport, along with a thousand in TCs, and also an ATM card.
Regards
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 12:18 am on Aug. 9, 2005
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Blattsucker
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I take cash (and ATM card). If you have a fear of theft then you take TC's.
If you think you get more money for your check (you do, but you pay more handeling cost) then don't bother. If that is your reason it is not worth it. You can do much better deals with shopping around the moneychangers. Every day the exchange rate changes and so do the best changers. Monday it is Thai Farmers Bank and tuesday it is the Military Bank and wednesday it is.....
If you look around you can earn several hundred baht per exchange.
Oh,.... and save your bills from your last trip that you gave to the taxidriver as a hefty tip. That way you don't have to change at the airport when you come back, which is very expensive.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:21 am on Aug. 9, 2005
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anakin skywalker
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lrw301jl
unless u can get TCKS for free just bring cash (the new $100 bills not thte old version - small face - some place won't take them)
also, make sure ur $100 bills are new, but not too crispy / new
i know sounds stupid but one money exchange place wouldnt change 3 of my bill cuz the were "too new' and he couldn't tell if "real" or not ( ( ( (sigh) ) ) ) ) )
also, tcks u have to carry around ur passport to cash it (pain in the butt)
just make sure ur hotel room has a safe
and by all means cover ur code when entering it if ur new "girlfriend" is in there with u...don't want any missing items!
"FEEL the POWER of the DARKSIDE"
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 8:55 pm on Aug. 10, 2005
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Isee
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Quote: from Blattsucker on 2:33 pm on Aug. 9, 2005
Every day the exchange rate changes and so do the best changers. Monday it is Thai Farmers Bank and tuesday it is the Military Bank and wednesday it is.....
Could you expand on this point???
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 9:06 pm on Aug. 10, 2005
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lrw301jl
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Thanks for all your replies!!! Two more weeks until the land of happiness.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:31 pm on Aug. 10, 2005
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BigDUSA
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I'm a belt and suspender kind of guy. I bring TC, ATM, CC and good old American $100 bills. I call my CC and let them know I'll be using them in LOS and LOS only. I also tell them to not authorize any transaction over $500. I email all my credit card info to myself.
When I go out at night I don't carry anything but cash. I leave everything locked up in the safe
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:11 pm on Aug. 10, 2005
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Mr Alan
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Usually when someone starts a thread like this, you get a lot good advice and everyone seems to know what they are talking about. Maybe not this time.
Travelers Checks get the best exchange rate, even better than cash. You do pay a fee per check for cashing it, but if you bring TC's in at least $100 per check, then you will at least break even. If you bring $500 checks, you will actually come out ahead of the cash exchange rate.
The reason for this is that there is always the risk of counterfeit money that the bank must charge extra for when they exchange cash. Travelers Check companies guarantee payment to the bank if they follow some basic rules for verification (even if the check turns out the stolen).
However, the net exchange rate does depend on whether you pay a fee for the checks. Many banks offer their customers free TC's, as they do for most American Express credit card holders, and some some Visa/MC card holders. TC companies earn money on the float (the interest on the money between the time you buy the TC and when you cash it) so they don't really need to charge anything to make a profit.
But consider the risk of taking cash. If you loose the money, or it is stolen, you are SOL and your vacation is ruined (big time). Being in a foreign country without money is no picnic. You can read all about people on this forum who have had money lost or stolen from them, even from hotel room safes.
If you loose your TC's or they are stolen, then your can get them replaced in a day or so. US dollar TC's are accepted in virtually every country in the world (not sure about North Korea).
So basically, TC's are a no cost, or very minimal cost, form of insurance, and completely eliminate the risk of loosing a lot of money and/or ruining your vacation. Considering how much money people spend just getting to LOS, that is no small consideration. Don’t be stupid, bring TC’s instead of cash.
ATM’s and credit cards typically charge high fees and have lousy exchange rates. Expect to pay an extra 3-5% to the credit card company or bank for using an ATM card or credit card. If you don’t believe this, do a Google search on this subject. Some companies will say the fees are low, because they use a bogus exchange rate to get their 3-5%.
Some hotels will try and charge you 5% extra for using a credit card to pay the bill (this is on top of the 3-5% the credit card company will charge you). If you bring the extra money in TC’s you can avoid the surcharge by going to the bank and getting cash to pay your hotel bill (never pay more than one week at a time to avoid carrying large amounts of cash). Yes, the surcharge is illegal, but unless you have written agreement from the hotel to not pay the surcharge ahead of time, you will have hard time avoiding it. This does not apply to 5-star hotels, but many other hotels will try to stick you for a credit card surcharge.
Whenever you do need to exchange TC’s or cash, only do this at a large bank (or one of the exchange booths run by a large bank). Never let a hotel or restaurant exchange a TC. It is OK to exchange one day’s worth of money at the airport when you first arrive, but the exchange rates anywhere in town at a large bank are better.
One good place to exchange money (cash or TC’s), is the west end of the BTS platform at Phrom Phong (Emporium). There are 3 exchange booths right next to each other (all owned by large banks) and you can easily check to see which one has the best rate that day.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:35 pm on Aug. 10, 2005
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maxozzie
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>>>>If you bring $500 checks, you will actually come out ahead of the cash exchange rate.<<<<
Yeah, what about these $ 500 dollar TC's? I always take travellers checks but I usually take a bunch of $ 100's and since I usually cash 4 or $500 at a time I was thinking about taking the larger denomination but I never see that amount on any of the exchange booths rate of exchange info. They always list the rate of exchange for USD or TC amounts up to $100.
Is there a problem cashing the $500 ????? I realize the exchange booths have lots of baht but was wondering since they don't see too many $500 dollar checks there might be a problem......?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:09 pm on Sep. 6, 2005
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