What currency is in use in Thailand. Tipping in Thailand. What money to take to Thailand

Are you going on vacation and have chosen Thailand (Phuket) for yourself? The money of this country is something that every tourist will have to deal with. And this applies not only to Phuket and other popular places. The Thais are known to have an extremely respectful, even reverent attitude towards their own currency and an extreme reluctance to make payments in euros or dollars, which are so widely quoted among us. That is why, once at the Bangkok airport, foreigners have to immediately exchange part of their cash for local currency units. Since 1928, this has been the Thai baht.

The international classification code for Thai money is ISO - 4217, and Thai currency is abbreviated as THB.

What kind of money will you find in Thailand?

Nowadays, paper bills of only five specific denominations are in circulation in the country: 20 baht (a bill with a predominantly green color in design), 50 baht (predominantly blue), 100 baht (red), 500 baht (purple). The largest one is a “money” worth 1000 baht, decorated in brown tones.

The metal money of Thailand is represented mainly by Thai baht in denominations from 1 to 10. One- and five-baht are minted in silver, but the second of them is larger and, thanks to the original form of minting, at first glance looks like faceted. A two-baht coin (made of yellow metal) can be found much less frequently than a 1-baht coin.

The largest coin in terms of thickness and diameter is 10 baht. It is bimetallic - a silver ring running along the edge borders a yellow central circle.

About Thai trifle

Each is equal to one hundred satangs - Thai "kopecks". In circulation you can find small coins of 25 and 50 satang. Both of them are bronze-red in color. The likelihood of the average tourist coming across this kind of money during an ordinary short trip to this country is not very high. This is due to the fact that prices in shops and markets have long been rounded up to baht.

Occasionally, you can get change as change, but you are unlikely to be able to use it as money - you won’t be able to buy anything with it, you can only throw it as alms on the street or keep it as a souvenir.

Coins are minted in Thailand similar to American coins - you can look at the reverse side by turning them from top to bottom (vertically), and not like in Europe - horizontally. And at first it can be confusing.

Get used to the baht

When going to Thailand, get ready to spend money only in the national currency, and therefore information about its current exchange rate is always up-to-date. This data is constantly updated by SCB Bank, one of the largest in the country.

At resorts, if you go to the exchange office of any other bank, you may encounter a slight discrepancy in rates, but the differences are not so great as to cause serious damage to the tourist budget.

You can also exchange our Russian rubles for Thai money, but in recent years such an exchange has not been very profitable. Although relatively recently their mutual exchange rate was 1:1.

Where is the best place to exchange currency?

The exchange rate is not the same everywhere. As in any country actively visited by tourists, changing money right at the airport is the most unprofitable thing for foreigners. Any bank knows that a tourist needs local banknotes immediately upon arrival. If, for example, the purpose of your trip from the airport through Thailand is Pattaya, you need money for both the bus and just to have a snack along the way. And therefore, the purchasing rate for dollars or euros at airports is always artificially low.

It is not very profitable to change currency at exchange offices located in hotels and guesthouses. When exchanging a 100-dollar bill, a tourist loses on average from 80 to 100 baht, which is equal to the cost of lunch at a local cafe or a couple of bottles of beer. Exchange rates may differ even in two neighboring points, since all banks in Thailand dictate their own conditions to their branches located at resorts. Those who want to save money are advised to go around several of these points in a row and choose where Thai money is offered the cheapest. Fortunately, there are enough exchangers in the country, especially in tourist destinations. Many of them, for example in Pattaya, work until late in the evening.

Features of dollar exchange

Those planning a vacation to this country should remember the stable exchange rate of the Thai baht in recent years, but its minor fluctuations occur literally every day. You can save a little more by bringing money (especially American dollars) in large bills. The exchange rate displayed by banks on the board exists, as a rule, in three options:

for one- and two-dollar bills (the least profitable for the dealer);
for banknotes in denominations of 5, 10 or 20 units (slightly more expensive);
for dollars in the form of banknotes of 50 and 100 units (the most optimal from the point of view of a tourist).

Oddly enough, there is no such gradation in relation to other world currencies, including the euro. Also know: old American dollars (year of issue earlier than 1966) will not be accepted at a street exchange office; you should take care in advance to bring newer bills with you.

Important nuances

Russian citizens recently should not have any problems exchanging rubles for Thai money - such a procedure is quite accessible in most places popular among tourists. Sometimes the direct exchange rate may not be displayed on the information board, but this does not mean that the procedure is impossible - you just need to contact the operator.

Important nuance! Do not forget that any money in Thailand, both bills and coins, contains the image of the king. The country's own monarch is highly respected by the country's inhabitants, and therefore any manifestation of disdain for the royal person is fraught with severe retribution for desecration - from attacks by an angry crowd on the street to criminal charges.

That is why never show disrespect towards Thai banknotes - do not crumple them, do not throw them to the ground and do not step on them under any circumstances!

A short excursion into the past

The history of the Thai baht (THB) dates back to ancient times. The concept of “bat” was used by the population of Indochina to designate the so-called tikal, which also served as a unit of mass. From 1350 until the 19th century, on the territory of Siam, the strongest and most powerful Thai state, silver and gold bars of non-standard convex shape, large in weight (1.215 kg), were minted. Since 1861, the English mint began to produce ordinary, European-looking round coins for the needs of Siam.

Banknotes called tikals and tamlungs were also issued at that time. They finished printing them in 1918. The Thai baht as an independent national monetary unit was “born” on April 15, 1928 and remains in this capacity to this day.

About small coins

The name satang - a small Thai small change coin - is translated from Pali as “one hundredth”, which is true. The satang has been minted since 1898, which means that it officially appeared before the baht. 25 such small coins are colloquially called “salueng”.

Thai coins have always been distinguished by a variety of weights and shapes. The largest ones in terms of value are those that cost 10 baht. Small ones - 25 satangs. Each of the coins, as already mentioned, is issued with the image of a royal portrait. It is applied on the front side, and on the back there may be various mythological characters, etc. Reverses with minted temples are often found, the importance of which is difficult to overestimate.

Russia - Thailand: money (rate, local features, etc.)

In a sense, our tourist has it easier than, say, a Frenchman or a German. You won't have to deal with complicated calculations if you're going to Thailand. Money (it’s difficult to accurately name the exchange rate to the ruble, since it constantly fluctuates, albeit slightly; for example, at the beginning of April 2017, for 100 baht they ask for approximately 163.2 Russian rubles) here they cost about the same, and the Thai currency is converted into similar values to our ruble figures. Thus, when calculating future expenses for a vacation in this country, our tourist can operate with prices in familiar monetary units. In addition, many goods and services here are much cheaper than in Russia.

You can cash out Thai currency at a huge number of ATMs that accept most standard bank cards, such as MasterCard or Visa. Their commission is fixed (150 baht), cashing limits are from 20,000 to 30,000 baht. Without commission, you can withdraw money from the card through the bank by presenting a scan of your passport.

How much money should you have to go to Thailand? When going to the country for a long period of time, it is worth stocking up on dollars, since during the cashing process, banks initially convert rubles, euros, and other money into American dollars. If the trip is short, you can take a card with rubles on it. If you are importing an amount over $10,000, you will need to declare it at Russian customs.

On the issue of tipping

They are accepted in the service sector of any country, and Thailand is no exception. Their size is usually kept within reasonable limits. It is not customary to throw money away here, but at the same time, if you receive a handful of change, the staff may feel insulted. The size of the tip cannot be higher than the cost of the service itself. The taxi meter is simply rounded up. Although this does not always happen.

In hotels, the “extra” money is left for the maids and luggage porters. It is not customary to tip in dollars.

It is better not to make attempts to “buy off” from paying for something prohibited (such as smoking in unauthorized places) - it will definitely not be possible to avoid a fine.

If you follow these simple rules, then you can relax in this beautiful country at a very reasonable cost, wisely spend your planned budget and get the most excellent impressions.

When going to Thailand, you need to prepare not only luggage, but also money for the trip. Otherwise, you cannot avoid losing your hard-earned money on unfavorable exchange rates, all sorts of commissions and conversions, unnecessary and ridiculous expenses.

The monetary unit of Thailand is the Thai baht (code THB). Introduced on April 15, 1928. The predecessor was the Siamese Tikal, which was subject to 1:1 exchange during the reform. Tikal was the common name for the currencies of the four states of Indochina, derived from the local unit of the same name for measuring the mass of precious metals (about half a troy ounce). Moreover, in Siam, which became Thailand in 1939, tickals were called baht back in the 14th century.

The country's currency is called satang. Nowadays, only yellow roundels in denominations of 25 and 50 satang remain in circulation. But in reality they are little used. Another thing is the nickel coins of Thailand in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 baht and bimetallic 10 baht. Just keep in mind that giving them as a tip is considered bad manners. There are small bills for this, and in general, tips in this country are not required (except for those indicated in the menu and restaurant bill).

The banknotes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. The obverse of all banknotes and coins features an image of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, enthroned since June 9, 1946.

Note:

The means of payment in the country is only the national currency;

In Thailand, you cannot crush, trample or otherwise demonstrate a careless attitude towards local money - this is equivalent to insulting the king and is a criminal offense;

All banknotes and coins of Thailand indicate the denomination both in the form of local hieroglyphs and Arabic numerals;

The 100 and 1000 baht banknotes have a similar color - count the zeros every time so as not to get confused.

Exchange rate

Currently
T:

1 USD = 35.55 THB;

1 EUR = 39.11 THB.

1 RUB = 0.56 THB;

1 THB is equal to:

Of course, the rate is different in Thai exchangers and banks; commissions are not taken into account here.

What currency to take to Thailand

It is best to bring US dollars to the kingdom. Both in cash and on a dollar plastic card (there will be only one conversion, in other cases - two: for example, from ruble to USD and from dollar to baht).

But if you don’t have a bank card with a dollar account, then there’s no point in purchasing one for one or more rare trips abroad.

And if you have enough euros for the trip, we do not recommend exchanging them for dollars before the trip - you will not win anything. Depart with euros and change directly to baht upon arrival.

You should not take cash rubles under any circumstances. There are very few exchange offices that accept Russian currency in Thailand, and the exchange rate is unfavorable.

Take cash dollars and euros in large denominations, because:

The main thing is that large bills are exchanged at a higher rate;
Small payments are not needed for payments - it is not even customary to give tips with them.

Try not to take old dollar bills (issued before 1993): not even every Thai bank will accept them for exchange.

Maps and traveler's checks

Before leaving with money on your card, inform the bank that issued your Master Card or Visa where you are going. Yes, this is your personal business, but many banks automatically block the card after the first transaction in Thailand, since it is a high-risk country. Most accept applications for a special mode of servicing “plastic” or simply “not blocking” through Internet banking, mobile banking or by phone. But even if you need to go to the office and write a statement, be sure to do it.

It should also be taken into account that:

“Plastic” is not accepted in inexpensive bungalows and some chain stores and supermarkets;
When making payments with a card from a foreign issuing bank in the kingdom, an additional commission of 3% is charged.

You can withdraw cash from any ATM marked ATM. Alas, in addition to the commissions of the issuing bank and the financial institution that owns the ATM, a commission of 150-180 baht is also withheld, regardless of the transaction amount. This can be avoided by finding a Krungsri bank branch - they will check your passport, card and issue cash in baht without commission.

Briefly about traveler's checks: it is not popular here, and few banks sell them, but in Thailand they accept them. If the security that travel checks provide is paramount to you, take it, preferring a large denomination: 500 and 1000 dollars.

Another advantage of traveler's checks, unlike cards, is that they have no expiration date.

One of the largest issuers of traveler's checks is AMEX - American Express. American Express checks are accepted everywhere - at any exchange office. You can cash it at a bank, you can also pay with it in hotels, restaurants, and rental offices. Moreover, they can be exchanged at a more favorable rate to the baht. It is worth considering: the less developed the banking system in the country, the higher the commission for cashing a check.

I am looking for a currency exchange

Do not use exchange offices at the airport or hotel: if you refuse to search for an exchanger, you will receive an unfavorable exchange rate.

Meanwhile, you don’t need to look for a long time for a place with an Exchange sign in Thai resorts - you can find them at every step. If you want to save a little, take a walk along the high street and compare rates at all the exchange offices you see, and then return to the one that offers the best option.

There are exchangers that work until late at the resorts, but it is easier to find them in the city center.

Have a pleasant experience - and no problems with finances!

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This post will be dedicated to money and tourists. Namely, we will answer the popular question of how much money to take to Thailand for 10 days, give recommendations on what currency is best to bring, where it is profitable to exchange it for Thai baht, how to withdraw money from local ATMs with the greatest benefit and what is the Thai baht exchange rate for today.

We live in Pattaya, so everything stated below in this article applies specifically to this city.

Thai baht exchange rate for today

Let's start with the Thai baht exchange rate for today (updated daily). In the most profitable exchange offices in Pattaya (yellow and red), the baht exchange rate to the ruble and dollar today is as follows:

1 rub = 0.543 baht.
1 dollar = 32.36 baht.

First, let’s talk about where you definitely shouldn’t change money:

At the airport (the most unfavorable rate). That is why it is worth ordering and paying for a taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya while still in Russia. In terms of money, it will cost even less than if you take a taxi on the spot.
At local bank branches;
In exchange offices at shopping centers.

You will find the most favorable rate for exchanging rubles and dollars into Thai baht at the red and yellow exchange offices located on the first line of Jomtien and in the center of Pattaya. They look like this:

How to withdraw money from ATMs?

You can withdraw money from debit cards (including ruble cards) at any Thai ATMs. The maximum amount for one transaction is 20,000 baht. Cash withdrawal fee - 200-220 baht. To minimize the loss of money due to paying commissions, it is better to immediately withdraw the maximum amount. The best place to do this is at the yellow ATMs of Krungsri Bank.

What currency should I take to Thailand?

Definitely dollars, if you have them. If not, then buy it. It makes no sense to go to Thailand with rubles at all.

Let's calculate together how much more profitable it is to buy dollars in Russia and then exchange them for Thai baht. All figures in the calculation are accurate, taken as of October 22, 2017.

You can buy dollars in Novosibirsk today for 58 rubles. You can exchange them in Pattaya for baht at the rate of 1 dollar = 33.07 baht. Let's say you bought 1,000 dollars (58,000 rubles) and exchanged them in Pattaya for baht. As a result, we received 33,070 baht.

If you immediately exchange the same 58,000 rubles for baht (without buying dollars), then you will receive 32,248 baht in your hands (at the rate of 0.556). So it’s definitely more profitable to travel to Thailand with dollars.

How much money should I take?

To calculate how much money you need to go to Thailand for 10 days, two weeks or any other period, you just need to navigate the prices and have some idea of what you plan to do here. We will help you with current prices for 2017-2018, otherwise everything is in your hands.

Prices in Pattaya:

Bike rental: for a day 150 baht, for 3 days 450 baht, for a week 750 baht;
Car rental: for a day 650 baht, for three days 2500 baht, for a month - 12,000 baht.
Food in street cafes: 40-60 baht per dish, in tourist places: 80-120 baht per dish, at food courts in shopping centers: 40-80 baht;
Coconut - 20 baht;
Fruit cocktail - 25 baht;
Ferry to Koh Larn: 30 baht;
Travel by tuk-tuk: 10 baht;
Massage: 150-200 baht for 1 hour;
Minimum prices for excursions;

On average, to have a good holiday in Pattaya, for 10 days you will need $300-500 per person. This includes visiting excursions, including quite expensive ones. If you don’t go too fancy, then $500 is enough for two. It all depends on your preferences. If you have breakfast at the hotel and hang out with the bass all day, then you practically don’t need money at all.

Every year Thailand becomes more and more popular among tourists who come here from all over the world. Russia and the CIS countries are no exception. It is not surprising that the Thai baht became one of the most used currencies on the planet in 2014 - it entered the top ten. What this money looks like, what its exchange rate is in relation to the ruble and dollar, and what a tourist needs to pay attention to - read about all this further in the article.

Appearance of banknotes

The Thai baht is issued in banknotes in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 baht. On the front side of all banknotes is the current King of Thailand - 88-year-old Bhumibol Adulyadej. The international designation of this currency is THB. The brownish 10 baht notes are no longer issued and have been replaced by coins. You will not be able to exchange them in official institutions, but they still circulate in your hands and are quite common.

The 20 baht note is slightly larger than the 10 baht note. It is colored a dull green. This often causes difficulties for tourists. In low light it looks a lot like a 1000 baht note. It is not uncommon for taxi drivers to be paid a thousand instead of the required twenty. The 50 baht note is noticeably different from all other banknotes. It is made of a plastic-like material and is printed in a vibrant blue color. This is a very common denomination that is convenient for payments in any situation.

100 baht are issued in reddish tones. The appearance of such a monetary unit has remained almost unchanged for decades. Starting from this denomination, banknotes have a special metallized strip on the left side to combat counterfeiters. The 500 baht note is also made of plastic material. It has a bright purple hue. As for the 1000 baht, the bill looks rather dull. The print is made in brownish color on a white background.

How to distinguish a fake?

Oddly enough, the largest denomination of the currency is not particularly popular. Not all merchants can give change from a banknote, and some are afraid to accept it due to the large number of counterfeits. Here's how to distinguish a fake from a real 1000 baht:

A three-dimensional watermark in the form of the head of King Bhumibol must be visible in the light. It is quite difficult to counterfeit this element convincingly, so it is one of the easiest ways to detect counterfeit money.
On the opposite side of the watermark there should be a strip with metallized elements.
To the right of the king’s portrait, a thin silver strip is woven into the bill itself, which is visible only in the light.
And finally, the banknote material itself should be dense, but thin. It feels dry and smooth to the touch, unlike counterfeits, which can sometimes be slightly sticky from fresh ink and raised from trying to replicate the special features of the original.

Coins

As mentioned above, the 10 baht note is now only issued in metal. When such money first appeared about 10 years ago, vending machines accepted it for 2 euros. But the error was quickly corrected. Also available in the form of coins are 5, 2 and 1 baht. Such small money will be useful for tourists to pay for bus trips. One Thai baht is 100 satang. And you can find coins in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 1 satang. These are very small amounts, so they are almost impossible to exchange outside the country. Many tourists bring satangs as souvenirs or try to give them away in the form of tips or alms.

Exchange rate of Thai baht to ruble and dollar

If you are going on an overseas trip, you must be aware of the ratios of currency values. This way you can properly plan your expenses and adequately evaluate the price list for purchases and services in a foreign country. In April 2016, in exchange offices, the Thai baht to the ruble was in the ratio of 1: 1.89. A year ago it was a little cheaper - 1 to 1.6-1.5. Then the Thai baht fell to 1.4 rubles. for 1 baht, and after that its value began to increase.

In January 2016, when the ruble fell sharply, the Thai currency rose in price to 2.25 to 1. But with the subsequent stabilization of the Russian money exchange rate, there is a tendency for the value of the baht to decrease, which will be very useful for the beginning of the holiday season. What is the state of the Thai baht against the dollar? In 2015, the Thai currency fell slightly, but steadily. The current exchange rate of the baht to the dollar is 35.14 to 1.

The standard of living in Thailand is quite low. Therefore, many locals consider a foreigner to be lawful prey, which cannot be robbed. Use these tips to save your hard-earned money:

Exchange the desired amount of currency in your country. To do this, you will need to place a corresponding application with the bank, which is processed within about 5 business days.
Make sure you always have small money with you - a few 50 baht bills. Taxi drivers, bus drivers and small merchants may refuse to accept large banknotes. And dishonest businessmen will give you change in crumpled, folded form. When you unwrap the bills and discover that you have been deceived, the scammer will already disappear into the crowd.
Pickpockets will immediately notice a tourist and try to rob him. Therefore, carry only the amount you plan to spend on one trip and keep the money in several different places.

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