| Things
to know :
Samui, Thailand
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» Money matters Thailand currency (baht) |
| THAILAND’S unit of currency is
baht (Bt), equivalent to 100 satang. Currency
notes are in denominations of Bt1000, Bt500,
Bt100, Bt50, and Bt20. Coins circulating are
Bt10, Bt5, Bt1 and 50 and 25 satang. At the
current exchange rate, baht is around 40 to 1 US
dollar. |
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» Changing your money to baht |
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| Major currencies can be
exchanged to baht at most banks and currency
exchange booths stationed in main tourist areas.
You’ll also find mobile currency exchange vans
in same areas. |
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» Automated Teller Machines (ATM) |
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When withdrawing money from your credit card,
look for the VISA and MASTERCARD signs,
otherwise, the machine doesn’t accept credit
cards. A minimal handling fee is charged on your
account for each successful withdrawal. Don’t
overly depend on ATM machines as they sometimes
run out of cash or go out of order.
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» Credit Cards |
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Many currency exchange booths accept credit
cards. Look for the VISA and MASTERCARD signs
displayed at their windows. Expect a surcharge
of up to 5 percent on every transaction. Most
business establishments accept credit cards to
pay bills. |
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» Western Union |
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A fast method to send or receive money, cash is
received in minutes after they are wired. Note
that the charge is on a sliding scale so that
sending large amounts will cost you less than
when you send small amounts.
For example, sending Bt1,000 anywhere in the
world (automatically converted to your currency)
will cost you a service fee of Bt320, while
sending Bt7,000 will only cost Bt480, a slim
difference of Bt160 |
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» Banks |
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For money transactions that require a teller,
banking hours are open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. – Monday to Friday. Other banks are
half-day open during Saturdays. If you run out
cash, it is possible to have your money wired
directly from a bank in your home country to a
bank in Thailand. You have to visit any bank
here for details. Normally, it takes 2 to 5
working days to receive your cash and costs
around 40 dollars as services fee. |
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» When in emergency |
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WHILE Thailand is agreeably a safe tourist
destination, it’s not immune from travel
hazards. When touring Samui and the rest of the
country, always expect the unexpected. Here’s
what you need to do if you are hitched into an
unwanted situation: |
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» Lost passport |
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Always have a photocopy of your passport and
keep it in your wallet. If your passport is lost
or stolen, immediately head to a police station
and report the incident. The police will make a
blotter report.
After that, bring the blotter report (the police
will give you a copy) to your embassy and secure
a new passport, or any temporary but official
document as substitute, whatever. Then take your
new passport or document with the blotter report
to the Immigration Office (Visa Division 4),
which is located at their old building in Soi
Suan Plu across Sathorn Road. You may call
02-287-3911 or 287-3101-10 ext. 22. Your new
passport will be re-stamped, or your substitute
document confirmed. |
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» Lost
traveler’s check or credit card |
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Always keep a separate record of traveler’s
check and credit card numbers, even control
numbers of traveling insurance.
Contact your traveler’s check company
immediately. When everything is cleared,
replacement checks can be issued from their
branches in Thailand.
Likewise, lost or stolen credit cards must be
cancelled immediately. Contact the local branch
of the credit card company and request if they
can issue a new card.
Here’s a list of credit card and traveler’s
check contact number in Thailand:
Credit Cards |
| Mastercard: |
02 260-8572 |
| VISA: |
02 256-7326-7 |
| VISA International: |
02 263-2091-2 |
| American Express: |
02 273-5544 |
| Diners Club: |
02 238-3660 ext. 0 Traveler’s Check |
| American Express: |
02 273-0044 |
| Citicorp: |
02 232-2000 ext. 3390 |
| Thomas Cook: |
02 679-5521-3 |
| VISA: |
| (U.K.) |
441-773-318950 (Collect call 24 hours) |
| (U.S.A.) |
1-800-11-342-0662 |
| Heng Gref: |
02 645-3733-5 |
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» Others |
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If your luggage is lost or stolen, hooked into
jewelry scam, or tricked by gambling hustlers
(though these seldom happen), you should
immediately call the attention of the police.
Call police hotline 02-652-1721-6 or call 1155,
a Thai version of 911. |
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