How to pay the most convenient way to travel Thailand? Practical Tips

Choosing the right payment method when travelling in Thailand can save you a lot of hassle. Here are practical tips that incorporate the latest:

  1. Cash is king (but don't bring too much)
  • Baht cash is still the main payment method at night markets, vendors and souqs
  • Suggestion: Exchange 2,000-3,000 baht for emergencies before entering the country (domestic banks have better exchange rates), and go to SuperRich and other regular exchange points for large purchases.
  • Attention: Thailand to tighten anti-money laundering regulations from 2023, passport required for single transactions over 50,000 baht

  1. New options for mobile payments
  • Localisation programme:
    • PromptPay (Thai mobile phone number registration required)
    • TrueMoney Wallet (rechargeable code)
  • Chinese tourist friendly:
    • Alipay+: covering chains such as 7-Eleven and Boots
    • WeChat Pay: Available at major merchants such as King Power Duty Free Shop
      Note: Check for 3% processing fee before scanning

  1. Credit Card Tips
  • Visa/Mastercard at shopping malls and hotels
  • JCB Card has exclusive offers at Japanese shops

  1. Tips for using credit cards (continued)
  • Prefer cards with no currency conversion fees: Some banks (e.g. China Merchants Bank, CITIC) have full-currency cards that can avoid the DCC dynamic currency conversion fee of 1.5%, and it is more cost-effective to settle the bill directly in Thai baht.
  • Be aware of the risk of skimming: Try not to use magnetic stripe cards at night markets or small merchants, and it is recommended to bind Apple Pay/Google Pay for NFC payment to be more secure.
  • Weed Tips: UnionPay cards often offer 5% discounts at shopping malls such as Central and King Power, and some Thai bank ATMs waive fees for cash withdrawals with UnionPay cards (e.g. Bangkok Bank Pink ATM).

  1. Debit Card/ATM Cash Withdrawal Guide
  • Purple Krungsri Bank ATMs offer the best exchange rate, with a maximum withdrawal of 30,000 baht (about RMB 6,000) in a single transaction, but charge a fee of 220 baht per transaction.
  • Domestic bank cards with free cash withdrawals abroad in advance (e.g. debit cards from Changsha Bank and Liuzhou Bank).
  • Beware of the trap of "to convert or not to convert according to the exchange rate" - be sure to choose "No", otherwise you will be charged 4%-7% by the third party!

  1. Emerging Payment Methods to Try
  • K PLUS Sweeping Code Payment: App by Kasikorn Bank, Thailand, supports bundled Visa/Mastercard foreign cards from 2023, available at Big C and other supermarkets.
  • GrabPay e-wallet: recharge and use it when taking a taxi/takeaway to avoid the hassle of making change in cash.

  1. warning against pitfalls
    ⚠️ When exchanging money, recognise SuperRich in green letters on a yellow background or TT Exchange in orange letters, the exchange rate difference between airport exchange points is 15% or more!
    ⚠️ Keep a close eye on the POS amount bar when swiping your credit card - there have been cases where merchants have surreptitiously typed 1,000 baht as 10,000 baht!
    ⚠️ Alipay Keep the small cheque after payment - some merchants will claim that they have not received the payment and ask for a second payment.

  2. Practical Scene Matching Suggestions
    ✅ Street stalls → cash
    ✅ Convenience Store Chain → Alipay+ (Red Packets are often returned over $30)
    ✅ SPA Massage Parlour → Visa Contact Payment (fastest without PIN)
    ✅ BTS Light Rail → Rabbit Card Transport Prepaid Card
    ✅ Seafood Market → Small Denomination cash in 500 denomination notes