Money Matters
The currency used in Thailand is the Baht, which is often
shown using the ß symbol. Baht notes come in denominations
of 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and
1000 (brown). All notes feature pictures of the current
king, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and you must
be careful when handling the notes not to tear them as
it is an offence to defile his image. Coins are large
10 baht coins, 5 baht, 2 baht and 1 baht. The two baht
and 1 baht coins look very similar, although the 2 baht
coins are slightly bigger and have a picture of The Golden
Mount on the back. Satang coins are much smaller and bronze
coloured. There are 100 satang in one baht and these coins
are available in 25-satang and 50-satang pieces. Compared
to the West, Thailand is actually a very cheap country
for visitors. If you are willing to dine at small street
stands or markets, you can eat a good meal for less than
50 Baht. Public transport is very cheap too, as are clothes
and accessories. For those travelling on a tight budget,
500.00 baht a day should be enough anywhere in Thailand.
If you want to stay in comfortable hotels and eat at restaurants,
you should increase your budget to around 600.00 - 1000.00
baht a day outside Bangkok and major tourist hot spots
such as Phuket, where you can expect to pay around double.
For those with deep pockets, there is no end to the luxury
that you can find in Bangkok and key tourist destination.
Bangkok boasts some excellent dining options, top of the
range hotels and shopping opportunities. Changing Your
Money Banks or legal money-changers offer the best rates.
ATMs that accept Visa and other credit cards are easy
to find throughout Thailand, although an obvious exception
is small villages to the north of Thailand. Many exchange
booths will give you a cash advance on your credit card.
When buying baht, US dollars are the most eagerly accepted
currency and it is a good idea to have a supply of travellers'
cheques as they receive a better rate than cash. British
pounds are the next-best alternative. Credit cards are
becoming increasingly acceptable in shops, hotels and
restaurants, with Visa being the most useful, followed
by MasterCard. Sample Prices: Pad thai on the street:
25 baht Bottled water: 5-10 baht Bus fare: 6-16 baht Small
Singha beer: 70-100 baht Souvenir t-shirt: 200-300 baht
Cinema tickets: 120 baht Average Room Prices Low Mid High
130-600 baht 600-1500 baht 1500+ baht Tipping Tipping
is not generally expected in Thailand, although change
is often left at the end of a large, expensive meal. However,
most Thais will generally only leave a token tip of 20
baht or so. There is often a 10% service charge will be
added to your bill at many top class restaurants and in
this case tipping is not expected.
Thailand
Northern Thailnd
Chiang Mai
| Chiang Rai
| Mae Hong Son | Sukhothai | Lumpang | Petchaboon | Phitsanulok
| Tak North
North Eastern Thailand
Khon Khen | Buriram | Loei | Nakhon Ratchasima | Nong
Khai | Nakhon Phanom | Ubon | Ratchthani |
Udon Thani | Uthai Thani
Eastern Thailand
Pattaya | Chonburi | Rayong | Trat
Central Thailand
Bangkok |
Ayutthaya | Sukothai | Kanchanaburi | Phetchaburi
| Prachuap | Khiri Khan | Lop Buri | Nakhon Nayok | Nakhon
Pathom | Ratchaburi | Samutprakarn
Southern Thailand
Koh Samet \ Phuket \ Krabi \ Phang-Nga Phuket \ Ranong
\ Songkhla \ Surat Thani \ Trang \ Chumphon \ Nakhon Si
Thammarat \ Narathiwat
