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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
inexpensive 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.
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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: 120-170 Baht
Average Room Prices Baht:
Budget: 130-600 Baht
Mid: 600-1500 Baht
High: 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.
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