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Prepaid Visas vs. Debit card vs. travellers cheques which is best?
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gocartmozart
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I'm trying to figure out the best way to go with finances for our trip. Some helpful advice would be much appreciated. We're going for 3 weeks in Thailand. Bangkok first then to Chiang Mai (visit Dad) then Phuket down to some Islands then back up to Bangkok to go home. We don't have a regular visa card, so, we were thinking of getting two seperate prepaid visas for around $300 CAN each then use those to book online.But then pay for hotels in baht whenever we are near banks where we can withdraw using my debit card, or use the visa if we are not close to one, then carry some quantity of baht when we travel to an island. Has anyone had any problems using a prepaid visa booking hotels online etc., getting deposit back onto the visa etc.? Any thought s about the best way to do this? Travellers cheques maybe?
#1 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 19:28
Drew84
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Hey good evening! Fellow Canadian here! When I was last in Thailand in 2011, I travelled with a Visa debit card issued from CIBC and had absolutely no issues with booking anything or making any withdrawls. Infact the fees were very reasonable I found. When traveling internationally the card gets treated as a standard Visa card so you can do anything you would with an actual credit card. As far as I know, all major banks in canada are now issuing these as their standard issue debit cards with chequing accounts. Prepaid visas, travellers cheques are for the most part unnecessary and also more costly, in my experiance. When do you plan to go? I'll be back in the kingdom in april-may.
#2 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 20:19
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gocartmozart
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Hello there fellow Canuck! Thanks for your response. I bank at Vancity and they don't have a visa debit card unfortunately. The prepaid gift visa card has a one time $2 purhase and no transaction fee, so, it isn't costly. I just want to know that I won't have any trouble using it to book some accomodations online. They only charge 33 baht to cash a travellers cheque, so I was thinking that's pretty safe to use too. We'll be there in March.
#3 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 21:18
Drew84
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its always free to open a checking account too! and generally you pay a percentage to purchase travelers cheques too. i considered all the same things before my trip last time. this time im just going with the visa debit and about $500 cash.
#4 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 21:22
gocartmozart
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Say Drew, I seem to recall getting shots before I went to Thailand many moons ago, is that still advisable. Malaria pills
Darryl
#5 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 22:39
Drew84
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The twinrix is advisable from my understanding. I also made sure my tetnus was up to date. if you plan to spend some time in rural areas some people recommend rabies as well. The anti-malarials are not really necessary from what I gather.
For me, I just got the twinrix (hep a and b) and a tetnus shot before departure.
#6 Posted: 22/2/2013 - 09:50