Finance and money forum

Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia

wombatfuz

flashpacker
Posts: 37

I'm flying into Bangkok possibly in May 2010. Need some advice on money matters. Still rather unsure after reading most of the money matters postings.

My rough plan:
I won't be staying overnight in Bangkok. Taking a sleeper to Chiang Mai, spend maybe a week before crossing over to Laos (via the 3 days slow boat)

Will go to the usual places like Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, maybe Vang Xai and Sam Neua before proceeding to Vietnam and finally onwards to Cambodia

My budget is
USD 5000

I plan to carry
USD4000 in Travelers cheques
USD700 in cash
THB300 in cash

Is this a good plan? Or should I carry less THB since I can always change USD into THB if i really need to.

I'm changing the USD cash into Vietnam Dong, Laos Kip and Cambodia Riel when i reach these respective countries.

#1 Posted: 7/1/2010 - 16:31
wombatfuz

flashpacker
Posts: 37

Corrections:
I plan to carry
USD4000 in Travelers cheques
USD700 in cash
USD300 in cash (converted in approx THB9938)

Also of concern in changing money in Laos.
Should I change baht to kip or use USD to change to Kip?
How easy is it to spend my remaining baht in Laos?

#2 Posted: 7/1/2010 - 16:48
christay2009

adventurer
Posts: 408
Located in:
Private message

I'm all for travellers cheques - it seems one of few who are - but i think you should take less of these and more cash. TC's are easy to use in Thailand and in Laos - i'm not sure about the others - but sometimes you might be somewhere where banks don't accept TC's but DO exchange cash. OR if you're in a jam you might be able to pursuade whoever to take dollars but no way would you be able to use TC's

I used TC's throughout Laos and had no problem but it did mean i had to do quite abit of forward thinking - unsure if banks where i was going cashed TCs - and also meant i was carrying round a silly amount of kip [think millions]

So, the only piece of advice i feel confident in giving is to split the cash/TC's differently. I don't mean go crazy with cash but maybe having abit more wouldn't be such a bad idea.

any reason why you don't just take an ATM/debit/credit card?

#3 Posted: 7/1/2010 - 16:54
wombatfuz

flashpacker
Posts: 37

Thanks for the great advice, Christay.

Never used TQ before. So I won't be able to cash TQs in USD? Will only receive local currency?

I shall have more USD cash with me then.

I will have credit card and debit/ATM card for emergency use only.

#4 Posted: 8/1/2010 - 09:43