Thailand forum

I used them in Thailand at 3 different banks without an issue. There is a set fee when using travel cheques and this doesn't vary depending on the amount. I think it works out favourably when compared to some banks ATM charges (especially when combined with the Thai charges)

I'm pretty sure only American Express TC's are accepted though

I have witnessed a friend having his TC in sterling refused by an Exchange booth - why I don't know.
It is rare to have problems with TCs but as said above they can be time-consuming to get changed - and of course it's always a fixed sum.

I would recommend that you set up and use your ATM card for most transactions - there is however currently a 150 baht surcharge at 99% of ATMs on this.

So if you want speed and convenience (use in banks, ATMs shops etc etc ) it's an ATM or Credit card, but the cheapest option is probably TCs. just keep a little spare cash for late at night of if you get in a situation described above.

i forgot to mention

AMERICAN EXPRESS TC's and IN DOLLARS

anything else has a higher chance of not being accepted


I'd never recommend changing TC's at a guesthouse?! just go to a bank...if there isn't a bank then use your ATM card that time and save the cheques for another

I found the amount of time it took to process a travellers cheque varied hugely depending on the country and the bank. In Malaysia, at one bank it took 30 minutes to process yet at another [both in KL] it took about 3. In Thailand i found it to be quick, i mostly used those exchange booths that are attached to banks.

A good mix of currency is the way to go.

I haven'y used a TC for years maybe even decades.....I would certainly carry them as back-up, but the extra I pay for using a card / ATM I consider to be worth it.

ATMs are 24 hour and available everywhere in Thailand
The rates of exchange seem to be good.

I can use my card(s) also ..
buy currency from exchanges and banks,
Pay for shopping - the EXACT amount,
Pay for booking rooms etc.,
Car rental,
Gasoline etc.,
I get a record of all my transactions
and I don't end up carrying a wad of cash around that I don't need. (i.e. after cashing a TC)
I also don't have to worry about where to keep it as it so small it can be kept on my person most of the time.

my experience is pretty similar to the others above. you'll never get as good an exchange rate at a guest house or travel agent as you would at a bank or exchange booth. with TC's in thailand, there is a pretty flat 33 baht fee per check, which can be a big chunk of your money, although now that ATM's are charging a 150 baht fee, the TC fee isn't as big a difference as it used to be. often times a TC will get a slightly better exchange rate than straight cash, and it pays to shop around too before you change money, since often times even exchange booths right next to each other will have different exchange rates.

i usually carry a small amount of TC's as an emergency back up and always try to get AMEX TC's if at all possible. as others have said, they seem to be the most widely accepted. otherwise, i do exactly as wilko suggests above, which is to set up my ATM card with a 4-digit PIN code and get cash withdrawls that way. let your bank know you'll be heading overseas too, just in case.

i'm not sure what AAA meant when they told you that thai merchants won't accept TC's as payment. in my experience, the only shops in thailand that seek payment in dollars anyway are tailor shops and jewelry shops. almost everyone else will want baht, and you'll get a better price paying in baht too. in that sense, the only thing you'd be using the TC for is for exchanging money.

by the way, i'm in laos right now and the Lao Development Bank just cashed two TC's for me with no commission or fee. regards.