I'm flying to Phuket airport and have a citibank card but it looks like there is no citibank ATMs in phuket from what the website.
So does anyone have any recommendation on what ATM company to use or should i get cash before I leave Melbourne/other options.
Also I seen alot of people saying uber is expensive. So any recommendations on what taxi company/other options to use.
Thanks
I was in Bangkok recently. Taxis there were cheaper if you go by meter, but most taxis do not want to take you if it is a well-known traffic jam area. Grab was the next cheapest, although a little more expensive than the meter, but at least I could get a taxi. Uber was the most expensive. Recent news suggests that Grab is buying over Uber in South East Asia, so I guess there is only Grab or meter.
Also Thai ATM charges a withdrawal fee, which is not covered by Citibank. You should try and get your Thai baht cash sorted before you go.
The exchange rate you will be given in Australia will more than offset the benefit of saving the couple of dollars in ATM fees.
The best method is to change/withdraw money in Thailand. Either take fresh Australian dollar notes over & change at the moneychangers in the street (best exchange rate, no fees), or make a few larger withdrawals from ATM's to minimise the amount of fees paid (vs making many smaller withdrawals). You will be at least 5% worse off compared to any other method changing money in Australia before arriving.
Example of relative rates:
Change at Australian Airport 21 baht per $
Change at Thai Airport 23 baht per $
Change at Money Changer in the street 24 baht per $
ATM Rate 23 baht per $ plus ATM fee
Ok, Point taken. I guess the best thing to do is to take some Australian cash and change it at Superrich at Phuket airport?
I usually glance at two or three money change windows & pick the one with the best rate (usually they are close to each other).. don't usually pay attention to who actually I am dealing with ;)
Once initial cash is spent (and for me it is always spent), I just change the largest allowable amount at ATM's to reduce the relative fee.
I would get a reasonable amount of Baht in Melbourne before you go.
$50-$100 AU should be my advice. head to UAE in Melbourne CBD ;)
Once you get to Thaliand just use the money changers (not at the airport) better rates than here and usually cheaper because of ATM owner fees.
Not sure why I am getting negged.
$50-$100 is enough to cover incidentals when first land.
You don't need to worry about finding a good exchange rate at the airport or an ATM with a cheap fee.
UAE exchange has proven to me time and time again a good rate in Australia. Currently 1 au = 23.69, Supperich Thailand =24.10.
You're losing like $1.5-$3 depending if you change $50/100, and trading it for covenience when you land. & Considering ATM owner fees are big it just makes sense.
should i get cash before I leave Melbourne
No, cost of business is much higher here, which is reflected by poorer rates. Bringing cash and exchanging there will save you withdrawal fees, but possibly less safe but I've brought $4ish in bills and exchanged them hundreds at a time, no problem.
So any recommendations on what taxi company/other options
Just flag them down and double/triple-check they use meter. Obviously, don't jump in a taxi or tuk tuk with a really eager driver, and get a ballpark of how much the ride will cost.
Taxi's are pretty common, but always make sure the meter is running.
If you're taking a Tuk Tuk, make sure you negotiate price beforehand.
Always get your money changed in Thailand, it's a lot better rate with less fees.
There are money changers in the airport which will give you a good rate and are a lot less likely to be dodgy.
I've never had a problem with having AUD changed.
are all the taxi company the same or is there a better one
don't get the impression that taxis are like they are in Aus. read my comments below.
forget uber in Phuket.
It doesn't need to be a Citibank ATM to accept the Citibank card.
Citi won't charge you a fee - and so long as the ATM operator doesn't either you're fine. Even if the ATM operators do charge a fee it is unlikely to be as much as what you'll lose by changing your money here.
Only an idiot would exchange money here before they go - unless you get super lucky and hit the peak of the exchange rate.
Regarding cash……I would change around $100 into baht before you go, that will pay for the taxi & incidentals when you first arrive. The exchange booth at the airport has poor rates, but there are money change booths on every beach & town on Phuket with good rates. Take Aus dollars with you.
Regarding taxis, some posters are commenting on Thailand as a whole. Phuket is very different as the taxi 'business' is controlled by and prices set by 'cartel' (often referred to as the Phuket Taxi Mafia). Expect to pay between $30 & $50 for your ride from the airport, and similar prices around the beaches. Uber was there for a while but only taxi drivers with the cartel were allowed to be a Uber driver and was the same price as a taxi, anyone else operating outside of the cartel got a knock on the door! Taxis are safe, and every driver I had was friendly & professional but all taxis are expensive in Phuket.
so whats the best option for getting around phuket or are taxi the only way?
are you in Patong? then taxi scarce. The tuk-tuk cartel is your option, but they sting you 200baht each time you set foot in them due to the one way roads (need to drive all the way round Patong to get back to where they started)
Please mention where you are staying and what you think you need a taxi for - pretty much everything is walking distance if Patong.
Na first stop is at Surin Beach. so need to get from airport to surin beach
@yoshiyoshi: Taxi is the best and by far the fastest way, if arriving at the International airport there are taxi booths both inside and outside the terminal and all are charging the same/similar rates. If arriving at the Domestic terminal, walk outside the terminal and turn right to the 'taxi meter stand', prices there are also fixed, but a little cheaper than the 'other' taxis. Surin Beach is lovely,I 've stayed a Twin Palms a few times. Unfortunately there are no longer the beach clubs and restaurants on the beach anymore.
There are buses but they only go via Phuket town, so to go from one beach to another by bus, you have to go to PT first, then a bus out to the next one.
There are Tuk Tuks, and are reasonable within an area, but to go between beaches are often the same price as a taxi. many people hire a scooter which are really cheap
Watch what locals do in the street. If it is just a matter of wanting to go down a main road for a distance there will be regular little vans (think like a covered small ute with bench seating in the back) that will cost 1/20th of any other transport option.
If wanting to get to specific destinations or explore scooter rentals are dirt cheap.
my 2c (2baht?):
take a good supply of AUD.
go to Superich exchange counter at the airport and swap some AUD. Ask if you cannot find them. All airport staff will know Superich.
Not the best rate, but the difference will be in the vicinity of $1 on $200 conversion, so not worth worrying about.
Change rest of AUD to baht at local booths on the street in Patong. Check exchange rates they offer versus what banks offer: https://daytodaydata.net/ (change to AUD)
You will not get the SIA/Vasu/Superich rate, but you should be able to get at least the highest bank rate
For Airport transfer, read here for government bus: www.airportbusphuket.com
and here for general info http://www.phuket.com/info/phuket-airport.htm
Taxi only if you feel the need. You will likely not find a taxi willing to use the meter from the airport - most/all will want a fixed rate.
Use Citi card in ATM if/once your AUD runs out. You will be slugged a charge, approx $5 per withdrawal, so pull out a few hundred worth of AUD to minimise the fee as a percentage (ie do not keep withdrawing small amounts)
im around for 5 days so im thinking $500 will be enough as most things have been paid for. so do you think the $500 exchange at superich or $500 withdraw at ATM would be better.
$500 won't be enough.
take $500 AUD. use my link above and if xrate is above 23.6 at superich, then exchange 300 of it. If less, exchange only 100 and exchange the rest at booths as required (where it will be between 23.6 and 24… shop around, look at each booth as you walk past them, takes 2 seconds).
how much cash per day would u recommend
@yoshiyoshi: I think $100 per day is fine if you are on a budget, if you want to live the high life, spend on women, plenty of drinks in bars, go on some tours you could easily spend more.
I'd say $500 in cash is good & $500 available on credit card if you decide you need it.
@yoshiyoshi:
depends on age/interests/entertainment/tour/dining requirements.
you might suddenly find the need to do a Phang Nga Bay kayak trip, or Phi Phi island - there goes $100
it would be sensible to hire a driver for a day and do a tour of all the main tourist things on the island - there goes another $100
you might hit Tesco Lotus/Big C and buy a few new outfits, etc
you find find the beer tastes nice and have quite a few.
you might go to a Muay Thai show.
and the list goes on - you won't know till you are there.
it all adds up…. faster than you would think.
@yoshiyoshi: It entirely depends on your lifestyle whilst on holiday. The places I go to cost around the same kind of money as in Oz, but most tourists spend far far less than at home. You can get a very nice local meal with a beer for $5 or you can eat in a fine restaurant/hotel with wine for $50+. Surin is an upmarket resort so prices are higher. Beer is cheap, wine is expensive & cocktails are reasonable.
Remember also that credit cards are widely accepted at all hotels and restaurants frequented by tourists, and if you have a 'no international fee' card for purchases (not cash withdrawal) such as "28 degrees", then the exchange rate will likely be better than cash.
I use cash for local transport, small meals etc., and charge all expenditure in the hotel to the room, and pay the bill by card at the end. I also pay card for any special meals etc.
Phuketsrc are a good company is you are looking for an airport transfer
Withdraw money at an ATM there.
Thai ATMs charge you fees. SCB, Kasikorn, etc. charge about 220baht per transaction (regardless of amount) and are limited to 20,000baht per withdrawal. There is one bank that only charges 150 baht…. the name alludes me… it is quite uncommon though.
Edit: Just to make things more clear. Withdraw the most you want to have at an atm. Withdrawing 500 baht will cost 720 (500+220), withdrawing 20000baht will cost you 20220 (20000+220). Not a percentage.
Edit 2: battler's advice is pretty good. Sounds like he has spent more time in Phuket than I have. But the $5 fee is not $5 anymore. Our exchange rate is baaaad.
Just was in Phuket earlier this year.
Do not use citibak. The local ATM's charge an atm fee of about ~$9 aud that kills the exchange rate.
Highly recommend to bring aud cash and convert over there, you can get great rates
Some other Phuket advice..
..keep your head, it is a great place to get tipsy and have a fun night, it is not a good place to get rolling drunk - your chances of getting robbed, assaulted or worse go up exponentially. Whenever you are drinking spirits take it slow (you may not be drinking what you think you are).
Take care on the roads if renting a scooter to get around, helmet always.
Keep your cool and back out of any conflict if it arises.
It is ridiculous how many Australian's get injured or worse in Thailand every year - especially when it is a country that if you act sensible in it would be one of the safest in the world.
ing card… they provide rebate on international transactions and overseas ATM fees
Just left Phuket yesterday, my advice would be do a big withdraw at the start at an ATM but also bring AUD and exchange here if you feel comfortable taking cash (use safe, perhaps consider a money belt on the flight if you’re nervous). The fee for any withdraw is 220 baht (~ $9 AUD) so it’s a fair whack each time you take it out, but you can get 20k out in one go- one bank even lets you get 30k. Then if you need a bit more you can exchange a small amount of AUD, or you can go down the ATM route again.
Taxis/tuk tuks are expensive- google the cartels/mafia in Phuket, much more expensive than Bangkok! We couldn’t get Iber to work- it said it wasn’t available.
Like someone else recommended, we used Phuket SRC to drive us back to the airport and they were great.
Have fun!
FYI Uber was bought out by Grab in SE Asia - Uber hasn't worked since 8/4.
Best street cash exchange rate I saw yesterday in Phuket was B23.97 (I’m in Phuket enjoying my breakfast, I haven’t yet checked today’s rates). I always have enough local cash to get started (eg for airport taxi), either bought in Aus, Thai airport or left from last trip, then exchange Aussie dollars at Money changers as needed. Thailand is not the cheap place it used to be, but you can certainly eat cheap street food if you need. I budget ~B1000 for fish dinner for two, cocktails B100-150 each, but obviously depends what and where you eat. Minibus from Phuket Airport to Patong is B180/person.
Just returned last week and it is bt220 every time you use an ATM, when you finally get through immigration there are three ATM's before you go down the stairs. Run to the immigration desk cos it is like the "Queue of death" expect a good 45 minute wait if a few planes arrive together.
I just get local cash at the ATM at the airport in Phuket. If you buy baht at Melbourne airport you get screwed on the exchange rate.
Perhaps take $100USD or Euro if you are worried about getting caught out. Money changers are everywhere