Best Travel Prepaid Credit/Debit Card for Thailand

I'm heading to Thailand in about 15 Days. Whats the best prepaid card I can get. I am with NAB and was thinking about getting a NAB Traveler Card. Any better alternatives out there?

https://www.nab.com.au/personal/international/nab-traveller-…

Comments

  • So you asked about CC or Prepaid/Debit since your title is CC but you mentioned Prepaid card?
    In Thailand, gov't put a fixed charge 200 Baht for the foreign card, heard that Citibank is 180 Baht. I'm using Citibank Debit, which could withdraw money in the branch near Asok or CentralWorld, did not noticing any fee when withdraw (correct me if i'm wrong)

    • I was there in Jan or Feb this year most banks where adding 250B nearly $11 AUD @ 23-1 unless things changed since then.
      There are Citibank offices over Thailand but they all don't issue money one in Pattaya Sukhimvit just process paperwork and loans. So you're bound by only those you listed in BKK AFAIK for fee free citibank customers.
      As others have said ING or cash unless you're going to stay in Cowboy for 2 weeks.

      • I'm traveling to Bangkok, Koh Phangan and Phuket. 3 days in each city. I am taking cash for Bangkok. I was thinking of using a card in the other 2 cities as I don't want to be worrying about losing the cash.

        It's too late to apply for a new Credit card. I was thinking along the lines of Prepaid cards or over the counter option from NAB/Auspost.

  • +1

    The only worthwhile card is a ING card with the fee rebate active. All ATM, foreign conversion fees are given back to you immediately. Travel cards are one of the worst things you can use in terms of fees, and if not fees, in terms of their conversion rate

  • take cash. go to superrich.
    (and take a card as others suggest).

  • The era of Prepaid Travel cards is gone! They are mostly a huge scam now.
    Just use a debit card from a bank shown above and you save heaps of money in almost all circumstances.

    The only time a travel card is beneficial is if you can look into a crystal ball and forecast a forex devaluation of more than ~5% during your travel and load that currency into the card early, which I think is quite rare.

  • ING card for Thailand or Cash, If you are staying in Bangkok (CBD) Citibank is also an option. Thailand atm fees are $9.4aud each time you use a card.

  • I'm traveling to Bangkok, Koh Phangan and Phuket. 3 days in each city. I am taking cash for Bangkok. I was thinking of using a card in the other 2 cities as I don't want to be worrying about losing the cash.

    It's a bit late to apply for a new Credit Card. I was thinking about buying a Prepaid card or using my own credit card. The NAB traveler card is linked to your account and is available in branch. It offers the added benefit of not using your actual card as your details might get stolen. What do you guys think?

    Moneygram is also an option. Have someone send me money to each city as I arrive.

  • Avoid travel cards at all costs. ING account requires certain number of transactions/deposits to qualify for int trans fee free. I'm happy with my Citibank Plus account/debit card for ATM withdrawals, and just suck up the local ATM charge (but note Citi has a few branches in Bangkok where there will be no fee). The exchange rate is always excellent as long as you do not take up the option sometimes presented by the local bank operating the ATM to do the conversion for you.

    • NAB don't charge anything. Only the local fees charged by the ATM needs to be paid. I already got one. I read if you go into the branch to withdraw then you don't even pay that.

      • Sorry for replying to an old thread.
        But @ElGrande did you even read the thred before typing your reply!!!!!

        NAB charges 3% exchange and $5 ATM fees for all foreign transactions!

        https://www.nab.com.au/personal/help-and-guidance/personal-b…

        • I started the thread. Read the whole thread. We are talking about NAB traveler card not normal CC. Link in description.

        • They do have a card you can add to your account that charges no conversion fees, its $10 /m. It does now include travel insurance so it's not a bad option for travel.
          For thailand ING is by far the best for gettting money out.

  • For Bangkok, Superrich around Soi Ratchadamri 2 (may not be easy to get to) can be the best. However not every Superrich offers the same rate, as they are franchised.
    If around Sukhumvit Soi 8 Vasu is extremely good and extremely close to the best Superrich rate.
    Citibank Plus ATM (I use Asok branch) is the best in the world rate.
    I would never use a prepaid card due to the very bad exchange rates.

  • +1

    I won't suggest NAB traveler card. It takes AUD as default option. MY THB that I converted on the app got converted back to AUD to pay for purchase in THB. How stupid is that. I came back and told the teller who sold me the product. She asked me to call the number on the card and complain but I was only $20 out of pocket so its nor worth chasing.

    • Thanks for sharing your experience!
      I've been burnt ages ago and hence why I recommended not to get any sort of travel cards while travelling.

      On top of this stupid currency selection issue that has started recently (The POS provider also has a fee to convert THB to AUD at the terminal), they have ~4% currency conversion fee hidden in the exchange rate on conversion to either currency.

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