Thailand is a very beautiful country. Everyone will find something to their liking. Beautiful beaches, breathtaking islands, a rich underwater world, a huge number of attractions - this is not all that this amazing country can boast of.
It is not surprising that Thailand enjoys incredible popularity among Russian tourists. Most often they go on vacation to Bangkok, Pattaya, to the islands of Phuket and Samui. Many who are traveling to the country for the first time are wondering what is the official currency of Thailand, what money is taken into account there, and what should I take with me?
Money in thailand
The official currency of Thailand is Thai Baht. In the financial world, it has the designation TNV. Tourists should remember that only this currency is accepted for calculations in the country.
Baht is recognized as the official currency of the Kingdom in April 1928. One hundredth baht is called satang. They are minted in the form of coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50. There is also a metal currency in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 baht.
The entire currency of Thailand, starting with coins and ending with banknotes, contains an image of the current king of the country - Phumipon Adulyadej. On banknotes, it is also duplicated in the form of a watermark.
Every tourist should remember: in the Kingdom they are very kind to the ruler. Any careless attitude to his image (including on banknotes) can be severely punished. Therefore, you should not wrinkle, tear, wear bats in the back pocket.
All Thai bills are quite colorful and pleasant both in appearance and to the touch. Banknotes, depending on the face value, differ from each other in color and size:
- 20 baht - green;
- 50 - blue;
- 100 - red;
- 500 - purple;
- 1,000 are beige.
In general, it is not difficult for tourists to understand what denomination is the currency of Thailand. This is due to the fact that, in addition to the unusual Thai numbers, on banknotes and coins there are traditional Arabic ones.
Course
The value of the Thai currency, in relation to the money of other states, until recently was very similar to the value of the ruble. If we consider the Thai baht exchange rate against the dollar and the euro, until 2015 it was about 30 and 39 monetary units, respectively. Therefore, the ratio of the currency of Thailand to the ruble was approximately equal to one.
In 2015, the ruble exchange rate in relation to world currencies underwent significant changes. Now, to roughly calculate the cost of goods or services in Russian currency, you have to multiply them by 2. Of course, the rate changes daily, and such calculations are only approximate. They are intended only to help the Russian tourist understand what is expensive for him and what is cheap in Thailand.
What currency to take with you
Experienced tourists are convinced that it is best to go to Thailand with dollars and euros. The fact is that rubles in the Kingdom are not considered freely convertible currencies. The exchange rate is likely to be disadvantageous.
If a tourist takes dollars on a trip, he must take into account several rules:
- banknotes of less than $ 50 are exchanged at a less favorable rate;
- old-style bills (older than 1996) are exchanged at a lower rate or refuse to change at all;
- You can enter any amount. But if at the border crossing the traveler has more than $ 10,000, you will have to draw up a customs declaration.
There are no restrictions on the euro.
Exchange methods
The methods of exchanging foreign currency for Thai Baht depend on the location of the tourist. In major tourist cities, this can be done everywhere during the day. A large number of people work on the streets currency exchange points (Exchange is written in English).Here usually exchange is the most profitable for a tourist.
Often, currency exchange services are offered directly in hotels. Guides from travel agencies who organized the trip are engaged in this. Of course, before changing their money, it is better to compare the currency ratio they offer with the one that exists in official points.
Credit Cards in Thailand
In the modern world, bank cards are widely used. Many do not know that it is possible to use Russian “plastic” in Thailand. True, they are not accepted for payment everywhere: only in large restaurants, hotels and shops.
It is important to understand that transporting money on a card is much safer. They are protected from loss and theft. In case of loss of the card, it is enough to call the telephone of the bank hotline (the main thing is to transfer it from the back of the card to the telephone).
The only information a tourist needs to know: Thai baht to ruble is considered at the rate of the Central Bank of Russia. When paying by bank transfer using a bank card, the conversion will take place at this cost with a slight adjustment. When cashing in funds, no more than 3% of the commission is additionally charged (this is best clarified by the Russian issuing bank).
Any travelers entering a foreign country must be sure to know the maximum information about its currency. Having an idea of what currency of Thailand, the basics of its exchange and settlements, you can greatly ease your vacation.