Traveling During a Weak Baht: How to Plan Smartly
Foreign currency exchange has become a part of everyday life in our increasingly interconnected, borderless world. Whether you’re a tourist needing cash for travel, a student studying abroad, or someone shopping online from international websites — at some point, everyone needs to exchange money in one way or another.
One thing many people overlook, however, is the “hidden fees” involved in currency exchange. If you’re not careful, you might end up paying more without even realizing it — which is, in essence, throwing money away.
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What Are Hidden Fees?
Hidden fees refer to charges that are not clearly stated during the currency exchange process. They may not appear on receipts but are often embedded in the exchange rate or tucked into other service charges — all without the customer being aware.
Common Hidden Fees
Exchange Rate Spread Currency exchange shops or banks often set rates that are less favorable than the actual market rate in order to profit. For example, if the market exchange rate is 35 THB to 1 USD but the shop sells at 36 THB, you’re unknowingly losing 1 THB per dollar.
Transaction Fees Some banks or money exchange apps charge separate transaction fees. Even if they seem small — just a few baht or a small percentage — frequent use or large transactions can quickly add up to hundreds or even thousands of baht.
ATM Withdrawal Fees Abroad Using an ATM card abroad often comes with two sets of fees: one from the foreign bank operating the ATM, and another from your home bank that issued the card.
Currency Conversion Fees from Cards When using a credit or debit card to pay overseas or shop online in a foreign currency, the system automatically converts the currency, and your card-issuing bank may charge an additional fee — typically 2% to 3.5% of the total transaction.
How to Avoid Hidden Fees
Check Exchange Rates in Advance Use currency conversion websites or apps to check real-time exchange rates, and compare them with the rates offered by exchange shops or banks.
Minimize ATM Withdrawals Abroad If you must withdraw cash abroad, take out a larger amount at once to reduce the number of transactions — and thus minimize fees. Also, look for ATMs that don’t charge additional withdrawal fees.
Use Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees There are now many debit or prepaid cards that offer real exchange rates with no hidden fees — a good option for international spending.
Hidden Fees Add Up
While hidden fees may seem minor, over time they can accumulate into a significant sum. Being aware and planning ahead can help travelers save money while spending abroad.
If You’re Exchanging Currency in the Huai Khwang Area, You can easily exchange foreign currency at ACU Currency Exchange. Just take the MRT to Huai Khwang Station, Exit 4, then walk 500 meters straight — you’ll arrive at ACU Building Headquarters.
Check current exchange rates during business hours at: https://acu-exchange.com/
Reserve currency in advance via Line OA: https://lin.ee/ph4iznU
Open: Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: 205/18–19 Ratchadaphisek Road, Ratchadaphisek Subdistrict, Din Daeng District, Bangkok 10400
Tel: 02-0021008, 061-0283918, 084-3244893
References
- Popular tags | Plan Your Trip, Weak Baht
About the Author
ACU-Exchange
We are committed to providing the best foreign currency exchange experience and customer satisfaction to meet the needs of Thais who want to travel abroad and foreigners who come to continue their studies or work in Thailand.
