When in SE Asia how to get Cash

cormaclynch

Hi All,

Heading to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore next month. Not really too sure what to do for getting cash. I was thinking of using just my ATM card and taking the charges. I then heard about loading up my credit card and using that to withdraw cash. I plan to bring some US dollars to begin with but I'm going for 6 weeks and cant carry all that in cash!

If anyone has any suggestion to what is the handiest, cheapest or smartest way to get cash on holiday please let me know what you are thinking.

Thanks

beagle001

Hey Man,
Load up your credit card its the cheapest way and you can track your expenditure online while you are out there.You will also get some sort of insurance thrown in by credit card for hospital emergencies if you use card abroad.
Every country you have mentioned now has atm`s dotted round the country except parts of nth Laos.
Don`t waste your time on USA dollars they are no longer the flavour of the mth in South East Asia as Cambodia,Laos increasingly use their own currency or the Thai baht is taken by them.
They can be a bit funny on some high US dollars and you might have trouble changing them ( a slight tear on the note won`t be accepted).
Transfer your money from current to credit as you need it and keep both cards separate when traveling for emergencies.
Enjoy it all you will have great fun spent many yrs living out the far east

kraggy

Problem with topping up your credit card is that if it gets stolen, you're not just losing your limit. You're losing your limit AND the amount you topped it up by.

Potentially dangerous.


I would bring some dollars however for visas at the border. Much handier. I was there just before Christmas:

Laos = $35 (36 if on a Sat or Sun)
Cambodia = $25 (visa is actually 20, 1 dollar for getting stamp on passport on Laos side, 1 dollar for stamp on Cambodian side, and 3 dollars for corrupt police who will prevent you from passing unless they get 3 dollars off you for their own pocket). I'm not joking. It happened us. Not saying it happens everyone but it does happen.

Dollars are the main currency in Cambodia and still was in November. Even the ATM's only dispense dollars.

Laos and Thailand are mainly local currency, as is Vietnam.

Be advised, visa for Vietnam has to be got before you arrive at the border. What I did was, I got it in the Vietnam embassy in Phnom Penh the day before I went over to Saigon.

Not sure if you're going to Vietnam. Alternatively, you can get it here but it involves sending your passport to London as far as I know.

If you're stuck for time, limit your visit of Vietnam to the north. The south has damn all character if you ask me. Hanoi, Hoi An, Halong and Sapa are the highlights for me.

Laos is my joint favourite country on the planet.

Thailand I could take or leave.

Not been to Singapore but most I've met thought it was nothing special and expensive.

Any other questions, belt away.

darrenh

Agree with Kraggy on nearly all! Laos is amazing. Its not even under developed, its just not developed. Parts would remind of what Ireland might have looked like 150 years ago, i.e. extremely rural. Amazing place. Central and Northern Thailand is my favourite. The south is a bit over touristy. Singapore is expensive. Drink from hawker stalls(food stalls) as bars are crazy expensive. We paid nearly €23 for 2 and a half pints in one place!

For money I think using your credit card is best. Keep topping it up with little amounts, as if it is stolen you wont lose a lot as the extra on it is not insured. ATM's are every where and some have charges. In Thailand your are charged €3 by the local bank for using the service along with whatever charges your bank/credit card company charge.

Have a few dollars for border crossings. When i crossed into Laos the charge was $35. As I only had Baht the charge was closer to $45. Feckers. When I wanted to go from Thailand to Cambodia we had been warned to have $20 for the visa. When we got there he would only accept 1000baht, the equivialnt of around €20. Not quite the same as $20! We argued and told him we knew it was $20 and he told us that if we wanted to pay $'s we could go back to Bangkok and pay there.
When we then got across the border a 'tourist official' swore blind to us that we would need Riel. We bought a small bit as we had none only to find out after a few hours that dollar is king.

In Vietnam I dont think there is a set price for anything. Prices vary considerably and annoyingly. Kraggy is right about the north being the best. Hanoi is a cool place to chill out and prices dont vary as much. The people are far more friendlier.

They still and rightly so, have a grudge on westerners. When they see you they see American. The scars are there to be seen as well. Disabled and crippled people are everywhere. Its really sad. On the other hand they have Bia Hoi's. Just about the coolest bar you'll ever be to. Cheap suspect beer served at 10c a glass while you sit on a plastic stool only 2ft high. Like the ones you might find a pre-school.

I could sit, write and talk all night about SE Asia but the best is when you see it yourself. Enjoy!

kraggy

Ah, Bia Hoi junction.

Do NOT go to Hanoi without visiting this crossroads.

cormaclynch

Cheers Lads,

Thanks for the advice, think I'll go the credit card route topping it up online with small amounts.

Keep the stories and places to see coming, they're class!

beagle001

Good advice above man,think consider the credit card and expect some sculduggery with border crossings especially Trat side of the Cambodia crossing its a money racket.
Vietnam is worth a good stay,nice people I am biased towards it as the wife is from there but definitely North is most scenic.
One word of advice bin the lonely planet its not good except for hotel accomodation,too many people miss the beautiful little towns on bad advice from the book,listen to other travelers and they will point you in the right direction.

kraggy

beagle001 wrote: »

Good advice above man,think consider the credit card and expect some sculduggery with border crossings especially Trat side of the Cambodia crossing its a money racket.
Vietnam is worth a good stay,nice people I am biased towards it as the wife is from there but definitely North is most scenic.
One word of advice bin the lonely planet its not good except for hotel accomodation,too many people miss the beautiful little towns on bad advice from the book,listen to other travelers and they will point you in the right direction.

Major plus one on this.

And above all, do NOT budget your accommodation based on the prices in the book.

I've seen places where the price was actually 3 times the price quoted in the book.