Hi Kitty, i have never used a redicard over there so unsure, but i have used a CommonwealthBank Master Card & a NPBS Visa debit card to get cash out no probs.

Thanx Gary. The Travelex card does have a set up cost, which is not a major prob - its 1.1% of total value on card. So .... I think I'll just take lotsa cash, and then also take my atm card (just in case it does work!) and my credit card - which is a visa debit card. If I need to use the visa card I will go into a bank and actually withdraw cash, just to be on the safe side!!! No use saying ... but it will never happen to me ... cos thats just when it will happen!
Thanx for all your info. Only 53 more sleeps!!!
Lindy
PS Someone else has told me to bargain hard for tours and to never pay more than AUD$50 per adult for a full day tour - would you agree with this info???

Hi Kitty,
Definetly bargain for tours , DONT BOOK AT YR HOTEL, go out to street tour desks/operators ( they are every where) go to one get a price, go 2 next one get a price ,even go 2 a 3rd one do same - as u go along just say u got this price from that one up road - u will always get a better price,i saved about $40.00 between 3 of us doing that last time ( i,ve seen prices here in Aust. from travel agents pushing tours to Phi Phi islands, nearly twice as much 4 exactly same tour if u book yrself in Patong.)
i use a travel ex cards - take a bit of cash, & use credit cards for a back up if i run out of money (luckily not yet), hotels, internal flights, & even some tours, & a good restaurant if i splurge out 4 a nite . ("touch wood" never had a problem using Credit Card in asia)
just be careful of taking large amounts of cash, it's really no different than having large amounts of cash with u here in Aust.
at least with cards money is in the bank , u may have to pay a little fee to withdraw cash - but at least it is safe in there, thats my opinion anyway -
enjoy yr holiday -
if u need another info about Phuket/Thailand just ask me or Private message me , i've been 2 Thailand /vietnam/cambodia about 6 times now,

i leave in 11 more sleeps

Gary, Ive always taken cash to Indonesia and Vietnam with no probs. Im just a "cash" person, a bit old fashioned I guess, always pay my bills with cash at home etc. There are flaws in any method of money I think, ie. losing it or getting scammed etc. If I were to put my $3000 spending money onto a travelex card then I've already lost $330 in set up fees!!!! And then $3.75 for each withdrawal. I think as long as Im inconspicuous with it and keep it safe, I should be fine.
Once again appreciate all your helpful info.
Im jealous - only 11 more sleeps for you!

i dont think it is $330.00 in fees if u put in $3000.00 --probably only $3.30c @ 1p/c - ( I hope not anyway as i'am about to load up a travelex card this week with a few grand.).
i take some cash , but not too much , i usually not in same place all the time , iam usually away 4/5 weeks & in different countries around s/e asia.
yr right there are pros/cons with any form of money u take away.

enjoy yr trip - it will be here before u know it.

OK ... yeh you are right ... Ive just done the math again (never really was much good at math) The setup fee is 1.1% so if you load it with $3000 the fee will be $33 ... so all in all I guess thats not a bad price to pay for peace of mind ... so ... maybe I will now consider it. You reckon you can use it pretty much ev erywhere in Thailand??? And do you just withdraw so much baht at a time at an atm??? And youve obviously never had any probs with it or else you wouldnt be recommending it. Wd you say I would be wise to take say $1000 in AUD and load up a travelex with $2000???

my maths good either
I ,ve had same travelex card for past few years , forgot about set up fee, i just leave a few dollars in there to keep it active , & when i travel again (yearly) i top up then , yes i normally withdraw so much baht (sometimes 10,000baht) to keep me going for a while , its $3.75 aust. per transaction , so up to you how much u want to get out per time.
Yes i would take $1000.00 in aussie dollars, u get a better rate when exchanging with dollars.

Yes u can use card at i reckon 99% of atm's , "a tip" just use ones at banks & official money exchanges attached to banks, DONT USE atms at "holes in walls" in shops, 7/11's etc, if it eats yr card takes long time for bank ppl to turn up to get it back, at bank they can retrieve it straight away if in bank hrs. same as here in Aust.

just look for atm's with Visa logo, - i have used it all over Thailand , Cambodia & Vietnam without any probs.

also DONT change money at airport here in aust. really poor rates, wait till u get to thailand , change when u arrive at airport ,if u changing cash just do a small amount enough for 1st nite to get taxi/meals/drinks etc, then change more next day in town wher better rates are away from airports,
or if u use yr card, it doesnt matter where u withdraw
hope this helps

Cheers Gary

Gary,
I appreciate all your info on the travelex card ... but ... I think Im gonna do what Ive done in the past and take cash and keep credit card only for emergency. I will tho take my atm card - just in case it does work and only withdraw at a bank. I just cant be bothered with the card. Its ok for you if you travel every year and use it, cos I think it either expires after 12 months or you have to pay for each month after that to keep it active. I usually only travel every 18-24 months... so that makes it not really viable for me to keep it active.
And ... yes ... Ive been told to avoid the "holes in the wall"!!!
Also ... I know the exchange rate here in oz is **** .. but Ive already just changed over $100 into baht and only got about 24 baht to the dollar. Im told its exchanging in Patong for about 29, so thats a big difference!
So ... only 3 more sleep for you ... have a great time and please report on the forum when you come back ... Ill be eagerly waiting your report!
Lindy

OK ... Ive just reviewed my post and note that a word has been deleted - interesting - it wasnt such a bad word - SORRY!!!!

Just another alternative....Australia Post and I think Westpac are offering travellers cheques for no commission fee at the moment. I thought I would take some cash and maybe use this alternative. It costs 33bt to cash a cheque so it is best to try and get larger denominations. This seems to be the cheapest alternative at the moment. If withdrawing cash it is better to withdraw the maximum 20000bt (about $700) but we still got charged a $17 conversion fee for this last year.
The winners in it all are the banks!!!!

Cheers

Karin