Thanx Karin - thats interesting about the travellers cheques. Im going to Australia Post tomorrow so Ill ask them about that, and if theres no commission fee, then thats all the more for me! When you say to get the trav. cheques in large denominations (Ive never used them) what would be the largest denomination you can get???

Everyone seems to say to not store all your eggs in the one basket (pardon the pun) ie. to take some cash, some card and some trav. cheques ... so that seems like a good idea.

Cheers

Karin,l
just for your info - Ive been to post office today and you are right that there is no commission on buying travellers cheques, and apparently hasnt been so for a while. So ... the only fee will be when you cash them o/seas. And ... the only hassle is that you need to take id with to cash them. Overall, it seems like a cheaper option to the travelex card. With the travelex card on a card loaded with say $1,500 - there will be a set-up fee of $15, and then $3.75 each time you withdraw and then a closure fee of $10, so feasibly to set it up, use it, then close it maybe will cost about $30. You can keep them, but if it is inactive after 12 months, then there is a $4 per month fee to keep it active. For those very lucky people who get to travel each and every year - then this would be ok for them, but me - Im usually only travelling every 2 years. So ... still not 100% sure what to do - but I think it will be travellers cheques. So ... thanx for your info.

Whether you take travellers' cheques, cash or cards is a personal preference.
I couldn't be bothered with the inconvenience of travellers' cheques - If I'm out shopping and don't have enough cash, I either use visa card at store or hotel or just go to ATM - they are everywhere so no real problem with that option.
I don't want to alarm people but the scams that you refer to don't just apply to credit cards......... they apply to debit cards used at ATMs through card-reading devices attached to ATM machines - you'd never know they were there but they read your card details and also your PIN and criminals can then charge stuff to your card or make copies.
People don't realise it's happened until a) they can't get their card back out of the machine (but that usually tips the customer off to something being wrong and then they can take action ) or b) the more sinister method.... you can get your card back but don't realise it's been skimmed until you or your bank start seeing transactions from countries where you've never even been.
A friend of mine had his bank call his employer to verify if he was in Paris as large amounts were being spent on his card.... he wasn't there at the time. His card may have been skimmed in Thailand, Spain or even Australia - he had no idea where or how.

In about 30 trips to Thailand I've never had money stolen or had a problem with any of my cards (credit or debit).
I always use ATMs in 'secure' areas - within shopping centres or BTS - these areas are very busy and security guards are around while these places are operating, so no chance for scammers to instal spyware on the ATM. That's my theory anyway.
ATMs on quiet side streets could be fiddled with late at night and nobody would see this being done, so best to avoid these.

I see you're Australian and ask about credit union cards.
I have a credit card from a credit union - no problem with this anywhere in Thailand.
It doesn't have a PLUS or Cirrus label anywhere on it, but has a silver logo on front with a bird on it. The debit card from the same credit union has no PLUS or Cirrus label - just VISA on the front and a silver strip on the back. I can use this card at some ATMs but not others.
My credit union charges me a foreign currency fee as well as a fee for using an ATM that isn't linked to them so these fees add up if you make frequent ATM withdrawals.

Take the advice of others and withdraw larger amounts. If you're worried about bag snatchers, keep your $$ in a bumbag or one of those bags that has a string for around your neck and you can wear the bag under your shirt.

OK ... just when I thought Id made my mind up to take half cash and half in trav. cheques - Ive now changed my mind again!!! Kimbo - thanx for your info. Someone else did say that also atm cards can be scammed and I realise that is the case anywhere in the world, not just in Thailand. Although it does seem to be on the rise in Thailand. If I can get away with not using my atm card or credit card - that would be the best scenario for me. Ive just looked at my atm card - it doesnt have a silver bird logo on the front, BUT it does havethe PLUS logo on the back - so ... Im really none the wiser about if it works or not.
Yes ... travellers cheques are a hassle to cash, with fees involved, but on the other hand they are very very safe and replacable if lost or stolen, also with no commission to buy them.
Ive always just taken cash, and been very careful with it. Ive also just spoken to someone whos just come back from the Merlin and she said the in room safes are very good and reliable.
And yes ... I do have a money pouch, bum bag and a bag with a string to go around my neck. I think bag snatchers are probably the least of my worries, even tho Im sure it does happen a bit.
Anyway - much appreciate your input again.

So .... kimbo IMHO Im still torn b/n cash vs. cash and trav. cheques??!!
And where are you now??? Bangkok??? Any good Bangkok advice for me???

Hi Kitty,
Bangkok is fantastic. Where are you staying? If you are near a sky train station, you have kicked a goal as it is the best way to get around. I would definately recommend a walk through Lumphini Park in the early evening to watch all the locals go through some very elaborate excercise regimes. Also,a trip to Suan Lum night market is worth the effort, this is close to the Park so it is a good idea to combine the 2. It is alot more pleasant and less frantic the the week-end market,and it is not seedy like Pat-Pong market, but make sure you do a trip to the MBK centre before to get a better idea of prices.

__________________
I love Thailand this much

Ahh... my Mildura friend again. Yes, I already feel that Bangkok will be fantastic. I have heard that you either love it or loathe it. Bangkok is just Bangkok - traffic jams, heat and chaos!!!! And if you go there, then you know thats what you will encounter. My only problem will be that I wont have enough time there. We only have 3 nts - staying at Novotel on Siam Square and yes (hit the lotto!) right near the Skytrain and very close to MBK Centre. We arrive on the Saturday, so will take most of that day to settle in and ground ourselves. The Sunday - we plan to spend most of the day (if not all morning) at Chatuchuk Mkts and then the Monday we will hit the dept stores, MBK being the first and major one. Then Tuesday we hope to fit in a tour to the Grand Palace and then ... sadly ... we fly home to Sydney on Tuesday night. But, Im sure Ill be back to Bangkok and then hopefully I can do all the other things you suggested, like Lumphini Park (Ive read about that) and Suan Lum mkts. For the time we have in Bangkok ... do you think there is anything that Ive listed that we should/should not do???

I just want to thank all of those who maybe read this and gave me advice on what form of money to take to Thailand - after much deliberation over the many possibilities - I have decided to take half cash AUD and half in travellers cheques.

So ... once again ... thankyou. I just think this forum is great for newbies like me who have never been to a country and have so many (what seem like trivial) questions to ask. LIKE WHERE IS THE IMHO DEPARTMENT STORE???!!! I learnt that lesson rather quickly ... didnt I Kimbo???

So, you hit Bangkok on Saturday after a week or so of swaning around in Phuket...You need to get out there on Saturday night and hit the streets!!!! You are only 2 skytrain stops away from Lumphini park,spend 2 hours people watching and then hit Suan Lum for dinner(walking distance from the park). THere is a great open air Beer hall there (think Octoberfest) and they have local Thai bands playing and a food court. In the Market, there is a row of massage places where you will get the best foot massage in Thailand (I was initially concerned about having my feet rubbed by a bloke but I soon got over it). From there, you are virtually 2 minutes walk from the largest Muay Thai stadium in Thailand. This is the real stuff with 100's of bookmakers and punters just going off there heads. IT IS ABSOLUTELY FACINATING!!!! After that winds up, grab a taxi and go to the bar on top of the State Tower...The Sky Bar, have a few cocktails(expensive by Thai standards but cheaper than at home)and look at the view of the city of Angels from the viewpoint of an Angel. By this time you may be ready for bed so I wont push you too hard as the only time for the weekend market is early as after about 11am it is unbearingly hot and crowded. You are only 3 days away from being back at home,dont waste a second, live it ...love it.

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I love Thailand this much

Well.... thats a lot to do on a Saturday avo/evening!!! I could almost definitely try and fit all that in, however, there are 6 of us in our group. Me, my 12yo daughter, my friend, her hubby and their 2 kids age 8 and 13. So ... its really a matter of attempting to please everyone at the same time, which I know is not very likely!!!
The thought of strolling Lumphini Park and people watching for hours, foot massages, watching Thai boxing, and then cocktails at the Sky Bar sounds extremly enticing ... so Im hoping we can at least fit some of that in. Im with you - make the most of your time in exotic and exciting countries, cos its very soon back to reality of HOME!!!!

Your suggestions are all fabulous - how many times is it that youve been to Bangkok??? Must be a few. Lucky you!!! I did read that to try and get to Chatuchuk early as by lunch time its too chaotic and hot. When you say early ... what time are they actually open on a Sunday???

Yes, I'm in Bangkok now Kitty. We arrived here Wednesday evening after a leisurely drive back from Hua Hin where we'd spent 5 days.
After unpacking we got a taxi down to Silom and went to the supermarkets - boring I know but we fancied some vegemite.
We had a bite to eat at a little place on Silom Rd. - Bug and Bee (!) just near steps to Saladaeng BTS station on Patpong side.....they serve all sorts of things in crepes... curries, stir fries, spinach and bacon etc. - would appeal to kids too. You can sit downstairs in the shop or in the nicer part upstairs.
Today I'll get a haircut and do some shopping at Central Department store in Silom Complex - often a lot quieter than other malls.

I think shane has given you some good ideas - maybe a bit busy with kids in tow but you have plenty of choices anyway.
Because you only have a short time and want to fit a lot of things in, I think the trick is to combine things that are in the same area + do a bit of 'busy' stuff and a bit of 'quieter' stuff such as a boat trip along the river followed by a bit of shopping, then dinner and then back to the hotel.
Going by boat along the river is a nicer way to get to the palace area than going by taxi. You can see boats and barges along the river + have views of riverside hotels and temples. It's a nice relaxing thing to do.
Get the BTS from Siam and go all the way to Saphan Taksin station at the end of the line. The public boats are the ones you want and you buy the tickets just downstairs from the station -120 baht for a day pass I think - you can get off at any stop and get on a later boat and get off somewhere else.
When you arrive back at Saphan Taksin, you can get off BTS at Saladaeng which is right near Patpong - you can shop at Silom Complex and/or go to the night market. By doing this, you've combined the palace + temples with perhaps lunch at one of the riverside restaurants, a river cruise and shopping all in one convenient circle trip.

Re money....When we came to Bangkok, I changed some money at the airport - yes, the booth was open at midnight - and next day we went to the ATM while out shopping.
All accomm has already been paid for so the cash has been used for everything else (lunches and dinners, bars, taxis, limo to and from Hua Hin, small purchases and top up for mobile phone sim card).

One word of advice for the adults ....... bring minimal toiletries... they weigh a lot and will use a lot of your baggage allowance. Instead just bring whatever is 'must have' for first night. On your first shopping trip call in to Watsons (chemist) or 7-11 (they're everywhere on the street and also Watsons in MBK) and buy whatever you need - shower gel, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, hair products are all available at these places.
You can get everyday brands like Dove, Pantene, Sunsilk, Nivea, Ponds etc - all much cheaper than back home and when you leave, you can leave them for the hotel maids (more room in your case for important stuff!) High end toiletries and skin care (Shisheido, Lancome etc. can be found at cosmetic counters and stalls in MBK (2nd or 3rd floor).