Traveller’s cheques are special cheques which you cash at the bank for the local currency (in this case, Thai baht). You can also use them to pay for things in some tourist areas.

The advantage of them is that you need to show your passport to cash them, which means that they offer you a lot more security than cash. You can also cancel them if they get stolen and get your money back. So, they are quite secure.

However, the exchange rate for traveller’s cheques is nowhere near as good as the exchange rate for cash, so they end up being a fair bit more expensive to use. This is the trade off: They’re more secure, but cost more.

Anyway, in response to your question about cash in Thailand: Id buy enough Thai baht to last you a few days before you arrive. That will mean that you wont have to go looking for a money changer at the airport when you first arrive, which is a bit of a hassle.

Thailand has heaps of ATM’s as well, so, if you have a credit card, then Id suggest that you just bring it, as well as some cash for the first few days, and then just use your card to get more money out as you need it. Unless you are planning to travel into Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar, there is no real need to bring traveller’s cheques or US$ in cash.

Think of Travellers’ Cheque or TC as a banker’s cheque which you can sell anywhere and will get a better exchange rate than exchanging your banknotes or cash advance, or international ATM card. The catch is there a minimum free on encashing each TC, which is about one dollar more or less. TC uses will come down to cheaper than using cards and ATM, but you have to purchase it (meaning you pay in advance) while with cards you pay real-time (debiting your account in real time. Sometimes, if you’re lucky there’s a promotion on TC and they waive some fee on it, so you’ll be better off. TC is safe in a way that once your purchase it, you sign your name on it and once you sell it, you sign another name. Keep the number in safe place, as if you lost it you can reclaim your money (given some tedious procedure).
For Thailand, anything works. Yes, you’ll need petty cash on arrival as on streets only local currency which is Thai baht works. But, you can exchange pretty much of the major currencies at the airport, which host about three major local bank branches.
Suggest you use a combination of US (EURO or GBP) cash, TC and bring your card. I do that in case things doesn’t work, but again sometimes only one credit card is sufficient to get you through (don’t put it in the washing machine before you come!)

Don’t change any money over to Thai baht in your country - you get a better rate in Thailand. Thailand uses real banks and mini banks. These banks are all over the place. The rate changes each day, the rate you get today will be different the following day - but not by much. Most of the banks will have only a few fractions of a baht difference. There are several banks at the airport 24 hours a day.

Travelers checks DO get a slightly better rate of exchange in Thailand than ordinary cash. The difference is not much but it is a little bit more. There is a 33 baht fee for each travelers check so only bring the largest denominations you can. Travelers checks add safety to your available money. You can save the travelers check numbers in an email that you send to your self and then save. You can also save other “need to know” info like flight confirmation numbers and itineraries/schedules in email form too. This way if you need that data because the checks are missing you can easily get it from at an internet shop when you access your email account. Some banks and credit unions sell travelers checks to members without commission so look around your town.

You can also use ATMs to get cash in Thailand. They are all over the place. Take out the maximum you can to cut down on lots of ATM fees for small withdrawals. If you use a debit card or credit card notify your bank that you will be in Thailand or the withdrawal may be denied. Some banks and credit unions pay for some of your ATM charges - even when overseas. The fee to cash a travelers check is cheaper than most ATM fees.

When you go home you will have an opportunity to change your money over to your home currency at the airport.

Use the security box at your hotel to safeguard your money. When you go out only take enough money to see you through one or two days of shopping. Leave very valuable jewelry or precious items at home!

Good luck.

I think you’d better keep some money.. maybe you need to buy things or for paying taxi

http://thailandmegaexpert.blogspot.com
http://thailand-big-fun-traveling.blogspot.com

when i go i always take some thai cash to see me threw the day when i arrive, but i like most others use my ATM card but dont forget you will be charged buy your bank when you get money out the cash machine

I would suggest you bring cash. 50 pound notes are the best (i assume you are british). Easy to stack away in your purse, or hide away in a book or something. Also bring a 20 pound note to change for baht at the airport (there rates are not as good as others) so you have cash for the bus/taxi. Dependiong on how much you want to change/how long you are here I would suggest you jump into a taxi to a place called super rich as they have the best rates by far in Bangkok, you will get uptp 2 baht more than elsewhere- but of course if you are just here for a short period of time and are spending a few hundred pounds, itshardly worth it, but for 1000 pounds you will get an extra (about) 2000 baht. Hope that help

travellers checks are safe because they will be replaced if you lose them. Only buy American Express as some rural places will not accept others