Thorn Tree travel forum

1

In Thailand you should be able to use your visa card in the major areas and take out large amounts of money when you will be travelling to smaller places. But for Cambodia you are better off taking U.S. cash. As you can pay for services in u.s cash and you will get your change in riel (find out your exchange rates defore you go). (I went from Australia and found that last year we got about 4000 riel to the U.S dollar and about 3000 riel to the Aust dollar, so we didn't really loose out by changing our Aus dollar into U.S dollars). As for Visa cash advances in Cambodia we only saw 1 ATM and that was at Phnom Pehn airport. I don' think you can get cash advances in banks but i'm not 100% sure on that. It is much easier to pay for bigger stuff in U.S and get change in riel and then pay for smaller stuff in the riel. Also remember that you can only exchange riel in Cambodia not before entering the country.
In other country's we have used our visa card and only been charged a small fee of a couple of dollars for getting money out but it depends on the amount being withdrawn. Also depending on which part of Cambodia you go to Baht isn't accepted that much, only around Thai boarder areas.
Hope this helps.

pinktraveller

2

• Visa (RBC issued) charge me $ 5.00 per cash withdrawal, BoM charge me $ 3.00 when I use my debit card. A few years back I traveled with a
  fellow from BC who had a debiot card from a small BC credit union. To his, and mine, utter amazement, he was able to withdraw money from
  an ATM in Pontianak, Kalimantan, the heart of Borneo. Use your debit card, check with your bank how much they charge per withdrawal, and what
  the daily withdrawal limit is. i think visa lets you take larger amounts, but, I don't like to travel with large amounts of cash. ATM's are everywhere
  in Thailand.
  - Canadian dollar cash and TC are accepted Thailand and Laos (the exception being Burma where the greenback reigns.)
  In Cambodia you will need cash US $$$, or Riel, or Thai baht in the border areas. Since the C$$ is now at par (and rising) with the US$$, I would
  bring as little US $$ as possible, because:
  - There are quite a few ATM's in PP now (I heard they even have them in Siem Reap now). The beauty is - they issue US $$$ - great to stock up on
  US funds

3

Your bank is going to be the one charging you. Check with them. Banks vary greatly. ATMs will dispense Baht in Thailand and Dollars in Cambodia. Baht will be accepted along the border. Travelers cheques are quite easy to change.

Thailand Visa Information
Some Hotels - Suvarnabhumi Airport