Is it cheaper to exchange money in US or Thailand?

So, you’re wondering if it’s cheaper to swap your dollars for baht in the US or Thailand, huh? That’s a great question, I’ve been there! I remember my first trip to Thailand – I foolishly exchanged a chunk of money at the airport, and man, did I get ripped off! Seriously, it was painful. Like, watching a puppy get a bath painful.

Generally speaking, though, you’ll almost always get a better deal in Thailand itself. I mean, think about it – why would a place in Thailand NOT want to give you the best rate possible to get those sweet, sweet dollars flowing into their economy? It makes sense, right?

Changing a little bit at the airport is okay, maybe enough for a taxi and a ridiculously overpriced airport Pad Thai (trust me, the street food is WAY better). But for the bulk of your cash, definitely hit up those exchange booths in the cities. I’ve had way better luck there, way less feeling like I’d been robbed blind. I once found a little place tucked away in a soi (that’s a side street) in Chiang Mai that had rates that were like, seriously impressive. It was a total find!

They usually have signs with the rates, so you can compare easily. And honestly, I just go with my gut feeling sometimes. If a place seems sketchy, even if the rate looks good, I walk away. It’s just not worth the risk, you know? Better to be a little less rich than to get scammed.

Check online forums and recent travel blogs – people usually post about good places they’ve found! That’s how I discovered that Chiang Mai gem, actually. Some dude raved about it on TripAdvisor, and he was right! So yeah, do your homework, and you’ll save some serious moolah!