[yogi]

Hi Guys, I am landing at approx 19.00 in bkk and I was wondering what time these currency booths close at, as I cannot remember ( I go in the day time normally ). By the time I get to Patts , will I still be in luck ?? , or should I get sorted out over here or possibly at BKK airport ..... cheers , would appreciate any info on this .


regards yogi.

p.s I am aware that changing currency at an airport is very painful !! ,

[Keen Punter]

Most of the booths close around 2200, but some do stay open later near Walking St.

To save the hassle so you are ready for fun town, I would change enough for the evening at the airport.

Plenty of booths there and never a wait.

[MekongMike]

There is a plenty of money exchange booths on Second Road and Beach Road still open till 10:00pm.
One on Second Road near the top of Soi 7... just leave AJ´s and walk up Soi 7, enter Second Road and turn left, and have a look where the queue of Thai girls with their Western Union letters begins.
By late evening times, you always have to wait in a queue, because many Farangs have the same idea like you and many bar girls use to go to those booths to get the buffalo money, their sad sponsors from all over the world had sent to them via Western Union.
Another small booth is in Soi 8, opposite of the "Soi-Inbetween" that connects Soi 8 and Soi 7.
On Beach Road you can find another one, between the entrances of Soi 7 and 8, right beside an Indian taylor shop.
In the night, the waiting time in the queue is always a pain in the ass, because of that Western Union madness and the long time the girls need with the procedure.
That´s why I use to get money changed by daylight only...
MekongMike´s advice here: Don´t care about any exchange fees they charge in the airport and change a small amount of your "Island Monkey Dollars" at the swamp right after landing !

But no !
I will not release you from the duty of buying drinks for my ladies... haha ! :)
In your own time, Yogi !
Remember what I said about running out of money...
In an emergency, I would prefer to help you with your bill at AJ´s by sending money to PeterP´s PayPal account, instead of sending you a Western Union letter ! :P
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[fussychunk]

yogi, on 02 April 2010 - 11:55 AM, said:

p.s I am aware that changing currency at an airport is very painful !! ,

Whats painful about walking upto the currency booth in the baggage hall immediately after immigration? UK pounds are accepted, even now a days. Just hand over the money and say 'Yet phed' to the person in the booth, smile you will get great service.

Have a great hols.

Fussy

[yogi]

:notworthy:

fussychunk, on 02 April 2010 - 06:13 PM, said:

Whats painful about walking upto the currency booth in the baggage hall immediately after immigration? UK pounds are accepted, even now a days. Just hand over the money and say 'Yet phed' to the person in the booth, smile you will get great service.

Have a great hols.

Fussy

Hi Fussy /Guys .. I was referring to the pain at the kiosk in the airport , airports are `nt exactly well known for favourable exchange rates , but as KP and Mike have pointed out it will be my best option at that time :notworthy: . Afterall I don`t know any bar in Pattaya where they let me pay " next " day , so I will get some " island monkey dollars " exchanged at the swamp .
Mike , I am not sure what you mean about western union and money being sent to their tilacs , does this actually happen ??!!.......... I am shocked by it all ...cheers guys.

[fussychunk]

Oddly enough the exchange rates in the swamp are about .2 of a baht lower than in Bangkok which is 2% less than the market, considerably better than anything the UK can do when exchanging especially at thiefrow's exchange counters.

[MekongMike]

yogi, on 03 April 2010 - 09:35 AM, said:

:notworthy:
Hi Fussy /Guys .. I was referring to the pain at the kiosk in the airport , airports are `nt exactly well known for favourable exchange rates , but as KP and Mike have pointed out it will be my best option at that time :notworthy: . Afterall I don`t know any bar in Pattaya where they let me pay " next " day , so I will get some " island monkey dollars " exchanged at the swamp .
Mike , I am not sure what you mean about western union and money being sent to their tilacs , does this actually happen ??!!.......... I am shocked by it all ...cheers guys.

As I said before, getting some money changed in the baggage hall soon after arrival is the best you can do.
As for the Western Union madness, it seems to be the best and cheapest way to send money to your T.luck... as long as you don´t want to discuss if doing so would make sense or not.
You know my opinion already,- so, I don´t want to discuss this any further...
But... all I can see, with the eyes of an intrepid reporter in LOS, is that the Western Union system has become a great business in Pattaya... as same as the odd matchmaking and visa-making business all around overthere.
I remember the photos, Monty once posted to the board a long time ago, of a Thai festival in London.
Beside some dance, music and art exibitions, there were also lots of Western Union advertisings all around... like it is part of the Thai culture already.
The question is: Is Western Union really part of the Thai culture or not ?
No, I don´t think so !
I want to believe that there is still something good in this world... the naive bastard that I am, eh !?
Therefore I think Western Union is just part of the "Thai bar girl culture".
I don´t blame them for that and I would encourage every bar girl to get as much money as they can squeeze out of their customers via Western Union, as long as enough love fools come to LOS to forget the global and private financial crisis back home in Faranglands.
And... with regards to the fact that most Thais who live in England or other countries in Europe are ex-bar girls now married with Farangs, it is absolutely understandable to me that Western Union has to have a presence on a Thai festival, to give the ex-bar girl´s sisters back home a chance to get sponsored as well.

I have received your e-mail, Yogi and will reply as soon as I can.
I´m a bit busy here at the moment, even we have some bank holidays here in Germany over the Easter festival incl. coming Monday.
I also hope that I can complete my first new blog entry till Tuesday... But I can´t promise anything.
The first new installment will answer some of your questions... So, look for it on my blogspot.com site during the coming week.