[JohnK]

Hi BlacKnox,

Thanks for your comments. I understand what you are saying but we are all different and we all have different experiences and I was just relaying my experiences in SE Asia.

For me the airport in Bangkok is just as convenient as the airport in Sydney. I normally exchange around $400AUD in Thailand (around 12,000 baht) which at the currency exchange in Sydney airport would result in a loss of around $50AUD based on the rates quoted previously.

As for credit cards and cash advances there maybe be better alternatives than what I have. It is up to the individual to see what suits them best. I have done most of my banking with the Commonwealth Bank, savings accounts, term deposits, home loans and progressing from there got first a Mastercard and then a Visa card. I am sure there are better deals around with other banks.

Maybe Mastercard/Visa or Commonwealth Bank is ripping me off and I have spoken to them about it and they have said that these are their rules.

On my last trip I withdrew 8,000 Baht in Pattaya 13th June and the equivalent $AUD amount with Visa is $260.61 + $4.00 for overseas ATM cash advance + $3.91 for foreign currency exchange which when added together give me an effective rate of 29.79 baht. The rate in Pattaya at the time was around 30.75 baht. On the 19th June in Bangkok I withdrew 2,000 baht and the equivalent amount with Visa is 63.33 + $4.00 for overseas ATM cash advance + $0.95 for foreign currency exchange which when added together give me an effective rate of 29.29 baht. The rate in Bangkok at the time was around 31.25 baht. You can see that the actual rate is quite good but with the charges the effective rate becomes very poor and the smaller the amount withdrawn the poorer the effective exchange rate.

Anyway these are my experiences. Hope they help someone.