Thailand is an extremely modern country in many ways. Among them? It has among the fastest internet in the world, with fiber internet having been common in the Kingdom for almost a decade.
Bangkok in particular can feel downright futuristic, with the BTS SkyTrain flying above as you walk between larger-than-life shopping malls, head-in-the-clouds sky bars and some of the most opulent (but also affordable) luxury hotels on the planet.
Unfortunately, in spite of all this, using credit cards in Thailand is often more difficult than it should be. Continue reading so that you know what to expect!
Thailand’s Cash Fixation Has Always Frustrated Me
As annoying as the conundrum of cash or card in Thailand remains in the mid-2020s, I promise you: It was worse in 2010. Back then, on my first trip to Thailand, Thailand was more or less an all-cash country, certainly for someone like me—I was very much a budget traveler at the time. Even hotels (at least the ones I stayed at) would have malfunctioning credit card machines, or impose hefty fees in the event that the machine was working.
It could often feel like roulette, and not the fun kind you play on casinos.com, not to mention lacking any of the upside. Well, except for the fact that I became vigilant and prepared, after once trying to make an important purchase without much cash on hand—and, on top of that, having the ATM I tried to use afterwards malfunction. I now pretty much always have at least 10,000 Baht in my bag, as ridiculous as that seems just weeks from 2025.
5 Things to Know About Using Credit Cards in Thailand
Credit card acceptance is increasing
I’ve whined a lot in this post, but I have to give credit (no pun intended) where credit is due. You can now use cards in a majority of hotels in Thailand, all shopping malls and many sit-down restaurants. You can even tap your Visa or Mastercard in order to enter the Bangkok MRT without having to buy physical tickets! Though if I’m honest, American Express is becoming more accepted than ever in most other settings in Thailand.
(But not because of locals)
Increasing acceptance of credit cards in Thailand is because of tourists, not locals. That’s because locals have largely replaced cash with QR codes, which allow for direct person-to-person transfer of amounts too small to pay with credit cards. Obviously, locals still use credit cards for some purchases. But most I know would’ve been happy to see Thailand’s cash-first culture continue indefinitely.
It’s not uncommon to be charged a fee
Even as credit card acceptance increases, it’s not a completely seamless way to pay. Although doing so is technically against merchant agreements with major card issuers, many businesses in Thailand charge a fee to use a card. This can range from a flat fee like 100 THB or a percentage like 3%, which is of course designed to incentivize you to just pay cash.
Or to need to make a minimum purchase
Another complication of using cash or credit cards in Thailand? Even if a merchant doesn’t charge a fee, they may refuse to let you use a card if the transaction is under a certain amount. In general, this is pretty reasonable, at around 200-300 THB. But shockingly, I’ve encountered merchants that require a minimum credit card transaction amount of 500 or even 1,000 Baht!
Digital wallets aren’t commonly accepted
One would think that if it’s possible to use tap-to-pay (as it often is these days when using a credit card anywhere), it would also be possible to tap your phone. Unfortunately, I’ve found that Thailand’s credit card terminals aren’t often equipped with the NFC technology required to use mobile wallet solutions like ApplePay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay. The moral of the story? Bring your physical cards with you!
Why Currency Exchange is (Usually) Cheaper Than the ATM
Unless you’re like me and use a checking account that reimburses you for ATM fees (Schwab Investor Checking, if you’re curious—and no, I’m not being paid to mention this), Thailand’s ATM fees will bleed you dry. Last time I checked (and I usually no longer do, since I get reimbursed), they were a whopping 220 THB, or between 6-7 USD, depending upon the exchange rate. This is in addition to whatever your bank charges. Ouch!
It makes sense, in a way, that the best way to hedge against not being able to use a credit card in Thailand is analog. Namely, currency exchange, rather than ATMs. Most major currency exchanges in Thailand lack a commission fee, and offer market or near market rates. Locations in the city have better rates than ones at the airport, with Superrich (which has locations in most shopping malls) generally being the best of the best.
Other FAQ About Using Credit Cards in Thailand
Is it better to use cash or credit card in Thailand?
While credit card acceptance in Thailand has increased over the years, it’s always a good idea to have cash. Unless you bank locally and can avail QR payments, cash is the only way to pay for popular purchases like street food, as well as souvenirs sold by local merchants (and not at the mall).
Can you use a credit card in Thailand?
You can generally use credit cards at hotels and shopping malls in Thailand, especially in major cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Restaurants are a little dicier—a general rule of thumb is that the more expensive the restaurant is. the likelier it is that you’ll be able to pay with credit cards. However, local street food and souvenir sellers are almost always cash-only.
Should I pay cash or card in Thailand?
Although credit card acceptance in Thailand has increased over the years, I still recommend carrying a decent amount of cash with you. As a solo traveler, I personally like to have at least 10,000 Baht accessible at all times, given that you sometimes never know when you’re going to find the next ATM off Thailand’s beaten path.
The Bottom Line
Using credit cards in Thailand has gotten easier over the years, but it’s still not as easy as it should be. Part of this is that, at least in terms of the local market, many Thai merchants leap-frogged past credit cards, instead preferring Chinese-style QR payments. Unfortunately, tourists are not yet able to avail these, which means that cash ends up being the only option to support many businesses outside of hotels and shopping malls. The good news is that it is possible to make Thailand’s archaic cash-credit split work well, with a little planning and forethought. Speaking of planning, I do hope you’ll consider hiring me to put your Thailand trip together.
