Using a credit card in Thailand

Credit cards are widely accepted in Thailand, especially in the large cities. You can freely use your Visa or Mastercard to make purchases. Some high-end locales may accept American Express and Discover too.

But the country also relies heavily on cash, so you’ll need some on-hand for taxis, smaller shops, street stalls and smaller establishments.

If you’re taking along a variety of cards, debit cards and cash, read our full guide on spending money while traveling in Thailand.

Which credit card issuers are accepted in Thailand?

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Thailand. American Express cards are accepted in large supermarkets, at expensive restaurants and hotels and at gas stations. Discover cards have moderate card acceptance in Thailand, mostly in high-end establishments. Look for the Diners Club logo for Discover card acceptance.

If you’re looking to make cash withdrawals, look for Citibank or Bangkok Bank ATMs for your Discover card. Bangkok Bank ATMs also accepts Amex cards, but so do many smaller banks’ ATMs.

	Merchant acceptance	ATM acceptance
Visa	High	High
Mastercard	High	High
American Express	Medium	High
Discover	Medium	Medium

Potential credit card fees in Thailand

There are two kinds of fees you could incur while using your credit card in Thailand:

• Foreign transaction fees. You could pay up to 3% for every transaction you make. That’s $120 fee per $4,000 spent in Thailand.
• Currency conversion fees. If you pay a merchant or make a withdrawal from an ATM in US dollars instead of local currency, you’ll incur a Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). DCC comes with poor exchange rates and additional fees potentially.

Can I incur both fees?

Yes. Avoid this by declining DCC and using a credit card without foreign transaction fees.

Compare cards for use in Thailand

Consider a credit card without foreign transaction fees to avoid paying extra on purchases made abroad.

Sort by:

Name	Product	Foreign transaction fee	Annual fee	Purchase APR	Filter values
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card		None	$95	17.49%, 22.49% or 25.49% variable		Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months ​from account opening.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card		None	$0	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 16.49% - 26.49% variable)		Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit		None	$0	26.99% variable		Earn the same 1.5% cash back on every purchase and $0 annual fee as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, apply with good credit.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Chip and PIN credit cards

Both chip and PIN credit cards and cards with a magstripe will work perfectly fine in Thailand. However, for cash withdrawals and unmanned POS terminals, a credit card with a PIN may be the best choice.

Get you four-digit PIN from the bank before you travel.

Is it safe to use my credit card in Thailand?

Thailand is generally safe for credit card use, but caution is advised. For example:

• Select ATMs with care. Use an ATM attached to a bank as it’s less likely to have a card-skimming device. Also, you can more easily recover your card should it get stuck in the machine.
• Take two cards. Carry a backup card in case something should happen to your primary card.
• Keep your card in sight. Watch your card when paying with it to minimize card misuse.

How to prepare before traveling to Thailand

• Get a credit card without foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, you’ll pay up to 3% on everything you buy.
• Visa and Mastercard are universally accepted. You’ll be good with a Visa and Mastercard. American Express and Discover cards are also mostly accepted at high-end establishments and other places.
• Notify your bank before you travel. Your bank could block your card otherwise.
• Get your bank’s phone number. Call to quickly resolve any card-related issues.
• Get a backup card. You could lose your primary card or it may be declined. Having a backup card could be a lifesaver.
• Get some cash. You’ll need cash for smaller purchases and taxis. An ATM cash withdrawal could be an option, but make sure you’re using a debit card to avoid fees and the high APR.

Should I use my credit card to get cash in Thailand

Thailand is mostly a cash-driven society and smaller establishments often won’t accept cards. Plus, using cash can be quicker and more convenient.

You could use a credit card to make a cash withdrawal from an ATM, but you’ll likely get high cash advance fees and a cash advance APR. Use a debit card for cash withdrawals to avoid those fees.

Some travelers claim the ATM cash withdrawal fee in Thailand is 220 baht, which is $7. You can minimize this by withdrawing large sums between 20,000 and 30,000 baht ($640 and $960). This is the ATM’s maximum withdrawal limit in Thailand.

Bottom line

Thailand is a cash-based society, but you can freely use your card almost everywhere in the large cities. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but you could find places that take Amex and Discover, too.

For cash withdrawals, consider using a debit card as it’s free from cash advance fees and an APR. Use a travel credit card without foreign transaction fees for everything else you buy.
See more guides on using a credit card in other countries.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I send money to Thailand?

  Visit our money transfer page to find the cheapest and fastest way to send money to Thailand.

• Which currency is used in Thailand?

  Thailand uses the Thai baht. It has a currency code THB and a symbol ฿.

  Banknotes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 baht.

• What is the US dollar to Thai baht exchange rate?

• What is the most commonly used credit card network in Thailand?

  Visa and Mastercard are most common, but you could find acceptance for Amex and Discover cards in higher-end locations.