Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our opinions or reviews. Learn how we make money.
Our pick for use in Thailand: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
80,000-point
Signup bonus after spending $4,000 in first 3 months
Weekly tips sent straight to your inbox
But the country also relies heavily on cash, so you’ll need some on-hand for taxis, smaller shops, street stalls and smaller establishments.
Consider a credit card without foreign transaction fees to avoid paying extra on purchases made abroad.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) flies between the US and Thailand. As a member of the Star Alliance, you can earn and redeem miles with a United credit card.
On the other hand, you can find flights on Delta or China Eastern Airlines and earn or redeem SkyMiles with a Delta card. But since this is an American Express card, it may have limited acceptance in Thailand.
There are two kinds of fees you could incur while using your credit card in Thailand:
Yes. Avoid this by declining DCC and using a credit card without foreign transaction fees.
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.
| Visa |  High | High |
| Mastercard | High | High |
| American Express |  Medium | High |
| Discover | Medium | Medium |
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.
Thailand travel money guide: Learn your options for spending in Thailand
No. Also, ridesharing, such as Uber, is illegal in the country.
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.
Thailand is generally safe for credit card use, but caution is advised. For example:
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.
