That guy on the hostel bunk told me to never exchange money at the airport and he was totally right

I landed in Bangkok last month and almost changed $200 at the currency counter right outside baggage claim. Some dude from New Zealand in my hostel room said I'd lose like 15% doing that, so I walked to a SuperRich in the city instead. Guess what? I got 34 baht per dollar instead of 29 at the airport, so I saved around $30 on that one exchange. But then again, if you're arriving late at night and need cash for a taxi, waiting isn't always practical. Has anyone else had airport exchange actually work out okay when you're in a pinch?

3 comments

3 Comments

rosepark7d ago

Dude it's like what, thirty bucks? Not exactly life changing money.

david_walker977d ago

Small stuff like this adds up way more than people realize. Its the same mentality where someone will pay $5 for a bottle of water at a festival but then complain about gas prices. A few dollars here and there doesnt seem like much but over a year it becomes a real chunk of change.

jesse_smith107d ago

Wait, did I used to be the guy swearing by airport exchanges? I was that guy for years honestly. I always thought the convenience was worth the extra cost, especially after a long flight when you just want to get to your hotel. But last year in Istanbul I got burned bad. The airport rate was like 18 lira to the dollar and the city was giving 22. I lost like $40 on a $200 exchange and that's when it finally clicked for me. Now I just grab $20 from an ATM at baggage claim to cover my taxi and do the rest the next day. The hostel guy was spot on.