The Thai unit of currency is the baht. One baht is divisible into 100 satang. Coins come in 5 denominations: 25 and 50 satang coins are small and made of brass. As a tourist, you're not likely to encounter them unless you shop at supermarket or travel on Bangkok's non-A/C public buses. The other coins come in 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht. The 1, 2 and 5 baht coins are silver, while the 10 baht coin consists of a silver ring around a brass center. Bills are in denominations of 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1,000 (brown). There's also a 10 baht bill in circulation but they're quite rare. Actually, there're several variations of coins and bills in circulation. But they're all legal tender. Major credit cards are accepted by hotels and large stores but cash is the preferred tender almost everywhere in Thailand. Major currency bills and travelers checks can be cashed at the hotels, bank branches, shopping centers and money changers. Though passport is required for travelers checks and they are best changed at the banks or authorized money changers. The banks and money changers also have better exchange rates than the hotels or shopping centers. |
