Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Peter Jackson]

I've travelled out of Korea many times and have always exchanged money at the airport. I usually change into Thai baht or US dollars. I am wondering if I lose a whole lot when changing at the airport rather than at a bank. If the bank is better, which one offers the best rates for THB or USD? Or is the diffference negligible?

Thanks for any help.

[ttompatz]

[the saint]

man this thread has done the rounds... use the search and you'll find this has been thrashed out many times

[redlightorchestra]

I got a better rate at the ICN airport for thaibhat than I did in thailand. But I also didn't want to carry around all my thai Bhat for the entire trip so I brought US travelers cheques. You can change those at stores hotels or banks, banks give the best rates, but you still can get a better rate if you shop around to a few banks!

[Peter Jackson]

Thanks for the info. I figured it may be the same rate..just wanting to make sure...

Cheers!

[heeckan]

In Korea, I've found that you can get a decent exchange rate if you are exchanging to US$. You get hooped big time at the airport if exchanging to less commonly used currencies (such as Baht or Philippine Pesos). What I did a few years ago was exchange my money to US$ (at the bank if I remember properly). I then exchanged my USD for Baht when I got to Thailand, cause the Thai exchange booths were exchanging for the US$ at almost stock price. I did the math and in the end I lost very little money in the conversion.