Thailand Security Briefing: Money and Valuables
The information below has been excerpted from the following: 1) the US Department of State's "International Travel" website (www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html), 2) the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's "Smartraveller" website (www.smartraveller.gov.au), and 3) the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office's "Foreign Travel Advice" website (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice). Additional information is available from these sources. World Trade Press annually assesses the information presented on this page.
Australia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Travel Advice
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult your bank about the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.
If you are travelling on a restricted budget, it is important to ensure you have access to enough money to cover unexpected costs. For example, you may have a problem that prevents you taking your scheduled flight. Restrictions, such as tickets being non-refundable or non-transferable, apply to most discounted airfares, or you may need to pay a substantial fee to change your travel dates. If you lose your passport you will be delayed and you will have to pay for a replacement. If you fall ill and need medical treatment, even if you have insurance, it is likely you will need to cover some costs yourself. At the minimum, it is essential to have access to enough money to cover a replacement ticket home and several nights hotel accommodation, plus extra money for unexpected emergencies.
Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas, travel insurance policies and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Foreign Travel Advice
It may not be possible to exchange Scottish or Northern Irish bank notes.
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