Money Safety! ATMs, Credit Cards, Cash. Thailand Travel. Expat Living Overseas Retired
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Aloha! I hope you enjoy the video. New content on travel, early retirement, investing and living a healthy, positive life every week.
I am a full time traveler and an expat from the states. Come along!
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Mahalo!
#expat #travel #retirement
#earlyretirement #minimalism #solotravel
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Annexation! Historical collection of articles surrounding the annexation of Hawaii.
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Like your videos. Very helpful, thank you
You are most welcome :-)
Outstanding video again sir
Thank you kindly :-)
Thanks for the great info. Have a great day!
You are most welcome :-)
Great advice. I have a Schwab acct, but not their ATM card...now I will get it
No advice, just what I do :-)
Yes the ATM card is perfect for travel
It’s the one !
You seem like an enlightened bodhisattva in your videos, so happy and peaceful. So it’s hysterical when you curse during the bloopers 😂🤣. I laugh out loud every time 😂
Haha
Yeah it’s fun to save a few of those :-)
About 10 months ago I watched your videos from Bali
(I still remember the naked guy in the fancy nightclub)😄
Now, almost a year later, you look 5 years younger.
Weight loss and healthy lifestyle are truly the best investment.
Thank you so much
Yes I needed to make some changes
Lost weight and reduced my alcohol intake
:-)
as mentioned, i love the charles schwab investor checking….the refund all atm fees and charges at the end of the month…love it…and the chase sapphire reserve is my go to credit card when traveling for all the reason you mentioned
I need to look into the chase sapphire card
Thank you for mentioning that
The golden advice use bank ATMs or large malls. No small privately owned ATM. Perfect
Oh yes
I also try to use them on weekdays before busy weekend
Thoughts in that ?
Yep sounds like a solid plan. A whole lot less stressful. Great idea @RetireandGo
I wish I had contemplated this on my 6 weeks in Thailand over Xmas and NYE. In our 2nd week, while in Pai, I went to an ATM outside a 7/11, and the ATM ate my card. I could not get it back. Fortunately, we have friends there, and we were able to have Schwab send us cash for the remainder of the trip. It was not ideal, but it turned out fine.
I try to use ATM in a bank during its open hours, that way in case the ATM eats my card and won't return, I can run to a live teller and get it resolved.
For Canadian viewers: FYI: The EQ Bank comes with no foreign transaction, FX or international ATM withdrawal fees. The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card do not charge a foreign exchange fee as well. Cheers!
Thank you for this information!
I use the Home Trust Visa for no FX Exchange Fees!
Thanks @davidgrey5993 for the EQ Bank, is that the one you use to pull money out over seas? EDIT I just went to site and states no ATM fees Canada, does not state for elsewhere!
I was thinking of using Wise but they have a limit of $300 per month I think.
How does it compare to WS or WiSe
Nice. Thank you for this information. Canadian information is tough to get, and watching these videos from RetireandGo is so chill and helpful, and I'm getting a whole todo list going for my trip in October.
Yes. Thx from a fellow Canadian.
It is good to have a fair amount of cash in American dollars, maybe five hundred, hidden on your person in an invisible money belt with a zipper pocket on the back. Sometimes the ATMs are out of cash or the networks are down. Cash is king and will solve all sorts of problems. You need to have the cash with you, not back in the hotel.
I agree
Great point !
Nothing like having a few hundred dollar bills on you.
I never travel without.
Agree lost debit card in Bangkok and had couple hundred bucks on me till bank sent new one😅 that's when I realized how cheap Thailand was by living below my meens😊😊
@@MarkHolota-x6o Yes, I lost my ATM card in Sri Lanka and it was two weeks until I got a new card sent to me from USA. But with cash, no problem.
$500 is not really much money to carry on you. Just put it in your wallet.
Mahalo for this very informative video. Another wonderful day in Pattaya !!!!
I agree :-)
Have a good weekend
Thanks again for such valuable information. It is so much appreciated and I really love the way you deliver the information. Stay safe and see you soon.
Very kind of you :-)
All the best
Congratulations on getting 10000 subscribers! ❤ and you’re already well over… 🎉
Thank you so much
It has been a wonderful journey
Your channel answered many questions I had about finances. Especially your advice to use a VPN for coordinating, as well as the no-fee debit cards. Thanks.
I appreciate you watching and I’m glad you got some good information
Great info. Thx!
You are welcome
Have a good weekend
Excellent advice on the ATMs and Credit cards.
Thank you
I hope these videos help everyone
Just a good message in each :-)
Schwab and Fidelity have no fee ATM transactions. My wife and I carry different cards (Schwab/Fidelity, credit cards, etc.) just in case one of us gets robbed. Cancel one set of cards, and the other set is still good.
When I travel alone I have two sets, two wallets. One stays in the hotel safe.
Use a VPN, and don't tell your financial institutions. The VPN can make it look like you are transacting from home. They don't like it if you live overseas. Something to do with tax reporting to the government. Make it look like you come home every so often.😁
I love everything you went over in this great comment!
Thank you so much for the video’s wishing you health and happiness 😊
Very kind !
All the best to you
Have a great week
Yes it did help. Thanks.
Absolutely
Have a good weekend
Yes good advice. I use ATM at the bank in case my card gets swallowed. You can retrieve it quite quick and use Wise which I think is very good.
Yes that is a very good point
I like that factor as well
I can walk over and say I need my card back haha
And cover the keypad with one hand when coding the pin
Enjoying your channel. Thanks
Thank you
Very kind of you :-)
Greetings from USA! Thanks for the video today regarding the money safety. You read my mind since we will on our trip soon. By the way, my husband wants to thank you for regarding the dividends stocks. You are looking well and having fun doing what you love. Keep up the good work. ALOHA. We still don’t know what to call you…😀. We have a name for you. Mr. ALOHA! 👍
Same .! His advice about the 24 hour customer care on a cc is really awesome. We are traveling first time to Thailand in August.
Very kind of you :-)
Oh he is most welcome I’m glad it helps
New sub here, I like your info, I also like when you show the food at the end of each video! can't wait for the next one!
Thank you so much for this feedback
I appreciate it!
:-)
This is what we like to hear about. Practicle things. Use a atm inside of a bank if possible. What about the bug out money? I like it. I will never use one of those small atms in any country!
Well said
I agree :-)
Thank you for another great video! Another point to add, I never accept the "conversion" when withdrawing cash from the ATM because our home bank already does this for us. The conversion service charge is quite expensive, sometimes $40 or more depending on the amount you're withdrawing, so I never accept it. Always pay with "Local currency" when using a debit/credit card...otherwise, the exchange is a lot higher. Also, my income is deposited into a main account back home and then I transfer what I think I'll need access to into a second account. This second account, I have at least 2 ATM cards for. This redundancy safeguard was put into place because I had an ATM swallow my card in North Macedonia and I was flying out that day. Hope for the best but plan for the worst. Safe travels!
This is good information thank you !
Correct, I chose as you in Malaysia last week, $40 better rate with home bank on a $300 withdrawal.
Good advice., I might add a couple of things: if you're using your bank for ATM withdrawal; they don't like it if you're out of the country for an extended stay (think 6 months). Have heard them freezing accounts. This goes with insurance (think Blue Cross), if you stay out over 6 months, your coverage can be cancelled. Alway have a backup for plan B. Another thing, T-Mobile has excellent overseas coverage, without roaming fee's. Keep up the good work from another overseas retired Kama'ania now in Bali
Good thoughts !
Notify your institution
solid info!
Thank you !
Have a great week !
Great educational video! Love the chill background music. I also use Charles Schwab for ATM cash and a Capital One Venture credit card for free transaction fees and free other fees
Thank you
I’m working on editing the background music low so it does not interfere with anything
The feedback helps !
Thanks again for the great content. You and Jason Rupp are my two favourite Pattaya UA-camrs.
Very nice of you to say
Thank you :-)
Very good chat and walk! 😊 coming in August. Hubby and I super exciting
I’m very excited for you two!
Glad you are seeing SE. ASIA along with Thailand as your home base
Yes it seems to be a good central point for me
I get a lot done when I’m here
Use wise 👌
Thank you
Have a great day :-)
UA-cam recommended your channel at the beginning of the year. I’ve been watching ever since. You’ve been gaining traction since then as well. Howdy from Oklahoma; keep it up bud.
Thank you so much
It has been a wonderful experience
Lots of work and rewarding
Great info 😊
Thank you !
Have a great day
Great advice ❤
Thank you so much :-)
thank you, was waiting for this one
Absolutely
Have a great week !
Retired expat from the US living in Thailand.
I transfer $ from the US to Tland bank acct each month using Wise. Take out using ATM.
When traveling to Vietnam bring some Viet money to get to hotel. Then change Thai baht at a gold shop, best rates. Bills need to be perfect.
Use a US credit card. No overseas fees.
Good video.
Nice! I appreciate this information
Thumbs up 👍 Khun Chris & Aloha
Thank you so much
A great year is rolling along
Great tips
Thank you :-)
Have a good week
Your killing it brother, over 10k, well done, thanks for the information, PEACE!!!
You are most welcome
It has been a fantastic experience
:-)
Very informative video: really enjoy your videos
Thank you for this feedback
It is appreciated
I have American express and Schwab credit card account they don't charge fees over sea withdraw. Great contents. Keep it coming
This is great information
Great advice, appreciate you making and sharing this video!
You are most welcome
I appreciate you and your time watching the video :-)
Fantastic videos bro
Thank you
I appreciate this :-)
Debit card not used for 1year causes bank to cancel card ,thanks for the info !
Interesting! Good point !
Thanks for the info love your channel. We share some similar experiences, I went to high school in Hawaii (Radford) I was an Air Force brat. I also served 20 years in the Air Force. The stock advice has me doing more investigating.
Very nice Jeff
The Air Force is a good way to go
My brother joined the Air Force and he loved it
The navy is a hard life haha
Hi . I change the money at mall there has supper rich for exchange give the good rate there.
Thank you for this information!
Have a good day
Great vid with equally great points.
Thank you so much
Have a great week
To get best rate for cash exchge for many Asian countries will be at gold jewelry stores !
Interesting! I have not tried this
nice channel, congrats!
I appreciate this thank you :-)
Nice content. Subbed !
Thank you !
I hope the week is going well
For you :-)
Thank you for the sound advice. I am glad you mentioned using a VPN for accessing financial institutions. I have a followup question: How do you handle Two Factor Authentication for your financial accounts? What phone service do you use to receive the codes via text message considering your are on the move every 30 days to a different country? Thank you in advance!
Look into an international plan with your service
Also , some brokers and banks will use email instead of text for travelers like us :-)
its very easy for anyone company to know if you are using VPN ... and they can easily prevent the connection if they wat to.
They also recommend it :-)
Always use a VPN when you are overseas for any connection to banking or investment accounts
What is your best advice when you call from Asia to United States without getting charged. Even though you can call your bank toll free Tmobile will still charge you around 20c per minute.
Download these three: Facebook messenger, LINE, WhatsApp
You will be good with just WiFi wherever you go
Call from hotels, coffee shops, restaurants, lobbies, shopping malls , video or audio calls
How does Fidelity work over in Southeast Asia? Has anyone used Fidelity?
Make sure you have a VPN so it looks like you are in the US
Great advise, what are your thoughts on Wise? A friend of mine suggested these cards
Interesting I’ll have to look into those
Hi. Thanks for your vlogs first of all I am finding them really informative and helpful. I’m sorry if I have missed your name?
Anyways re money I wondered what you thought about going into a bank and taking cash out with your credit card from a cashier? When I was in Thailand recently I took out £50k bht from the ‘Yellow’ bank. As my credit card doesn’t charge for a cash advance and I get the ‘pure’ exchange rate I was happy! (You obviously need to take your passport to the bank with you).
As a UK citizen I can’t get a Charles Schwab card and I thought the ATM fees in Thailand were horrendous.
Keep on living your best life. Respect. Cheers 🍻
Interesting idea , I appreciate you sharing this information
It’s good to provide this insight
@@RetireandGo thanks for all your insights. 👍🏼
I keep hearing "I sold everything" to travel and retire in Asia, then today "actually renting my home". It might be worth mentioning that "selling everything" may be a bad phrase when you are discussing topics of retirement because that's often not the answer even if it has a good ring to it.
Interesting point
My investments are my business now
Stocks bonds REITs and a rental
Hopefully that clears it up
It’s a business asset
Welcome All Farang come to Visit and Stay in Pattaya Thailand.🙇🏻🙏❤️👍✌️
Very kind of you !!
I trade large blocks of cash once a year Trade 100k in America for 1500 man yen in Japan. No banks no paper trail.
Interesting! You have a fascinating system
How and where do you "trade blocks of cash" in the US without a bank?
@@ypham2453 great question
I’m not sure what a block of cash is haha
Set up an online bank account
Many to choose from
Choose one with a no ATM fee ATM card
Use a VPN on your laptop when doing any kind of online transaction
It’s quick and easy
You can travel and do banking and investing easy
I arrive with zero cash. I go to a bank ATM and withdraw the maximum amount on the screen. It’s really hard 😂 but exactly the same as I did at home. #problemsolved
Interesting ! I like reading the different systems
I am going to have to disagree about using cash in Thailand, especially just for vacation. I know living there would be different. Many, and I mean many, places require a minimum purchase to use a CC. Example: 7-11 is 250 baht. That may sound small but if you know how cheap things are in Thailand, then you know that is simply not easy to hit. You can buy half the store for 500baht (joking). Every restaurant that accepted CC had both an added charge (though small) and a minimum balance to use it. Night markets and street food vendors at best will accept QR code using your phone if you have a Thai bank account. It is a cash society. I had multiple issues using CC to set up for Bolt (got ripped off and never got cleared up with Bolt) taxi and will only use cash going forward with that. Motorbike taxis are great for cash. I have had no issues keeping cash locked up and taking it to a currency conversion place when needed. Get great rates from certain ones. Airport is the last place you want to convert money as you will get a bad exchange rate. The most dangerous part of having cash is getting out of America with it but after that I feel totally safe in Thailand.
I understand
I mean US cash
I use ATM cards
That creates local currency :-)
Haha the bloopers. 😊
Haha :-)
Yeah sometimes I’m like, I have to share this
thank you, good advice, great tips.
Have you been able to cover SIM cards yet? Not sure if I have missed this or not
Great idea
I’m using the international plan with unlimited data
I’m online so much
But that’s overkill for most travelers I think haha
@@RetireandGo Your plan is from the US? We've only used our provider's international data, but I wondered if it'd be cheaper to buy locally.
I hear Charles Schwab is the way to go . Lots of great info .
Stay Safe …
It’s a darn good one to go with
@@heynow4286 Hello,
Would you mind sharing what you've used?
Great content! Thank you.
Totally random question, what kind of shirts do you wear? What material are they made from?
Great question!
Linen
Light and quick dry
They keep the sun off you
Thanks for video, enjoying your content and style. I add that when using cards you can get a choice of local currency or your own country currency, the latter will be converted by vendors merchant at less favourable rate. Also, I thought in Thailand ATMs charged a local fee even if the card provider doesn't charge fees. Are you saying you get that reimbursed?
Yes there is a quarterly reimbursement
Unreal ! It will blow you away
Set up an online account of your choice and get a travel credit card
You are good to go
I have credit cards in several countries but QR codes are taking over Dont need visa cards, debit cards or cash.
True
They are everywhere
Videos are very informative, but what do you do with expiration dates on cards? How do you receive your new card when out of country?
Excellent question
When you go back for holidays, call the company and have them send a new one early
They do this all the time :-)
You can have the bank ship it to you overseas. I just had CS send me a new ATM card to Thailand. They even waived the $15 shipping fee.
@ I appreciate this information!
They sent it to your hotel?
Or to a local mail location for pick up?
@@RetireandGo They mailed it to the apt that I was staying at. Took 6 days although shipping times can vary.
You must have been in Argentina and not Colombia where I can take out 750 at tons of safe malls with no worries.
Good information!
You should put up shorts or other posts of safe ATMs when you travel
Could you speak about how you get data and cellular service?
Yes of course
I use an international data plan
$100 a month unlimited
Only because I work online
Otherwise no need for that much
@@RetireandGo Do you mind saying the provider?
Can I live without credit cards? I heard opening up Charles Schwab acct is great overseas. Is that true?
Schwab is a good way to go
So how did you get by in S. America then? Use credit card all the time? One other question on money. How do you filee your taxes if you are living abroad? Must be done all the time i suppose, but here is where you need a very reputable firm. Thanks.
All the above
ATM with no fees
Credit card with no overseas fees
File taxes every year with CPA online
Pay online
Sign online :-)
Does this help?
Thank you so much for this useful video, but I have a question for you,as a long period traveler what do you think, opening an account in a local bank and having a debit and credit cards,so you don't have the issues of a foreign person ? Thank you again.
Interesting idea
If you are living there I think that would help but for 30 day stays them moving on like me no need
Are you staying a full year or more?
Can you share about your cell services is with USA 🇺🇸 ? Tks for all this great info . 👍😇😎🇵🇦🌎
I use an international line
Only because I use so much data
It’s unlimited
Most travelers don’t need that much haha
@@RetireandGo how I can get that ? I live in Fl , want to retire early too. 🙏🇵🇦🌎
I’ve got it all locked in now. Peace of mind.
Please let me know how esim works on your phone with each country. I’m about to get an iPhone 14 or 15 and they only use esim. Can you explain? Thank you 🙏🏼
Great question
I now use an overseas plan that’s 100 a month
I use a ton of data
SIM cards won’t cut it haha
So you use a physical SIM card and not an ESim? I’ve traveled a lot to SE Asia and have only used physical sims. Now iPhone 14 and 15 only use esim
@@koufax174either one is fine…they will set you up when you arrive. Just make sure your phone is unlocked. AIS and True can help you with physical sim or esim.
@@RetireandGoI mentioned in another post, but you may want to look into tello. Unlimited minutes and data in the US for $25. Get a local unlimited data plan and use two sims…you would save yourself at least $50 a month.
Can Canadians get Schwab credit card. Went to Istanbul and got a wise debit card before leaving.
Hmm that’s a good question
Let me check .
It says no
But there are several online investing platforms in Canada
New sub here, retired to Thailand. Which Pattaya banks have you found that have no local conversion fees?
Bangkok Bank's is very high and Kasikorn has a fee but it is less (220 baht). My US bank also takes $5usd a pop as I don't have Schwab.
And where is that 'cup of corn' (?) you bought? Looks good. On Soi Buakhao? LK Metro?
Set up an online banking account that does not charge for conversions or overseas ATM fees :-)
Have remitted 1 million largest 400k
Oh my that’s big money
What cellfon do i need to have to retain my US number when going overseas? Especially when you use it for bank verification?
Oh my I think any brand would work I’m an iPhone fan
Yes you want at least two factor authentication
@@RetireandGo I mean, I have Verizon right now. Would you recommend to continue on celfon subcription even if planning to stay overseas for extended periods?
@@BizThera ask your carrier for cheapest plan maybe
You will
Be using WiFi mostly
Download LINE app and WhatsApp
Free and awesome
Are u using wealthsimple or wise prepaid cards
Only international unlimited data plans for me because of my online work
I plan to be on a work visa with a Thai bank acct. Do you like Nord vpn or Express vpn?
I will tell you I have heard these care both fantastic.
So important to have
Will you be going to Sri Lanka?
Hmm I’m not sure
Lower India has some temples I want to check out so perhaps in the years to come
Best place to remove cash is a casino
Haha yeah that will remove it for sure
Watch out for those mad Dawgs 😅
Haha yes
The mad dawgs are out there
cooking with no gloves......lol
Have a great day !
@@RetireandGo I'm heading to Asia in a few months. I lived in Korea for years back in the 80s. love the Asian culture and food. I learned Korean and Japanese. Retired now. American culture now sucks and too expensive.
Can you discuss phone plans? Do you still have your USA number
Oh yes ok
I use an unlimited data international plan
But, that is because of the online work I do
Most will be fine with a SIM card at the airport