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Pattaya Mail

Tourist’s currencies buy more than ever in Pattaya

by Ken Bailey

Since the Thai Baht was floated in July it has steadily depreciated with last week seeing it drop to its lowest level ever. This is a big bonus for tourists coming to Pattaya as their extra buying power has made the resort one of the best value tropical seaside destinations in the world. As a result, regular visitors are staying longer while first timers are being lured.

Tuesday December 16th saw the besieged Baht hit over 78 to the British Pound (Traveller’s Cheques), the highest gaining currency. British tourist Bill Hughes says that this is the best rate he has seen in 10 years of holidaying in Pattaya. Bill pointed out that "the highest I’ve seen it before was 50 Baht to the Pound and that was only for one day." On the same day the Australian Dollar was buying 30 Baht, its highest level ever according to regular Aussie visitors.

Gaining strength two days later on December 18th, the Baht was being bought around Pattaya at a rate of between 74 and 75 for a Pound and 28 for an Australian Dollar. Muscled again the following day, one Pound bought 76 Baht, a U.S. Dollar saw you buy a little over 45 with the Aussies taking 29.

What this all means is that visitors to Pattaya, having budgeted for their holiday all year, are now able to do more with their available funds. Pattaya’s value as a tourist resort has increased proportionately with the Baht’s plunge.

Although recent inflation has pushed prices up, the extra Baht being handed over when changing Pounds, Dollars and Marks, etc., more than compensates. Last Christmas’ visitors will remember their U.S.$ getting them 25B, their Pound 39B and Aussie Dollars 19B. Looking at December 19th’s rate, the increases have been 80%, 94% and 52% respectively.

On the street examples include the McDonalds Big Mac meal which, costing 95B earlier this year now sells for 100B. An increase of only 5%. Across the street at KFC, two pieces of chicken, fries and a drink now cost 60B, an increase of five Baht or 9%. Budget breakfast at Pattaya’s many small eateries came in at around 30B. Now-a-days expect to pay only 35 to 45B.

On the hotel side, a 600B per room last Christmas actually set you back 15 Pounds or U.S.$24. Sat. this room had a huge price increase of 16.66% to 700B. Under today’s exchange rate it will only cost you nine Pounds or U.S.$15 per night.

One of Pattaya’s biggest attractions has always been its enormous range of bargain shopping. Mazes of markets haggling to the lowest prices compete with endless rows of street stalls as well as the big department stores. Just about anything is available here, most at a fraction of the cost demanded in western countries. With the Pound having 94% more buying power and the U.S.$ not far behind with 80% more, shopkeepers and market sellers around town are busy.

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