The strong baht - What are your opinions?

[Gaybutton]

For a while now the baht has been strong compared to the US dollar and other currencies. For the better part of two months now the baht has been hovering between 30-31 baht to the US dollar.

My feeling is if you are an expat, you must be prepared to deal with it during times when the baht is particularly strong. As a holiday maker you have to decide whether to come at all or be prepared to spend much more money for your holiday. What I do NOT advocate is trying to save money by being a cheapskate with the boys and venues. I have about zero respect for those trying to get boys to accept the most minimal tips you can get away with, "forgetting" to tip your server at bars and restaurants, and sitting at a bar nursing the same drink for hours on end.

I would say if you can't afford it, then don't go. But don't go and then try to save money by being a Scrooge to everyone else.

Here is what some are saying to the Pattaya Mail. What do you have to say?
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Reader backlash exposes deep divide over Thailand’s strong baht

By Pattaya Mail

January 28, 2026

What began as yet another debate over Thailand’s strong baht has spiraled into something far more revealing — a raw, sometimes hostile clash between tourists, long-term visitors, retirees, and those pointing to deeper economic damage beyond beer prices and bar bills.

Pattaya Mail readers reacting to concerns about the baht showed little consensus, but plenty of emotion.

On one side are voices dismissing complaints outright. For them, Thailand remains “good value,” and those struggling with exchange rates are simply being cheap, entitled, or unrealistic.

“If you can’t afford Thailand, don’t blame the baht. Get a better job or stay home,” one reader wrote, echoing a recurring theme that Thailand should not be expected to remain inexpensive for foreign visitors’ comfort. Others mocked so-called “penny pinchers,” insisting prices are still lower than in Europe, the US, or Australia — especially outside tourist hotspots.

Some went further, framing complaints as moral failure. “Grow up, bring more money, don’t be a bad and cheap tourist,” wrote another, while others sneered that anyone skipping a ladydrink to save for a 7-Eleven sandwich simply doesn’t belong here.

Yet beneath the bravado lies a sharply different reality — and it’s one many commenters say is being ignored.

Several long-term visitors, pensioners, and regional travelers pointed out that the issue isn’t nightlife spending at all. For Japanese retirees, the collapsing yen means one week in Thailand can now equal an entire month of pension income. Europeans highlighted cancelled multi-week family holidays, golf trips, and island stays that were once annual traditions but are now financially unjustifiable.

One reader summed it up bluntly: “We plan a year ahead. It’s already too late — even if the exchange rate improves.”

Others noted that simply “spending less” or staying in more often may work for individuals, but does nothing for Thailand’s tourism-dependent businesses. Hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and entertainment venues feel the impact when longer stays are cut short or cancelled entirely.

More strikingly, several commenters shifted the focus away from tourists altogether — toward Thai households and the broader economy.

With household debt estimated at over 16 trillion baht, approaching 90% of GDP, and reports that more than 100 factories are closing each month, some readers argued that currency strength is hurting export competitiveness, domestic manufacturing, and Thai workers far more than it inconveniences short-term visitors.

“This isn’t about the price of Chang or a cheese toastie,” one reader wrote. “It’s about reduced overseas income, factory closures, and Thai people getting hit from all directions.”

The comments expose a widening disconnect: between short-stay visitors who still see Thailand as affordable, and those who once stayed longer, spent more broadly, and are now quietly redirecting their money to Vietnam, Malaysia, or elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Perhaps most telling is the fatigue evident on all sides. The dismissive tone — “don’t bother, stay home” — may win online arguments, but it does little to address whether Thailand’s tourism model can thrive if longer-term, repeat visitors slowly drift away.

The baht may strengthen and weaken in cycles. But the deeper question raised by Pattaya Mail readers is whether Thailand is prepared for the long-term consequences if “just bring more money” becomes its only answer.

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/reader ... aht-533803

[Jun]

1 I see no evidence of a strong baht. Where's that idea come from?
For example, the exchange rate I can get is in the upper half of the post Brexit range.

2 I do see evidence of a weak dollar, which appears to be largely caused by Donald Trump.
Choosing to run a horrendous budget deficit, whilst simultaneously trying to undermine the independance of the Fed in order to set interest rates lower will weaken the dollar.
If he succeeds, it could get considerably worse.
Look at the Turkish Lira to see what happens after allowing an idiot interfere with interest rate policy.

3 Most of the visitors to Thailand are not converting from dollars.

4 It's definitely our responsibility to deal with whatever exchange rates are put in front of us. Having a big fat safety margin and looking for some kind of hedge are obvious measures.

[Gaybutton]

1 I see no evidence of a strong baht. Where's that idea come from?

Does that mean if I think the baht is strong I get to describe myself using my favorite British word that you introduced me to - daft?

[Jun]

Does that mean if I think the baht is strong I get to describe myself using my favorite British word that you introduced me to - daft?

I would not say that.

However, since you're stating the Baht is strong, is there any evidence that it is up, when measured against a diversified basket of currencies ?

Or are you just talking about Dollar weakness? Which is no surprise at all, considering how Donald Trump is carrying on

Last time we looked, the ""Dollar Index" was down, indicating that the dollar had weakened against a basket of currencies.
I think we deduced that the baht was down against that basket too, but that was a few werks ago. And the currency basket might not be appropriate either.

I'd have no argument if the thread were renamed "The Weak Dollar....".

[Gaybutton]

However, since you're stating the Baht is strong, is there any evidence that it is up, when measured against a diversified basket of currencies ?

Or are you just talking about Dollar weakness?

Am i supposed to care? I don't give a hoot whether we call it a strong baht or a weak dollar. To me it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. I must be daft. Have it your way. Fine with me. I guess thinking it's a strong baht is an uninformed illusion on my part. I can't even eat a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup without getting into a dispute.

Meanwhile, anyone else care to state your own opinions - based on the article?

[Harald]

What is the point of the discussion if we cannot change anything? Thai baht strongly correlates with the price of gold. Hence gold could be a good hedge. I keep some of my savings in Swiss franc. It actually recently appreciated versus Thai baht.

[Jun]

What is the point of the discussion if we cannot change anything? Thai baht strongly correlates with the price of gold. Hence gold could be a good hedge. I keep some of my savings in Swiss franc. It actually recently appreciated versus Thai baht.

I agree to a point. There is little point in repetetive exchange rate discussions if they contain nothing more than speculation or wishful thinking about exchange rates, such as selctive publication of favourable "forecasts".

On the other hand, most participants can do something and what to do is a much more useful topic. You already made 2 suggestions.
An ounce of gold now buys 173,000 baht, compared with just over 70,000 baht 2 years ago. The board members with significant gold holdings are unlikely to be fretting about exchange rates.
Of course, the time to buy gold is usually when no one else wants it.

[Gaybutton]

What is the point of the discussion if we cannot change anything?

What are you saying, that something is only worth discussing if we can have some sort of control over it? We can discuss exchange rates as a matter of interest or we can ignore it. Which do you think is better? At the time of this post there has been 85 views, so somebody's interested . . .

[Jun]

At the time of this post there has been 85 views, so somebody's interested . . .

Using views as a quality metric, our discerning readers managed 52,000 views for "Eros to open soon in Boyztown".
That was about as reliable a story as "Freddie Starr Ate My Hampster"

As for the weak dollar, which is arguably the underlying topic here, I think that's what Donald's economic policies are designed to achieve. This trend might go further if he replaces Jerome Powell.
So when does this end? Can the Democrats gain enough seats to rein him in after the mid terms ? Do you get another 3 years of it?

[pong]

Back in BKK again, still doing the old-style way of bring a load of (well hidden) plain cash=€ for me, and in the holder where I keep my ´things for travel to TH´found a receipt from very same exch I mostly use- at 35,xx for last yr. Last week I got 36,7 there and as of yesterday the rate was just touching the 37 mark. So thats around 3% more. NOT less as ´strong´ would indicate. Also-surprise, surprise, other as the moaners on other forums go about, prices for most of things I use there are stable, same-same as last year. Which cannot be said about home in EUR-inflation of near 4%.
Then I also get ´punished´ a little as just as for $$ the € gets a slightly better rate for large notes-but effectively we cannot get 100/200 anymore in cash, its the orange 50 as highest. Which shows I am not german-over there they remain very much tied to cash and its still very common to use that. CHristian can probably confirm that.
As we talk money: its also surprising that in this backpackers ghetto I stay, many young people/1st timers are baffled to have to use cash. The 7 is used to it: MIN purchase 200 bt, and many shops now have signs about it. But even humble foodcarts nowadays also have that Thai style of QR-codes and via the fone. BRavo for the enterprising soul who can provide an easy to use and set up such way for us without Thai bank accounts