The short answer

Both cards need to be fee-free abroad. Most standard UK cards — debit and credit — add a non-sterling fee of around 2.75% to 2.99% to every payment in baht, and some add a fixed charge per purchase or withdrawal on top. Choose cards that charge nothing for spending in Thailand, and the "credit or debit" question becomes one of protection and convenience rather than cost.

It also helps if the two cards are on different networks — one Visa and one Mastercard — and from different banks. If one card is blocked by a fraud check, swallowed by a machine or simply refused, you can still pay and still get cash.

The rest of this guide explains why each card is better at its own job, with the numbers to back it up.

Credit vs debit, head to head

Assuming both cards are fee-free abroad, these are the differences that matter in Thailand:

The pattern is clear. The debit card wins on cash, simplicity and budget control. The credit card wins on protection, fraud and deposits. Neither wins on spending fees if you've chosen the right cards — which is why the best answer is to carry both.

Never use a credit card for cash

The single most expensive mistake you can make with a credit card in Thailand is using it at an ATM. Almost every UK credit card treats a cash withdrawal differently from a purchase:

On a ฿20,000 withdrawal — about £452 — a credit card with a 3% cash fee and interest at 29.9% a year costs about £13.55 in fees plus around £11 in interest if you clear it after a month. A fee-free debit card costs nothing from your bank. Both pay the same ฿220 to the Thai ATM.

A small number of credit cards, such as Barclaycard Rewards and Lloyds Bank Ultra, charge no fee for cash abroad, but interest still applies from the day you withdraw. They make a good emergency backup if your debit card is lost or blocked — not a plan for getting your holiday cash.

Section 75 vs chargeback in Thailand

This is the biggest reason to use a credit card for anything expensive. When you pay for something by credit card, the card provider is jointly liable with the seller under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act — if the item costs more than £100 and up to £30,000. If the company goes bust, doesn't deliver or misrepresents what you bought, you can claim the full amount back from your card provider.

Crucially, Section 75 applies to purchases made abroad, including in Thailand and from Thai websites. And it covers the full cost even if you only paid part of it — such as a deposit — on your credit card.

A debit card doesn't have Section 75. Instead, you can ask your bank to use chargeback: a process run by Visa and Mastercard that lets your bank try to reverse a payment if something goes wrong. It's useful, but it's a voluntary scheme rather than a legal right, and there are time limits — usually 120 days from the purchase or the date you expected the service.

A Thailand example. You book a four-day dive course on a southern island and pay a ฿18,000 deposit — about £407 — by card. A month before you fly, the dive school closes and stops answering emails. With a credit card, you can claim the deposit back from your card provider under Section 75. With a debit card, you can ask for a chargeback — but if you're past the time limit, or the bank decides the claim doesn't fit the scheme's rules, you may get nothing.

The best debit and credit cards for Thailand

Three fee-free debit cards and three fee-free credit cards. Pick one of each — ideally a Mastercard and a Visa. For full reviews, see our guides to the best UK debit cards and the best UK credit cards for Thailand.

The six cards side by side

Your UK provider's fees only. Scroll sideways on a phone.

Checked 11–12 October 2026. Representative APRs variable. Credit is subject to status.

Which card for every payment in Thailand

This is how we'd use a fee-free debit card and a fee-free credit card on a typical trip to Thailand:

Always pay in baht, whichever card you use. If a card machine or a website offers to charge you in pounds, decline it: the merchant's exchange rate is typically several per cent worse than your card's, and it wipes out the benefit of a fee-free card.

And if you're shopping for gems or jewellery in Bangkok, be cautious whatever card you use. Gem scams aimed at tourists have been reported for decades. Section 75 can help if you're sold something that isn't as described, but it's far better not to need it.

Hotel deposits and card holds

Most Thai hotels, and many guesthouses, take a security deposit at check-in to cover minibar charges and damage. Many do this as a temporary "hold" or pre-authorisation on your card rather than an actual charge. The hold isn't a fee, but how it affects you depends on the card:

Holds of several thousand baht are common at larger hotels, and they can stack up if you move between several hotels in a fortnight. On a debit card, that can leave you with less spending money than you expected. A credit card avoids the problem completely.

Some rental shops — particularly for scooters — ask to hold your passport as a deposit instead. Don't hand it over. Offer a cash or credit card deposit, or rent from somewhere else; without your passport you can't check into a hotel or leave the country.

If your card is lost, stolen or cloned

UK rules mean you shouldn't lose out from genuine fraud on either a debit card or a credit card, as long as you haven't been grossly negligent — for example, by writing your PIN on the card. But the experience is very different while the problem is being sorted out.

If someone uses your debit card, the money comes out of your current account straight away. Your bank should refund unauthorised payments promptly, but until it does, that money isn't available for your hotel, your food or your flight home. If you're in Thailand and your only card has just been emptied, that's a serious problem.

If someone uses your credit card, it's the lender's money that's been spent. You report it, the disputed amount is investigated, and your own bank balance is never touched. That's one more reason to use a credit card at hotels, online and anywhere your card details are taken out of sight.

Whatever you carry, set your cards up to limit the damage: turn on instant notifications, know how to freeze each card in the app, save each bank's overseas helpline somewhere other than your phone, and keep your two cards in different places.

The right set-up for your trip

The basic rule — one fee-free debit card, one fee-free credit card — works for everyone. How you use them depends on how long you're staying:

One thing to know if you're thinking of moving to Thailand: UK credit cards and most UK current accounts are only available to UK residents, and some providers will review or close accounts if you tell them you've moved abroad. Our guide to travel card eligibility for UK residents explains what happens and how to plan for it.

Applying for a credit card before you go

If you don't already have a fee-free credit card, apply well before you travel. A new card can take a week or two to arrive, and you'll need it at your UK address.

• Use the eligibility checker first. Most issuers offer a soft search that shows your chances without affecting your credit score.
• Apply for one card at a time. Each full application leaves a hard search on your credit file.
• Set up a direct debit to pay the full balance each month, so you never pay interest on purchases.
• Check the representative APR — but remember it's irrelevant if you always clear the balance.
• Ask for a sensible limit. Enough for hotel holds and a flight home in an emergency.
• Know the PIN. Thai terminals often ask for it even on small payments.

If you can't get a credit card, or don't want one, a fee-free debit card plus a second fee-free debit card on a different network will still serve you well. You'll lose Section 75 and the deposit benefits, so be extra careful with big bookings and ask for chargeback promptly if anything goes wrong.