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Time for cheaper thrills?
I doubt that many would disagree that the strong Baht is damaging the oldest profession in Thailand - both gay and straight.
Of course there are economic arguments to explain why the Baht is too high and why it should correct, but over-valued currencies have form for not correcting when people think they ought to.
Now a little story has emerged that the ECB is going to start printing money again, or QE as it is called. The eurozone economy is dangerously weak, so ECB chief Draghi wants to crash the euro further to make exports more competitive.
I don't have any hard numbers, but I'd guess that around half the sex tourism in Thailand is from the eurozone.
Oh for those distant days when sex and beer was so cheap in Thailand you didn't really think about the cost much - taking someone back to your room every night was just a casual routine.
But we are where we are - engaging the services of someone for a whole night is a significant expense for most visitors now, and the eternal irrationality of Thai business sense means that taking someone for an hour short time is only slightly cheaper.
I'd guess almost all single gay and bi guys coming to Thailand have an agenda to get their rocks off most if not every day while they're over, and a hand shandy watching porn on their mobile in a hotel room probably doesn't make the grade.
So what could deliver a profit for the provider, satisfaction for the punter, and not cost too much?
Clearly the ratio of one punter/one boy is the hurdle to cross, so what could several punters do with one boy that would get their rocks off?
A steam room with cute boys receiving bukkake sessions perhaps?
- Just idle thoughts..
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
A few days ago I noticed that the current exchange rate in the UK was only 34 baht to the £. Last Christmas it was 50 baht, so that's a fall of almost a third in the past nine months. In 1993 when I first visited, I got 39 baht to the pound - and that was the lowest figure over the next 26 years, until this year's collapse. Of course, it isn't just the strong baht that will cause problems for UK visitors. The pound has also been severely damaged by the Brexit fiasco. I will certainly be reducing my consumption in all areas on my month's visit at the end of this year.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
I spent about 70000 baht in 11 days. That's from airport to airport and includes everything. Hotel, taxis, bike hire, police fines etc. Flights not included.
For my money I received.....well just read the thread Easy Rider. I received that. I'm not looking for a refund. I am however looking to get through as much again and and soon as possible.
If one converts the baht to pre-Brexit rates then it works out at about £136.00 per day.
The collapse of the British pound is no one's fault but the British.
I know of three Brexiteers who can no longer afford to spend as much time in Thailand as they used to. Poetic justice methinks.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
"A few days ago I noticed that the current exchange rate in the UK was only 34 baht to the £. Last Christmas it was 50 baht, so that's a fall of almost a third in the past nine months. In 1993 when I first visited, I got 39 baht to the pound - and that was the lowest figure over the next 26 years, until this year's collapse. Of course, it isn't just the strong baht that will cause problems for UK visitors. The pound has also been severely damaged by the Brexit fiasco. I will certainly be reducing my consumption in all areas on my month's visit at the end of this year."
There's a strange misapprehension here - everyone automatically assumes that the Brexit debacle is trashing sterling - but..
Last Xmas Sterling was at 41.55 - not 50 - and is now at 37.91 - a drop of 9%. The Euro meanwhile was at 37.24 last Xmas and is now at 33.55 - a drop of 10%..
There is a wide expectation that when Brexit finally gets put to bed, one way or the other, the resultant certainty and clarity will provide a boost for sterling, whilst meanwhile the ECB is embarking on a policy of deliberately devaluing it's currency..
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
The real victims are the ex pats. When I briefly considered relocation, the pound was worth 73 bht; thank God I came to my senses in time.
The decline has been dramatic but the most significant cost of the trip, the air- fare, has not fully reflected this. I recall that, in 1995, my first flight from London (EVA) cost about £480. Soon after this, I up-graded to Elite Class and for many years paid around £800. Since the Brexit debacle, I've been paying £900 plus. I could get an Economy flight from a bucket shop for around £550.
Then there is the cost of accommodation. I paid about 550 bht per night at Le Cafe Royal in the late 90s. You can still get the basic rooms at Ambiance for about 800bht and Serene is probably less. Various hotels in Pattaya offer rooms at around 500 or 600bht.
Finally, the cost of eating out has remained relatively low, certainly compared with London. The French places near Tuc Com, which arsenal often mentions, are remarkable value. So are the buffet restaurants in Central like Hotpot and Four Seasons. Thai food is of course even cheaper. P speaks highly of Big C. And there are hundreds of other options. Meanwhile, the classier places are often amazingly cheap; I recently paid 2000 bht for two at Le Bourdeax for three courses plus wine.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Once you get the hang of the Thai 'ethnic' eateries, and realise that despite looking grubby, the food they serve up doesn't actually kill you, you can eat out for very little.
You do need to master a tiny bit of Thai, but it's not that difficult, especially if you set aside the confusing official Thai translations to roman script with their many silent letters, and think of it as simple English phonetics - e.g. Kai Pat Nam Man Hoy - which gets you Chicken in something that purports to be oyster sauce, and is quite tasty.
Bear in mind also that the southern and central Thai cuisine is not at all spicy, but that many of the sex workers hail from Issan where the cuisine is insanely so..
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
I agree the British are responsible for the weak pound, but Brexit isn't the only factor trashing it. A long term balance of trade deficit & the resulting debts have a lot to do with it. It's been obvious for decades that the pound has been at risk of weakening in the long term.
Also, the opposition have a shadow chancellor who wants to kill of capitalism, so the threat of a tax regime which discourages investment will not help. If taxes on investment income go up, some of the capital is diverted elsewhere (e.g. to Ireland).
However, living in Pattaya doesn't exactly break the bank. On my slightly longer trips, the spend comes in comfortably under 5000 baht per day. This is helped by not much drinking & perhaps only 25~33% of my offs are long time. The latter is not an economy measure, it's just that most of the boys like short time and even I don't really like a long time off who struggles to get out of bed by lunch time.
Travelling around northern Thailand is even cheaper, due to low cost hotels, cheap food and a lack of boys to off. Maybe one every 3 days and some of them even just want to be ****ed for pleasure, not money. OK, so if you plan a 10~14 day holiday, perhaps you don't want to waste time doing this. If you are here for several months, then it's good to travel around.
I imagine it's got to the point where anyone with an average UK income & a mortgage might be priced out of the market.
However, if your income is a bit above that and you can budget, it's still an attainable and good value holiday.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Oliver2
The real victims are the ex pats. When I briefly considered relocation, the pound was worth 73 bht; thank God I came to my senses in time.
Anyone considering relocation should realise that exchange rates can move all over the place and plan accordingly.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Does "****ed" mean ****ed, **** or ****ed?
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Old git
A steam room with cute boys receiving bukkake sessions perhaps?
- Just idle thoughts..
Oh yeah, let's just allow ourselves to turn into the Indians who do these things. One guy picks up one moneyboy, goes back to the hotel, and surprise, there's actually 5 guys there who proceed to run a train on the poor guy. The Thai moneyboys love that. Jesus...
Besides, if anyone wants to be on the receiving end of a bukkake session, it's me with 10 cute and young Asian lads.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Really? Did it happen once? lots of times? not al all? Damned if I know.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
...dont think the MB minds the train...he just wants to make sure everyone has a ticket and that the ticket is paid for...afterall saves him having to shower, throw his clothes back on and go to all the trouble of finding aniother customer...doing him a favour actually...he should throw himself onto his knees and praise the Gods
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
For cheaper thrills, perhaps a trip to The Philippines would be an option.
The boys are quite good in bed and seem to have lower financial expectations.
What I haven't figured out is if there are cheaper hotels which are any good, since on my only trip I played safe and paid for a slightly more expensive hotel than I would get in Thailand.
Anyhow, it's not a priority, as I'm not yet priced out of Thailand. Admittedly, I wouldn't spend too many nights in Bangkok gogo bars.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
For cheaper thrills, perhaps a trip to The Philippines would be an option.
The boys are quite good in bed and seem to have lower financial expectations.
What I haven't figured out is if there are cheaper hotels which are any good, since on my only trip I played safe and paid for a slightly more expensive hotel than I would get in Thailand.
Anyhow, it's not a priority, as I'm not yet priced out of Thailand. Admittedly, I wouldn't spend too many nights in Bangkok gogo bars.
My trip to Vietnam at past February gave me impression what Vietnam is even better option (I'm talking about Saigon and Vung Tau now). Hotels and food are cheaper than in Thailand, sex is free and variety for to choose is amazing, and big bonus to all that - good coffee almost everywhere...
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moses
My trip to Vietnam at past February gave me impression what Vietnam is even better option (I'm talking about Saigon and Vung Tau now). Hotels and food are cheaper than in Thailand, sex is free and variety for to choose is amazing, and big bonus to all that - good coffee almost everywhere...
I wonder what bobsaigon thinks about that
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
frequent
I wonder what bobsaigon thinks about that
Why do you wonder? BS is living in Vietnam for years. He for sure knows about Thailand, can compare, and still living in VN.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Love the way Moses replies back in a very dry matter of fact manner ignoring all the inuendo. Anyway am currently in the US and utter rubbish is available at BKK prices, acceptable at USD80 and real nice product starts at 150. So yes Thailand and especially pattaya is very much value for money but once one factors in cost of the flight its not. Boardwalk in Ft Lauderdale had 11 entertainers working the floor (on a slow tuesday they dont even bother dancing on the stage) and 9 were gorgeous, mix of south american and locals, all very eager to take it further. Johnsons was stuffed full of muscle builder types, some bit too beefy, most gorgeous lean muscle physique with terribly handsome features.
If sex is the only requirement and racial mix didnt play a role (didnt see a single asian working boy) then stayong home is far cheaper.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
I'm quite sure that you will return to Thailand just for the temples...
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
latintopxxx
If sex is the only requirement and racial mix didnt play a role (didnt see a single asian working boy) then stayong home is far cheaper.
Did you try to fire Blued there? Usually it is filled with Chinese everywhere.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
latintopxxx
Love the way Moses replies back in a very dry matter of fact manner ignoring all the inuendo. Anyway am currently in the US and utter rubbish is available at BKK prices, acceptable at USD80 and real nice product starts at 150. So yes Thailand and especially pattaya is very much value for money but once one factors in cost of the flight its not. Boardwalk in Ft Lauderdale had 11 entertainers working the floor (on a slow tuesday they dont even bother dancing on the stage) and 9 were gorgeous, mix of south american and locals, all very eager to take it further. Johnsons was stuffed full of muscle builder types, some bit too beefy, most gorgeous lean muscle physique with terribly handsome features.
If sex is the only requirement and racial mix didnt play a role (didnt see a single asian working boy) then stayong home is far cheaper.
1 Your maths depends on how long you amortise the flight cost over. If it's a 90 day holiday, divide the flight cost by 90. Then the cheaper sex pays for the cost of the flight many times over.
2 The holiday is not usually just for sex.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
latintopxxx
….Johnsons was stuffed full of muscle builder types, some bit too beefy, most gorgeous lean muscle physique with terribly handsome features.....
Now when I first glanced at this post, I thought it was about how muscle builder types stuffed their Johnsons. I must read more carefully.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
dinagam I'll be the first to admit that cheap plentiful good quality sex is my main motivation to visit Thailand, I do enjoy the carefree spirit in the ntourist zones and I actually love Thai food in Thailand, I rarely eat western in Thailand, be it food or arse. Im yet to find a country which offers the full package at the price Thailand does, maybe i should try Vietnam.
Moses, my mistake I guess, I stick with grindr and for a while had scruff. But not sure blued would be of help, here in southern Florida there are not many asians to be seen, not sure why. Grindr has been good to me so not complaining. Im not terribly fussy when it comes to race, its the lean body Im after...and price.
dalewood, yes a good play on the word, but thats what its called, excellent playful talent, love watching the lean muscle dance on stage stripping to skimpy underwear.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dinagam
I'm quite sure that you will return to Thailand just for the temples...
I don't know about him, but I know I'm returning for the inflatable swimming pool filled with banana cream filling, and a few cute, gay and naked 19 year olds. That sounds like great fun.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cdnmatt
I don't know about him, but I know I'm returning for the inflatable swimming pool filled with banana cream filling, and a few cute, gay and naked 19 year olds. That sounds like great fun.
F.Y.I. Matt 1 Bitcoin today = approx. 310,000 baht.....up 80,000% since its inception.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Manforallseasons
F.Y.I. Matt 1 Bitcoin today = approx. 310,000 baht.....up 80,000% since its inception.
Once upon a time, Dutch tulip bulbs were trading for the up to $750,000 (adjusted for inflation). Bubbles are nothing new.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
Once upon a time, Dutch tulip bulbs were trading for the up to $750,000 (adjusted for inflation). Bubbles are nothing new.
I wish I had some of these bubbles.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
MFAS is certainly aware of the bubbles, baubles, and marbles in Nice Boy Sunee.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Manforallseasons
F.Y.I. Matt 1 Bitcoin today = approx. 310,000 baht.....up 80,000% since its inception.
Right, and it's been over 10 years since the inception of bitcoin. What do you think the changes that people, especially on this forum, will stop calling it a ponzi scam and that crap?
I'm not really in that industry anymore anyway. Will enter it again if I have to, but have moved on...
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Good news. The boys of Nice Boys told me they now accept not only cash payments but Bitcoin as well. There are also plans to allow punters to pay in maple syrup and moose antlers.
Thailand awaits Matt's return.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cdnmatt
What do you think the changes that people, especially on this forum, will stop calling it a ponzi scam and that crap?
To be fair, some rather wealthy people on dedicated financial sites also consider bitcoin to be uninvestable. Bitcoin only has value for as long as people retain confidence.
There was a case where the founder of one of these fantasy currencies "died" and as he had the key, no one else could access their money. No doubt he is living rather well under a different identity.
As for bubbles, http://www.thebubblebubble.com/historic-crashes/
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
To be fair, some rather wealthy people on dedicated financial sites also consider bitcoin to be uninvestable. Bitcoin only has value for as long as people retain confidence.
There was a case where the founder of one of these fantasy currencies "died" and as he had the key, no one else could access their money. No doubt he is living rather well under a different identity.
Then people should stop thinking of bitcoin as an investment vehicle, because it was never designed or intended to be one. It's intended purpose was a vehicle to send funds globally easily, instantly, and cheaply. That's it, nothing more, and it works excellent for that.
Give you a recent example. Hired a designer out of Florida a while back. He wanted me to pay him via either ApplePay or Zelle (send money via e-mail, basically), but both are only available to US residents. After pissing around for about 3 days trying to figure out how to pay him, I ended up sending the funds to his son's bitcoin account, because it is simply the easiest way to transfer funds across borders. He had the money within 5 minutes of me getting a bitcoin payment address from him.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Sorry guys just while I'm reading the above and if I can deviate just for one quick question as I'm sitting here having a mental blank to a question I've just been asked....
My BF's mother ( who lives here n the UK but still has a house and bank accounts etc in the Philippines too) has about 200000 pesos (i.e about £3k STG once changed) in cash lying in the PH's that she wants to give / send on to my BF ( either in cash or transferred to his UK bank account - Monzo perhaps) but for the life of me I can't think how to get in across with SOME change fees , obviously I'm also trying to ignore / avoid the usual western Union / standard bank lodging in / currency change fees route etc - I know I've done same before very cheaply, but damned if I can remember how - anyone any bright ideas ?
Sorry to the OP for this interlude, just when I seen Matt posting about sending money instantly etc that popped into my head - and no Matt, before you suggest it she wont be trying Bitcoin but thanks anyway :)
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Try TransferWise. I've never used it myself, but know it's very popular. Google it.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cdnmatt
Try TransferWise.
I use Transferwise and highly recommend it, as it is faster and much cheaper than the thieving banks.
HOWEVER, whilst Transferwise can send money from the UK to a long list of countries, the list of countries that can send money back to the UK is much shorter. For example I could send money to Malaysia, but not send money from Malaysia to the UK (not that I sent money to Malaysia).
You might need to do some more research on google. Also, some of the forex companies are complete ****s, as they claim to have very good rates, but you need to sign up to see what the rates are.
For example HiFx. I signed up there before I found Transferwise, but HiFx typically tried to take me for over 1.5%. I used them once, then discovered Transferwise, where the transaction cost is nearer 0.5%.
The same transaction with a bank is about 3%.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Thanks guys and yes transferwise has been mooted by a few friends as well, I actually have an account with them which I'd totally forgotten about so I'll have a look - although as you say goji I've a sneaking suspicion that they don't allow reverse sending TO sterling from the Ph's, but I'll check. Thanks.
* edit - just checked - you're right goji that their fee is 5.5% BUT alas as I feared they dont allow transfer FROM PHP to GBP only GBP to Peso's :-(
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cdnmatt
It's intended purpose was a vehicle to send funds globally easily, instantly, and cheaply. That's it, nothing more, and it works excellent for that.
You left out the one key attribute - anonymity. For the blackmailers, thieves, prostitutes, drug dealers and other assorted criminals who mostly use it for transactions, it's absolutely perfect
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
frequent
You left out the one key attribute - anonymity. For the blackmailers, thieves, prostitutes, drug dealers and other assorted criminals who mostly use it for transactions, it's absolutely perfect
Then go send an angry letter to the NSA, because although nobody knows for sure, as far as I can tell, bitcoin is a NSA project.
Same as Tor and the "dark web" was originally developed by the US Navy. That's simply fact nowadays, although nobody still really knows where bitcoin originated, but my best guess is this was a NSA project.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cdnmatt
Then go send an angry letter to the NSA, because although nobody knows for sure, as far as I can tell, bitcoin is a NSA project.
Same as Tor and the "dark web" was originally developed by the US Navy. That's simply fact nowadays, although nobody still really knows where bitcoin originated, but my best guess is this was a NSA project.
Christianity was originally a Jewish project but I don’t propose writing to Bibi Netanyahu to complain how it turned out
The really amusing aspect of your post was that someone asked you to make a payment using a real-time instantaneous mode (Apple Pay) and you spent THREE DAYS “working out” how to pay him until you remembered good ol’ Bitcoin
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
I had a drink in Silom 4 with a retired friend last night. He usually spends a month twice a year in Thailand. This is his last trip, so he says. He's "done the math" and determined that on travel & accommodation to/within Thailand he's spending more than 100,000 baht a year. He's spending the same on "entertainment" while he's here. He claims that for that money he can stay in his home country, eat decent quality food, see his regular friends and family, and be "entertained" at least once a week, every week, by one of the many Asian students who are in his country
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nirish guy
Thanks guys and yes transferwise has been mooted by a few friends as well, I actually have an account with them which I'd totally forgotten about so I'll have a look - although as you say goji I've a sneaking suspicion that they don't allow reverse sending TO sterling from the Ph's, but I'll check. Thanks.
* edit - just checked - you're right goji that their fee is 5.5% BUT alas as I feared they dont allow transfer FROM PHP to GBP only GBP to Peso's :-(
Possible you could send via Thailand . The exchange rate for some banks shows they take a bare minimum for exchange , less than 5% of bank charges. They have hundreds of exchange offices in Pattaya and in Thailand. Unsure of the bank name but the one I use is in Tukcom next to McDonalds. They have another 2 in Second Road just near Boyztown. Pattaya locals can give you the name of the bank.
That is at least a start for you.
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Re: Time for cheaper thrills?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Nirish guy
* edit - just checked - you're right goji that their fee is 5.5%
I hope that is a typo and you meant 0.5%, as that's approximately what my transfers cost. Incidentally, I count ALL costs from my UK bank account to the overseas one and compare with the mid-market rate in order to get the 0.5%. .
Beware of advice from people who like to kid themselves that their bank transfer "only" costs £20, when they also lost 3% on the exchange rate and the receiving bank charges a fee on top, both of which they like to ignore so they can forget about being fleeced as fast as possible. Anyway, I suspect you are well familiar with that.
I sometimes receive transfers from people overseas & they pay all fees. Despite them all being educated, I have yet to see any of them find something that competes with Transferwise. So either that's a lack of aptitude, or there isn't yet something that competitive.
It will happen sooner or later.