Quick answer. Take out a large amount at a Thai bank ATM in Krabi arrivals, choose baht and decline conversion. Every Thai ATM charges foreign cards a flat 220-baht fee per withdrawal, so one big withdrawal beats several small ones. The reason to do it here rather than later is where you are heading: Railay has no road and is reached by longtail boat, paid in cash, and Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and the Hong islands have few machines and national park fees collected in cash. The airport shuttle bus to Ao Nang and Krabi Town costs a fraction of a taxi. Thailand has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, and a Charles Schwab card is the one common way to have the 220-baht fee refunded.
Where to get baht at KBV
At Krabi the cost is mostly the flat 220-baht fee, which weighs heavily on a small withdrawal and barely registers on a large one. The figures below assume the baht equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai bank ATM + Schwab (220 THB refunded) | Arrivals | Network rate, ATM fee refunded | ~$100 |
| Thai bank ATM, one large withdrawal | Arrivals | Network rate + 220 THB spread thin | ~$101 |
| Thai bank ATM, small withdrawal | Arrivals, Ao Nang, the islands | Network rate + full 220 THB on a small amount | ~$106 |
| Exchange booth at KBV | Arrivals | Several % off city exchange shops | ~$105-108 |
| Island ATM accepting conversion | Railay, Phi Phi Don | 220 THB + DCC margin | ~$110-114 |
Bank machines at Krabi (KBV), and why to withdraw more than feels normal
Krabi International is a single terminal about fifteen minutes east of Krabi Town and roughly forty minutes from Ao Nang, handling domestic flights from both Bangkok airports and a growing list of international routes from across Asia. Arrivals has exchange booths and Thai bank ATMs from Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank, Krungthai and others. Every one charges the same flat 220-baht fee to a foreign card, explained in our Thailand money guide, so the only lever you control is how often you pay it. At Phuket the argument for a big airport withdrawal is the Euronet machines on the beach strip. At Krabi it is geography. The places people come for are islands and a peninsula with no road: longtail boats to Railay, ferries to Phi Phi and Lanta, and national park kiosks all want baht, and the machines at the far end are few, busy and sometimes empty. Ao Nang and Krabi Town have plenty of ATMs, covered in our Krabi money guide, but each visit costs another 220 baht.
Arrivals hall
Domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, plus international services from Malaysia, Singapore, China and other Asian hubs
Thai bank ATMs sit in arrivals near the exchange booths and the transport desks. Withdraw once and generously, choose baht, and decline the machine's offer to convert into your home currency. The shuttle bus desk and the taxi counter are a few steps away.
Departures
Same building, domestic and international gates
Machines are landside before security if you need baht for a last meal. Otherwise spend your leftover baht rather than selling it back at a counter, which costs you the spread twice.
The airport shuttle bus stop
Buses to Krabi Town and Ao Nang
The shuttle leaves from outside arrivals on a timetable and drops off along its route. Pay in baht, ideally small notes, at the desk inside or on board.
Do you actually need cash at Krabi (KBV)?
Yes, more than at most Thai airports. Here is what works on the way to Ao Nang and Krabi Town:
Airport shuttle bus to Krabi Town and Ao Nang (around 100-150 THB): The cheapest way to the beaches; buy at the desk or on board with small baht notes.
Taxi from the counter (roughly 500-700 THB to Ao Nang): Fixed fares posted at the counter, and many drivers want cash.
Ride-hail (Grab or Bolt) (usually below the counter fare): Billed to your card through the app where drivers are available; expect waits late at night.
Longtail boat from Ao Nang to Railay (about 100-200 THB per person each way): Cash only, sold at the ticket booth on the beach, and boats leave when they fill.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Krabi (KBV) to Krabi?
A little. The shuttle bus wants baht, and many counter taxis prefer cash, although ride-hail apps bill your card. The bigger reason to withdraw at the airport is what comes next: the longtail boats to Railay, the charges on island ferries and the national park fees are paid in cash, and machines on the islands are few.
Can I order baht before flying?
Worth it for a Krabi trip. CEI Currency Exchange ships baht to a US address in 2-5 days, which means you are not paying 220 baht every time you top up and not relying on a Railay or Phi Phi machine that may be empty. Order a mix of 100 and 500-baht notes for boats and park kiosks.
Are there ATMs on Railay, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta?
There are some, but not many for the number of visitors, and all charge the same 220-baht foreign-card fee. On Railay and Phi Phi the machines can run low or go offline in peak season, and several are independent units that push conversion into your home currency. Withdraw a good amount at Krabi Airport or in Ao Nang before you take the boat, and treat island ATMs as a backup.