The Myth: "Water Refills Are Free at Songkran"
You'll see this claim all over the internet. It's not accurate — at least not for most situations.
The reality: Some official city-run water stations offer free refills. But the vast majority of water vendors along Songkran routes — the people with buckets, barrels, and hoses who you buy water from to fight others — charge money. Usually ฿20–50 per refill, depending on the zone and how deep you are in the party.
At the big commercial festival zones (Silom, Khaosan Road, Siam Square), expect to pay. Budget accordingly.
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How Much Water You'll Use
On a full day at Silom or Khaosan Road, a serious participant will refill 10-20 times. At ฿20-50 per refill, that's ฿200–1,000 in water alone on a single day.
If you have a water gun (สายฉีดน้ำ — widely sold everywhere for ฿80–300), you'll need even more refills. Big water guns go through a liter every few minutes.
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Banks Are Closed During Songkran
This is the part that catches tourists off guard.
Songkran is a national public holiday in Thailand — April 13, 14, and 15 are all official holidays. In practice, most Thai banks and exchange booths close for the entire holiday period.
What closes:
- Bank branches (most close April 12 or 13 and reopen April 16)
- Authorized currency exchange booths in malls
- Hotel concierge exchange desks (often suspended during the holiday)
What stays open:
- ATMs (but see below)
- Airport exchange counters (Suvarnabhumi stays open 24/7)
- SuperRich exchange (some branches, limited hours)
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ATMs Run Out of Cash
During Songkran, Bangkok ATMs run dry. This happens every year without fail.
The combination of tourists withdrawing large amounts, locals topping up before the holiday, and reduced cash replenishment during the closure period means that ATMs in tourist-heavy areas (Silom, Sukhumvit, Khaosan) frequently run out of 1,000-baht notes by April 13 morning.
ATMs in convenience stores (7-Eleven, Family Mart) in residential areas are more likely to have cash. The ones outside tourist zones tend to last longer.
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How Much Cash to Bring
Here's a practical breakdown for Songkran week (April 11–15):
| Expense | Daily cost (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Water refills | ฿200–500 |
| Street food | ฿200–400 |
| Transport (BTS + occasional Grab) | ฿150–300 |
| Drinks at bars | ฿300–600 |
| Miscellaneous (water gun, gear) | ฿200–500 |
| Daily total | ฿1,050–2,300 |
For 5 days of Songkran, budget ฿6,000–12,000 in cash as a minimum if you're doing everything. If you're also attending ticketed events (S2O, Siam Songkran, GCircuit), budget for those separately — though most accept card.
Our recommendation: Withdraw ฿10,000–15,000 before April 12. Keep it in a waterproof wallet or ziploc bag.
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Cards at Ticketed Events
The major festival venues (S2O, Siam Songkran, Bravo BKK Arena, UOB Live Hall) have cashless systems — you load credit onto a wristband or use contactless payment at bars inside the venue. This works well and you won't need cash for drinks once inside.
But: Street food vendors, water sellers, tuk-tuks, and most small street stalls are cash only. Don't rely on your card for anything outside official venues.
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The Waterproof Wallet Rule
Any money you carry during Songkran will get wet. Use one of these:
- Dry bag / waterproof pouch — ฿100-300 from any convenience store or night market
- Ziploc bag — simple and works perfectly
- Dedicated waterproof wallet — if you have one, bring it
Don't put cash in a regular wallet in a pocket. It will be soaked within minutes and your notes will be unusable.