I've been using my Visa card for the MRT but it doesn't take money out my account?

That's normal, don't worry. The MRT charges are usually batched and take a day or two to show up, sometimes longer with Wise since they process the settlement in a few different steps. If it's still not there after 3 business days, that's when I'd start checking, but you'll almost certainly see both trips appear together on the same day.

One thing to keep in mind, the MRT system puts a temporary authorization hold on your card for the max fare when you tap in, then releases it and charges the actual amount after you tap out. With Wise the hold can look like a pending charge that vanishes, which confuses a lot of people. Give it until tomorrow evening before you assume anything's wrong.

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yeah this happens all the time with the MRT, the bts and mrt both do this weird thing where they hold like 45 baht or whatever the max fare is when you tap in, then only charge the real amount later. wise cards are extra slow with this cos they route through a few banks.

if you check your wise app now you might see a "pending" transaction that's bigger than what you actually paid, that's just the hold. it'll drop off and the real charge appears in a few days. also fyi the MRT only accepts visa/mastercard, not amex, so if you ever try that it'll just fail at the gate.

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ah the wise card thing, yeah the mrt is slow with foreign cards. if u look at the wise app under transactions it'll probably show two pending holds for like 50-60 baht each, then they vanish and later u get the real charge. sometimes takes up to 4-5 days with wise honestly, way slower than a thai bank card.

also if u tap in and out at different stations the charge might be split weird, like one hold for the entry and another for the exit. just keep ur receipt or check the mrt app for the trip history, that'll show the actual fare. and if it's still pending after a week, that's when u message wise support, they're pretty good about it but slow too.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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