Packing

[PigDogg]

There's a reasonabale chance, maybe 50%,  that I'll be able to make the big move to the LOS in 2008.    

I've accumulated lots of stuff and there's only so much I can bring on the plane.      

What do I bring?  

What do I not even consider bringing?

What do you wish you brought?

What did you bring that was a waste of your luggage allowance?

[jadeite]

I moved to Thailand with 1 checked bag and 1 carry on. Nothing was wasted and I wish I had brought more. I learned the hard way anything (and I mean ANYTHING) sold in Thailand that is imported costs a great deal more compared in the US. I was looking for a new electric razor the other day and they are behind these prestigious glass showcase windows for 11000 baht. They are 3000 baht where I come from.  Fill 2 checked bags both to the 50 pound limit or whatever your airline allows--favorite foods, electric things (providing they work on 220V), camera, computer, household goods, apparel, everything. Anything you have of value that you might want in Thailand, bring it. The replacement costs here are a rip off, if you can even find them that is. For me it is the principal of not stuffing the pockets of some well to do mercedes owner laughing all the way to the bank rather than whether I can afford to buy the overpriced goods here.

[moe666]

It maybe a good time to down size.

[stogie bear]

I didn't bring much with me and I'm glad that I didn't.

Everything you could want for is here and moderately priced.

(You can buy name brand electric razors from Foodland off the shelf for 1,500 Baht! I dunno where jaidete does his shopping but I'm staying well clear of whereever it is!)

The only thing you are likely to miss will be various food items that you take for granted at home.

As with everything at home there is a huge scale of prices and quality to suit every budget. I bought my first fridge for about $100 and later ugraded to a nice one for about $300! Most electrical items are commonly found and cheap. Computer items are about the same price as where you are from. Clothes are very cheap unless of course you like original name brand items. Food is very cheap and rental property is also good value.

There is NO Jimmy Dean sausage in the Kingdom!

[Guest]

I put all my furniture in storage and only brought one large suitcase and one small suitcase full with a backpack of other stuff. I brought my electric razor with me. However I did leave most of my computer stuff behindlike my router, printer etc. I did forget a couple of things. Luckily I am going back for a holiday and to do my taxes next month so will grab what I might have fogotten first time around.

Remember the other things like getting your mail redirected. Somethings you may not be able to get easily here so remember to bring them with you.

[jadeite]

Everything you could want for is here and moderately priced.

I can't speak for the UK, but compared to the US I am 100% sure there is a big difference on EVERYTHING and am confident I can back that up with real data on any type of imported item one wishes to compare.

Foodland off the shelf for 1,500 Baht!

And I could probably show you the same model for half that on many US web sites!

I dunno where jaidete does his shopping but I'm  staying well clear of whereever it is!)

Well I tend to buy higher quality goods that are not common, sometimes wanting top of the line. This is where Thai prices gouge it to you the worst with 3x markups not unheard of. But even things like low end, cheap model cameras & memory cards are far higher in Thailand--compared to the US anyway.

Computer items are about the same price as where you are from

Ok again I cannot speak for Aus/UK, but I can tell you there is not one computer related thing in all of Thailand that comes even close to US prices! I buy computer stuff frequently and have methodically walked every shop of every floor of Pantip, Fortune, and checked dozens of Thai web sites on many occasions. There is just no deals to be had. Even your basic "cheap" disk drive manufactured in Thailand costs more than mail order in the US. Go figure on that one. That makes no sense, but it's true.

Clothes are very cheap unless of course you like original name brand items

Very true. Thai t-shirts are a tough find for me as they like big iron ons, obnoxous colors, and are tailored too small in the chest so it's not always a no brainer compared to name brand imports for me.

Food is very cheap

True IF you eat Thai food; I have some of my best meals of my life for 30 baht, yum. If you eat farang food or buy farang groceries, not so cheap anymore. A little tin of refrigerated lasagna is 200 baht in grocery stores like Villa. Needless to say, I haven't had lasagna in years. Farang cereals can be quite high too.

rental property is also good value

Agreed--if you do your homework. There are plenty of good deals, and plenty of rip offs too. I can't believe some of the prices farangs are paying for accomodation sometime like 40-60K baht for a 1 BR apartment. Then there will be a more sensical guy paying 8-12K for the same class of place.

[stogie bear]

The range of computer items isn't very big in Thailand and Pantip already keep their prices artificially high by all working together. Of course if you mail-order stuff in the US it will be cheaper than retail in Thailand! The IT shops in Seri Center are pretty good.

BRING UNDERWEAR!

I have never found comfortable cotton underwear anywhere in Thailand and have to get supplies from home. And yes I've even tried the posh shops!

[Snick]

(stogie bear @ May 29 2007,20:47) BRING UNDERWEAR!

OMG I'm agreeing with Stogie !!

Yes bring underwear, its all crap here. Bring socks too - the local variety will fall apart in a week.

I go to Costco in LA before every trip back to Bangkok

For computer stuff, USA is almost always better - except for off brand things (no name memory cards, generic cases, etc.. )

When a product first comes out the price in USA and Thailand is usually pretty close, but in the USA the price drops over time, while in Thailand it stays the same. Items in Thailand rarely go on 'sale', while that is quite common in USA - and nothing beats Black Friday.

But I will gladly pay a few % more for computer stuff, if the trade off is getting excellent cheap food, clothes, $30 night hotels on the beach, etc..

Did I forget anything .....oh yea........Ladyboys !!!!!

[kaos]

Jimmy Dean sausage maple
JD patties beans mushrooms fries and eggs and a pint of guiness thats the perfect breakfast

[Bravo]

Bring the stuff that will make it home. Ship some pictures, books etc. stuff that will make your surroundings familiar.

[stogie bear]

(kaos @ May 29 2007,22:18) JD patties beans mushrooms fries and eggs and a pint of guiness thats the perfect breakfast...

I'm getting hungry now!

[divertwo]

...something I forgot to ask you Ozzie when I met you and found you had made the move.....was it easy to find an apartment and the affordability of it? I know you are relatively close to the Nana area which is typically more pricey than the "boonies/suburbs" as Stogie calls his neighborhood......

[katoeylover]

I bought a router in Pantip last trip only to find the exact same model in uk for £30 cheaper....

[SamplerDoc]

Bring Cash and Condoms

[PigDogg]

Thanks for the input guys!

OK, looks like underwear is the number one answer.

I don't think I want to get involved with sghipping stuff.

Just trying to figure out how to make best use of my luggage allowance.

At home I use a desktop, but in Thailand I'd use a laptop since I want moves within Thailand to be easy.

A computer savvy frioend of mine said that if I buy a laptop in the States, I'll be OK with the electricty in Thailand. Is this so?

I've taken 10 trips now to the LOS and it's always been hot. Do you guys ever have use for sweaters and jackets other than in over air conditioned places?