Pack Light – You only need carry-on bags.
Tip 1 :Clothing : Forget your whole closet. It’s just not needed. Bottoms: 1 or 2 max pairs of jeans. I cargo pants. 1 going out pants, 1 pair of shorts or swimsuit for either men or women. Tops : 3 T-Shirts or Polo Tops. One or two going out shirts for men with cuffs that can be folded up for heat. For ladies 2 to three nice tops and a going out dress. (Ladies can often pack a bit more, but let’s keep it reasonable! ) Socks: Buy some cheap socks for the first week’s stay at Amazon, KMart or Tesco. Throw them out and buy more whilst there. Trust me you don’t want this in your luggage with this weather. You’ll want to burn them. Jackets and scarves: Wear them on the plane to get there and home as most of us live in colder places than where you are headed. A jacket and scarf can be a good pillow in a jet or taxi. Shoes: For the guys, wear your sneakers on the plane and take one pair of dress shoes for that nice dinner. For the girls the same, except remember the humidity. Maybe consider a dress shoe that’s not completely closed. Underwear: Consider the toss out method. The amount of retailers you’ll be passing and the low prices you’d be mad not to get something new. Especially for ladies. There are lingerie stores everywhere.
Tip 2 : Liquids and Cosmetics : Contrary to popular opinion, there is a chemist shop on almost every corner in Thailand. They stock from my experience all the western brands you need. So for girls, skip the liquids, just take your favourite few colour cosmetics and buy the rest on arrival. There are two Boots Pharmacies in the BKK Bangkok International airport if you get anxious about being left short. For guys, just take a stick deodorant as it’s not counted as liquid for travel to save customs dramas.
Tip 3 : Medication : Prescription medication is allowed from my understanding as long as what is being carried is under 30 days supplied. I also believe overseas prescriptions are allowed to be dispensed in Thailand, however I will alter this post once more research has been done. Side note: The Thai government, although very kind to visitors always, is very careful for Thai traders not to miss out on business from foreigners. Just be patient and understanding that Thai wages are not a great deal and every time you spend, you are doing a great deal of help to their local economy. It’s a good thing. Pharmacies are easy to deal with and so are local private hospitals. It’s not expensive. ( I’m an Aussie / British citizen and I think it’s reasonably priced in even the poshest of private hospitals and clinics to see a doctor in Thailand .)
Tip 4 : Alcohol and Cigarettes : Don’t even bother. You can buy your favourite brand at the Seven 11. If you are wine snob there are restaurants that cater and also expat shops for something special. Just buy what you need duty free, then it’s not much to carry and nobody will look at it.
Tip 5 : Cash in hard currency : Many of us travel with substantial amounts of cash. In Thailand you can enter with as much as USD$20,000. That’s substantial. There are two issues. Unless your Hotel has safety deposit boxes at the lobby, and its five star hotel, travel with modest amounts. Don’t trust those silly little room safes in my humble option. Thailand is a cash economy in many ways. Always have a few thousand Baht on you.
Enjoy your trip without unwanted bags travellers.
