After doing some research about shopping in Bangkok, i am overwhelmed with all the choices. I am looking for an area where we can shop for touristy things - Art, Handicrafts, etc. I am not looking for electronics, shoes, beauty products, etc. This is the beginning of our trip so anything we buy we will have to lug around with us for the next 3 weeks. We also plan to do shopping in Chiang Mai, and Krabi. We will not be in the city on the weekend so cant visit any weekend markets. Any suggestions?

Some of the best one-stop shopping for touristy things can be done at Narai Phand, which is the Royal Thai government handicrafts center. It is located in the arcade adjacent to the Intercontinental Hotel in the main shopping area.

Across the street from Narai Phand is the Amarin building. The 3rd floor has Thai crafts as well.

You might also enjoy shopping at MBK mall and Platinum Mall. Both offer Thai made goods (especially Platinum), although a lot of this is clothing/shoes/purses/jewelry. 3rd floor at MBK will have your Thai craft-y items, back in the far end of the mall. I like to call it the catacombs. Also, on the 7th floor, another area of Thai made goods (in the back end).

bother of these suggestions are perfect...i would also add that the 3rd floor of the paragon mall has good items for tourists both in the small shops in the center and the large shop called exotic thai at one end...

Are you looking for keepsakes or the "What did you bring me from Thailand?" stuff?

that s/b "both" above

Indigo on the 3rd floor of Paragon has nice quality gifts, but not alot of choices. The Golden Triagnle is also up there on the 3rd floor. These two would be more in the keepsake catagory, not "what did you bring me."

Just FYI, some of the things at Exotic Thai (which is a really nice store) can also be found at much reduced price at MBK, back in the catacombs. Exotic Thai has a much more pleasant ambiance for shopping though if that is at all important to you. Same with Nari Phand.

There's a shop on the second or third floor of Central World, near the Isetan store, that as a nice selection as well. I cannot recall the name of it.

And yes, I agree, there are keepsakes and there are items to give to others who will want 'something from Thailand' to know you thought of them!

Carol (now posting from LA, where I've just landed and unpacked for the next several days... United has a great offer for double elite qualifying miles from ORD to LAX that I'm taking advantage of!!!... seeing guenmai for lunch in about 2 hours!!)

I am sure you have been told this, but be careful of touts who who stand on the street, are well dressed are REALLY friendly. They will scam you. No one is better than the Thais. No free taxi rides. No free tuk-tuk rides. Nothing is free. Also, never take a taxi (aka land skarks) parked in front of the hotel even if the hotel door man arranges it (they work together).

Jreinho, you experience is exactly contrary to mine. Any cab arranged by my hotel doorman will use the meter, not ask if I want to visit a jewelry shop or tailor. A cab hanging out near the hotel but not at the hotel where the doorman helps you in/out of the taxi may be looking to take you shopping. Just say "no" to ant taxi or tuk-tuk driver who wants to take you to a jewelry store, tailor, etc. or who wants a fixed price to your destination. Also, I've several times had people approach me near the main Jim Thompson store telling me JT is very expensive and they know a less expensive place to shop. Again, just say "no."

I've been going to Bangkok annually for something like 25 years and have never had a taxi I took from my hotel try to scam me.

I'm not sure where you stay in bangkok, but you might want to stay somewhere else if your hotel doorman is in cahoots with the taxi drivers who want to take you shopping.

" ... some of the things at Exotic Thai (which is a really nice store) can also be found at much reduced price at MBK, back in the catacombs."

Yes; MBK's sixth floor, at the far south end, the Pratunam Princess end, has lots of handicrafts. The vendors will deal too.

Make that "Pathumwan" Princess.

kathie, i generally agree with you about hotel rides from taxis, but we have had a problem both at the ROS and the JW Marriott and the Four Seasons and the Nana (one of your favorites), so it does happen

Bob, as I;ver said, I've never had it happen, but if I did, I would sure as hell complain
to the hotel and directly to the doorman. There is no excuse for that, IMO.