A friend is going to Thailand in January (I've never been). What are the popular items that Americans like to shop for? I know clothing and furniture, but is gold jewelry any cheaper there?

I think that by and large gold is gold, but customization may be cheaper.

Handicrafts are very cheap.

Spas are very, very cheap (massages, facials, etc.).

Top end clothing is very, very cheap and high quality if you know where to shop.

Hotels are very cheap.

Restaurants are very cheap comparatively.

Shade

All lifestyle products are cheap - home decor items, candles, aromatherapy oils, textiles. Gold is cheap but gemstones are relatively cheaper. Kathie's favourite SJ normally is a safe place to go i.e. u will not get ripped off with fakes. I used to go to Uthai, much smaller and more for gold than gemstones. Accessories are also cheap i.e. handbags, beaded items, silk scarves, etrc.

Yes,household interior design products are cheap. Happy Travels!

Sapphires and rubies are the best bargain in terms of Jewelry.

Silk, local handicrafts are also good deals.

thailand and most of asia deals with 24K gold. I'm not a fan, I don't like the dark orange color and some of the necklace's fell soft almost like plastic. I'm a 18K guy. there are some places that sell the bright yellow gold but not too many.. American tend to deal with 14K gold i've never bothered looking for that type of gold in thailand.

the only things that i can think of that are not cheaper in thailand is name brand and designer things (genuine) from foreign makers: gap for kids, timberland, etc...

saphires are about the cheapest in the world as are many other gem stones, but not diamonds usually....

gold is quite cheap and they only charge a small amount for workmanship and design, unlike other places...

all things for the home are exceptionally well priced..///silk particularily and cottons...decorative pillows, etc...

jim thompson items...by thai standards they are very expensive, but by western standards they are moderate, but the workmanship is exceptional...and so is much of the design...

I always go to Chinatown to buy 24k gold. The prices are good, you pay by weight and the price of gold that day. The merchants will not bargain. Indeed, if they do, I would be very skeptical. If you buy 18k with or without gems, they will bargain, but you won't find this in Chinatown.

The 24k gold is mainly cast without any real workmanship so labor cost is minimal, which is why there is no bargaining.

Does anyone have a recommendation for where to shop for a beaded evening bag? That's a high priority for my trip later this month. Thanks all!

From DC, Jim Thompson has great evening bags, not necessarily beaded tho. Central Chitlom has some beaded bags. More expensive and exclusive Tango, either in Gaysorn or Siam Center has the most exquisite collection of beaded and embellished evening and day bags.

Hobbes, thanks so much for the recommendation. This is only our second trip to BKK, we only have 2 days there after Siem Reap and LP. Trying hard to get organized with so little time!

we found lots of beaded bags in the pratnum market near to the amari watergate hotel...we paid as little as $3....carol (simpsonc510) is the queen of beaded bags....she is away now so may not have internet, but she will chime in i am sure...if she does not within one week post a special question and she will answer

Thanks Hobbes - - and Bob and I will search on Carol's name in the forum in the meantime.

as always i suggest the shopping book, the treasurers and pleasurers of thailand and myanmar by ron krannich as the best easy source for shopping info...

Beaded bags are all over the place in BKK right now. You can get some good bargains in the Pratunam area, and also at MBK on the 3rd floor, back in the "catacombs" where the small vendor stands are located.

Depending on the size and style, you can get them from about $2.50 on up. If you buy a number of them, you will obviously get a better price than if you only buy one. For just one, you will have to pay more like $4-5. The larger, more heavily beaded and "copy" bags will run you upwards of $20 each.

Bargaining with the vendor is expected, so have fun!! And do watch for quality. Some bags are not as nice as others. Note the stitching and also the size of the inside lining. On your cheaper bags, the lining may be smaller than you would expect it to be, given the size of the purse itself.
Carol

RE: gold jewelry (no gems)

gold is always sold at the prevailing bourse daily rate (100 kilo)(about $472.00 per troy ounce today)and generally the retail price of the item is the same anywhere in the world. in the USA you will rarely be told the gram weight but of course this weight is known to the store and essential to the value of the item. briefly troy weight is 31.3 grams per troy ounce. take the total price of the item divide by 31.3 and it will give you the gram weight. you then must factor in the karat %: 24K,18K,14K,10K. the lower the % of gold content, the higher the base metal added. 18K is 75% gold and often stamped .750 or 750k.

in bkk they use a different weight system (which is still a good value but you must understand it). the term for gold in thailand is BAHT (same as the currency). the baht currency daily rate is posted in the gold store. that rate is 15 grams. if you buy a one ounce chain (called a baht chain) it is 30 grams. can you see you are 'losing' 1.3 grams? still overall the value is good compared to USA prices. the baht jewelry is generally 20k to 24k. (.999 would be the %, as they can never get all the impurities out).

in the past few years thailand gold shops have started adding a 'workmanship' amount to the total. remember thai gold is not the shiney 'italian' gold style. it is usually a deep yellow. you can buy simple chains or more intricate carved jewelry pieces. go only to the red colored jewelry shops (chinatown or at tokyu department stores (kiosk like stores). dome gem stores have it and of course they have pieces mostly with gems. there you have to be careful!!! lots of fake stones and synthetics (lab created). if you dont know gems, know who you are buying from.

if i havent bored you please feel free to email me if you want more.

[email protected]. com

i am a friend of robert kimball

that's enough to make no one contact you

I plan to shop for some simple gold pieces in Chinatown this coming trip, and you CAN get some good deals here, if you know your way around the price of gold and karating. Haroth's explanation was very helpful re Thai weighting (I always make jewelers weigh the gold first whereever I buy-in Asia that has never been a problem-the US is a different matter).

And Orgy7-I agree-24K is not my preference either-due to an allergy to nickel, I can't wear less than 18K, but I like gold karated at 21-22K as a compromise between 18-24K.

I'm also going to continue my search through various gem stores for a well priced non-heat treated padparadscha sapphire-a rare pink-orange color.

Stones are very rarely set in 24k coz it is too soft...it is only pure gold ornaments which are sometimes made in that so Spygirl you should be OK..

Thanks, Carol and Hobbes. I am looking for a high end evening bag, not quite Judith Leiber quality but either beaded or with crystals. Would you still recommend those places?