Packing Problem - Please help
 

We're going from Bangkok to Chiang Mai & then to two Southern Beaches in January. We'll have slightly different type clothes for each place because of different activities & slightly different weather (cooler in Chiang Mai). There is a Thai Air non-stop from CM to Phuket, but we thought we might do two separate flights (CM -BKK & then BKK to Phuket) so we could leave luggage at the airport in BKK. Is there a place to check
bags in the domestic BKK terminal? If so, how much time should we allow between flights? As usual, thanks for all your help. I'm at the point of booking domestic flight reservations & wanted some advice.

While there is a left luggage facility at each terminal at the Bangkok airport (approx 80 baht per bag per day), my recommendation is that you pack lightly, buy clothes while you are there and do laundry. There is no need to pack a whole different wardrobe for each location.

kathie is correct....pack as lite as you can...the clothes you will use are not that much different from one thai place to another...no dress clothes are ever needed...some bkk dinner clothes are slightly more formal than the beaches; i.e. a skirt vs shorts, but CM clothes are the same...

laundrys are so cheap that i rely on them throughout the trip...plus its very nice to have clean, pressed clothing while travelling...put it in one day and get it back the next or same day service for a slight premium...

Yes, we do plan to pack lightly and will do laundry, but even so, we don't want to bring our Chiang Mai purchases or anything else other than a small bag with us to Phuket & Koh Lanta, where we are going to the Pimilai by boat. So, the question is, how much time should we allow for de-planing in BKK & checking luggage? Also, Kathie, will it be safe to check a suitcase with our Chiang Mai purchases at the airport? Thanks.

I've left a suitcase full of purchases at the Bangkok Airport left luggage for a week with no problem. I've not heard of anyone having problems with losing things out of the left luggage.

I can understand not wanting to take your suitcase full of purchases with you to the beaches...

If you will be staying in BKK when you return from Phuket, I suggest that instead of re-routing back through BKK just to drop off luggage, that you fly CM-Phu. When you leave BKK for CM, leave a bag or two with your hotel for pick up upon your return. When going to CM, pack lightly. If you buy a lot of stuff in CM, buy another piece of luggage and take it to Phuket and on to BKK. Consolidate in BKK. Your plan to go through BKK on your way to Phuket seems over-complicated. Good Luck.

Well, there are pros & cons. I think I'd almost rather change planes in BKK & drop off luggage than have to take more than just a very small bag to Phuket because we will be traveling from Phuket to Pimalai by boat & anything more than just a small bag will be a pain. If, as Kathie says, there is a luggage check in the domestic Thai Air terminal I'm inclined to do that.

its not cheap leaving the bags if you have many and if you are gone quite a few days...