I tried to do a search on this subject, but the answers were from way back in 1999!!!!

If I get crazy and do lots of shopping while we're in Thailand, where would be the best place to ship them home? We'll be in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, as well as Cambodia. I'm thinking by the time we get to Cambodia, I can bring home anything I pick up there...just mainly concerned with Bangkok and Chiang Mai...

It isn't cheap, but I shipped a box home UPS from the shopping center in BKK that is across the street from the Central World Plaza. I think UPS was on about the 3rd floor, right at the top of the escalator.

Pack light, take an extra suitcase, and only buy what you can stuff into your luggage!

Do you remember an approximate amount? I just would like aballpark figure...how big was the box?

Unless you're planning on buying really bulky items like antique furniture or a big set of china, why not just bring an extra empty suitcase in which to back your shopping?

I thought of that...but since we're hopping from place to place and already are hauling a suitcase full of scuba equipment (that we don't need until the last 5 days of a three weke trip!), I thought maybe this was a better idea. I may have to change my mind however...

Are you sure you can't leave the bag with the scuba stuff in the left luggage room at the airport, and pick it up when you come back thru the airport on your way south for the diving?

We have it taken care of for part of the trip...we're staying at the Centre Point Silom for the first couple days, then up to Chiang Mai and pack to Silom for a few days for New Years...they've told us we can leave a bag with them. However, we're flying from Siem Reap to Phuket and even though there's a stop in Bangkok I'm not sure we get off the plane!

I don't know how to check ahead of time about the left luggage area.

i have sent two pkgs from bkk recently via UPS air....the first was 10 kilos and the 2nd 25 kilos...costs were $85 and $175...they arrive perfectly in about 4 days....

the main PO on new road will package and mail your items for you by ship also..

Thanks...this was exactly what I was looking for! I would much prefer bringing whatever we buy home myself...but this gives me a good idea of what it would cost to send things home. I would have thought it would have taken much longer to arrive in the U.S.!!!!!

I ship boxes regularly from Thailand. I use UPS and even though it is more expensive, it gets here in the states in 3-4 days, thus less chance of it getting lost or damages. A 30 Kilo box (about 66 pounds) is around $200. I have a great shipping company in Chiang Mai and if you want their info, let me know. I bring as much back in my extra suitcases as I can, but ship the rest.

We are scuba divers too and while we usually bring our own gear, we decided to rent. (we didn't want to be bothered with more luggage and taking any chances of getting damaged/lost while we were in other parts of the country.)

Instead we will bring our masks and maybe regs (these don't take up much room in the luggage) but renting the rest. We are only diving for 2-3 days so not as long as you and this will give us more room for shopping purchases.

It might even cost less than shipping boxes home.

Just a thought.

We had weighed several options...

1. Having our gear shipped directly to the dive shop in Khao Lak.(Too Costly)
2. Bringing our own regs, fins, wetsuit and mask, and renting BC's. (Not sure about condition of equipment, and we have alternate air on our low pressure inflators, which would require seperate octos )
3. Trying to see if we could have our suitcase with the dive gear sent down before we go to Cambodia.(???)

Ultimately, once we started packing we realized we could fit all our clothes in one suitcase (a rolling duffle) and the scuba gear in another one.

Sahalie has a collapsable suitcase, I may look into that to bring things home in!

Sorry to but in.... Stitchintime could you give me the contact details of that shipping company? Do they ship all over the world? I am in Aust and I may have too much stuff for my 15kg limit on the discount ticket I have. I have been thinking about furniture but I think it is going to be too hard at the Aust end.

The shipping company I use is U B Worldwide Express and it is located across the street from Imperial Mae Ping hotel. They can figure the best rate for your packages and will also pick up your purchases from the store. I have a UPS account, but have found it is best to go thru these guys. Tell them Gale Carson sent you! Phone number 081-951-6569.

Thanks for the info Stitchintime....I'm not so sure that my husband will thank-you as he has been using the luggage limit to convince me that I won't be able to shop. That problem is now solved!