Hello,
we' found this site
http://shoppingsiam.com/index.htm
for shopping guide in Bangkok. We only have one full day there so it will be benficial for us to use it effectively.

What do you think about this service? We could use him with public transportation, since we will be staying at Marriott's on the river, so we can use skytrain and boats.

Did anybody use this service?

Regards
Sophia

Sophia,

I spent some time reading the website. I have been to Bangkok over twenty times and have always shopped very successfully on my own.

This is a VERY expensive service in terms of Thailand prices ($US240 a day including car and driver, US$190 if you use pubplic transport). Frankly, I would expect the prices of what you are buying to be equally inflated. I also note that they pick you up at 9:30 and drop you off ay 4:30. Many places in bangkok aren't open until 11 or so, and the shopping day tens to run later, so the hours don't even make especially good sense.

I think you are much better off on your own. Get one of the good shopping books to help you. Avoid the obvious scams (tuk tuk or taxi drivers who want to take you to a particular store, a "jewelry sale authorized by the goverment for just today, etc.). Books many people recommend are the "Pleasures and Treasures" series. If you are afraid of using the local taxis (I've never had any problems) you could hire a car and driver for the day, but I'd recommend you use public transport.

Thank you Kathie for your feedback.

I was thinking about using boat (since we will be staying in Marriott on the river) and skytrain. I just thought I need help from someone local who can speak Thai if needed and help to bargain.

For guide without car and driver, their cost is
190 USD for the day or 120 USD for half a day plus cost of taxis/skytrain .

I did read Treasures and Pleasures of Thailand and already armed with nancy Chandler Map however I thought with actually one full day for shopping I might use some local help. We usually tend to get lost a lot first time in unknown locations and in Europe we do enjoy it since it give us fun experiences however, do not want to to do in Bangkok. Want to use my time efficiently.

I appreciate your note re: times of pickup dropoff, so I will tell them what time I want to be picked up and dropped off.

However, I would prefer if anybody has recommendations for a shopper. Not for a driver and car but shopper.

Regards
Sophia

I read their full list of prices, which I still say are exceptionally high.

Almost everyone you have contact with in Bangkok will speak at least rudimentary English. You can bargain easily, even with the street market sellers who don't speak much English with the aid of a calculator. If you are worried about finding the places you want to go, have your conceirge write the addresses in Thai for you. I really don't see the need to hire a shopper.

Thank you Kathie, it makes sense. I will prepare few areas we need to shop and stick to it. Plus JT museum/store. With Nancy's Chandler's map, should be OK. Thanks

kathy....
we are planning a week of shopping in bangkok, then 5 days up north for more
shopping. do you have a thread for
your favorites? looking for bronze
statues, buddas, fountains, cool clothing, fake designer handbags (for my sister) and local crafts. also need
recommendations for shipping and packaging.
all of you fodorites are awesome. im addicted to this site...and loving all the valuable info you share. cant wait for october..thank you

Time Out guide book is really great for shopping info. Also check out www.timeout.com/bangkok-you can buy pretty much all you'll want at MBK shopping centre, 444 Thanon Phayathai right near National Stadium skytrain station. Thais shop here! The food court on top level is really good. Over 1,000 shops all airconditioned-heaven!!!

i'm shocked at the price of the personal shopper...i will go and do it for less!!!...
with only one day you really have to know exactly what you want or it is very easy to waste time....

what do you want??

i'd take the 9 boat from marriott...take the skytrain to MBK and look around...walk over to jim thompson house and shop...visit the siam shopping centers if you have to quickly...take skytrain to on nut and visit the JT outlet on soi 93...take taxi from skytrain...
if you have time i would also visit the jim thompson main store...

if you want upscale shopping i would visit any of the upscale shopping centers....gaysorn plaza, emporium, siam shopping centers...the shoping plaza next to the hyatt hotel, river city shopping center...

For antiques (and "antiques&quot and upscale craft items, it's hard to beat River city. And you can take a boat from the Marriott. Follow rhkkmk's advice and do visit the Jim Thompson outlet store and the main store.

Thank you Kathie and Bob, as usually, are have been extremely helpful.
Sophia

Pull up my previous post on Great Shopping Guides in Southeast Asia. Happy Travels!

Way overpriced. Do a bit of reading. Decide what you want to buy and settle on one area. Hiring a driver makes some sense but that should only cost you $5 or $6 an hour -- there have been several suggestions on this forum.

This "guide" will take you to places where he gets a cut so you'll be paying much more than necessary.

Shopping is great in Bangkok but not difficult

What do you want to buy?

Have a very pedestrian shopping question - pun intended. I want to cut way back on bringing heavy luggage to Thailand & buy things to wear there. Will I be able to buy shoes, such as thong sandals (women's size 6 1/2 or 7 U.S.) and clothes (size 12 or 14 petite U.S.)? I'd heard that sizes are very small there & that it may be hard to find ready-made clothes to fit...What about men's clothes & shoes? My husband is 6 ft tall & wears U.s. large or medium shirts & size 11 shoes. Also, I understand that closed shoes (front & back) are required for the temples, but also that you are required to remove your shoes when visiting. I'd thought backless slip-ons would be good - cool & comfortable in the heat, & easy on & off, but apparently not. Is it true that you must wear completely closed shoes. Again, sorry for these very nitty gritty type questions (you now know everything about our body sizes!), but this will be my first trip to Asia.

You should be able to find clothing and shoes. Your husband will have more difficulty. Remember that you can have lovely clothes custom-tailored for you for very reasonable prices.

The one place where the Thais are very clear about a dress code is at the Grand Palace - Temple of the Emerald Buddha. You must have on at least short sleeves (no sleeveless or tank tops) and a skirt or pants that cover your knees. The sign at the entrance in November indicated that capri length pants are also not allowed. You must wear shoes that at least have a strap around the heel. They can be sandals, but they must not be slides. At other temples, you can wear thongs or slides. Of course, you must remove them before entering the temple.

Enjoy your first trip to Asia!

thank you to all who replied on my query. I do not have preferences for shopping, since it is our first trip to Asia. I am reading "Treasures and Pleasures" of Thailand and Hong Kong and trying to find out what interesting thing I need to buy what I cannot get here.

I want to buy some silk at Jim T. Also cotton? Our children asked to bring back knock-off watches. Knockoff bags.

Good quailty thai craft from good stores (not into furniture shopping).

Good quality clothes. Tailor - suit for my husband and some pants or suit for myself (silk?)

Sapphires or other Jewelry. Pearls.
Can somebody recommend good Jeweler? Bob?

My dilemma is that I need to plan my shopping in different locations.

Plus some good quality casual clothes. Like previous poster, I plan do not take much clothes, but buy along the way. By that time I will get rid of my old clothes (sometimes I take clothes which I do not like to get rid at home, take it to travel wear and throwing away!) and will buy new one,

Some good quality pottery and wood kitchen staff.

We love tea, so teapots and tea and some tea praphenalia . Should I buy it in Hong Kong? We will visit Stanley market in Hong kong and will shop in good stores in Kowloon where our hotel is located (Langham).

So if you have personal recommendation for stores where I can trust the store owners, I would appreciate it.

thanks
Sophia
Some souvenirs to take home for friends, silver, etc..
We will be 1 week in Hong Kong.
So what can I buy there what is better than in Thailand? Should it get tailor in Hkg?

Then, we will be 1.5 day in Chiang Mai, shop there on night bazaar - not sure if I will like staff there but fun to see.
Also, I will have time to shop on Sankahamhaeng road in the morning before going to airport.

Then, coming to BKK, I have 1/2 day and will be visiting JT house, buy silk there.
Next day, 1/2 tour of city and shop.

Then, we are going with Manohra cruises for 2 nights and we will have opportunity to shop at
Bang Sai Royal Folk art and craft centre. Bob - did you have chance shop there - what is there to buy?

Return to BKK and fly next morning home.

That's it.

So if somebody can tell me what are the best buys in Thailand and some stores to visit, I apprecitate it.

I would rather use skytrain, but if I get many things to carry, would I better with car and driver?

I plan to visit shops near Sheraton and Peninsula as well for 1/2 a day. Maybe this plus JT house for 1/2 a day and other stores nearby will be enough for me?

Bob - I am thinking about using your tailor near Marriott, and are there also some stores to shop - last night we arrive from Manohra at 6pm and next morning fly home.

I will be sure to post report how we will manage.



Thanks!
Sophia

Bob has a favorite jeweler in bangkok, as do I. I've been shopping at SJ international for some 20 years. I find I can get jewelry for one half of the US wholesale price or less (one fourth of the retail price). Call them, they'll send a car and driver for you. (sorry, I can't find the card - search this site, I've posted their info many times). Sapphires are the best deal in Thailand as they are mined and cut there.

You can buy lovely cottons as well as silks from Jim Thompson. Visit the outlet stores as well as the main store.

Tailoring is much cheaper in Bangkok than in Hong Kong. There are some fabrics, though, that you won't find in Bangkok but will in Hong King. I needed a very heavy silk crepe that was not available in bangkok, but I did find it in Hong Kong. I did buy fabulous Chinese silk brocades in Bangkok for less than the Hong Kong price.

Buy your tea and tea pots in Hong Kong. I recently purchased a lot of my favorite dragon pearl jasmine at Ying Kee. I also purchased some lovely Xixing tea pots in Hong Kong.

our jewerler is: thai stone jewerly; nana hotel lobby; sukhumvit rd, soi 4....back of the grotty lobby of this expat hotel...close your eyes as you enter it is so old fashion and dingy...

jewerly is great...we do all custom work...they have limited things made up however...they will ship...prefer cash but accept credit cards...

the shops at the marriott are open at least until 8 and some to 9...they are limited...there are two tailors...tow jewerly stores, the queens shop, drug store and lots of stalls in the corridors, some with some street market type things...i do not think you will find anything to buy in the marriott neighborhood, especially at night, but i may be wrong.........much of river city is open til 9 or 10 i think...oriental place is easy to get to in back of oriental hotel as well--not sure of hours but probably 8 or 9...some street vendors there as well...silver shops in the area...you could go over to silom road where there are lots of things along the street near silom village and also patpong...

plus the nite market over near the american embassy must be open late...

Thank you Kathie and Bob.

Kathie,
I searched this forum and found your previous poist with address for other's reference.
Jewelry in Bangkok

SJ International, 125/8 Sawankhalok Road, Dusit, Bangkok, phone 02-2342446, 02-2342447, 02-2411875

it seems that many here know lots about jewelry... I have one of those Jostens rings with some kind of shiny green cheep stone. I have been thinking about getting Emarald. but I have read they are not too hard. so know I am looking into getting a saphire. It seems for reading this post that I can get a good deal in town. does. anyone know where too get a single saphire and have it "mounted".... I did go all over MBK and WOrld trade looking for a stone but just got shown rings with every type of shiny thing set in them.