Bangkok has some fantastic shopping when you visit, and no matter what you want, you can find it in Bangkok. You can purchase designer clothes, the latest gadgets, exquisite jewellery, and much more besides. However, if you have limited time in the Big Mango, you will want to plan your shopping so you can get in as much as possible. Below are some tips to help you get the most out of your shopping while in Bangkok, so you get a chance to buy everything you want before heading home.
Consider What You Want To Buy
You will want to think about what you want to buy, which will help you plan your shopping while in Bangkok. Whether looking for clothes, gadgets, furniture, or silver earrings, wholesale prices are possible if you buy enough, but you also need to get everything home. Alternatively, rather than putting everything in your suitcase, you can consider sending it back home via courier, but as well as the cost of this, you may also have to pay import duty. As such, your bargains may turn out to be not so cheap after all.
Choosing Where To Stay
You will want to choose the hotel you stay in wisely to reduce the amount of travel between the various shopping malls in Bangkok. An excellent area to stay in will be Sukhumvit or Siam, and they are close to many shopping malls and the BTS and MRT transport systems. Getting around Bangkok can be slow work, and it is made even worse when it rains, so using the BTS and MRT can save you a lot of time and hassle getting to the various shopping areas of Bangkok.
Take Your Passport With You
Thailand also has a VAT Refund for Tourists Scheme, and to take advantage of this, you will want to take your passport with you when shopping. Many stores take part in this scheme, which means you can save the 7% VAT charged on many products. However, if the shop you buy goods from is not a member of this scheme, you can still claim the VAT back at the airport before leaving the country and heading home. You need to have your receipts, fill in a few forms, and claim the money before heading through passport control, and this will take around ten minutes or so. However, ensuring you do this can help you get some excellent shopping bargains while in Bangkok and may make you want to go back for more.
