Phuket - Is it alright to go out with a near empty suitcase

ilovethailand · #1 21-07-2005, 21:18

Im staying in Bangkok for 3 nights then Patong for 14 nights and as its so cheap I plan to get loads of clothes over there and probably whack in a few watches, dvds and a few other bits. Would there be any problems at the airport on the way back with that? As long as im within the weight it should be ok shouldnt it?

alexo · #2 21-07-2005, 21:32

Clothes are OK but if you get stopped and searched you will lose the watches and DVDs. Happened to friends, they appealed in writing to customs but only got about half the stuff back.

ilovethailand · #3 21-07-2005, 21:33

Damn, I was going to get a few for my mates back home etc. Ah well, Clothes are my main concern anyway so that bit is good to hear. Cheers mate.

sishow · #4 21-07-2005, 21:41

From what i gather as long as the watches, dvd's and games can be reasonably said to be for you then there is little that customs can do. But if you have enough of any to sell on, then you might have problems.

With watches, I tend not to bring back more then severn or eight at a time. But in the past i have brought more than this back.

Of course what you might consider you your own personal use, and what the customs officals do, varys quite considerably.

ilovethailand · #5 21-07-2005, 21:43

Yep, definately mate. I'll risk it anyway and probably bring back 4 or 5 watches and some dvds, if they take them off me then shit happens I suppose.

sishow · #6 21-07-2005, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovethailand

Yep, definately mate. I'll risk it anyway and probably bring back 4 or 5 watches and some dvds, if they take them off me then shit happens I suppose.

True! The last time i came back with about 10 watches and a few xbox games! Every time before there were no customs in the nothing to declare lane, but this time there were fcuking loads! They pulled everyone but me! I was totally crapping it!

ilovethailand · #7 21-07-2005, 21:59

Ouch. I bet it was a great feeling when you got through untouched though eh?

alibaba · #8 21-07-2005, 22:06

Did you guys know that UK. customs read this forum??

sishow · #9 21-07-2005, 22:14

yeah!

should be going with a friend who works in customs, so i know he reads this as i told him too!

ilovethailand · #10 21-07-2005, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizbusta

Is it alright to go out with a near empty suitcase ??

Best not to, airport check-in staff will be suspicious especially in the current climate of high security. They might tip off Customs and of course, they will know when you are due to return, as the airline will know the date and time.

It's an easy pull when you know what time the plane lands and the colour/shape/size of the suitcase to look for

So instead, why not buy a suitcase when you are over there

You can buy a small suitcase for next to nothing.

They are not great quality, so just throw it away after you get back.

Cheers
Diz

Good call that mate

banger_chris · #11 21-07-2005, 23:09

hi!

brought around 100 dvd's back without any problems. my routine is to leave all the covers and casings of the copied dvds and get me a cheap cd-storage map and only put the cds in there... last time i bought a cd-storage map which fits 50 cds at a time... no hazzle really....

seafox · #12 21-07-2005, 23:15

either buy the small suitcase or bring a foldable duffel bag with you and use it on the return. Even better would be to use both pieces of luggage, just do not fill them all the way, so you have 2 pieces of luggage checked in going into and out of Thailand.

steve@thaib · #13 22-07-2005, 00:22

I tend to travel with very little and have done it a few ways, one bag inside another to check in and bring two back, bought a bag over there as Diz suggests (which has the benefit of taking only hand luggage with you outbound) and also checked in empty bags, never a problem.

Watches and DVDs have never cuased me a problem either, but customs may well react to such things differently in different places. DVDs are only 150baht or so anyway, I always bring some back.

On the watch front, I know others will have had different experiences but I have never bought a reliable one yet, and at least half have been knacked before I got on the plane home.

ilovethailand · #14 22-07-2005, 00:36

Thanks for the tips everyone. Is it ok to bring two Suitcases back then? I thought the limit was one per person?

steve@thaib · #15 22-07-2005, 00:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovethailand

Thanks for the tips everyone. Is it ok to bring two Suitcases back then? I thought the limit was one per person?

It's weight not number; check your baggage limit with the airline

ilovethailand · #16 22-07-2005, 00:48

Brilliant. Thanks for that mate.

domifletch · #17 22-07-2005, 03:09

I use to go with an empty suitcase and come back with clothes I bought there... never took the risk to come back with fakes watches or else... never had any problems with clothes as it was for my personal use and never so much... I wouldn't try to make an ilegal commerce... It is unlegal and you would have more problems than good luck while doing it... just my opinion

erik1 · #18 22-07-2005, 05:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

Watches and DVDs have never cuased me a problem either, but customs may well react to such things differently in different places. DVDs are only 150baht or so anyway, I always bring some back.

150 Baht? Prices been raised then? paid 100 Baht all the time both DVD as music CD

djmyst · #19 22-07-2005, 13:33

Not this trip but last trip I was going from oslo airport alone to bkk with just a little bag. When I come back after 3 weeks with a big size bag, filled with t-shirts, piques, jeans, handbags and some other stuff. They stopped me in the custom when i was walking on green. They asked me why I had leaved the contry with a small bag and now after 3 weeks I come back with a big one.
They just scanned my bag and asked if I had any drugs or pills. But when they saw it only was clothes and stuff like that, he said have a nice day. They did not take any thing of what I had bought.

When I came back to oslo last friday from thailand I had even a bigger bag then last trip. More dvd's and watches. No problem in bkk, helsinke or oslo.

steve@thaib · #20 22-07-2005, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by erik1

150 Baht? Prices been raised then? paid 100 Baht all the time both DVD as music CD

I have not been after last December, maybe things are a little cheaper now?

crazymenace · #21 22-07-2005, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizbusta

I would err on the side of caution if it was me, only because of the latest terrorist bombings in London. Security was tightened immediately after "9/11" and then slowed was relaxed, but it will be tight as a duck's **** again now, especially in the UK.

In theory it shouldn't make any difference, if you want to use a massive suitcase to transport a pair of socks to Thailand, then that should be up to the individual. Because I travel all the time, I tend to notice when things change and recently security has been stepped up.

Good luck
Diz

You know it! After 7/7 the cops had disappeared from the streets by the sunday. After yesturdays explosions expect there to be lots of coppers around but only for a few days

Tyfon · #22 22-07-2005, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizbusta

So instead, why not buy a suitcase when you are over there

You can buy a small suitcase for next to nothing.

They are not great quality, so just throw it away after you get back.

...or pack some kind of large foldable duffle bag thing in you smaller checked bag. Large inside small on way out, small inside large on way back.

Just a thought,

K.

erik1 · #23 22-07-2005, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

I have not been after last December, maybe things are a little cheaper now?

Hehe I think you bought at expensive Patong
Patong 150
Karon 120
Kata 100

Think I will go to Nai Harn this year as it is probably 80 there

alibaba · #24 22-07-2005, 20:26

I bought a stack last trip in May.
DVDs. 500 baht for 6.
CDs. 400 baht for 6
This is the same price I've paid for the last few years.

Nicke · #25 22-07-2005, 20:43

After tsunami prices went down, it was around 80 baht for long time but now it seems 100 baht is the most common price in Patong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by erik1

Hehe I think you bought at expensive Patong
Patong 150
Karon 120
Kata 100

Think I will go to Nai Harn this year as it is probably 80 there

erik1 · #26 22-07-2005, 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

After tsunami prices went down, it was around 80 baht for long time but now it seems 100 baht is the most common price in Patong.

yeah that is what i allways paid also before the tsunami.