For a little while, it's OK to be living out of a hotel because you are so excited about your new country and have many things to keep your attention occupied. However, there comes a time when you want to settle into our new home.
Many people make arrangements with international moving company before they have decided upon where to live. This is OK. The international movers can simply ship your items to Thailand and then hold them until a home is decided upon. You may decide where to live before the goods arrive, but you may also be surprised at how quickly your things will get here, too.
You can buy a lot of things at the stores here in Thailand, especially if you are moving to Bangkok. The main considerations are your time getting oriented in stores, efforts to communicate with store salespeople who generally don't speak English, energy to haul boxes of all this stuff home in multiple taxi rides (and if you're outside Bangkok, taxis may not be as ubiquitous), money spent buying things again that you already have, becoming familiar with new replacement items, and your preferences of products.
If you don't want to spend a lot of time shopping in a place where you don't speak the language, and want to be up and running in Thailand almost immediately, then you should ship your household items in advance using a good shipping company.
Personal affects generally sail thru customs if you are using a reputable shipping agent. However, it is strongly recommended that you do not try to cut corners. You should:
Use a reputable shipping company, with good representation in Bangkok and Thailand
Insure your goods
Do not try to slip in items for resale over here, disguised as personal affects
Moving, Relocation, Shipping
Many people ask "Should I bring my car?" Usually, the answer is "no", and instead you should lease or buy one over here. Cars are subject to a high luxury tax, equal to 200% of the car's value when new, as assessed by Thai customs (actually, the combined value new of overseas price plus local price), plus tax on the transport fee. In Thailand, you drive on the left side of the road, so cars from countries like the U.S. with right side driving are hazardous here, especially when passing. Tips on buying, leasing, servicing and driving a car in Thailand are in the section on Driving yourself by car
The electricity in Thailand is 220 volts and 50 hertz (cycles/second). If you have 110 volt accessories from the U.S., Japan or elsewhere, then you will need a transformer. Most devices are not significantly sensitive to the difference between 50 and 60 Hz, but some are. You should also pay attention to grounding/earthing. These considerations are covered in the section on electricity
Televisions are a consideration. Thailand is on the PAL-2, system B/G. Many televisions on the modern market are able to switch between the different standard systems, but you should check your TV's documentation first. As noted elsewhere on this website, "Do not bring a TV from the U.S. unless it can do PAL-2, and from other countries you may have some problems. There are video systems which can do all the main standards of the world, but there are many which cannot. The TV system in Thailand is PAL-2, system B/G, like much of the world, not NTSC as in the U.S. There is PAL-1 and PAL-2 (or I/II) in the world. Not all PAL systems will work fully in Thailand. For example, the UK uses PAL-1, and the Thai PAL-2 system is similar but has a different sound carrier frequency. Germany uses PAL B/G, but Thailand doesn't use NICAM, though some channels use the German Zwietone system. This topic is way beyond the scope of this article on what to ship, so if you really, *really* want to bring your video system, do some research first."
Please note: ThailandGuru has been swamped with questions asking for recommendations on whether to bring particular items. ThailandGuru does not have the time or resources to give everyone free advice on such matters, unless you are a supporting customer in another way, or if you are willing to give us worthwhile advice for free, in which case we are willing to do so in kind.
For DHL, UPS, etc., see also the ThailandGuru section on international couriers. However, these are not suitable for shipping your personal affects.
When some people think of Thailand, they think of an underdeveloped, rustic and backwater country. In reality, Bangkok is a very modern city, and you will find almost everything you need in the capital city, though it's not always easy, especially for a newcomer who cannot yet speak the language!
You should become familiar with the major department stores which are common all over Bangkok and in many large provincial towns. The biggest three chains are Lotus, Big-C and Central. These are usually multi-level department stores taking up considerable land area.
The shopping malls in Bangkok are ultra-modern, and many are better than any mall I've seen in the U.S.
Thus, the things to bring with you is a short list:
Your pets. Bangkok is a fairly pet friendly place, with pet sections of grocery stores and pet stores. In Thailand, most pets run loose without leashes, so you won't impose on others. Thais aren't strict about pets.
If you live in a 110 volt country, then you might want to bring a 220 volt to 110 volt transformer (but not a 110 volt to 220 volt one as you might find commonly in a 110 volt country). You can find these here if you look around a little, and the ThailandGuru can also supply them, as well as other electrical services such as grounding/earthing. It's advisable that you get a large transformer, and also get the polarity right, as discussed in the herementioned link. A small transformer won't power a computer, and one customer's burned out and delivered 220 volts. Getting the polarity wrong can shock you and/or damage equipment.
International driver's license. Those in the US can get one from AAA, whether or not you are a member. There's no test, you just fill out a standard form and provide photos. An international driver's license is just a sheet folded like a brochure that presents your driver's license information in a standard format and in English so that the police around the world don't have to figure out a zillion different driver's license formats. Notably, these international driver's license sheets usually expire after just a year, and the Thai police usually aren't interested anyway if your driver's license is in English. (Besides, many foreigners just hand over 300 baht on the spot for a driving infraction thereby avoiding all paperwork including any use of this document.) However, you should get it nonetheless, because you'll need it for car rental in Thailand and other countries, and it may prove useful with the police. See also the ThailandGuru section on driving yourself.
If you're going to start off in a hotel, then bring things in your carry on luggage to keep the kids and family happy.
Last, but not least, bring some cash, some traveller's cheques and at least one credit card. If you don't have a credit card (e.g., a visa debit card linked to a checking account in your home country) then you should bring lots of traveller's cheques and open a savings account at a Thai bank whereby you'll get an ATM card. You should read the ThailandGuru section on money and banking, and especially the subsection on credit cards.
Items to note:
Check your TV and other video equipment's specifications before you bring them, as noted in the section on television. Thailand operates on the PAL-2 B/G system.
Do not bring any appliances which require 60 Hz (Hertz, or cycles/second) in order to operate. For example, North American power is 60 Hz, whereas Thailand and most of the rest of the world is 50 Hz electricity. Most appliances that work at 60 Hz will also work at 50 Hz with a 110 volt step-down transformer, but not all. Check the rating of your appliance, usually on the bottom. I've operated "110V, 60 Hz" appliances on 50 Hz here, but no guarantees. Many appliances say 50-60 Hz or don't specify the Hz.
Do not bring your car unless you're really sure you want to, and are aware of all the shipping and customs fees. Notably, in Thailand you drive on the left side of the road, and a car designed for the right side of the road can be a challenge, especially in passing another car on a two-lane two-way highway.
If you exceed your company's shipping volumn or weight allowance, then consider leaving some of your clothes behind. This place is full of first class tailors. The main reason to ship clothes is to save time, i.e., you don't have to go shopping here.
Do not bring pornography (it's illegal in Thailand, believe it or not) or anything else illegal.
Be sure to get a reputable shipping company that is accustomed to dealing with Thailand customs, and be sure to get insurance. It's not uncommon to have items stolen from shipments, and also to have your belongings delaying in customs for a very long time pending extortionary unofficial "speed up the delivery" fees. A relocation or moving company which is well established in Thailand can prevent these kinds of problems.
What about your computer?
A good reason to bring your old computer is to save time and hassles. If you buy a new computer, then you will need to install all your software, accounts, configurations, and preferences.
There is an exception: With some expert help, you can just take an old hard disk and put it in a new computer, and switch the drivers (mainboard, video, etc.). If you don't have that expert help, then you will run a risk with your data and setup with whatever shop you find. Hopefully, you will find someone who truly understands your English. Computer shop technicians usually don't.
Of course, if you buy a new computer, you will have to set aside time and effort to go shopping for a new computer, which is usually not the first thing you need to do when you are setting up living space in a new country and getting "oriented" (pardon the pun). It would be better to be able to just plug in the power and a phone line and be on-line.
You will be going thru a lot of changes, so why take on a computer change, too?
At the bottom of the page on electricity in Thailand is advice to people with computers in a 110 V country who are coming to Thailand.
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