How can I take more than just a few suitcases to Thailand?

There are people who say don’t bring anything but I wonder if those people just have no interest in anything. For many of us, we build a life with hobbies and interests which means we have things we would like to keep and move with us. I have over 100 books, and Art pieces. I had them shipped here and I have no regrets!

Don’t waste your time and money just bring what you really think you need depending on where your coming from you won’t use much of it a couple good bath towels is a good start put in your bag clothes buy here maybe a couple pairs of your trainers and sentimental things but mine have been in the draw for 16 years

I brought 8 suitcases and 2 boxes into Chiang Mai and paid no import duties/taxes. The "just buy it all here" advice is often unrealistic because they do not know what you would have to replace. Dave Montore's comment from 5 hours ago is 100 percent right.

So long as you realise there is a tax on personal item's. Immigration will have their own value , and tax you accordingly. May be not worth it if it doesn't have sentimental value.

Unless you are very wealthy, it’s probably not worth it. I don’t know about the UK but in the States a moving company called Mayflower could facilitate it. They have to take your stuff to their warehouse to manifest and pack it on pallets. So you pay them for that and shipping, and then you have to pay the Thai import tax since you are the importer. Not worth it for most people.

I had a container shipped from NZ, to me it was worth it

A 40 foot container around 4500 -5000 USD. Custom free if someone is a returning Thai citizen

Depends what you’re moving with and how much you really “need.”

Most rentals are furnished so don’t take any large pieces with you, not even TV.

I sold or gave away everything that wasn’t important and packed my whole life in 2 moving boxes and 2 suitcases. I paid the extra baggage fee.

lol, I had a bit of an existential crisis on that cab ride to the airport because I worked so hard for the home, car, and other things I filled them with that I thought defined my sense of self-worth and success.

That was 8 years ago. I no longer define my self-worth through the things I own (mostly) and I’m so glad I accepted that job offer.

Don’t do it, one large suitcase, move on 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏

I air freight 16 boxes in but the customs import tax was more than the air bill. I got a lawyer to negotiate the charge

Anything I needed to bring would fit into suitcases. Otherwise just purchase in Thailand.

I have lived here 2 years

I have a shipping container in Australia with “ stuff “ in it

Mainly from my parents ( deceased )

You need to detach yourself as much as you can from belongings & things

2 suit cases

“Just buy it all here.” We shipped seven boxes with a maritime shipping company and wished we’d shipped more.

Quality, well-fitting clothing that doesn’t cost 3x what it does at home is harder to come by than people let on (yes I know how tariffs work, but that doesn’t mean a brand name workout shirt doesn’t still cost $50+).

Small electronics like beard trimmers have been garbage for me so far, I’m using my old one (thank god I didn’t ‘leave everything behind!’) and spent the extra money to buy a quality piece from Amazon. Lazada and Shopee are absolute shite.

Quality supplements. You know, the kind that have ingredients lists and GMP decals with lot numbers? Yeah, still haven’t found them here. Had to buy online, tried two vendors from Lazada that wound up being obvious fakes, wound up spending extra on Amazon.

Office gear and electronics. Need a laptop stand for your desk? Fill light for your webcam? Desk clamp for the fill light? Decent microphone? Good luck. Plenty of cheap plastic crap meant for use with a cell phone but if you need a decent home office setup you gotta buy it online or bring it.

Stick deodorant that doesn’t ruin your shirts after three months. Doesn’t exist here. Glad I brought some.

Books. If you like physical books you’ll need to pay extra for Amazon import fees or trade with other expats because book stores here are very, very limited.

Lots more, no time to continue. But I disagree so hard with the whole “you can buy everything you need here” refrain.

I can’t even find a comfortable couch and chair set here. Everything is at 90° angles to look nice despite being completely non-functional.

Our seven smaller boxes cost us about USD $1,000 and took three months to arrive and was worth every penny. Wish we’d packed more.

Tea money...

Depends on from where… I shipped 4 pallets along with several boxes. Door to door l. It was about $350 ea. West coast of the US to Chiangmai.

It depends on what you’re planning on bringing. If you can get away with paying for a couple extra suitcases, do that.

If it’s furniture, you have to ask yourself if it’s really worth the expense of shipping it. Expensive and slow.

You can always buy new furniture there. If you’re renting a place, it might come with furniture.

Unless it’s sentimental, don’t make the mistake of paying more to ship it than it would be to replace it. Go onto site like Lazada and see what it would cost to replace. You might be surprised at how cheap it is.

From ?

You can ship it but it’s EXPENSIVE! I hope to get down to the 2 suitcases before I come!!!

Simply not worth it.

Leave it and buy here.

Shipping is the only way

Not sure what you plan to bring. Couple suitcases should be good.