Thailand for six months: how do I get my stuff there?

[NeverSure]

If you do bring the bike (I wouldn't) remember, the left side pedal is reverse threaded. Loosen it in the normal tightening direction or you'll go nuts, LOL.

[Gecko123]

Edit:

Personally, I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of shipping all that stuff back and forth with me.

If you were moving here permanently, that would be a different story, but shipping that stuff over and then back again, sounds like a big headache to me.

I could be wrong about this, but I think you may be underestimating the potential logistical difficulties of shipping your stuff back home (packing/shipping/pickup/customs)

I would only bring stuff over that I planned to have here on an on-going basis.

Maybe 1 guitar, and rent/purchase the other items.

[craigt3365]

Not sure about bringing several guitars here, but when i brought my Fender acoustic, the airport tried to dig out the built in pickup, Cos it set off the sensors. The rest of my guitars are still in the UK ( Gibson, Fender, Rickenbacker), i don't dare try to bring them here

Carrying on a guitar if originating from the US is dodgy. You'll probably be OK in the US, but when you transit in Japan, China, Taiwan, etc, all bets are off. Especially if you change airlines. At least that's what UA told me when I brought my Martin over. Having just spent 2k USD for it, I wasn't going to take a chance. I think it was $100 to check it. I got a very sturdy fiberglass case and all was well.

I think an electric might be easier as they are a big smaller than the larger acoustics.

[Langsuan Man]

If you keep to your plan you have got to learn to live life as a Gemini

You will better off to have two of everything, one for here and one for the US

The baggage charges will eventually exceed the value of what you want to bring back and forth, not to mention the hassles of dealing with it all twice a year

You will also find out after living here for six months that there are going to be some consumables that you will not be able to get in Thailand, use your baggage allowance for those things. Trust me you can fill up a suitcase with items that you cannot find here or are so expensive here that it is worth the trouble of bringing them over. A couple of boxes of real wine as an example (not the "fruit" crap we are forced to buy here). The list is endless so you should take advantage of the ability that you will have that most who live here full time don't

I come fully loaded with two suitcases inbound and leave with two empty suitcases outbound, which makes getting through US Customs a breeze. When I first started I would purchase new suitcases when in the US and leave them here. Eventually the cost of even "cheap" cloth suitcases became so high that it was worth the trouble to take back the empties and use them the next year

The final advantage is that it is real easy dealing with a couple of empty suitcase when arriving in the US, where sometimes it is a PITA to find a cart, and if you do, they are all around $5 now

[Goldbear]

Thanks for all of the replies. It's all food for thought. Take care.

[ubonr1971]

dude, if your going to use a shipping company from your home country investigate who is the agent in bangkok. Avoid farang owned agents as they will NOT have any dealings with customs and only their low class staff will do the negotiations. You will therefore be held by the balls by the staff member and the boss cant do anything. I had bad dealings with one thus be careful who the shipping agent is in bkk and better its thai national who is the boss.