Travelling with suitcase or backpack and renting

[mimisalah]

Hi everyone,

My goal for the end of the year (hopefully) is to go to Thailand and stay for approx 6 months.

I was thinking about the little things that was probably going to cause me issues such as travelling with a large suitcase.

When I went to Thailand last year it made me realize I took way to much stuff with me! I had a suit case, a big gym bag and a backpack and it was so annoying.

I'm thinking this year I may go with just a small suitcase and a handbag which I could use for my phone, passport and camera, just so I wont have any issues travelling from Chang Mai to Bangkok and then to Pattaya.

I'd like to know what are your thoughts and experiences on this ? How do you get around when you're travelling far from where you're staying ? Do you leave your stuff in your apartment or do you take everything with you ?

Cheers :)

[radarjam]

Hi everyone,

My goal for the end of the year (hopefully) is to go to Thailand and stay for approx 6 months.

I was thinking about the little things that was probably going to cause me issues such as travelling with a large suitcase.

When I went to Thailand last year it made me realize I took way to much stuff with me! I had a suit case, a big gym bag and a backpack and it was so annoying.

I'm thinking this year I may go with just a small suitcase and a handbag which I could use for my phone, passport and camera, just so I wont have any issues travelling from Chang Mai to Bangkok and then to Pattaya.

I'd like to know what are your thoughts and experiences on this ? How do you get around when you're travelling far from where you're staying ? Do you leave your stuff in your apartment or do you take everything with you ?

Cheers :)

I was in Thailand back in August for 2 weeks - i brought a carry on backpack and a small duffle bag and I was totally fine haha. I kind of wished I had bigger space so that I can bring some goodies back home, but I knew I'd be coming back soon so it wasn't too worried at the time.. (I'm literally coming back in 2 weeks for 1 month, woohoo!) But seriously, with less things to carry around with you it is so much better than having to lug around extra things you may not need.

I can't imagine taking every single baggage with me other than my purse/gym bag when I go around. I trust my accommodation/apartment enough to be reliable to not steal anything.... and I know its quite oblivious of me but regardless, try to be conscious at all times. It's good to keep things at a safe place (rather out of sight) and if they have a small locker for your valuables, go ahead and stash it...  Always have extra copies of your passport; I don't feel comfortable keeping my actual passport around just because there might be a chance that my purse might get stolen or I might lose it.

On my next trip, I'm planning of bringing the same backpack for carry on, my duffle bag (its packable so I'll have it with me in case I need it) and a checked in luggage for extra things I want to bring back home (like new gloves/shin guards/etc) but it will definitely be super light when I arrive in Thailand (Chiang Mai) 

Also try not to bring too much clothing and extra stuff....just think about what you can purchase in Thailand easily (because its soooo cheap) For example, Muay Thai shorts, gloves, shin-guards, toiletries, clothing, etc. 

Hope this helps! 

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

A lot of folks who I've seen come and go just have a backpacker's sized backpack for everything and then a gym bag for going to/from the gym. If you're going between places then you just want to be able to carry everything by yourself. Most of the folks I see who want to bring things home with them will buy a suitcase at the night market (they're inexpensive and pretty crappy, but they get your stuff home) and put all their purchases from the trip in there, so you literally go home with more luggage than you came with and you only have to carry it on your way out.

A lot of folk buy their equipment here instead of packing from home - gloves and shinguards for training. As long as you have a coin-machine laundry option wherever you stay, you can get away with packing WAY less clothing than if you have to pay per kilo or wash by hand in your apartment.

[bakpao]

I got a like 30 or 40L backpack with all my stuff in, then a small backpack I use for travelling around. Suitcase is too annoying for me.