I live most Winters for some month in Thailand and here I want to share some experiences with you, which may help you having an easier time here … it is mostly for people who spend over 5 month here a year ..

Btw I have a Motorcycle In Thailand info page at my website under https://www.kalka.org/thailand/motorcycle

Shopping

While most people think Thailand is a shopping paradise, it is actually quite the opposite. In Europe and the States I am an Amazon junkie, here you will have a hard time getting good things. For example a coffee machine that cost 350$ in Germany cost about 1100$ here. The same model and this is just one of many examples. Taxes reach from 100-600% .. Do not even try to get proper high end laptops or computers here, they won't sell. Better to find people who bring you this stuff from the States. There is nearly no chance to get a modern good dishwasher here and for a Tempur mattress that cost 2000$ in Germany they asked me 5800$. Yes you can buy a lot of cheap junk and some nice cheap clothes .. and amazing food …

Btw bring cash or use N26, I love this bank . (http://www.n26.com) they are the only ones who do not charge when you pay with their credit card and give you a great exchange rate … ATMs here charge 220bath extra and max you can get is 30k bath .. most credit cards charge 1.7% exchange rate .. good exchange place is Superrich (https://www.superrichthailand.com/#!/en)

A note Thailand sellers love to invent prices and write (1000$) now 300$ you save 700$ or 70% while it costs probably 150$ at Amazon ….

Online Shopping is about 5-10 years behind Europe, I think more 10 …

Some links

Price compare pages

http://th.priceprice.com, https://ipricethailand.com/ and https://www.priceza.com/ all pretty crap but better then none.

https://www.lazada.co.th/ - General Shopping
http://www.powerbuy.co.th/en/ - Electronics

https://www.jib.co.th - Computer Store
http://shoponline.bananastore.com/ - Computer Store

http://www.kaidee.com/ - Crappy but not many alternatives

https://www.homepro.co.th/?lang=en - Home Pro Hardware Store
http://mrdiy.co.th/ - Mr. D.I.Y. Hardware Store
http://www.thaiwatsadu.com/index.html - Thai Watsadu - Hardware Store
https://www.robinson.co.th/ - General Store

Food

http://foodland.co.th/ - Open 24/7 :)
http://www.villamarket.com/ - Good Food
https://www.bigc.co.th - BigC
https://shoponline.tescolotus.com - Tesco Lotus
http://www.tops.co.th/en/ - Tops

Most malls have a cinema on top and a deli somewhere, prices are pretty steep but often you will get original stuff. A full list is at wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shopping_malls_in_Bangkok

https://www.emporium.co.th/ - Emporium
https://www.emquartier.co.th/ - Em Quartier (Has a great restaurant Area
http://www.centralworld.co.th/index.php - Central World
http://www.siamparagon.co.th/ - Siam Paragon
http://www.central.co.th/en/ - Central
https://www.futurepark.co.th/th/home/ - Future Park Rangsit

http://www.theeramusic.com/ - Importer of many brands