| If you really
love shopping, our Bargain Paradise side trips will steer you to a bounty of bargains and a trove of treasures. Whether you're after hand-woven silks or hand-crafted furniture, sensuous celadon or pre-historic pottery, superlative silver or glittering gems, wacky t-shirts or tailored suits, heirloom antiques or funky folk art, you're sure to find it on sale in Bangkok's markets, street stalls and mega-malls. Select from the following itineraries, or plan your own, for a fun-filled day of discoveries. Our personal guide will assist you in translating, negotiating and navigating the maze of merchandise. Add an optional private, air-conditioned car to transport you and your booty from place to place
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Saturdays and Sundays only. Explore world-famous Chatuchak Market, the largest
shopping bazaar in the world, with more than 9000 shops and hawkers selling everything from antiques to livestock. Your personal guide will bargain on your behalf for that phallic rice pounder, Burmese sewing trunk or some of those Celadon espresso cups, a few bolts of Khmer silk and hand-crafted silver chopsticks, et cetera, et cetera. Snack at any one of the hundreds of delicious fresh food stalls that ring the market. Why not finish off your amazing day with a sunset dinner at a delightful riverside seafood restaurant?
A walking tour of eclectic, fascinating Chinatown. Hunt for bargains in the lively street markets of Sampeng - crammed with fabric, toys, produce, crafts, clothing and knickknacks - all at wholesale prices. Snack on delicious Thai sweets and fresh fruit as you wander through winding alleys where Thai life has changed little over generations. Along the way discover traditional herbal pharmacies, Chinese shrines, Buddhist religious supply shops or time-warp beauty salons proffering the hair-dos of long-dead starlets. Visit glimmering gold shops, bustling temples and hustling electronics showrooms. Wander through Old Siam Plaza with its staggering variety of goods and craft shops. Why not conclude your thrifty spree by dining on unusual Sino-Thai specialties in charming and un-touristy restaurants that ooze antique flavor from Chinatown's past?
A shopping expedition to some of the best Thai craft shops in the city. Begin at the enormous Narai Pahn, a government-sponsored bazaar where artisans sell their wares at wholesale prices. Here, you can buy those gorgeous gold Khon (Thai opera) masks you've seen in the windows of expensive shops, at just a fraction of the price; or hand-painted Benjarong (five color) ceramics, traditional musical instruments, inlaid mother-of-pearl boxes, exotic silk flowers, or triangular silk pillows. Next, visit The Legend, offering unusual and superior folks art: terra cotta miniature scenes of Thai life, sandalwood votive deities, baskets woven from pure silver, dozens of styles of handmade buttons and chopsticks, surreal animal carvings with secret compartments and smoked bamboo baskets. After lunch, visit Rasi Sayam (ask about the history of this old Thai home) which features outstanding regional crafts. Continue your binge at nearby boutiques specializing in Thai silk, rustic cotton fabric crafts, or Burmese antiques. Shopped out? A traditional Thai massage would be a soothing way to end your busy day.
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try your hand at
bargaining for silk of every imaginable color
gooey Thai sweets are
found in most markets
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Slice-of-life walking tours to visit three of Bangkok's large and lively traditional street markets. Stroll through sprawling Klong Toey, a thriving hive of hawker booths strung in and around four city blocks, and then wander through the maze of Pratunam, the wholesale clothing district where Bangkok's army of after-hours hostesses and boys-who-would-be-divas shop for show-stopping frocks. Snack as you go at delicious, fresh food carts or yummy noodle stands. End your afternoon exploring the maze of mini-shops in Siam Square.
 Where do Thailand's glamorous
nangfaa jahm laeng (angels in disguise), get their stunning beaded and embroidered evening gowns? We know the secret market stalls where the best-dressed cross-dressers go to find ultra-fabulous deals on hand-made dresses and feathered 'n sequined show-stoppers. Dream up your wildest design and return home with a stunning (and CHEAP!) custom creation. Our personal guide will take you to see the amazing range of costumes available and help translate during your fitting. There are lots of fabric and accessory stalls to choose from and we know the seamstresses who understand what it takes to make a big girl look llllleeerrrtt kaaa
(fabulous!).
Day Tour price: US$59
Day Tour price with private car and driver: US$113
NOTE: Rate includes private guide; rate excludes local transportation (unless private car is selected) and meals. Please buy lunch for the guide.
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