General Reports

[Syzygies]

I have never seen Thai Customs search anyone at any Thai airports, so having many bottles in your check in bags might get thru. But somewhere they might be scanning bags. If yours get flagged, you loose.

Good Luck.

RL.

I had more than one cheap bottle from Italy I believe, and got through no problem. I don't know what it is about me, but Thai customs are never interested in me or my bags. If you are Chinese though, that maybe very different. So I am sure racial discrimination / profiling is going on.

One is more likely to have bag searched in home country. Never been checked in Europe either.

A gas cigarette lighter was once taken out of my luggage from Germany though, so I guess they xray for specific things. I don't believe it had any gas in it, most likely. Memory fades.

[Red Kilt]

<SNIP> And BTW, Duty Free is far from Free. Most of the prices are normal retail prices in the USA or even higher.

I have done a simple price comparison on several so-called duty-free items in HK, Incheon and Guam in trips over the past 3 months, and I can state with certainty that I can buy the same items in the SM liquor stores in Manila at the same or cheaper prices in Manila.

My reference points were Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Glenfiddich and Tanqueray gin. Each were cheaper in Manila and I didn't need to carry them on the plane.

[Penguin69]

Of course you know that you can't carry on liquid for more than one flight? You need to put into checked luggage. And there is a maximum amount that you can legally enter the country with in your position. I think it is 1 liter.

I always enter Thailand from Taiwan and I buy one liter of Martel Cordon Blu. The best Cognac on Earth. And BTW, Duty Free is far from Free. Most of the prices are normal retail prices in the USA or even higher.

I have never seen Thai Customs search anyone at any Thai airports, so having many bottles in your check in bags might get thru. But somewhere they might be scanning bags. If yours get flagged, you loose.

Good Luck.

RL.

I don't know specifically about champagne, however King Power Duty Free in Thailand is a big rip off place for many items, imported items and alcohol not particularly cheap, ladies creams and perfumes not that cheap either, imported chocolate prices terrible. Then again I can't say if Hanoi is any better. I bought Pink Moet in Germany rather than try to buy here. Other alcohol bought very cheaply in Italy.

Supermarkets here have very steep prices for imported goods of quality. There are agents that don't do anything making a fortune in the mark up of the prices.

Maybe someone else will know a lot more specifics about champagne here. You might be able to order delivery from somewhere with a much better deal.

Thanks for input fellas.

As I live in Italy, purchasing here and taking a bottle could work. All my next trip legs have luggage check in option if needed so I could do that.

The reason for this question is that my booked hotel in Phuket doesn't sell booze in room service. Not really a big problem as I'm not a big drinker these days. I want a source for the Champagne for this occasion only. Maybe there are local shopping options in Phuket? I generally hate supermarkets so last visit to SEA gave me reason to avoid them completely as eating out is so reasonable. I'm guessing even if I found a local supermarket selling it, it still might not be as cheap as Italy.

[Robert Long]

I'm flying Hanoi to Phuket via Bangkok DMK. I want to buy some champagne for Phuket stay.

I'd be interested to know availability and range of prices at DMK as I could wait to buy in Phuket if lower (any recs on places to purchase in Phuket welcome too).

Buying in Hanoi could be an option, if worth it, as I could buy duty free I imagine, heading to Thailand. (I have checked luggage).

Thanks.

Of course you know that you can't carry on liquid for more than one flight? You need to put into checked luggage. And there is a maximum amount that you can legally enter the country with in your position. I think it is 1 liter.

I always enter Thailand from Taiwan and I buy one liter of Martel Cordon Blu. The best Cognac on Earth. And BTW, Duty Free is far from Free. Most of the prices are normal retail prices in the USA or even higher.

I have never seen Thai Customs search anyone at any Thai airports, so having many bottles in your check in bags might get thru. But somewhere they might be scanning bags. If yours get flagged, you loose.

Good Luck.

RL.

[MongerForSex]

Anyone is retired in Thailand? Life is good in Thailand? I would like to retire in Asia (Thailand maybe).

[Syzygies]

I'm flying Hanoi to Phuket via Bangkok DMK. I want to buy some champagne for Phuket stay.

I'd be interested to know availability and range of prices at DMK as I could wait to buy in Phuket if lower (any recs on places to purchase in Phuket welcome too).

Buying in Hanoi could be an option, if worth it, as I could buy duty free I imagine, heading to Thailand. (I have checked luggage).

Thanks.

I don't know specifically about champagne, however King Power Duty Free in Thailand is a big rip off place for many items, imported items and alcohol not particularly cheap, ladies creams and perfumes not that cheap either, imported chocolate prices terrible. Then again I can't say if Hanoi is any better. I bought Pink Moet in Germany rather than try to buy here. Other alcohol bought very cheaply in Italy.

Supermarkets here have very steep prices for imported goods of quality. There are agents that don't do anything making a fortune in the mark up of the prices.

Maybe someone else will know a lot more specifics about champagne here. You might be able to order delivery from somewhere with a much better deal.

[Penguin69]

I'm flying Hanoi to Phuket via Bangkok DMK. I want to buy some champagne for Phuket stay.

I'd be interested to know availability and range of prices at DMK as I could wait to buy in Phuket if lower (any recs on places to purchase in Phuket welcome too).

Buying in Hanoi could be an option, if worth it, as I could buy duty free I imagine, heading to Thailand. (I have checked luggage).

Thanks.

[Penguin69]

I had the Honda 2000 Inverter, very quiet. Cost me $845.00 in 2005, sold it when I sold my house for $850.00, in 2015. Brand names always hold their price. And yes I only used it 4 time in all those years. Smart to have one around, I was the only one with lights in my valley.

RL.

It won't happen in my lifetime? But if it ever opens up NK, it will be the new frontier of mongering? I remember the 70's. Early 80's the South? Those were the days.

Where else can one find a discussion about sex tourism advice in North Korea and power generators!?

To be honest my post was just curiosity about the motives of the member visiting NK. I as much guessed it wasn't for hobbying, but one can't be sure. Everyone likes a challenge.

[Robert Long]

So right but you just don't know about people then it being Thailand better be sure if you have family members here! I got mines from an Auction house prior I had checked the cost of course if you buy name here the cost is going to be much harder. I don't know the Bison name but if it works go with it, not like one needs to use it daily. Had it for 5 years use it twice funny how things work as soon as you get one the power never goes out? Still does but not for long periods I spend more time keeping it tuned and from being rusted?

I had the Honda 2000 Inverter, very quiet. Cost me $845.00 in 2005, sold it when I sold my house for $850.00, in 2015. Brand names always hold their price. And yes I only used it 4 time in all those years. Smart to have one around, I was the only one with lights in my valley.

RL.

[LittleBigMan]

NORTH Korea? Ah, my mistake. I'm not sure why anyone would want to even try that there but to each their own.

It won't happen in my lifetime? But if it ever opens up NK, it will be the new frontier of mongering? I remember the 70's. Early 80's the South? Those were the days.

[LittleBigMan]

Mine is a bit cheaper for fairly lower total power requirements, not Honda brand. Hard to know if "Bison" name is reliable or not.

Yes definitely for outdoors, like would not use a petrol engine indoors for any other things.

So right but you just don't know about people then it being Thailand better be sure if you have family members here! I got mines from an Auction house prior I had checked the cost of course if you buy name here the cost is going to be much harder. I don't know the Bison name but if it works go with it, not like one needs to use it daily. Had it for 5 years use it twice funny how things work as soon as you get one the power never goes out? Still does but not for long periods I spend more time keeping it tuned and from being rusted?

[Nother Monger]

OP was asking about North Korea. Pretty sure there is no hobbying there for a Farang.

NORTH Korea? Ah, my mistake. I'm not sure why anyone would want to even try that there but to each their own.

[Bouvis]

Mine is a bit cheaper for fairly lower total power requirements, not Honda brand. Hard to know if "Bison" name is reliable or not.

Yes definitely for outdoors, like would not use a petrol engine indoors for any other things.

Get a generator set up with an automatic change over switch and use a diesel generator.

http://www.generatorsolutions.org

[EihTooms]

...

I think a generator is good for outages more than 10 minutes, of course you don't know how long it is going to be. I would also suggest lamps with rechargeable batteries over candles. Generators do make some noise, but not as bad as dogs barking, roosters crowing, ha ha.
...

On the subject of candles, those fake but quite realisitic looking battery operated candles you see for sale in shops and on some vendor tables around town (300-500 baht for medium size ones) are great for creating a romantic candlelight atmosphere in a room without the smell, melting wax and open flame heat generated by real candles. Two D Cell batteries seem to last longer than the several hours claimed on the product.

This is not exactly addressing the power blackout minus a generator issue since one of the last things you'd want to do during a power blackout in Thailand with no aircon and no functioning fan is create a romantic atmosphere. LOL.

But I keep a couple of them on hand to sometimes add to the atmosphere when all the electric appliances are functioning. And, in fact, they do come in handy to light up a bathroom in order to take a cool shower or tend to other things during power blackouts without draining your smartphone battery firing up a flashlight app for the purpose. Again, absent a generator.

Those fake candles are so damned realistic and so much less hassle than real candles I wonder why anyone but the truly poor buy real candles anymore. Other than birthday cake candles, that is.

Hey, you can create a candlelight ambience in your room without the aircon and fan blowing out a real flame because there is no real flame, only an amazing simulation of one. LOL.

[Banana Boi]

If you're not Korean, the options are going to be limited. In terms of least to most expensive: either you go to one of the few remaining RLDs, a massage parlor, or go to a room salon / booking club (and spend lots of money. Think over $300 USD before any P4 P).

There might be some Officetels that will allow foreigners, but prices range from $150 USD - $1000 k USD for the VIP ones, and that doesn't include any price gouging they may try. In other words, Thailand is much, much cheaper.

OP was asking about North Korea. Pretty sure there is no hobbying there for a Farang.