The rate of returned visitors to Thailand is rumored to be rather high, but that is hardly a surprise because of so many options to spend your time, and money, in a country that is much cheaper than most.
That being said, if you want to invest a little bit more than with the usual t-shirts and knick-knacks, Thailand offers a wealth of goods to be treasured for the serious collector for years to come.
The country is manageable in size and the infrastructure is good enough to make the transport of purchased goods back home painless.
So, if you want to make a shopping holiday out of your time in Thailand, you can most certainly have a good, and efficient, time in doing so.
Below are some substantial items to consider and the best places and tips for buying them: Furniture: Head up to the northern provinces of Thailand where woodworking is at its most refined.
Coupled with a traditional respect to the craft, there are now newer and more modern designers making fantastic new creations.
Think a gigantic bamboo chair woven into a nest, with a soft cushion at the center resembling an exquisite egg.
Truly one-of-a-kind dining sets, often featuring solid slabs of ancient wood, are also a popular choice.
Most reputable places will have literature on how the wood was procured (ecologically, that is), but in general you will have to pay more for this assurance.
Head to Chiang Mai province, an easy flight from Bangkok, and start your search there.
Art: There is a vibrant art scene within Bangkok, most notably in the heart of the city.
Of course, pottery and traditional artisan goods are widely available at most major shopping centers (just ask the concierge at the hotel).
However, the two neighborhoods not to miss are Jatutak (or Chatuchak) where a large weekend bazaar offers some of the most avant-garde paintings and sculptures by younger, up-and-coming artists.
More serious collectors should head to the galleries in the Lung Suan district, with notable galleries mainly lining Ton Son Street (Soi Ton Son).
The selected pieces are curated by a giant art personality in Bangkok.
Silk: Most people who visit Thailand know the legend of the American CIA agent Jim Thompson who revived the Thai silk aesthetic and commercial trade (and then mysteriously disappeared).
Though a visit to the Bangkok chain of stores named after this expatriate will give you a modern take on this ancient craft, a trip to the northeastern part of Thailand, such as to the province of Ubon Ratchathani, offers something much more exquisite.
Think handmade, shimmering cloth that takes months to weave (by hand, of course): Some employ gold and silver threads interwoven between silk ones.
Tailoring these gorgeous specimens into a gown is quite easy, as getting clothes custom-made is not a foreign concept in Thailand.
Ask the place where you bought the silk for a recommendation, as these artisans work closely together.
Recycled wood: Perhaps an odd selection to include in this article, but given the eco-conscious environment in which we live, purchasing slabs of wood that have been used before is an increasingly popular activity, especially for these looking to build a dwelling in Thailand.
Head to the frequently flooded province of Ayutthaya (just a couple of hours north of Bangkok) where traditional Thai homes, most of the time made with teak or other hard word, are always getting disassembled and rebuild into a new dwelling.
There are many spots where one can find entire roofs or solid wood flooring for sale at prices that are cheaper than buying newly manufactured, artificial building materials.
If building a new home is not in the budget, artisans often work the smaller pieces of wood into beautiful carvings that are easily transported in separate pieces to be reassembled (quite easily) at the destination.