Saturday, December 13, 2008

Buying Custom Made Clothing From Tailors in Chiang Mai, Thailand

You are on vacation and you wander by a clothing shop and someone sitting out front says to you. "Good Evening sir, you want a nice suit?".

This happens often here in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit each year and are drawn by the culture, prices, delicious food and shopping bargains.

There are hundreds of custom clothing shops in this city. They look alike with a person of Indian descent sitting out front trying to entice visitors into the shop. Inside the shop are rolls of fabric from which to select material for dresses, shirts, overcoats, suits, slacks, and pants.

Would you know if the prices and quality are a deal?

I wouldn't have know until I did some research and actually visited a number of these clothing shops. What I discovered is the following:

The clothes are extremely well made and can even be ordered over the internet and delivered anywhere in the world at a savings over the price in the home country.

The suits that I saw which had been completed and ready to be picked up or sent abroad were similar to what I would have seen in Canada. The differences that I noticed are that you can have the suit made exactly the way you want, and to fit you perfectly.

If you are short you may want longer pants so you appear taller. If you are overweight you may want the suit longer and larger than normal.

For the ladies the same applies. The clothing can be made to bring out your best physical characteristics and hide the qualities you do not like in your physical makeup.

That is one of the main features of buying custom made clothing.

The other is price. Here in Chiang Mai you can buy a tuxedo for less than the rental price back home. Should you need to dress up for a fancy restaurant or theatre or opera the tuxedo is there waiting for you. When you go to a restaurant dressed in a tux you will be given the best table.

I noticed shirts that were custom made and I really liked them. The lapels were rounded in one shirt and stiff and I loved the material. I also noticed that they can embroider your initials on the lapel or on the sleeve and that is a nice touch which shows people that you are wearing a premium custom made garment.

For ladies, men and children clothes are custom made and everyone in the family can look their best at a price that is lower or much lower than back home.

Why buy off the rack a suit that does not fit perfectly. Even a suit off the rack that is altered will not look as good as a custom made suit.

So if you are even visiting Thailand, and Chiang Mai visit the clothing shops. Free transportation if you buy something and they all speak English.

Go back home with extra clothing in your luggage and you will probably not even pay any sales taxes or duty on the articles you purchased.

We recommend (contact us for our recommendations).

You will be treated like royalty when you enter the shop and look like a prince or princess when you put on the clothing you ordered.

A great vacation and part or most of it paid for by the savings in custom made clothing.

Often customers are so pleased with the clothing they re-order by phone or over the internet.

Chiang Mai Markets, Thailand - Handicraft Shopping Paradise

Chiang Mai is shopping paradise for most travelers because of its unequaled abundance of handicrafts and quaint local goods sold at very affordable prices. Shopping venues are scattered around the city both at day and night; the range of products for sale is vast and many visitors to Chiang Mai include an extra empty bag to their shopping list in order to haul the bounty home. Each of several famous markets has gained recognition and nationwide popularity as the best overall place for buying quality hand-made products at very reasonable prices. As Chiang Mai is a well established tourist destination, finding accommodations and getting around the city are not something to worry about.


Chiang Mai is recognized as one of the handicrafts centers of Asia because it has a very large system of street markets and local markets that are very easily accessible. The markets trace down many blocks along bustling streets and that sometimes seem to have no end. The limiting factor in how much market you will be able to cover may often depend on how far you want to go before your feet tire out. The products are available in a vast variety including a wide range of wood work, silk products, silver art and jewelry, clothing, ceramics, interior decor, antiques, Buddhist art, lacquer work, and the list goes on…


Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is the most well known night market in Thailand, taking up about 10 square blocks centered on Chang Klan road in central Chiang Mai. It is easy to spend a whole night just strolling past hundreds of street-side stalls and indoor arcades. The Night Bazaar is a great place to shop for exotic and beautiful handcrafted goods created by local artisans and skilled crafts-persons from the surrounding villages. The quality is generally high and some very good values can by found, especially if you are skilled at bartering a good deal.


Chiang Mai Walking Street can be a very nice alternative to the more hectic Night Bazaar and prices are aimed more at the locals so prices are generally low; so much that often there is no room to negotiate a bargain. The Walking Street Market is open only on Sundays and is a definite must see because the atmosphere is very relaxed, the market street is quite beautiful and this is an excellent place to mingle with the wonderful Thai people and to find fantastic bargains. The entire Walking Street is about 1 kilometer long and runs the entire length of Ratchadamneurn Road beginning at Thapae Gate and ending at Wat Prasing. Apart from a wide range of hand-made products on offer, one can also enjoy many Thai food stalls, street performances of a traditional nature, and also some much need massage and foot massage.


More serious shoppers can go directly to the villages and factories that manufacture handicrafts and other products and offer for wholesale at San Kamphaeng. Borsang village, just before San Kamphaeng, also has many shops offering a range of handicrafts and is renowned for its unique Borsang umbrellas. Baan Tawai just south of Chiang Mai is home to a wide range of wood carving, wood décor, and other handicrafts.


Chiang Mai is also popular for the diverse ethnic arts that you can find many hill tribe shops across the city. One recommended hill tribe shop is the Hill Tribe Products Promotion Center on Suthep Road next to Suan Dok Temple. It was established by His Majesty the King to promote the products created by 6 different tribes in Chiang Mai including Akha, Karen, Yao, Hmong, Lisu, and Lahu. This is aimed at generating alternative income to replace a reliance on opium cultivation in the past. Shop here for unique ethnic goods and help the hill tribe people.


Those who are interested in modern shops of the much more commercial variety, there are two big shopping centers: Kad Suan Kaew Plaza and Central Airport Plaza. The latter is relatively new and less than 5 minutes from the Chiang Mai International Airport. Panthip Plaza on the same road as Night Bazaar is ideal for techy people who are looking for computers and electronic gadgets with many discounts and a wide range of technical product available at good prices.


Chiang Mai offers more than shopping venues. It is a friendly and beautiful city with rich history steeped in Thai Lanna culture. Hundreds of temples and historical sites are found everywhere across the city and it is very easy to head out of the city to some spectacular natural areas. When not shopping, a visitor can enjoy waterfalls, elephant shows, and trekking tours. Some may be attracted by the more adventurous activities such as white water rafting, bungee jumping and paintball battle. Whatever you could ask for in a trip, Chiang Mai can offer… plus a whole lot more.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Bangkok Hotels: Feel the Thai Charm

Bangkok, the capital as well as the most important city of Thailand has emerged over the years as an important holiday destination. There is no dearth of leisure or recreational activities in this Thai city. You can either opt for a ferry ride down the river or a cruise tour. During your trip to Bangkok you can visit the religious and historical sites.

You will find a rich collection of Bangkok hotel which serve you in the best possible manner. At Bangkok, you must treat yourself to the International and local delicacies served by the restaurants of this city. A trip to this city would definitely remain incomplete without exploring the nightlife, which is truly rocking.

Accommodation
At the city of Bangkok, you would come across numerous accommodation facilities ranging from five star hotels to four star hotels and two star hotels to bed and breakfast hotels.. However, almost all the hotels in Bangkok are well suited to meet the needs of the business and leisure travelers. Bangkok hotels are concentrated in the areas like, Sukhumvit, Silom, Rattanakosin, Thonburi, and Phahonyothin

The well known five star hotels in Bangkok are the Hotel Intercontinental, The Metropolitan, the Amari Watergate Hotel and the Bangkok Mariott Resort and Spa. These luxury hotels offer opulent accommodation facilities, top class business facilities and a host of recreational activities. The in house restaurants of these Bangkok hotels offer exquisite dining options in the form of global cuisine.

The budget hotels in Bangkok are ideal for spending your days in this city in a comfortable manner and at a much low rate. The rooms of the budget hotels are done up well and features the necessary amenities. The economy hotels like Plaza Hotel, Rex Hotel, Zenith Sukhumvit Hotel, and the Swiss Lodge are widely preferred by the guests

The recreational facility of most of the budget hotels includes an outdoor pool. The services that are offered by these economy hotels have been designed to ensure you a satisfying stay. Some of the hotels in Bangkok also conduct tours to the sightseeing areas in and around Bangkok.

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