Duty Free shopping was once a huge attraction for travelers but in Thailand, I have great reservations about the prices you pay for most things. There are a few duty-free shops in town where goods can be pre-ordered and then picked up at the airport - you have to show your passport and airline ticket in order to make a purchase. I don’t think it is really worth it unless you are particularly short of time.

Many of the larger and more specialized shops now offer shipping abroad, and they will sort out the necessary documents and permits for this. Insurance should also be included. If you don't feel comfortable with this, there are specialized companies that will do it and sort out the arrangements for a fee. The GPO also has a parcel-wrapping service, and smaller items can be mailed from here. Another option is to go to the Thai Airways office on 485 Silom Road and, for a fee, they will ship them and sort out the documentation for you.

King Power Complex is Bangkok’s newest one stop service for tourists. The huge complex offers an amazing downtown duty free shopping experience. The building also has a sumptuous Thai restaurant, is about to open a spectacular theatre, and later this year will add a contemporary city hotel. It is situated on Sri Ayudhaya-Rangnam Road, Bangkok. Phone: 2677 8899.

Suvarnabhumi Airport features a lot of duty free shopping opportunities. While there is a wide selection of the standard duty free items - liquor, cigarettes, and perfume - there isn't much depth or variety. Don't expect a good selection of wines or liqueurs. You'll also find a lot of other kinds of goods, such as electronics, watches, books, and luggage. There's also a selection of way over-priced Thai products.

Dominating Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport duty free shopping is the aforementioned King Power group who have acres of space, quite literally. Duty-free prices at Bangkok airport in my experience are not great. With the Thai baht climbing against most other currencies and particularly against the US dollar (exchange rate roughly US$1=Bt34) a one litre bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label costs about US$30 compared with US$26 or less at some other airports.

While this is not quite the same as duty-free, you can claim a VAT refund from most of the major stores in town. To be eligible, you'll need a total shopping bill of at least Bt5,000 so give that credit card some serious exercise. The PP10 form requires your passport number (though you may not be asked to actually produce it), and your departure flight number. Once that's all neatly entered, sign, and off you go. But don’t pack goods in your check-in luggage.

Jewellery, watches, and gold purchases over Bt10,000 need to be inspected and other purchases may be checked at the airport. After immigration head for the VAT refund counter and present your credentials to get some cash in hand for that much-needed snack and coffee.

Shopping has become of the main universal past-times – ‘retail therapy’ must be one of the most clichéd expressions. For those of you, like me, who get a high from finding a bargain, Bangkok is paradise.

Our first port of call was the Pratanum market (near the Amari Watergate hotel), which was recommended to me as less touristy and better value than Patpong. It was after 8:00 when we arrived so unfortunately it was closing up.

On to Patpong. Patpong is a surreal place –strip clubs tripping over stalls of souvenirs, knocked off designer-stuff. It’s a great people-watching place. The ugliness of the Western men seems to be in inverse proportion to the beauty of the go-go girls. Fair play to the girls; they really get their escorts to lighten their wallets at the market. I felt safe in Patpong although it’s so crowded I would say it is a Mecca for pickpockets.

Be prepared to bargain and you will find good value – I got a good quality Ralph Lauren polo shirt for €2, an Oriental dressing gown for €6, a teddy for €2. Avoid the bootlegs CDs – the sound quality is very poor.

Our next port of call was MBK (Mah Boon Kong)mall. It’s a huge shopping centre (seven floors) near the National Stadium Sky Train stop. MBK is a bit like an air-conditioned market. There is a lot of trash but there are a few bargains to be had e.g. a real leather wallet for €2. After all the frenetic activity you can relax by having a facial on the third floor for under €10.

I definitely think you should leave a bit of room in your luggage for shopping in Bangkok but be warned: most of the ware is on the cheap and cheerful end of the spectrum.

Mega-stores all over Bangkok sell branded items but these stores are especially more densely located around the World Trade Centre and Sarangon Road.

Shopping for clothes is a special treat. Almost all international brands are freely available at these stores and most of the time there are discount sales as well.

So if you are patient and enjoy spending days at a stretch for shopping, you are bound to get branded products at amazing bargains.