Good advice! (Assuming you're traveling from EU/USA etc. - Thai prices might not look so cheap if you are originating in Cambodia/China/Philippines etc!)

Except be aware that western customs officers (at least, based on my UK experience) are on the look out for people who travel out with no luggage and arrive with lots, and, if "Which country is this Samsonite bag sold in?" was a specialist subject on Jeopardy, then my understanding is that customs officers would ace it!

(I found this out when I had one of my bags replaced in (I think) SIN due to mishandling, and was surprised at the level of interest that customs showed in it on my return - they explained that they'd targeted me because they knew the luggage I had was only sold in the Far east....)

So, if you've already got luggage, and don't want to raise any red flags, you might want to take it out with you empty (Old telephone directories are good, I understand...).

Ken.

Willard the Bear - My clothes also raise some questions during customs inspections! What do they want me to do, wear the same outfit for the whole trip?!