Bangkok likes to market itself as something of a fashion hub, and with some justification. Many areas have a cosmopolitan feel and locals tend to follow trends with relish. That results in plenty of great opportunities for buying clothes.

Siam Paragon is the jewel in the crown for Bangkok fashion. Gucci, Versace, D&G, Armani, Hugo Boss and Jimmy Choo all have outlets here. Almost as fancy is The Emporium, which can boast the likes of Louis Vuitton, DKNY and Paul Smith.

Should you still have room left on your credit card, Gaysorn Plaza is a good place to shell out some more inside its glamorous, mega-posh stores. It also has a good range of items from Thai designers. Just across from Gayson is the recently re-built CentralWorld. It has slightly humble names, such as Marks and Spencer and Calvin Klein. Down in Pattaya, Central Festival is Southeast Asia’s largest beachfront mall, but there are also plenty of independent stores