Visiting thailand: best not to bring vaping gear?

Hi there, I'll be visiting Thailand in a few weeks and just read the very recent thread about vaping being illegal in public. Would you recommend not to bring vaping gear with me? I'll be staying 6 weeks, i.e. I'd bring approx. 40 bottles of e-liquid with me. Could this amount get me in trouble?

 

There is a risk of confiscation and maybe a fine for that many bottles. Maybe consider bringing in your gear packed away as separate items and consider buying juice whilst you are here from one of the local vendors. If the juice you have is important then maybe consider putting it into another bottle like shampoo or lotion instead. Better safe than sorry.

Mono

 

I just came back from a trip to Chiang Mai.

I took my batteries out of my aromatherapy devices and carried them in my hand carry luggage. 6 bottles of flavour liquid, several pre-made coils, tanks, everything taken appart as much as possible and pieces packed seperated in my check-in. Aroma liquid was in my toiletries bag. No prob. I am always traveling like this, hoping if I keep low profile nobody will bother.

I did not know about the trouble to come up now but guessed it would come one day, as I thought that Siam is following the premium city's example, not only for vaping. (To my surprise there are meanwhile more websites blocked than here).

BTW I don't buy apparatus with integrated batteries anymore, regardless what it is.

 

Given the current climate, I'd be inclined to put whatever you can in your checked bag, discretely packaged as best you can. And buy nicotine gum or patches for the entire journey, so no need to vape. Batteries aren't allowed in checked, so have to go in carry on, @Lotta gives good advice, separate 18650s, with perhaps an 18650 torch or power bank in with them, so they have a use other than vaping.

No one here will give you any assurance that "it's cool" right now, so it's your own risk. Probably it will be ok.

 

To answer your question, yes, if you want 100% assurance that you will not be fined or arrested then it is best to leave your vape gear at home. (If you've read the recent warnings on this forum then you know the risks.)

Resign yourself to a vape-free vacation. If the nicotine urge is to much, pick up a pack of Thailand's own Wonder Dang cigarettes to hold you over.

If you cant live without your vape, you could consider changing your vacation plans to a more vape-friendly country.

 

Stories like that don't really prove anything, you could have put some drugs in your suitcase and the result would have been the same.
My luggage and carry on has never been checked in many national or international flights but it can happen randomly. If there is just as low as a 1 or 2% chance of getting your stuff checked, and if the discovery of vaping gear can get you huge hassle with a big fine, a few days in jail and some legal shenanigans, it's not worth the risk. I'll be flying to Bangkok next week and I don't think I will bring anything with me, we are still not sure about the official position about vaping.

 

To me it seems that's outdated.
Since last November at least in Asia (that's where I travel, and mostly in between Singapore, China and Thailand) suitcases are electronically scanned. Regular scanning started when the lithium battery rule was implemented. Before there were random checks, my experience is now most are scanned. They certainly can also see other items on sceen and decide on basis of shape and shade.

 

I always travel with my mod and tank juice and batterys in my hand luggage. Can't have batteries in check in luggage. For domestic flights in Thailand. And I vape in the toilets In don muang or wherever. Even seen Thai people vape in the toilets. Cleaning lady's never said anything...

Sent from my T03 using Tapatalk

 

Wow, thank you for all the replies. Still on the fence, but leaning towards leaving everything home. I'm traveling with my wife and kid and I think they'd find it pretty traumatic if I end in jail
Yes, they're 10ml bottles. I never realised approximately a bottle a day is considered a lot. But that's what I consume, so yes it's strictly for personal use.

Are alternatives easily obtained? Nicotine patches, gum et cetera? I.e. can I simply buy those in the drug store?
I also had another idea, what if I'd obtain a medical declaration (in English) saying I need to vape. My lungs are in a pretty bad state and if I'd restart smoking it could be fatal on a short term.

 

I'd take 5 in each toiletries back, and for the rest care during stay. Trust the x-perts here, they'll send you onto the right roadways.

 

Yes, I can. But yeah, they're not quite as satisfying as vaping.

I think I can pull it off, my doctor's really concerned I restart smoking.

In the mean time I received an answer from the Thai Consulate here saying they don't know whether I'll be allowed to use an e-cigarette. I.e. _nobody_ knows what the official situation is

**Updated**

Answer from the embassy, as expected:

 

I like that idea.
Ask your doctor to describe your mod as a medical device in his note.
May not work, but certainly gives you a valid point of argument.

 

Never tried myself, but maybe try buying from TV vendors in advance. If you have a hotel booked, they'll probably sign the EMS receipt for you, if you arrange it with the management. vVv will probably have a flavour of juice you can vape. Maybe get batteries the same way. Then spread the components of your mod among your luggage.