I would like to purchase a mobile phone in Bangkok on my upcoming trip and as I am travelling alone and not very savvy with technology need some advice. How will I know if the phone purchased will work in Australia. Can anyone recommend where to get the best deal/service. Any help would be much appreciated.

Try MBK (National Stadium on he BTS) It has whole floors of mobile phones for sale .....zillions....both new and second hand. They are all unlocked and all you have to do is buy a simcard (very cheap here).

I can't see any reason why they they wouldn't work with an Australian simcard too ... not that I'm that technogically savvy myself.

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I had a look at the MBK floor that Fio mentioned, lots and lots of choices. BUT they were quite expensive compared to the phone you can buy in NZ, so I didn't replace the one I got water logged (my drink bottle leaked in my bag). Have a look around at home first as there are some very good deals out there, and get a good idea of how much you could get one at home before buying one in Thailand would be my advice.

There are definately pros and cons.I don't know about NZ but in Aus all the good phone deals include a locked phone which means that you can't use a sim card from another country while on holiday.The only allternatives are to pay to have your phone unlocked or use international roaming which can be very expensive.
Friend of mine wanted an unlocked phone purley to use on holidays so she purchased one from Cash Converters (2nd hand) and it has worked a treat both in Bali and Thailand
Cheers laurs