FN Outlet Ayutthaya

Think of this as the reward you give yourself after a morning of ruins. It's an outlet centre out at Bang Pa-in, well clear of the historic zone, selling discounted fashion, shoes, accessories and home goods under one air-conditioned roof. Prices sit below normal retail, which is the whole point, and the mix of stores covers a fair spread of budgets.

What I like about it is the pace. Nobody's elbowing you, nothing feels like a Bangkok mall on a Saturday, and you can wander at whatever speed suits you. That also means it's not somewhere to sprint through in twenty minutes. If you're the type who resents shopping on holiday, skip it entirely and put the time into the temples instead. If you're travelling with someone who's had their fill of brick and laterite by lunchtime, it buys you a peaceful couple of hours.

It pairs naturally with Bang Pa-in Royal Palace, since you're already out that way, and the cool interior is genuinely welcome once the afternoon heat sets in.