Eight Day Adventure To The Beautiful Country of Thailand

In February 2024, I made a 1 hr 40 minute trip to Bangkok, Thailand from Da Nang, Vietnam. I was already in Vietnam for my second international solo trip that I decided to combine with Thailand. I flew with Vietjet Air, a Vietnamese budget airline. Thailand was not a country that I already had on my bucket list. I had read about people’s experiences in Thailand and thought it would be a great place to explore. After spending 15 hours to get to Asia, I was going to make the most of it and spend two weeks on the continent.

Thailand is a beautiful and historical country with a wide variety of travel experiences. Although it is a popular tourist destination, some parts of the country are overlooked. From its phenomenal food, tropical and silky soft beaches, beautiful and opulent architecture, ancient ruins, jungle-draped mountains, and intimate cultural getaways, there is something for everyone.

For anyone planning a trip to Thailand or considering it as a possible destination, here is a travel guide to help you plan your trip there and make the most of it.

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About Thailand

Some people associate Thailand for its tropical beaches, romantic getaway islands and its friendly people. While those things do play a part in its ability to draw travellers to its location, this destination has much more to offer. Thailand is a Southeast Asian country located in the centre of the Indochina peninsula bordering Myanmar on the northwest side, Laos on the northeast side, Cambodia on the southeast and the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia on the south. In addition, it shares maritime borders with Vietnam on the southeast and Indonesia and India on the southwest. It’s perfect country to combine with other Southeast Asian countries for a longer trip. Thailand seamlessly blends the past and the present. It’s a place for retreats and peacefulness.

The Best Time To Go To Thailand

Thailand is an all-year round destination. However the climate does vary depending where you are visiting. It is known for having three seasons: hot; wet and hot; and really hot. If you want to visit the beaches in Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui etc. the best time to visit is December to February. The dry season runs from November to March, and with April being the hottest month in the country. The wet season runs from May to October. The temperatures can range from 23 to 34°C. I visited Bangkok and Chiang Mai during their dry season in February 2024 and the temperature was 30 to 35°C. I didn’t experience any rain at all (even though I was begging for some respite).

Getting To Thailand

I flew from Da Nang to Bangkok via Vietjet Air as I was already in Vietnam for the first part of my second international solo trip. Bangkok has two international airports: Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). Most international airlines that fly to Thailand will only operate through BKK; whilst most low-cost carrier airlines and airlines based in Southeast Asia will most likely operate through DMK. These airports are not close to each other at all. Unfortunately, most travellers make the mistake of flying domestically through DMK and realise last minute that their international flight back home is through BKK. Make sure when you are booking both international flights and flights within the country, you choose BKK as the airport. This is really important if you want a seamless travel experience back home without the extra costs.

The only flight tracker that I used for these trips was Google Flights. I would clear cache often to get the best deals.

For some countries, entering Thailand for less than 30 days does not require a visa. However, you do need to have more than 6 months left before the expiry date of your passport. If your passport requires you to have a visa to enter the country, you may also need a transit visa. Check their official website for up-to-date information.

Where I Stayed In Thailand

There are a variety of places to stay in Thailand. In the cities, you will find popular tourists hotels, big international chain hotels, hostels, guesthouses, boutique hotels. In certain locations such as the islands, you will find unique home stays which are becoming popular. Regardless of what you are looking for, there is accommodation to match any budget.

During my trip, I stayed in Central and Northern Thailand and flew between the cities with Thai Vietjet Air. I booked my tickets a few days before leaving Geneva. The website mentions to print out your boarding passes as they don’t accept tickets on phones. However, I did receive a boarding pass at the airport. They might ask you to verify your departure date if you don’t have a visa. Lastly for short distances, you can order a Grab, Southeast Asia’s version of Uber. It’s used for food deliveries, groceries, package deliveries and financial services.

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and is located in Central Thailand. While I was in Bangkok, I stayed at Hotel Muse Bangkok Langsuan which is located on the opposite side of the river from the Grand Palace. This hotel is labelled as a “boutique hotel” but from my point of view, it counts as a big international chain hotel. It didn’t have that initimate and personable experience that I usually get at boutique hotels.

Unfortunately for me, I fell sick during my time in Bangkok which is not a pleasant experience especially as I had limited time there. However, I did enjoy my stay there as the hotel has this artistic and theatrical atmosphere to it. The outside of the hotel does not do the inside any justice! My room had spacious high ceiling windows and a unique bathroom feature that could be a cheeky experience if you decide to stay there with your significant other!

There is a restaurant on site that serves breakfast. In my opinion, there is not enough space in the dining area to accommodate for the amount of guests that they had during peak hours. Secondly, it was very dark in that space that I could fall asleep while eating. If you enjoy staying at big chain hotels, this might be the place for you. If you like more intimate experiences, I would not recommend this hotel. Rates are around $150 per night.

There are other places that you can stay in Bangkok such as Shanghai Mansion Bangkok, and INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok.

Chiang Mai

My last stop for this entire trip was Chiang Mai, a tranquil and cultural getaway, and my favourite destination. I stayed at the Amata Lanna Chiang Mai. I had a great stay there as it was cozy and intimate. Whenever I travel, I always opt to get a spa bath as I don’t have one at home. For the first time, I decided to give the spa bath a try. Let’s just say that I slipped and slid around that bath, I might have to give it multiple tries before I crown myself as a spa bath girlie! In addition, here is a restaurant on site around the pool for breakfast. I enjoyed breakfast there as I was able to experience a traditional Thai breakfast and had mango sticky rice for the first time. The staff were extremely friendly and the atmosphere was warm.

I had a recliner outside of my hotel room where I could sit and read during the afternoons. Likewise, if I wanted a change of scenery, I could easily walk into the Old Town which is a 15 minutes walk away, go to the Night Bazaar around the corner, or explore the city. Although Chiang Mai is quite a large city, you won’t have that feeling while you are there. It will feel like nature’s outdoor playground. Rates were around $85 per night.

There are other places that you can stay in Chiang Mai such as Thai Akara – Lanna Boutique Hotel and Pingviman Hotel.

What To Do In Thailand

Thailand isn’t just only silky soft beaches and spectacular islands – even though those views are postcard worthy. Thailand isn’t just about its mountains views, respected wildlife and opulent architecture. This country has a lot to offer and I didn’t even explore a quarter of it during my visit. Here are my top activity recommendations to do:

Bangkok

1) Take a midnight food tour by tuk-tuk

If you don’t know a lot about Thai food except for Pad Thai, taking a food tour is the best way to immerse yourself into the culture. It will introduce you to their cuisine, how to spot the best food spots and explore some of Bangkok’s famous night-time eateries. This tour also includes a visit to the biggest flower market in the city. You can book the tour here.

2) Explore The Grand Palace and the surrounding temples

Spending a day to learn about the history of a country is one of my favourite ways to start a trip. You learn more about its people, the culture and have a greater appreciation for what you’ll see and do throughout your trip. You can get an admission ticket for a week to The Grand Palace and five other attractions.

3) A sunset dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya

If you are looking for an elegant and luxurious solo date night, book a sunset dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya and see all of Bangkok’s beautiful landmarks light up at night.

4) Take a day trip to Ayutthaya

Bangkok is a very busy city. If you want to get away for a day, I would recommend taking a day trip to Ayutthaya. This would be a great trip for history enthusiasts as it was the old capital of the Kingdom of Siam. You can book the tour here.

5) Take a weekend trip to Hua Hin beach

Not going to the islands on this Thailand trip? Head over to Hua Hin beach for a beautiful, powdery beach day and clear blue waters.

Chiang Mai

6) Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary

Of course, I wasn’t going to visit Thailand without seeing some elephants! My visit to the Chai Lai Orchid was the highlight of my trip and an unforgettable experience! I got to bathe the elephants, feed them and learn about how to take care of them. If I go back again, I would love to do the 2 day 1 night trip as I did the 1 day elephant jungle expedition. I shared some tips on how to choose an ethical elephant sanctuary on Instagram.

7) Join a cooking class at Mamanoi Cookery School

Joining a cooking class is another way to immerse yourself into Thai culture. You get to move away from the tourist spots and head over into where all the locals congregate: the local market. Spending some time in the local market allows you to explore the local spices that are important to the country’s cuisine and taste vegetables that you may not have back at home. I brought back 10 different spices and a cookbook to make the dishes at home. You can book the cooking class here.

8) Book a photoshoot with a local photographer

After doing a photoshoot in Seychelles, I knew that I had to do one for this trip. I booked an hour session in Old Town Chiang Mai with Sarawin, who I found through AirBnB experiences. It was a great to explore the area with a local who could show me hidden gems that I had missed out on.

Where To Eat

Thai cuisine is so flavoursome! It’s diverse, differs per region and is fresher than fresh (if that’s even a thing). Despite everyone loving Pad Thai, it wasn’t my favourite dish while I was out there. I highly recommend trying something new when you visit. My favourite dish was Khao Soi and I ate that pretty much everyday when I was in Chiang Mai. Chicken, beef, and prawns are very popular meats and seafood to find in their menus. I didn’t notice many vegetarian options when I looked at certain menus, but I’m sure you will find something. When it came to restaurants in Bangkok, I was mainly interested in Michelin star ones compared to local eateries while in Chiang Mai.

Here are some restaurants to go to both Bangkok and Chiang Mai:

Bangkok

• The Deck by Arun Residence
• Rongros
• Tana

Chiang Mai

• Lemongrass Cuisine
• Khan Soi Arak
• Kanjana
• B Samcook Home

What To Wear

Thailand is an all-year round destination. However, the weather can vary slightly depending on where you are visiting. For both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, I recommend packing loose and breathable clothing as it is extremely humid and hot. You can bring a light cardigan or jacket if you can cold easily, but I did not need it whilst I was out there in February. The average temperatures were around 30 to 35°C. I’m not a light packer so I can’t give you any recommendations on that. Swimwear for the beaches. Clothing that covers your shoulders and knees is mandatory when visiting historical sites. Overall, Thailand is a modesty country. Short shorts, crop tops and tank tops aren’t considered appropriate. In sum, follow the rules of the land.

Final Thoughts

Thailand was an adventure filled with unforgettable memories! To end my second international solo trip with this country, I was enamoured of it. It is an amazing destination to visit and I’m happy that I chose to go there. As a result, the islands will see me in the future sometime! I hope that this travel guide and my video content has convinced you to add Thailand to your travel bucket list.

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Thank you for reading and share this with a friend that might be interested in visiting. Check out my Instagram to see what I got up to in Thailand. To see all my other travel guides, please check the Travel tag. Drop any questions or comments that you have down below. If you enjoy travel content, make sure to subscribe to the blog, so you don’t miss any future posts.

Until next time,

Folakemi