FIRST STOP: BANGKOK
Our 30th anniversary was approaching, and I wanted to do something big—so I told my husband we were going to Asia! I never thought we would be able to pull off a trip to the other side of the planet, but we made it happen (thanks to a lot of saved credit card points!). To kick off our adventure, here is the first stop on our Thailand 20 day itinerary Bangkok! We had such an incredible time exploring this beautiful country (plus a quick stopover in Tokyo) that we are already dreaming about going back.
When we arrived at BKK airport, we went down to the basement to exchange money at the SuperRich booth before heading back upstairs to order a Grab ride (definitely download the Grab app!) to our hotel. Since our flight landed early, we dropped our luggage at our hotel—the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit—and walked down Sukhumvit 24 for a two-hour body scrub and massage at Leteva Massage. It was the absolute perfect way to unwind after a 14-hour flight!
We spent three nights in total in Bangkok. Visiting in June meant that despite it is the beginning of rainy season, weather was hot and humid with very little rain, but taking frequent breaks inside air-conditioned 7-Elevens and local shops made a huge difference.
Here is how we spent our 2 1/2 days:
Day 1: We spent the day exploring the city on foot—checking out the massive shopping malls, joining in on some outdoor dancing at the park, sampling delicious street food, and getting another massage. In the evening, we took a Food and Temples Tuk-Tuk Tour through Viator. It was so much fun! Our drivers zipped us around to vibrant night markets, illuminated temples, Chinatown, and a local restaurant for dinner. It was a fantastic way to experience the energy of Bangkok at night.
Day 2: We dedicated our second day to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. We purchased our tickets on-site (keep in mind these are cash-only!) and were completely in awe of the intricate architecture, colorful sculptures, and pristine grounds. After exploring the Grand Palace, we took a short walk over to Wat Pho to admire the massive Reclining Buddha. It was an intensely hot, cloudless day, so we stayed cool by buying bottled water at every turn and taking breaks in the air-conditioned palace museum.
Day 3: We enjoyed a lazy morning with a sit-down breakfast at the hotel (a nice change of pace from our usual 7-Eleven grab-and-go routine). Afterward, we attended a local church service before making our way to the train station to board the overnight train to Chiang Mai.
NEXT STOP: CHIANG MAI
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