Bangkok was the first city I visited during my first trip to Southeast Asia. As a result, it’s special to me and somewhere I look forward to revisiting. In this Thailand vacation guide, I cover everything we did in Bangkok as well as things I plan to see on our next trip.
Ashlee’s 24 Hours in Bangkok is a helpful post to read as well. Our time was fairly limited so just writing this post makes me want to book a trip today! Southeast Asia, and in particular Thailand, was one of my most memorable international trips we’ve taken in the past few years.
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Best Credit Cards to Use in Bangkok
Versatility is what I look for in travel credit cards. This means I want high earn rates in bonus categories as well as cards that do not have unnecessary fees. Especially when traveling internationally, it’s important to bring cards without foreign transaction fees.
The AmEx Gold, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Citi Premier are all cards to consider bringing. Amex Gold cardmembers earn 4x points on dining and US grocery stores. You earn 3x points on dining and travel with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Citi Premier cardmembers earn 3x points on airfare, hotels, gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores starting August 23, 2020.
How to Fly to Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is the major airport in Thailand and the hub for Thai Airways. As a result, you can fly Thai Airways to destinations across the world including Hong Kong, London, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo.
Travelers from the US will likely need to connect in either Europe or Asia to fly into Bangkok. Interesting flight options from the US include Asiana, ANA, Emirates, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.
Where to Stay When Visiting Bangkok
I covered your best hotel options in the Top 5 Best Bangkok Hotels to Book With Points. In short, the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, Park Hyatt Bangkok, InterContinental Bangkok, and The St. Regis Bangkok are properties to keep on your radar.
In addition to the properties above, Airbnb and Google Hotels are other options. We stayed in this Airbnb and loved it! Our host was fantastic and made us feel welcome during our stay.
Where to Eat and Drink When Visiting Bangkok
With the way our schedule worked out, we did not spend as much time as I would have liked trying out all the deliciousness that is Thai food. As a result, my coffee/breakfast, lunch, and dinner recommendations are limited.
While we had a nice dinner during our trip, there are many places I wish we would have had time for. During our next trip, Sorn, Suhring, Le Normandie, Mezzaluna, and R-HAAN are on my shortlist of restaurants to try.
Things to Do on Your Thailand Vacation
The water taxi is where it’s at to start your first day. Catch the water taxi and head to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. The palace used to be the home of the king and the architecture is incredible! Next to the palace is Wat Pho. This is where the Reclining Buddha is located.
When you finish exploring the Palace and Wat Pho, grab lunch across the street followed by coconut ice cream. While we did not have time for other sites, we plan to see Wat Arun, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Khaosan Road, and the Chatuchak Weekend Market on our next visit.
Before flying to Bangkok, here are a few important things to note: all Apple product chargers work with no need for converters, the currency is the Bhat that you can get at the airport, the city is inexpensive (think $25 for two people including alcohol for a meal, cabs are $2-$7), and it’s hot year-round in Bangkok.
Conclusion on this Thailand Vacation Guide
Putting this Thailand vacation guide together made me realize how much Bangkok has to offer. Not only are there plenty of sites to see, but the food scene is likely worth a trip in and of itself.
What do you think of this Thailand vacation guide? What other things do you recommend doing? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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