10-Day Thailand Travel Guide For the Ultimate Thai Vacation — A food and travel blog for the adventurous type.

We visited Thailand from the end of October through early November 2019 and had one of the most memorable trips of our lives. We hope to inspire you to visit this amazing country. We’re happy to share our experience and itinerary with you here. We’re happy to send you our full itinerary with notes if you’re serious about visiting. Enjoy this read full of trip tips and Thailand facts!

Getting There

We flew from Louisville to Chicago, Chicago to Shanghai, and Shanghai to Bangkok. Departing from Chicago (our first international flight of this trip), we flew China Eastern which is a member of SkyTeam Alliance and has a codeshare partnership with Delta Air Lines. This means you can buy a Delta ticket (and earn Delta SkyMiles) and even feel as though you’re in a Delta aircraft. We very much enjoyed China Eastern Airlines. The flight staff were incredibly nice, they fed us 3 times (full meals) during our 14 hour stretch from Chicago to Shanghai, and the seats were pretty comfortable, even in basic economy. We do somewhat regret not opting into first class because their seats looked incredible and they basically turned into beds. There were plenty of movie options, though, and it was easy to fall asleep and get some rest. We highly recommend China Eastern if you ever have the option to fly with them.

We hit a bit of a hiccup upon arriving in Shanghai because our next flight was rebooked for the next evening. The airline was kind enough to put us in a hotel, shuttle us there (and back the next day), and even gave us Chinese Yuan to use to spend on whatever we wanted (it was approximately $120 USD per person), so we explored a small Chinese market about 30 minutes outside of our hotel and still had plenty of money left by the time our rebooked flight was ready to go.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is one of the cleanest airports we’ve ever seen. Be warned, the dining options are limited and only a select few sell booze. We recommend that if you do have a layover, go to the mall. We found some awesome food options there and got to explore a bit as well. We had a 4 hour flight to Bangkok and that’s where the true adventure began.

Pro-tip: Say what you want about fanny packs, but it keeps your important belongings close to you and it’s great to be hands-free when exploring! This one I found at Ross but you can find plenty of options on Amazon as well.

Bangkok

We arrived at BKK (Suvarnabhumi Airport) pretty late our first night, so we checked into our hotel and decided to rest a bit. We stayed at the Al Meroz Hotel Bangkok the 3 nights we were in Bangkok. It’s listed as a Muslim-Friendly hotel (halal-friendly meals and all) and we were so impressed by how beautiful the hotel is, how kind and helpful the staff was, and how amazing the breakfast was (and only $10 per person per day).

Our first day in Bangkok, we decided to sightsee. We saw the famous “Reclining Buddha”, Wat Phra Chetuphon or Wat Pho, and it was definitely worth visiting. It’s roughly the same size as Athena at the Nashville Parthenon except it’s completely reclined. There are other things to see at Wat Pho and we highly recommend drinking lots of water before you go. It does get very hot and you’ll probably sweat a bit.

After leaving Wat Pho, we paid a Tuk Tuk driver 40 Baht (less than $2!) to take use to a few other temples close by. It was great to see the city up close, but I did get a little sick from the smog and sudden stops in the Tuk Tuk, mostly just a headache. Christopher didn’t have any issues though. My thought would be to drink plenty of water and maybe take something to keep the smog from entering your lungs, like a mouth cover or scarf.

Since this was still our only full day in Bangkok, we decided to freshen up at the hotel and get ready for dinner and drinks. We ended up finding a small strip within walking distance of our hotel and went to a bar called RCA. It’s a Harley Davidson bar, we found out, it sits at the end of a strip of nightclubs and cover band bars. The hotel staff mapped out a lot of nightlife options for us, so definitely ask your hotel staff for their recommendations. Ours were incredibly helpful. It’s worth mentioning that the area we were in was very safe, even late at night.

Thailand Fact: Thai locals love classic American rock and you’ll find a ton of biker bars and cover band bars in Thailand. We had a lot of fun at a few of them that we got to visit in various cities.

The next day was the day we were traveling to Chiang Mai but we had the morning and early afternoon to kill so we decided to explore a pretty big local mall called Terminal 21. Each floor is themed a specific country’s airport and it’s really neat. The food court is big and you prepay on a food court card and can try lots of Thai food here. We also found an amazing sushi train on the same floor as the food court and loved it. If you go to Terminal 21, definitely make time to explore and be sure to go on an empty stomach. Each level is really unique and there are lots of beautiful finds on each floor. Also plenty of opportunities for photo ops.

Tip: If you plan to spend a few hours at Terminal 21, you can leave your luggage or backpack at a designated drop-off that charges a minimal fee to keep your belongings safe while you’re exploring. Just be sure to take your passport because they require it when dropping off your bags.

Chiang Mai

The next city we visited was Chiang Mai which is located in northern Thailand. We stayed at the Baan Sang Singh hotel which was incredible. The staff was very helpful and kind, the pool was clean, they offered free coffee and cookies each morning, and our view was perfect because we got a second-floor room whose door faced the city with a beautiful view of a nearby temple.

Chiang Mai - Day One

Our first morning in Chiang Mai, we walked about 15 minutes to Chiang Mai Breakfast World. It’s a cute little place with outside and inside seating, open concept, and lots of plants to give it a jungle type of feel. The portions were very big and they had a lot of breakfast options from all around the world. We opted for the European style breakfasts which did not disappoint!

The rest of our first day in Chiang Mai was spent in a four hour cooking class hosted by A Lot of Thai Home Cooking Class which is run by a Yui, an amazing chef and cooking instructor who has had the pleasure of cooking with Gordon Ramsay on multiple occasions. We made four different main courses and a dessert (Thailand’s famous mango and sticky rice!) which were all delicious. This class is a MUST DO in Chiang Mai. We learned so much about cooking and the science behind sweet and salty. Yui is such a kind person and she was so pleasant to be around. We had a full class and cooked at our own woks with about seven other people which was nice to get to talk to other tourists and learn about their Thai adventures. We booked our cooking class the day of and they happened to have some openings. I’d say that for the most part, you can book your activities once you get to Thailand. A lot of times, you can bargain the prices of things too making more of an argument to just wait to book things. Our class included a shuttle to and from our hotel and we found that this is typical with booking activities in the cities we visited.

Pro-tip: If you end up taking a Taxi, be sure to check the Grab prices (download the Grab App before you head to Thailand). In one instance, we showed a cab who was asking or 400 BAHT that the Grab was 320 and he ended up going down to 300 if we chose to ride with him instead. So always check both to make sure you’re getting a fair rate and don’t be afraid to ask them to go down in price, especially if it isn’t rush hour.

Yui - Founder and Operator of A Lot of Thai Home Cooking Class

Chiang Mai - Day Two

The second day in Chiang Mai, we woke up pretty early to shuttle about an hour and a half to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. We did A LOT of research and landed with this organization after learning that they do not allow tourists to tide the elephants amongst many other reasons to support their vision and mission. They’re simply providing a safe place for the elephants to live and be taken care of. The shuttle they sent for us was a pick up truck with a cover and since we were picked up last, we had to sit in the back with four other tourists. It wasn’t too bad, but some might think it’s too uncomfortable. You could always rent a car or take a taxi to the Sanctuary instead. We wanted the full experience so we were fine with the shuttle.

View from our shuttle heading back to our hotel.Pro-tip: We would not have survived Thailand without these Columbia sandals. I had the women's version of Christopher’s. They were perfect for every place we visited and every weather type and our feet… — View from our shuttle heading back to our hotel.
**Pro-tip:** We would not have survived Thailand without these Columbia sandals. I had the women's version of Christopher’s. They were perfect for every place we visited and every weather type and our feet never hurt.

Pick up was at 6:30 AM and we arrived back to our hotel around 1:30 PM. We spent the morning feeding and bathing the elephants and learning about them. Lunch (including vegetarian options) and drinks were provided and beer was available for sale as well. They offer 1-2 week stays for volunteers who want a deeper experience in helping with the elephants. We highly recommend Elephant Jungle Sanctuary if you visit Chiang Mai.

We were finally over the time zone difference, for the most part, and were able to get a “night out” on the town. We went to a few bars that locals frequent which were both walking distance from our hotel (and yes - it was very safe, even at night). The two bars we spent the most time at, listening to covers being sung and locals conversing, were Lost Hut and CU Corner (my personal favorite). We ended the night visiting a more party-centric nightclub called Zoe in Yellow which is a pretty popular amongst tourists visiting Chiang Mai.

Overall, we really enjoyed Chiang Mai. It’s smaller than Bangkok and it’s easy to get around either by foot or by Tuk Tuk and cabs. We recommend a few days in Chiang Mai if you visit Thailand.

Chiang Mai - Day Three

Our third day in Chiang Mai was the day we flew into Krabi, but we had a whole morning and afternoon to kill. We left our bags with our hotel staff after we checked out (this is something that you can do pretty much anywhere in Thailand - hotels, malls, etc.) and walked to find some breakfast. We had wanted to try Chiang Mai’s signature dish, Khao Soi, which is a soup, so we decided to go to Wallee Bar when they opened (yes, we had it for breakfast!).

We gave it a 10/10. It’s definitely a flavor you can’t find anywhere else. It’s a must try in Chiang Mai! After two fruit smoothies, a bowl of Khao Soi, pineapple fried rice all for 270 BAHT (less than $9), we decided to explore the area a bit more before heading back to get our bags and then to the airport.

Thailand Tip: Thailand gets VERY hot, even in November which is when we were there. Be sure to wear lots of breathable sports material and rayon fabric. Ladies, be sure to pack some wraps. They double as dresses and are very light to pack. I also don’t recommend only packing shorts because your legs will rub together and the humidity will chafe them. Either wear capri length bottoms or be sure to rub deodorant between your legs to prevent the rubbing friction from giving you a rash.

Phi Phi Island & Krabi

We saved the best for last! Our last three days in Thailand were spent at the beautiful beaches that Thailand has to offer. We flew via Thai Air Asia (no complaints at all!) from Chiang Mai airport (CNX) to Krabi (KBV) which was a two hour flight. The airport was small, but easy to get through. Krabi itself is a port city but there is also a beach in Krabi that you can get to which we’ve heard is breathtaking. We arrived in Krabi pretty late and grabbed some dinner and booked our ferry tickets afterwards for the next day. Krabi has a ton of hostels but not too many hotel options. It’s very hot and humid in Krabi, so don’t expect any 5-star lodging near the airport or the ferry port.

Phi Phi Island - Day 1

We boarded the ferry around 9:30 AM to head to Phi Phi Island. We got to the port early and I’m glad we did because it was a packed hour and a half ferry ride and we got to pick a row of two seats which was nice. Some rows had six or more seats, so we didn’t want to risk having to wedge in between people.

Phi Phi Harbour View Hotel private beach.

Once we arrived to Phi Phi Island, we had to pay a small conservation fee before getting past the ferry arrival area. Our hotel, Phi Phi Harbour View Hotel, was within walking distance of the port and had its own private beach and a very large pool and lounge area. We enjoyed this hotel very much. The breakfast buffet that was included was great, it’s located in the quieter part of the island, and it sits on the edge of the lush green mountain forest, so wildlife is not too far away. We mostly explored the island and checked out the local restaurants after laying by the beach and our hotel pool on our first day. Sidenote: the drinks at the pool at Phi Phi Harbour View are the best we had in Thailand. We also booked a longboat group tour for the next day which is pretty typical as opposed to booking in advance. You can pretty much book anything the day before and we did our research before and most Thailand travelers say this is the way to go.

Our view from Phi Phi Harbour View Hotel.

Phi Phi Island - Day 2

We spent the first half of the day doing a longboat group tour for about four hours. We stopped at several islands including Monkey Island, Maya Bay, and more. It was a great experience but it was a bit crowded for our liking. We were able to get out at each stop except for Maya Bay (closed until 2021) to snorkel and swim. The water was so clear and beautiful. Snacks were provided as well. We spent the second half of our day relaxing by the pool. In the evening, we walked along the beach to the other side of the Island where most of the beach parties and nightlife was. It’s pretty easy to pack a lot into a day if you opt into the half day group tour. Everything is pretty close, so there’s plenty of time to do it all.

Phi Phi Island - Day 3

This was our favorite day because we started the day out renting a two-person kayak for a few hours. The rental cabana was right next to our hotel’s private beach. We had read somewhere that just a little ways from where we were on Phi Phi Island, there was a monkey bay. So we kayaked around the edge of the island and low and behold, a monkey bay with way less tourists than the one we saw during our group tour! You’ll want to be sure to apply some good quality sunscreen because the Thai sun is the strongest we’ve ever felt anywhere else in the world. We didn’t burn, just heavily tanned, but it’s because we applied and reapplied sunscreen every hour or so.

Thailand Monkey Tip: Don’t take any food or drinks with you wherever there are monkeys. They WILL steal your belongings. We got lucky and only lost a water bottle that had a mixed cocktail in it. You’re welcome, monkey.

Returning Home From Thailand

We flew back on a late night flight back to Bangkok and stayed at the BU Place Hotel located right in the heart of Bangkok close to the airport we flew into from Krabi (Don Mueang or DMK). It was walking distance to a place where we were able to get our laundry done (for $2, might I add) which was great since we were flying out late the following day.

On our last day, we checked out of the BU Place place hotel but left our bags there so we could explore the area a bit. They were kind enough to watch our bags for free AND shuttle us to and from a nearby mall (we tipped them when we returned). We ended up at Lotus Tesco which is a place for quick shopping and again, lots of delicious food court things to try. Since our flight out was so late, around 11 PM, we decided to go ahead and go to the airport around 5 PM to drop off our bags and then get a taxi to Chatuchak Weekend Market which was the perfect way to spend our last hours in Thailand. We ate all of the street food we could, had a few beers, and got some souvenirs to bring back home.

BKK is very easy to get through and it’s very clean. Once we got back to the airport and through security, we made a stop at the restrooms to clean up a bit and this is when our body wipes came in handy. You’d think that after going to the night market (which can get hot) would make flying for 14 hours uncomfortable but after a full body wipe or 2, an entire wardrobe change, and a quick face wash, we each felt totally refreshed and were ready to begin our journey back home.

Airport tips: The smaller airports that we flew to and from Chiang Mai and Krabi from were incredibly fast. Arrive an hour before your flight and you’ll be perfectly fine. BKK was also very easy to get through quickly. We ended up getting there two and a half hours early since we were flying international but ended up getting checked in and to our gate within 35 minutes, total.

Stock up on both of these before you head to Thailand. You’ll need them both! We ordered the insect repellent lotion from Amazon and found the Banana Boat Ultra Sport travel sized sunscreen lotions at our local Kroger.

Post-Travel Eating After a Long Trip to Thailand

Be sure to hydrate and drink plenty of water. Go easy on food choices when you return from Thailand. Your stomach won’t be used to the foods you were accustomed to eating back home and you could end up with traveler’s stomach like I did (Christopher was totally fine and didn’t have any issues). We couldn’t resist the Chicago dogs and french fries at the Chicago Airport on our way back and completely overdid it as soon as we got home. We had missed American food and ended up overindulging which threw my stomach into mass chaos.

What Surprised Us the Most

How safe Thailand is. How friendly the people of Thailand are. How few American tourists there were. How many European and Asian tourists there were. How many temples there were (you can tour a temple anywhere you visit in Thailand, for the most part). We’re not ashamed to admit that we’re surprised we didn’t get sick because of the foods or drinks we consumed. We specifically avoided certain parts of Thailand where tourists have been to known to get food poison at. Overall, we feel we made a great choice with the three main cities we stayed in during our trip to Thailand. We can’t wait to one day return to “The Land of Smiles”.