Did you know that Thailand is one of the most visited countries in the world with on average 35 million travelers a year?
From the bustling city of Bangkok to the spiritual Chiang Mai and all the way South to Phuket…
This Sout-heast country has so much to explore, which is great
but it migh•t get a little overwhelming planning a trip to Thailand from scratch.
And that’s why I’m here to help you plan your first Thailand trip without the hassle.
Whether you’re looking for an inspiration or actually planning a trip to Thailand,
by the end of this video, you will get a pretty good idea of what it’s like traveling to Thailand for the first time.
If you do , please give it a like and subscribe if you haven’t yet.
Without r further ado, let’s get into it.
Day 1. If you’re coming from the U.S. or Canada, you just landed after a 20 plus hour flight.
We're in Bangkok.
This means you are in a totally different time zone, probably a different climate zone.
I'm on the wrong side of the car.
Even a different auto zone.
So, do not plan anything other than resting and getting over the jet-lag.
The good news is there is no shortage of staycation spots in Bangkok.
Cheers!
Bangkok has tons of 5 and 4 star hotels that don’t break your bank.
We stayed in the newest and hottest hotel in Bangkok, The Standard, for less than $130 usd per night.
It’s the perfect chance to stay in a fancy and boojie hotel for much less.
It has a nice tub.
Do you feel like a human again?
Cap the day off at one of the many rooftop bars with great views of Bangkok.
It's 360 panoramic view.
Pretty cool.
And if you like heights, check out the skywalk in the Mahanakhon, the tallest building in Bangkok
and snap some nice shots on the glass walkway.
Here’s a tip: When you stay in The Standard hotel, you get a free ticket to the Skywalk.
You should do this.
Day 2.
Let’s explore the staple landmark of Bangkok.
The Old City
Over 94 percent of Thai people identify themselves as Buddhists.
Needles•s to say, Thailand boasts plenty of gorgeous Buddhist temples.
My favorite was the Wat Pho, where you can see a reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf.
I can't capture here entirely in this camera, so you need to come here and see it for yourself.
Pretty impressive.
Another popular attraction is the Grand Palace.
You can ma'rvel at the most opulent and magnificent temples here.
Though you need to get dressed properly to enter the palace.
For men, you need to wear long pants.
At night, spend some time at the Chao Phraya river.
You can go on a cruise or watch cruise ships go by if you stay in a riverfront hotel.
Or go to one of many riverfront rooftop bars to enjoy the view,
while sipping nice cocktails and listening to live music.
Day 3.
One thing you will most definitely do in Bangkok is go to a shopping mall.
I know what you’re thinking.
You might not be interested in the knock-off products that these malls are known for.
And you didn’t travel all the way to Thailand just to go to malls.
With all that said, I still recommend you to check out a shopping mall in Bangkok for two reasons.
One, the weather.
It is hot in Bangkok, all year round.
Air-conditioned buildings with nice food courts will become your much-needed shelter.
So good.
Secondly, some of the newest shopping malls do take things to the next level.
For instance, this newest shopping mall called Icon Siam has an indoor floating market,
a unique food court serving foods from all 77 provinces of Thailand
It has this over-the-top luxury restroom.
The bottom line is going to a shopping mall in Thailand will be an experience in itself.
Speaking of which, there’s this night market that I also highly recommend for you to check out.
The Asiatique.
What makes this market unique is that it sits on top of historical sites including
docks and roads that contributed to the modernization of Thailand.
Here, not only can you indulge in delicious street foods
So good.
It's a feast.
It's as big as my face.
but also learn one or two things about Thailand’s modern history.
Day 4. It's the last day in Bangkok, and you can’t leave Bangkok without this.
We're going to get a massage.
Thai massage.
In a traditional Thai massage, a masseuse uses an elbow a lot and even body weight
to relax your muscle contraction.
And at some point, your body will be put in a yoga posture with the help of masseuse.
The massage has great health benefits.
It promotes blood circulation and it fixes your body posture.
However, if you’re not familiar with a traditional Thai massage
and if you're not flexible, like me
this massage can be quite painful
and a little awkward.
Nonetheless, I highly recommend you try the traditional Thai massage at least once.
I mean I did it three times.
It’s so unique and authentic that you shouldn’t miss out.
Besides, the cost of getting these massages in Thailand is unbeatable.
Lastly, when you find yourself in the Siam area,
it’s worth visiting the Jim Thompson House Museum.
Jim Thompson was once the most famous American in Thailand,
or in Southeast Asia.
as he was a hugely successful entrepreneur in the silk business.
Although he went missing in his late years,
he left his business and legacy behind.
Now you can take a guided tour into his house.
Today, I think they offer French, English and Thai.
You just have to come and check if there're any tickets available for your language
because you can't go inside without a tour guide.
And if you don’t find a tour with your language in time,
just go with the earliest tour possible.
You can always pretend you know the language.
I do that all the time.
Merci?
Day 5. Bangkok has been great, but I think you’re ready for a change of scenery to this.
Let’s head over to Chiang Mai, the northern capital of Thailand,
and a little oasis during your busy itinerary.
To get there, you can take a short flight or an overnight sleeper train.
I’ve done both of them and I will share my experiences in my upcoming video.
On you first day of Chiang Mai,
I suggest you walk around the Old City where you can find centuries-old temples on every corner.
You can even find ancient ruins here.
It’s like time travel.
Well…both in a good and bad way.
Men only huh?
And so kindly, they explain why.
It says women are prohibited because they menstruate
and that humiliates and ruins the sacred spirit of the city pillar.
That's humiliation.
Now, let’s time travel back to the present time.
I'm not sure if I'm in Thailand or in Bushwick.
Very hipstery.
Did you know there is a rapidly growing population of digital nomads in Chiang Mai?
I can easily see why.
The cost of living is even lower than Bangkok
whereas the quality of living is not compromised.
And we love how the city is so quiet and peaceful
especially compared to Bangkok
Now I see why people come here to work and to stay for a long term.
This is a good place to hang out, get some work done,
and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
To give you an idea, we stayed at a 3-star guesthouse located in Old City.
We paid around $50/night which includes free breakfast for two.
Of course, the hotel didn’t come with a rooftop pool or Michelin-starred dining,
but honestly, it was the most relaxing and comfortable stay I had throughout my entire Thailand trip.
I guess it’s not all about the amenities but the good vibe and the good people that can bring the best kind of hospitality.
Day 6. There is one more good reason to visit Chiang Mai.
It’s the annual lantern festival or Yipeng festival
that has gained so much popularity in the recent years throughout the world.
It is believed that at least the current version of lantern festival originated in Chiang Mai
which was the capital of the Lanna kingdom.
I will share another video about this festival and leave the link in the description.
Day 7.
Hot, hot, hot here.
How south are we now?
Almost the equator.
A trip to Thailand without a beach or an island is a trip that’s not complete.
And the best city to be is Phuket.
First and foremost, let’s check out Phuket’s most popular beach, Patong beach.
Phuket being so close to the equator, the water is always warm
which makes it a really relaxing beach.
And if you ever feel bored from too much relaxation
which I don't believe
you can always try exciting water sports that are widely available on the beach.
You know what I love about this beach so far?
Even though it's been only 5 minutes.
No loud party music!
No beach clubs here.
Just street vendors and people...travelers and locals
just enjoying the beach.
After the beach, make sure to stroll around this vibrant street right across the beach
where you can find tons of restaurants of all kinds of international cuisines and bars and shops.
We've got some nice apparel.
Beach apparel.
For a good price.
Phuket may be the most touristy among all three cities I’ve been to in Thailand,
but it was the perfect place to be, tounwind and take it easy until our next adventure...
Ready for the adventure?
Yes, ready to go.
Here we go!
Southern Thailand has jaw-dropping picturesque islands
that caught many filmmakers’ eyes.
To visit these islands, you have to get a boat tour.
We went with a sea star tour company and were very satisfied with their program,
which included monkey island, snorkeling, free lunch at the beach and the Maya beach.
I have a whole vlog where I'll share my experience on the tour, so check that out as well.
Day 9. We started this whole trip with a staycation.
So let’s wrap it up with a staycation.
We stayed at a newly opened 4 points by Sheraton right across the Paton beach.
The breakfast buffet was good.
They had a lagoon-style pool for hotel guests only
and an infinity-pool in their beach club.
Both were pretty nice.
We stayed in the basic room on the first floor and paid less than $100.
For the price, for amenities and for the location
I'll definitely recommend this hotel.
They surprised us.
That’s all I have for today,
but more Thailand travel videos are coming in the next few weeks.
So stick around and let me know in the comments if you have any questions about traveling to Thailand for the first time.
Thanks so much for watching.
I will see you in my next travel video.