Bangkok, Thailand

The older I get and the more I travel, the less I want to carry with me. For my seven-night stay in Bangkok, Thailand, I packed a carry-on. Bangkok in December will leave you hot and sweaty. Daily high temperatures were around 89º. Therefore, it was easy for me to get away with packing shorts and t-shirts. My best friend recommended that I purchase an Away suitcase. Let’s say that I am in love with her recommendation. The closer I got to the day of departure, the more I rearranged my suitcase. I was torn between “Am I going to wear everything I packed?” and “Do I need this extra pair of shoes??” Needless to say, after three separate attempts, I finally left my suitcase alone.

The flight was booked seven months in advance. The only way I saw myself flying from Atlanta to Bangkok was in a business class seat so that I could lie down the entire flight and sleep comfortably. I transferred 175,000 points to Aeroplan and paid $77 in taxes and fees (EVA Airlines). Since I purchased a positioning flight out of Seattle, Washington, I arrived several hours before my flight to ensure I made it to Seattle in enough time to catch my flight to Asia.

I did NOT account for the two amenity kits and two sets of pajamas I would acquire while flying. This was my first time flying business class with EVA Airlines. I would recommend EVA when flying to Asia. Check out my EVA Airlines business class experience.

After 22 hours of flight time, I arrived in Bangkok at 1230 on a Monday. Before my arrival, I made arrangements with the hotel to get escorted through immigration (Fast Track) and a private car to the hotel. It took 30 minutes from when I arrived at BKK before arriving at the Mercedes limousine. I was very grateful that I did not have to stand in a long line or figure out which mode of transportation I would take to my hotel, W Bangkok, in the Sathon district. The closest transit stations to W Bangkok are Chong Nonsi and St. Louis.

The time difference from Atlanta was 12 hours, and I struggled my first night to stay awake the rest of the day. It took me an hour to finish a piece of cake due to dozing off. Unfortunately, the next day, I woke up not feeling my best. I ordered room service and rested Tuesday and Wednesday to maintain as much energy as possible. However, I booked a Thai massage for Wednesday, which I was pleased about. The two-hour massage cost 650 TBH ~ $20. You will NEVER be able to get a massage as cheap in the U.S., which left me grateful and shocked.

Thursday, I ventured out and took the BTS(Bangkok Mass Transit System) Skytrain to Siam Discovery Mall. This Bangkok mall is enormous, and you will get lost on your first visit. I can’t tell you how many circles I walked in trying to find the exit. The food court has a PLETHORA of options to choose from. The number of stores and floors was terrific to me. I went to the Bed Cinema to watch “Wonka,” so I had to walk about ten minutes to centralwOrld, the ninth largest shopping complex in the world. The movie theater is located on the 8th floor.

Thirty minutes before the movie starts, you can grab snacks and soft drinks using a provided tray. The bed is adjustable, has a remote to control head and foot positions, and a massage feature. You’re also offered a pair of blue slippers and a small blanket. There is a cupboard to hold your belongings and 2 USB charging ports embedded in the nightstand beside your bed.

I had such a fantastic experience that I  almost fell asleep several times. Adjusting to a 12-hour time difference in the middle of the day can be trying, so it was nice to lie down and watch a movie as if I were at home.

After the movie, I ate at Baan Ying and ordered a Spicy Sea Bass dish. Talk about SPICY! Following that beautiful experience, I went outside to check out the festivities. The Great Celebration 2024 campaign shined bright with Pokémon everywhere! They also had a Happiness Market with plenty of street food to eat!

I made reservations to have dinner at SOL and LUNA, which is about a 45-minute drive, so I took a Grab, a rideshare service like Uber in the States. I chose dinner on the second floor, LUNA, which has a balcony view of the city. Another restaurant I tried, Quickie, resembled Shake Shack’s burger spot. By the way, the ketchup I tried was not identical to the taste in the States.

I booked an Airbnb experience for Sunday to visit the Ladmayom Floating Market, take a boat ride, visit the Saphan Temple, and visit an orchid farm. The floating market was excellent! I tried food and some very unfamiliar-looking fruit. I enjoyed most of the new food I tried. Visiting a floating market allows you to try food in smaller portions, giving you a taste of what you do or don’t like.

I enjoyed the 1.5-hour boat ride the most, as I love being near water. The Airbnb host was knowledgeable and shared much information during and after the tour. To book the same experience, visit Bangkok Floating Market. Pook, the guide, was fantastic!

On Monday, I returned to the mall to grab some things, packed my suitcase, and napped before my flight left at two a.m.

• Stay up to date on your destination etiquette, rules, and laws.
• It never hurts to carry a mask these days.
• Bring small amounts of cold medicine and sleep aids in case you need them within the first couple of days of your travel.
• Look into taking public transportation anywhere you may want to visit. You can’t beat a one-way trip (via train) to the mall for less than $1 (28 Baht at the time).
• Bangkok has Grab(Uber/Lyft), which is very easy to use.
• There are 42,000 Temples. If you want to go inside a temple, ensure you are appropriately dressed and mindful of cultural practices.
• Most importantly, always be aware of your surroundings and keep your belongings close! Lastly, always make sure you have enough money to get HOME!