Thailand had been on our list for a long time, and this trip ended up being the perfect mix of spontaneous wandering, iconic temples, incredible food, and learning things the hard way so you don’t have to. Get ready for deep dive into our 7 days in Thailand.
This was technically our second part of the trip, we flew from NY to Hongkong to spend 2 nights there and then took a flight to Thailand. We split our time between Phuket and Bangkok, and while we didn’t try to overpack every hour, we still managed to see and experience a lot. This is exactly what we did, what worked, what didn’t, and the things we would absolutely do again. Spoiler Alert: We loved Thailand and 10/10 recommend everyone visit!
Day 1: Phuket – Arrived to Patong Beach
Day 1 was all about traveling, we arrived to the Phuket airport around 10 am and took a ‘Grab’ taxi to go to Patong beach to our hotel- DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort. We we surprised to see that a lot of the hotel was actually under renovation. We didnt think much of it as we were tired and decided to just relax in the room. We are both in the field of design and construction and can understand the logistics of it but the construction happening right outside of the room was loud and did not make for a relaxing day.
We ate lunch at the Shree Ganesha Pure Vegetarian Restaurant , spent the rest of the day in the room and decided to go out to explore the surrounding area. Turns out that we were in walking distance the infamous Bangla Street. If you need to know more about that street, you can do some research online. Its lined with strip clubs and bars and it was honestly a sensory overload. We purchased a day trip for island hoping from a travel agent stand near our hotel. For dinner we just ended up getting room service and planned rest of our Phuket trip.
Day 2: Phuket – Old Town, Temples, and Sunset Views
We were staying in Patong, so we walked over to the beach for a relaxing slow morning walk and then decided to explore the cultural side of Phuket.
Our first stop was Phuket Old Town, and honestly, it immediately felt different from the rest of the island. The streets are lined with colorful Sino-Portuguese buildings, small cafés, and shops that feel more local and authentic. It’s the kind of place where you don’t really need a plan — just walk and take it in. We stumbled upon a Michelin recommended street food vendor selling plain crepes. Crepes were a great snack until we were ready for some lunch. For lunch we decided to step in an local restaurant and got Pad Thai.
From there, we headed to Wat Chalong, which is the most important Buddhist temple in Phuket. The temple grounds are peaceful, and you’ll notice locals lighting incense and making offerings. It’s also where we first saw people lighting firecrackers as a form of gratitude for answered prayers, which was something completely new to us.
We wanted to visit the Big Buddha next but at the time it was closed due to the typhoon that had passed through the area just a few days prior. Considering that it is close by, we recommend adding it to your itinerary.
We ended the day driving back to the hotel and spending the evening at Patong beach. There are tons of chair rentals at the beach, you can rent some chairs and that vendor will have variety of drinks and snacks that you can purchase. We loved just relaxing at the beach, enjoying the sunset and doing a lot of people watching.
Day 3: Phi Phi Islands!
Day 3 was dedicated to exploring the Phi Phi Islands. We booked a full-day tour with Sea Angel, which included stops at Monkey Island, Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, and the famous Maya Bay.
The scenery was incredible. Towering limestone cliffs, clear turquoise water, and beaches that looked exactly like the photos you see online. Maya Bay in particular lived up to the hype and was one of the most memorable parts of the trip.
We also upgraded to a private long tail boat, which made the experience even more special and gave us a chance to explore the area at a slower pace.
We returned to our hotel in the evening and spent the rest of the night relaxing by the beach and had dinner at the Zuri Restaurant. We opted to seat at the balcony which provided some great people watching and the Muy Tai promoters with loud speakers blasting “ToOOOoooniiiiiight, ToOOOoooniiiiiight”
I’ll be sharing a separate detailed post about this tour, including what to expect, tips, and whether it’s worth doing.
Day 4: Patong Beach & Traveling to Bangkok
After having delicious breakfast at the hotel, we walked to the beach for a nice slow stroll and then went to Kim’s Massage and Spa for shoulder and feet massage. After the relaxing massage and some caffeine in our body, we jumped into a Grab taxi to go Karon View Point.
Our stop at Karon was short, we enjoyed and views, snapped photos and went back to the hotel to pack up. Once we were ready to check out, we went to 7-11 to get some snacks, walked over the beach one last time to enjoy the. views and then headed to the airport.
We arrived to Bangkok same night. After arriving in Bangkok, we stayed at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, which ended up being an amazing base for exploring the city. Check out our design review of The Standard, Bangkok for more details on the hotel.
Day 5: Bangkok: Temples, Boats, and Learning the River System
We had a great breakfast at the hotel, we made our way to the river using the BTS Skytrain and then took a boat to visit the temples.This is where we made our first mistake — and an important one to know about.
There are two types of boats: the regular local boats and the “tourist” boats. We accidentally got on the tourist boat, which cost 30 baht per person, while the local orange-flag boat is about 15–16 baht. It’s not a huge difference, but it adds up and there’s no real advantage to the tourist boat. If you’re going, just ask for the orange boat. Tourist boat had AC which was nice but the windows were all opaque so we could’nt see the views. The local boat definitely would have been more fun.
Our first stop was the Grand Palace, and it absolutely lives up to the hype. The scale, the gold details, and the craftsmanship are incredible. It’s crowded, but it still feels special being there. It is a busy and crowded place so be prepared. We didnt mind the crowd as much but thing that caught us off guard was the heat.
The heat island effect is real. There’s very little shade, and the stone and concrete amplify the temperature. Definitely bring water, wear a hat, and dress appropriately. The dress code is strict :shoulders and knees must be covered, otherwise you’ll end up buying the loose pants and shirts they sell outside.
From the Grand Palace, we walked to Wat Pho, home of the famous Reclining Buddha. The statue itself is massive, but the rest of the temple grounds are just as interesting. There are quiet courtyards, detailed murals, and it’s also home to Thailand’s original traditional massage school.
After that, we took a short ferry ride across the river (cost only 5 baht) to visit Wat Arun. Seeing it from across the water and then walking up close gives you a completely different perspective. The structure and detail are incredible.
We headed back to the hotel afterward and spent the evening relaxing at Tease and The Parlour, the lobby spaces at The Standard. After walking in the heat all day, sitting in air conditioning and doing nothing felt like the best possible plan.
Day 6: A Rainy Day in Bangkok
The next day, it was pouring rain, so we adjusted.
We went to Sugam Indian Restaurant, which I had seen recommended by Mark Wiens. We have been watching Mark on youtube for years so figured it would be a great place, but as someone who loves dosa and South Indian food I would say, skip this place. It was definitely not something to write home about.
We walked to the restaurant so we were able to explore the area on the walk back. We ended up spending rest of the day exploring the hotel and admiring the design details and packing up to move to the JW Marriott Hotel.
Since we lost a day in Hongkong due to the typhoon and a day in Bangkok due to rains, we decided to extend our vacation by one more day and chose to move to the JW Marriott Hotel for that day.
Day 7: Chatuchak Weekend Market: Deals! Deals! Deals!
Day started with awesome breakfast at the JW Marriott and decided that we will spend the day exploring a weekend market. So on our last full day, we went to Chatuchak Weekend Market, and this place is massive.
We went in thinking we’d just browse, but within a couple of hours, we had bought so much that we ended up buying a new suitcase just to carry everything. You’ll notice a lot of people doing exactly the same thing.
There are ATMs throughout the market, and surprisingly, the bathrooms are very clean. They cost 3 baht to use, and it’s absolutely worth it.
While Chatuchak isn’t strictly a food market, there are still plenty of great snack options throughout.
Afterward, we stopped by a Central mall nearby, but by that point, we were exhausted and mostly just walked through before heading back.
Getting Around Bangkok: What to Expect
One thing we learned quickly is that transportation takes patience.
Finding a Grab or taxi often takes about 15 minutes, and after rain, it can take even longer. Locals told us this is normal.
Also, when taking Grab on expressways, sometimes the driver will ask you to pay the toll in cash at the booth, and other times the driver pays and it gets charged through the app. Both are standard.
Final Thoughts
Thailand exceeded expectations in every way.
Phuket offered beautiful scenery and culture, while Bangkok delivered energy, architecture, markets, and incredible food.
The temples were unforgettable, the markets were addictive, and even the small things — like learning the boat system or navigating transportation — became part of the experience.
It’s the kind of place that feels both chaotic and welcoming at the same time.
And it’s definitely somewhere we’ll return.
