A couple months ago I took my first trip to Asia. After a two day layover in Seoul I spent about a week in Thailand, 2.5 days in Bangkok and another 5 in Phuket. It really was an amazing experience. The weather was wonderful every day and the food! I miss it so much. I traveled with just my boyfriend and thought our itinerary was perfect for a relaxing, romantic getaway. Both Bangkok and Phuket offer a very lively party scene if you’re looking for something a little more wild than my itinerary here. We did not pack our days super full of activities and probably could have squeezed in a couple more sights, but we preferred a more leisurely pace. Of course, there is so much more to see in Thailand than just these two iconic places. If you’re looking for something more off the beaten path, you won’t find much in Bangkok or Phuket. Even so, there is still plenty of culture, sights, and awesome food to be found in these places if you take the time to look for it.
What to See
Before I take any trip I make spreadsheets. Lots of spreadsheets. I love spreadsheets. Having a well documented plan, maybe overly documented depending on who you ask, gives me comfort and confidence as I start an adventure. I’ve also found that I get more accomplished when I go in with a plan. That doesn’t mean I always follow it. I often find myself improvising or making changes in the moment based on weather, mood, timing, whatever. But having that blueprint to go back to keeps me grounded and prevents me from feeling lost, even in very foreign places. You can see my pre-trip Thailand itinerary below.
For more details on how my trip to Thailand actually played out (really not too far off from the pre-trip plan), check out my posts about the trip. They include where we stayed and ate, what we did, and some tips I learned along the way.
Night One in Bangkok: Dinner Cruise
Day One in Bangkok: Chatuchak Market
Day Two in Bangkok: Temples
What to Bring
Since we weren’t moving around a lot we didn’t try too hard to pack light. We brought some of the essentials, like sunscreen and bug spray, with us but you could easily buy those things at one of the million Seven-Elevens in Bangkok. There are some things I would recommend bringing with you:
- A copy of your passport: We never needed it, but I heard stories of rental or tour agencies asking for a passport. It’s good to have a copy to avoid having to carry your actual passport with you.
- Travel medications: Depending on where you go in Thailand, it might be necessary to take malaria pills. Before you go, consult with a travel doctor. They can tell you if the regions you’re going to require malaria pills. They might also write a prescription for a generic antibiotic to take with you in case of traveler’s diarrhea.
- Sun protection: During the dry season it is almost always sunny and the sun is intense. Bring a hat, cheap sunglasses, and some lightweight clothing that provides good coverage, such as linen or other breathable cotton blends.
- Cheap watch: Bring a watch that you don’t mind getting dirty or sweaty. I liked having a watch so I could check the time without having to pull my phone out of my bag. Theft and pickpocketing does happen so it’s best to keep valuables like your phone safely stored when in public areas.
- Day bag: As I said before, pickpocketing does happen, so don’t plan on keeping your phone or wallet in a pocket. I brought a theft resistant shoulder bag. This way I was able to have my phone and some cash on me without worrying. The bag even fit my Canon T3i if I had my smallest lens on it.
What to Wear
It can be HOT in Thailand, but that doesn’t mean you should pack just shorts and tank tops. The Thai way of dressing is very modest and there are many places where shorts and a tank top are not appropriate. Be respectful and observe dress codes, especially at temples. The rule of thumb at temples is to have your knees and shoulders covered. Some locations will not allow open toed shoes. At places with a dress code you will either not be allowed in or asked to rent clothing to cover up so it’s best to come prepared. Clothing material is also important. Try to stick to lightweight, breathable cotton blends and stay away from polyester. I made a “clothing schedule” based on my itinerary so that we would have enough appropriate dress for all of our activities. This ended up being super helpful and I’d recommend doing a similar exercise so that the contents of your suitcase match your itinerary. Here’s a rundown of what we wore for different activities:
Temples
- Me: Floor-length skirt and t-shirt. Tom’s for shoes. You could also wear pants. If you want to wear a tank top, make sure it’s modest and bring a pashmina to cover your shoulders.
- Boyfriend: Linen pants and a button up or t-shirt. Sperry’s or Tom’s for shoes.
General Sightseeing
- Me: Hiking pants (loose, breathable, cotton pants) with a t-shirt or modest tank top. Comfortable walking shoes – I usually wore my Keen sandals.
- Boyfriend: Khaki shorts or athletic shorts with a t-shirt. Comfortable walking shoes.
Casual Restaurants
- Me: Knee length skirt with a t-shirt or modest tank top, or a casual dress. For shoes I wore sandals, but not flip flops.
- Boyfriend: Khaki shorts with a button up or t-shirt. Sperry’s or Tom’s.
Upscale Restaurants
- Me: A nice, modest dress (think Banana Republic or similar). Bring a pashmina or light sweater as upscale establishments will often be heavily air conditioned. For a fancier shoe, I brought block heels. Stick to a block heel or wedges. The sidewalks are often uneven or nonexistent so stilettos would not be ideal.
- Boyfriend: Linen or khaki pants with a button up. Sperry’s or loafers for shoes.
Beach
- Me: Bathing suit and cover up. Unless you are physically on the beach, you will not see people walking around in just bathing suits. I brought a cover up with me to slip on to walk to the restroom or the bar to grab a beer.
- Boyfriend: Bathing suit and t-shirt.
Notice that I did not ever wear shorts. When I say shorts I mean what you see women wearing in the US, the kind that don’t even go half way to the knee. All of the shorts that I own fall into this category, so I opted not to bring them. It is not uncommon to see other tourists in shorts but I did not feel right wearing them when it’s not something you would ever see a local wearing.
For other tips, such as where to stay, how to get around, and other locations specific stuff, check out my detailed posts! (linked above)