ITINERARY
Note: Below is my actual trip itinerary - I always suggest any recommended adjustments in the "Things I Would Do Differently" section at the bottom of this post.
Total days off work: Ten (nine for us since we went the week of New Year's Day)
Time of year: January (dry season)
Day 1 - Travel day
Day 2 - Arrive late in Bangkok, Thailand
Day 3 - Bangkok, Thailand
Day 4 - Bangkok, Thailand
Day 5 - Bangkok, Thailand
Day 6 - Fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Day 7 - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Day 8 - Fly to Krabi, Thailand
Day 9 - Krabi, Thailand
Day 10 - Krabi, Thailand
Day 11 - Krabi, Thailand
Day 12 - Fly to Bangkok, Thailand
Day 13 - Bangkok, Thailand
Day 14 - Travel day
STAY
Banyan Tree Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand) - Bangkok is so spread out that I wasn't sure what location I wanted when I booked this hotel. It ended up working great; we took taxis and/or tuk tuks to get to other parts of town, and there were many restaurants within walking distance as well. The room was large and comfortable, but my favorite thing about this hotel is its famous open-air rooftop. At 61 stories high, the views from Vertigo (the aptly named full-service restaurant) and Moon Bar (a bar and lounge) are absolutely insane. Going up the stairs at the very top to get there actually did give me a bit of vertigo lol, but this rooftop had a major wow factor, and I would suggest a visit even if you do not stay at the Banyan Tree.
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Le Meridien Angkor (Siem Reap, Cambodia) - Situated between Angkor Wat and downtown Siem Reap, the Le Meridien was perfectly located and was an easy tuk tuk ride to both. The property's lush grounds were very well maintained and the large pool was the perfect place to unwind after a hot and humid day of exploring temples.
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Rayavadee (Krabi, Thailand) - The incredible location and grounds of this hotel are almost impossible to beat, and always stick out as one of the top locations of any hotel I've stayed at. I still remember our arrival, which was right before sunset, and my jaw was on the floor when I saw the scenery for the first time in person. The Rayavadee is only accessible by boat, and is located between two famous beaches - Phra Nang Beach and Railay Beach. Both beaches have white sand, warm water, and dramatic limestone cliffs. The hotel will provide transportation (by car from Krabi Airport to the pier, and then by boat to the hotel), which you will need to arrange after booking. The lush property is well maintained and very large, and has multiple lounge areas and restaurants. All accommodations are in the form of private pavilions - we booked a deluxe pavilion (which is a standard room at the Rayavadee), which was two stories and had a private outdoor deck. The first floor had a desk, seating area and tv, and small bar area. The mini fridge and cabinets were fully stocked with complimentary water, beverages and snacks each day. The second floor was a bedroom with a large bathroom and closet. The bathroom was stocked with every amenity you could ask for - even small bottles of the most lovely lemongrass scented bug spray (which you will definitely need here)!! Everything was so nicely packaged and wrapped - the attention to detail was amazing. The beaches are not private and can get a little busy, but it is very easy to find a long-tail boat to go island hopping, although none of the nearby islands compared to the hotel beaches in my opinion. The only negative I found with this hotel was the food - there was not as much variety as we would have hoped for, so it got a little repetitive after four days at the resort. There are some restaurants on Railay Beach that are a short walk from the hotel if you would like to try some other options. Overall, this was an extremely memorable stay and I would definitely love to return someday.
The Room:
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The Hotel Grounds:
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EAT
Apsara Dining Cruise (Bangkok, Thailand) - This was offered through the Banyan Tree Hotel, and was one of my favorite meals in Thailand. It takes place in a converted vintage rice barge, which takes you down the Chao Phraya River. Our dinner was multiple courses and was a TON of food, but we were able to sample so many different local foods, which are all prepared on-board, and it was absolutely delicious.
To be completely honest, I did a terrible job of making dinner reservations on this trip - we ate street curry and randomly stumbled into small restaurants and cafes, which was honestly a lot of fun - I could not get enough of the Panang curry! That being said, I would definitely spend more time on this next time around given the amazing food options, especially in Bangkok. We had reservations at the critically acclaimed Nahm restaurant but ended up cancelling because we were so exhausted that day - definitely a regret of the trip!
ADVENTURE
The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun (Bangkok, Thailand) - We started the day at The Grand Palace, and walked to the nearby Wat Pho to view the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. From there, there are many great restaurants and rooftops along the river with beautiful views of Wat Arun - a great option to stop for lunch or a drink. Next, hop on a water taxi to cross the river and visit Wat Arun, which is directly across the river from Wat Pho and The Grand Palace. Wear modest but breathable clothing (it gets hot!) - cover shoulders and shorts or skirts should be to the knee. You may need to remove your shoes to enter certain areas, so keep that in mind when choosing footwear.
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Explore Bangkok on Tuk Tuks and River Taxis (Bangkok, Thailand) - You can't come to Bangkok and not experience the hustle and bustle of the streets and waterways. We took water taxis in between Wat Pho and Wat Arun, and took tuk tuks almost everywhere else. If you are traveling a longer distance, you will probably want to take a regular taxi. Wander the streets, which are crowded and lined with markets and street vendors. Even if you are not willing to try the street food, it is still fun to see and smell all the different foods. If you want sample street food, I'd suggest finding reviews online or looking for places with long lines to find the best spots!
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Visit an Elephant Reserve at Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (Tha Mai Ruak, Thailand) - This was a fantastic and educational day trip from Bangkok. Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) is a refuge for rescued animals, including elephants, and does not exploit the animals like many other tourist destinations claiming to be wildlife reserves. When we visited, we were able to feed and walk with the elephants but the organization has since moved to a "hands-off" model. However, you can still book a day tour here, where you can see the animals in a natural environment and learn about conservation issues. You are also able to book transportation to and from your hotel through WFFT; the drive is ~2.5 hours from Bangkok.
Angkor Wat and Surrounding Temples (Siem Reap, Cambodia) - Like many, we left our hotel at 5 am to arrive at Angkor Wat at sunrise. It is beautiful, but very crowded. However, I was shocked how peaceful and quiet the sunrise was considering how many people were there. We found a great local guide on Tripadvisor, who guided us through multiple temples, and was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. Temple visits included Bayon and Ta Prohm, which is known for the incredible trees that grow into the temples. We were able to see a lot in one day, and I don't think I could have covered as much ground without a guide. In my opinion, this complex is more impressive than some of the World Wonders I have seen, and is a must see if you are able to visit Cambodia.
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Explore Siem Reap (Siem Reap, Cambodia) - The downtown area is especially lively after dark when you can visit the night market. During the day, I highly recommend stopping into Artisans of Angkor, which is a large store supporting local artisans. There are many beautiful goods available to purchase or have shipped home, and they also have art demonstrations on-site. The main showroom and workshop is a bit hidden, but is a short walk from downtown Siem Reap and was well worth the trip.
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Island Hopping in a Long-Tail Boat (Krabi, Thailand) - Negotiate a price ahead of time to take a traditional long-tail boat to a nearby island or just out for a ride! The views of the coastline from the water are definitely worth your time and the boat ride was so peaceful.
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Take a Speedboat to the Phi Phi Islands (Krabi, Thailand) - We found a local company on Tripadvisor to take us to the Phi Phi Islands via private speedboat. We left early in the morning to arrive at Maya Bay, known for its surreal light turquoise water and green cliffs, before the large ferries get there (we were leaving just as they arrived and there were massive amounts of people!). Maya Bay is now closed to recover from the large amounts of tourists, but there are plenty of other stunning and less crowded islands in the area to see.
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PACK
What I packed for carry-on only (carry-on roller suitcase plus a small duffel - see my packing tips and luggage recommendations here):
What I wore on the plane: Casual flat shoes (I wore Toms), lightweight black skinny jeans, breathable athletic t-shirt, black athletic jacket with hood, lightweight down vest (I get cold on planes, and this packs down great when I don't need it), scarf, baseball cap
What I packed:
1 pair of flat dressy sandals
2 pairs of casual flat sandals
1 pair of flip flops
4 swimsuits
1 pair of jean shorts
1 pair of leggings
1 athletic tank
4 sleeveless blouses
2 t-shirts
2 casual tanks
1 maxi skirt
1 short skirt
3 sundresses
3 maxi dresses
1 black dress that can be dressed up or down
1 lightweight cardigan
1 drawstring bag (used as small backpack for long walks and as a beach/pool bag)
OTHER NOTES
Check here for the most up to date visa information. We needed to obtain a tourist visa (on arrival) for Cambodia, and did not need to apply for this ahead of our trip but needed to bring passport photos with us. However, it is always best to check the most recent info for what is needed to enter the country. Many countries have transitioned to online visas.
We were able to get along with English very well, however, if you are going to venture out in tuk tuks, make sure to have your hotel address in the local language, which makes it easier for drivers to get you back. Many hotels will provide a card with this info to take with you.
Bring mosquito repellent!!!
THINGS I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY
We could have easily taken advantage of the second weekend and done a 16 day trip without taking any more days off of work. However, I ended up going with the better flight price option because prices were so elevated around the New Year's Day holiday. If I did it again, I'd probably just spring for the higher flight price or slightly change the timing of the trip. Rather than spending 2 nights in Bangkok at the end of the trip (we already had 4 nights at the beginning), I'd switch it to 1 night at the end and only stay for 3 nights at the beginning of the trip. With the extra time, I would have loved to spend additional days in Cambodia and/or add a quick trip to another area, such as Khao Sok National Park or Chiang Mai.
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