Bangkok

When I first heard about Thailand, pad thai and Phuket came to mind. One trip in, you realize: it’s actually five different Thailands — the northern mountains, Bangkok’s carnival streets, the southern islands, quiet Isan villages and polished resort strips. Budget of $30 or $300 a day, Thailand has an answer for both.

Best time to visit

November to February is the sweet spot: 28–30°C, low humidity, almost no rain. December–January is peak and priciest. March–May gets brutal (Bangkok can hit 38°C+). June–October is monsoon — short heavy bursts, but islands empty out and prices drop. Songkran (water festival) is April 13–15 — plan around it if you want the experience.

How many days?

10–14 days is balanced. 3 days in Bangkok (temples, night markets, street food), 2–3 in Chiang Mai (northern culture, elephant sanctuary), and 4–5 on an island (Koh Samui, Phi Phi or Krabi). Islands only? 7 days is enough. Combining with Vietnam/Cambodia? Budget 7 days for Thailand. Bangkok-only? 3–4 days max — the city doesn’t reward a full week.

What to see

Bangkok: Grand Palace + Wat Pho + Chinatown. Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep and Sunday Walking Street. Ayutthaya ruins (day trip from Bangkok). Islands: Phi Phi (snorkel Maya Bay), Koh Samui (balance of budget and luxury), Koh Tao (cheapest dive cert on earth). Under-the-radar: Pai (hippie village), Sukhothai ancient city, Khao Sok National Park (lake-bungalows). Phuket is touristy — Krabi or Koh Lanta feel calmer.

Food & drink

Must-try: pad thai (skip touristy spots, eat at a cart), tom yum kung (spicy shrimp soup), mango sticky rice (May–June is peak), khao soi (Chiang Mai’s signature chicken-curry noodle), som tam (papaya salad — don’t say “very spicy” unless you mean it). Bangkok: Chatuchak Market and Jay Fai (Michelin-starred, 800 baht). Drinks: Chang/Singha beer, fresh coconut, Thai iced tea. Bottled water only.

Getting around

Intercity: domestic flights are dirt cheap (AirAsia, Nok Air — $20–40). Night bus Bangkok–Chiang Mai is 10 hrs (~$15). Bangkok city: BTS skytrain and MRT metro are fastest; Grab works for short hops; tuk-tuks are fun once but haggle. Islands: ferry + speedboat (Phuket–Phi Phi 90 min). North: rent a scooter in Chiang Mai (~$5–8/day).

Things to watch out for

Don’t board a tuk-tuk pitching a “one-day-only” gem/suit deal. “Grand Palace is closed today” is a classic scam. ATM fee is 220 baht (~$6) — withdraw in chunks. Jellyfish can appear August–October (esp. Phuket). Temples require shoulders and knees covered. Get your SIM in town (AIS/TrueMove), not the airport — 3× cheaper. Stick to packaged ice at street stalls.

Budget estimate

Economy: $30–40/day (hostel, street food, local transit). Mid: $60–90/day (3★ hotel, mixed food, one activity). Luxury: $150–300/day (4–5★ hotel, private transfer, fine dining). Island trips run 30–50% more. A balanced 12-day trip (excluding flights) is $900–1,200. Flights from Europe: €450–700 — shoulder months (mid-Feb, May) are cheapest.