It’s an old saying: “Make good use of youth while it lasts.” But one thing I notice as I get older is that even the meaning of travel evolves. As a younger backpacker, we rushed about the world collecting passport stamps as if they were exotic trophies. Now, we take our time to savour a good meal, a lazy sunset, a friendly street.
This 5-day getaway to Bangkok felt like a reunion with an old friend. A homecoming to familiar sights, sounds, and tastes—with more patience, more presence, and more gratitude.
Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok – Revisiting Memories
We arrived in Bangkok after a short rain-delayed flight from Singapore. In Suvarnabhumi Airport, I had to queue up for a visa on arrival—when a stranger extended an unexpected act of kindness and lent me his pen, after another Chinese tourist had refused to do the same…
We hopped on the airport bus to Ratchaprarop (฿40/person) instead of flagging down taxis. From there, we were just a 5-minute walk to our hotel in Baiyoke Sky Hotel.
Where We Stayed: Baiyoke Sky Hotel
- Highlight: The tallest hotel in Thailand, with free admission to its sky bar and observatory.
Old hotels have a personal way of bringing back memories—things, people, and places from the past that you never thought you’d see again. Baiyoke Sky is so very old—dated, if you will—yet it never changes and I can’t help but be reminded of my childhood vacations, with my parents who always booked this hotel. Wifi is abysmal, and it creaks when you walk. But what they lack in modernity, Baiyoke Sky makes up for with gravitas.
Address: 222 Ratchaprarop Rd, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
>>> Check Out Baiyoke Sky Hotel Rates Today
Dinner: Once Upon A Time at Ruen Jao Khun Ou
Just a stone’s throw from our hotel, Once Upon A Time at Ruen Jao Khun Ou is a restaurant housed in a storybook-looking wooden house. Veiled behind huge plants and exotic tropical foliage, I felt like I was pulled straight out of a fairytale.
We sat outdoors and ordered several small dishes that were as gorgeous as they were scrumptious. Thai milk tea also made me feel like I had time-travelled—because it was exactly the same as I remembered it: sweet, smooth, and nothing short of magical. We moved inside when rain started to drizzle.
Meal cost: ฿1000 for two (3 dishes, 2 drinks)
Night: Chao Phraya River Cruise (Wan Fah Dinner Cruise)
We decided to take a no-frills (฿100+) cruise along the Chao Phraya River, instead of an overpriced dinner cruise. It was low-traffic in the evening, and we were the only table that opted for the Thai set meal (regional dishes). There were three tables max on the whole boat—ours, a Korean family, and a French couple. Riverbank was not spectacular, but the cool wind and mellow music made it a peaceful and romantic experience.
Tip: Don’t ask for taxi fares near tourist attractions. The tuk-tuk driver quoted us ฿400 for the hotel, so we flagged a Grab instead (฿122, plus friendly driver).
Day 2: Markets on Rails and Water
Bangkok is famous for its floating markets and is even sometimes called the “Venice of the East”. I always love travelling by small boats that skim the water’s surface so close to the ground, so I was excited to come back to this time-honoured tradition.
The last time, we were scammed into paying an exorbitant price for a private boat after getting dropped at a fake pier by boatmen. This time, we pre-booked a half-day tour online to visit both Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
Maeklong Railway Market
It’s dishevelled, dusty, and authentically brilliant. We got there in time to see the daily show: the train that passes directly through the market as vendors fold up their stalls in the blink of an eye. It was no-frills and not for Instagram—an unpretentious and real slice of life in Bangkok.
Address: CX4X+XCC, Mae Klong, Mueang Samut Songkhram District, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Next, we went to Damnoen Saduak, the most famous floating market in Thailand. The moment we hopped on the wooden pier and into a small paddle boat, the atmosphere changed completely. The narrow canal came to life as vendors rowed by in long-tail boats piled high with fruit, snacks, and souvenirs. We drifted past small bridges, wooden houses, and under looming trees, with boats selling everything from mango sticky rice to grilled bananas.
Though it’s obvious it’s much more commercial than it used to be years ago, there’s still a certain magic to the scene—when you manage to pull away from the bustle and find a quiet stretch of canal where the water laps idly and time slows a little. We grabbed a fresh coconut, a skewer of grilled pork, and just floated, letting the moment linger.
Address: Damnoen Saduak, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi 70130, Thailand
Day 3: Hua Hin
On our third day, we took a 3-hour minivan ride from Bangkok’s Ekkamai Station to Hua Hin, Thailand’s popular seaside resort town. Our destination: Devasom Hua Hin Resort.
Where We Stayed: Devasom Hua Hin Resort
We stayed at Devashom Hua Hin Resort, a quaint and quiet resort between the lagoon and the ocean. The style of this hotel was what first drew me to Hua Hin: The chic yet retro-style of the whitewashed colonial-style villas, the sea-view bathtubs, and light-blue shuttered windows which turn a gorgeous shade of gold in the late afternoon. The main con of this hotel was that it was far from town, about 20 minutes by car. The resort has three free shuttle trips to and from town per day, but you have to book in advance.
Address: 1446/23 Petchkasem Road (Km.207), Hua Hin, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand
>>> Check Out Devahom Hua Hin Resort Rates today
Santorini Park
We headed to Santorini Park right after arriving, just a 20-minute drive. Santorini Park is a Grecian-themed shopping and amusement village, painted in a mosaic of bright whites and blue. Santorini is the kind of place that’s too cute for Instagram; it’s so photogenic that I worried my pictures wouldn’t do it justice. The square was dotted with pastel-painted Mediterranean style buildings with cobblestone walkways and bright colored doors. Quirky cafes hide behind every corner, ready for the next travel blogger selfie opportunity.
Entry was ฿150 per person with a free ride on any one attraction. It’s not a huge park and there are a number of covered areas, which is a blessing on the humid Thai days. A warning before you go though; Santorini is infamously known for its poop birds on the roof. Let’s just say that no camera is safe in Santorini, from above.
The village is mainly an outlet shopping and tourist trap area, with lots of ice cream carts and souvenir stores. There are tons of cute cafes and restaurants here too. We ate at a Miffy-themed cafe and enjoyed some cold drinks and shade after our Santorini Park adventures. Commercial? Yes. Cute? Totally a pastel-pink dream land where I could hang out and pretend I was vacationing for hours.
Address: 555 ม .3 ถ เพชรเกษม Khao Yai, ต เขา ใหญ่ อ ชะอำ Phetchaburi 76120, Thailand (Seems reported permanently closed recently)
Swiss Sheep Farm
We also went to Swiss Sheep Farm a 10-minute drive from Santorini Park. The “farm” is a small and quirky children’s petting zoo and photo studio. The admission fee was ฿120. It was cute, but also hot, crowded, and very “cute and commercial” themed. We also spent too much time taking silly pictures with the sheep. Honestly, 30 minutes was enough time to see the whole place. I’ll let the pictures tell the story for you, but in short: It’s full of sheep, ponies, chicks, rabbits, and farm equipment photo props. Some of the animals are on display but others roam free. It’s small, hot, and crowded with kids and tourists. There’s also a 3D trick-eye museum inside if you need more options for indoor entertainment.
We had our pictures taken by one of the photographers there for ฿150 a piece. I didn’t mind it at all because I got something to remember my time there by. Let’s be honest here, the sheep farm was major tourist trap stuff. But I had fun. I found it fun and silly, a sort of “fake” kind of fun. If you want to be honest about it, this was the fakest day of my vacation. There was a bunch of Disney World stuff for grown-ups. But that’s ok by me. I got a kick out of the incredibly cute scenery and it was sort of charming. I’m the kind of person who would argue that it’s better to be tourist trapped by cute animals rather than tacky souvenirs.
Address: ซอย หนองจับเต่า Na Chom Thian, Sattahip District, Chon Buri 20250, Thailand
Dinner: Lung Ja Seafood in Hua Hin Night Market
We took the 6 PM free shuttle back into town, which dropped us right in front of the famous Lung Ja Seafood Restaurant in Hua Hin Night Market.
I’m generally not a fan of seafood since the texture and “fishy aftertaste” never did it for me. The combination of salt, lime, and garlic chili sauce they use here at Lung Ja though? I changed my mind about seafood forever. We ordered 1kg grilled lobster, which was ฿1700/kg, and spent the rest of the meal staring at how awesome this buttery, charred, smoky, and tender lobster was. Juicy with a crisp charred exterior, these lobsters are delicately smoky, flavorful, and you better believe it I dipped every piece of lobster in that garlic chili-lime sauce.
Address: HXC3+7RP, Hua Hin, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand
Locals chatted, tourists bargained, seafood grilled over charcoal, scooters zoomed by—it’s all the best parts of street food culture. They also gave us free side dishes and drinks were quite affordable.
Day 4: Huahin to Bangkok
We checked out of Devashom Hua Hin Resort around noon. We had a quick lunch at the resort’s bistro before departure. The Thai food was decent but nothing special—and, unsurprisingly, cost more than regular local restaurants you’ll find in town. But it was a good option if you want something light, and the seaside breezy view was a nice bonus.
Transfer back to Bangkok
Our pre-arranged taxi was waiting for us at 1PM to take us to the minivan pickup location. We’d had a bit of a confusing experience on the way in trying to figure out where to get the van back to Bangkok, so this was the tip for you: simply tell your taxi driver that you need to get to Hua Hin Soi 51 and they’ll direct you right to where the shared minivans go.
We quickly boarded and were on our way back to Bangkok. Sunday’s drive out had been smooth sailing, but the inbound drive was much worse. The 3-hour ride ended up taking more like 3.5 hours of stop-and-go, and it was especially bad once we hit the city limits. The van dropped us at Mo Chit Bus Terminal, which is a bit further out and less familiar to me than Ekkamai or Victory Monument, but we used Grab once again and got a ride to our Bangkok hotel.
Where We Stayed: Asoke Residence Sukhumvit
We arrived at our next hotel in Bangkok – the Asoke Residence Sukhumvit by UHG – sometime around 6 PM. Hot, sticky, and more than a little bit road-weary from the day, we were ready to give the place a whirl.
The hotel was a budget-conscious compromise that we found because of its location and budget. Nothing flashy, but it gets the job done. The room (aka “Deluxe Studio”) was not a huge space and wasn’t exactly stylish. It was a small, square room with threadbare carpeting that showed its age, but still had all of the basic amenities: small kitchenette, aircon, gym, and even a swimming pool. For transit travelers, the location was fine enough
Address: 235/20-25 Sukhumvit 21 Rd, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
>>> Check out Asoke Residence Sukhumvit Rates Today
Dinner: Cabbages & Condoms
For dinner, we made a spontaneous (and slightly reluctant) visit to the famous Cabbages & Condoms restaurant—a place I initially dismissed as tacky, but hunger and curiosity got the better of us. The concept is bold yet meaningful: promoting safe sex by making condoms as accessible as cabbage, hence the name. The décor was cheeky, with mannequins dressed in full condom outfits and colorful displays everywhere, but the vibe was fun and lighthearted. Surprisingly, the food was solid—classic Thai dishes like pad Thai and tom yum hit the spot—and the service was friendly. And yes, instead of mints, they hand out condoms with your bill. Only in Bangkok.
Address: 6 10 Suk Chai Alley, Khwaeng Khlong Toei, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Day 5: Café-Hopping Before Farewell
Our final full day in Bangkok was a slow and sweet one—with just a bit of café-hopping in between Ekkamai and Phrom Phong along the BTS Sukhumvit (SKV) Line. I’d compiled a long list of aesthetic cafés in this stretch, and loved how many gems hide in between the alleys and side streets of this neighbourhood. With time running out and hotel checkout hours pressing closer, we finally settled for two favourites walking distance from the train.
Fill in the Blank Cafe
The first was FILL IN THE BLANK, hidden along Sukhumvit Soi 61 about 15 minutes away from Ekkamai BTS. The interior exuded a calming Muji-style minimalism, with strong whites and raw textures against the sharp angles of the building. True to its name, the empty space was so open and uncluttered that sunlight streamed in through the windows and made patterned shadows dance over the tables. We arrived early in the weekday morning, and the café was blissfully empty. The American breakfast set we ordered was surprisingly memorable, with a house-made sauce that elevated even the humble toast. I ordered a bubblegum soda, because why not? Playful, photogenic, and of course, delightfully nostalgic.
Address: 28/10 Sukhumvit 61, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
B-Story Café
Our second café of the day was B-Story Café, near BTS Ratchathewi. This one’s a fairy-tale favourite of fellow Instagrammers and Taobao shop owners (Taobao: an online shopping platform in China) alike. Decorated in vintage European furniture, flanked with floral window dressings and enveloped by the charm of a glasshouse, stepping inside felt like walking into a storybook garden café. From the rustic wood interiors, flowers blooming from vases on every table, to the tiny live fish kept in jars on some of the tables (yes, they’re for sale! ), every corner of the café begged for a photo op. We settled for a spot by the windows to soak in the sunshine and sipped on an icy passionfruit soda—the best drink of the trip by far.
Address: 89/70 Phaya Thai Rd, Thanon Phetchaburi, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
It was 11:30 AM by the time we finished. We rushed back to the hotel to check out, zipped the suitcases shut, and waved to one another in the airport lounge. The post-travel heartache started to sink in before the flight took off, as we glanced over at our boarding passes one last time. Thank you, Bangkok, for the tastes, for the stories, and for the beautiful little spaces in between.
Closing Thoughts
I didn’t come to Bangkok with any bucket list or travel goals in mind. I just wanted to enjoy the familiar with eyes wide open, to see the city afresh with renewed curiosity.
Travelling can get so expensive, and more often than not, that tends to mean new destinations and new experiences. But this was a reminder that travel needn’t be new to be meaningful. Sometimes, going back—seeing a place with slower steps and older eyes—can reveal a deeper beauty.
Thank you, Bangkok, for always receiving us back like old friends.
Bangkok Travel Tips
- SIM Card: Purchase one at the airport (~฿200 for 7-day plan, first 1GB is high-speed).
- Transport: Grab the airport bus (฿40/person) or Grab. Don’t hail cabs/tuk-tuks near attractions.
- Hotels: Baiyoke Sky is old, and we love it for sentimental reasons. Good views, but interiors are dated.
- Cruise: Non-dinner budget cruises are more intimate than overpriced luxury ones. Filter for English-speaking staff.
- Markets: Book half-day tours to avoid tourist traps.
- Weather: June is rainy season. Bring an umbrella, but embrace the rain.
5-Day Bangkok Itinerary: River Cruises, Local Eats & Hidden Corners