Please review my Thailand Itinerary
 

Hi Everyone,

With your assistance, my fiancée and I have finally nailed down an itinerary for our honeymoon. We are a late 20s couple, into experiencing new culture and nightlife. We realize that we are lacking enough time in BKK, but we’re hoping that it will be good motivation for us to return. Here it is, please let us know if we are missing anything important!

November 1st: Arrive from LAX to BKK @ the Oriental at 6:40am:
Rest the remainder of the day/sit at the Oriental’s pool

November 2nd:
Full day with Tong:
• The Grand Palace and The Royal Temple of The Emerald Buddha.
• Canal Tour.
• Wat Arun
• Lunch
• Wat Pho.
• Jim Thompson House Museum.
• Thai Traditional Dance.
• Muay Thai.

November 3rd
On our own in BKK
• Lumphini Park
• Vimanmek Palace
• Siam Square
• Chinatown
• Weekend Market at Chatuchak Park

November 4-8th in Chiang Rai/Chiang Saen @ Anantara
• Mahout Training
• Thai Cooking Classes
• 3 Countries in 1 Day Tour
• Opium Museum
• Lots of Relaxation

November 8-12th in Chiang Mai @ D2 Hotel
• Wat Phra Singh
• Wat Chiang Man
• Wat Chet Yot
• National Museum
• Suan Dok
• Night Bazaar
• Trekking
• Doi Suthep
• Royal Palace
• Doi Inthanon National Park

November 12 – 16th in Phuket @ Twinpalms Hotel
• Driving tour of Phuket’s Beaches
• Scuba Diving
• Lots of Relaxing

November 16th – Return to BKK @ Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit
• Relax and do any activities that we could not accomplish on first leg of trip.

November 17th – Evening flight back to LAX

It's a busy itinerary, but it looks do-able. You have scheduled in some relaxation time. And you were smart to leave your whole first day in Bangkok free.

One comment about your activities at the Anantara at the Golden Triangle... I don't really recommend the "3 Countries in 1 Day Tour" The places you go in Burma and in Laos don't give you any flavor for the countries. The place in Laos is just a shopping stop, and nothng interesting to buy (like crafts) just cheap, mass-produced merchandise. The day trip to Doi Tung, the Queen Mother's estate and hilltribes economic development project is much more interesting, IMO.

Have a wonderful trip!

great trip and yes it is busy but very doable....

doi tung is by far the better choice...

nov 3 looks to heavy to me and wkk-end market should be in morning--cooler...i would skip it and go to the nite market instead some nite...

Hi Kathie,

Thanks for your quick reply. Regarding the 3 countries in 1 day tour, did you take it from the Anantara? I had heard that the golden triangle area was a bit touristy, but I had also heard that the Anantara went through great lenghts to ensure that its tours were not the typical tourist traps. Sounds like that might not be the case?

Bob, thanks for the advice about the night market, we'll certainly look into it.

Thanks again to all you fodorites. Althogh i have been quietly lurking for the last 3 months, the advice I have found on this site has been invaluable!

No, I did not take the 3 countries tour. My comment was more a comment on the nature of tours to border towns. Wait until you get there to decide what to book and talk with them about it. I didn't find the Golden Triangle area especially "touristy." Of course there are tourists (otherwise there wouldn't be tourist infrastructure).

Two quick BKK thoughts based on "We are a late 20s couple, into experiencing new culture and nightlife" -- I'd pop up to Wat Arun for sunset the first night -- taking it out of that very busy day two -- and I would find time to go to Bed Supperclub. The events during dinner change -- you might catch a fashion show or art installation. Some folks on here think Bed is too Western but it's one of the places young rich Thais hang out and interesting just to watch the social dynamics between diners, wait staff, etc. You could do Bed on your last night -- reservations available on line (and you need them).

I would move the Klong tour to your free day in BKK. It's actually relatively cool, even in the afternoon. If you go to the weekend market, go in the morning. It gets very hot. Also, if you go to the night market, you should go see the Joe Louis Puppet Theater. It's right there in the market and a real treat.

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