Monday, May 12, 2014

Travel :: To Thailand We Go!


Well hello there!  I hope you all had a great weekend :) Our trip to The Greenbrier was beyond perfect...I can't wait to go through my pictures and start posting about our experience!

In other news, last week we officially booked our flights and hotels for Thailand!  To say I am excited is an understatement.  Because of monsoon season, we will be going from the end of February through the middle of March 2015.  That gives me lots of time to plan, plan, plan {and to shop!}  Here is our itinerary:


Bangkok (4 nights): We will be flying into Bangkok and spending four nights there.  Initially we wanted to stay at this boutique hotel {how amazing is the decor?!}, but sadly it has already been sold out.  We are instead thinking about The Four SeasonsShangri-La, or the Hotel Muse.  In Bangkok I definitely want to see temples, go shopping, and visit the floating market.  We will be taking a day trip to Kanchanaburi to visit Erawan Falls and Elephant's World, a refuge for abused elephants whose motto is "we work for the elephants, not the elephants working for us."  I think we will also head to Ayutthaya for a day to check out the ruins.


Koh Phangan (5 nights): Words cannot express how excited I am to be spending five days at the Santhiya Resort & Spa.  We will have a sea view villa with our own private infinity pool and plunge tub.  The reviews are fantastic and it looks SO romantic!  I'm really happy that we will be able to walk to the neighboring town for cheap dinners and massages on the beach, but will definitely be splurging for a spa treatment at the hotel because it just looks so darn nice!  Ryan is planning on getting scuba-certified, so we will be taking a day trip to go scuba diving {either at Sail Rock or Kao Tao} and another to explore the stunning Angthong National Marine Park.


Ko Lanta (4 nights): We will be staying at the Pimalai Resort & Spa and are really looking forward to exploring the island.  I know a lot of people rent scooters but since neither of us have ever drove one before we will probably just end up renting a car through our hotel.  We will be taking a sunset snorkeling trip and will be spending some time island hopping.  I'm also thinking about taking a cooking class here.


Krabi (3 nights): We will be staying at the Amari Vogue Hotel and taking day trips snorkel and explore both Hong Island and the Phi Phi Islands.  We really wanted to stay on Railay or Ao Nang but couldn't justify the cost of the Rayavadee so we will just have to hire a longtail boat to take us there for the day!

My one regret is that we won't be able to visit Chiang Mai.  Initially we wanted to go during the famous Lantern Festival, Loi Krathong, but quickly found out that November is monsoon season in the Gulf of Thailand.  Unfortunately the time of year we are visiting, which is supposed to be the best weather on the islands, is during Chiang Mai's 'burning season'.  This season is categorized by intense heat, pollution, and smog created by farmers slashing and burning their rice fields.  At best, the weather is hot and hazy.  At worst, visibility is reduced to less than 50 yards, people walk around with face masks, and many are sent to the hospital with respiratory problems.  While I would love to spend time in Northern Thailand, which many call the cultural epicenter of the country, I know that I would be overcome with anxiety during the weeks prior to our trip, obsessively reading weather reports on a daily basis.  That compounded with my extremely sensitive sinuses made us decide that to truly enjoy Chiang Mai for all it is worth we will just have to go back on another trip {during Loi Krathong!}

So, do you have any recommendations?  Our hotels are already booked everywhere but Bangkok, so if you have a favorite there then let me know!  What about things to do in Bangkok?  Should we go to Ayutthaya {essentially meaning we only have 1 full day to explore the city}?  Must-see islands off of Krabi and/or Ko Lanta?  A favorite restaurant or food?  What about the best way to beat the insane jet-lag I'm sure we will be facing?  If you have been to Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Phangan, or Ko Lanta I'd love to know what your favorite parts were!!

Images via {1} {2} {3} {4} {5} {6} {7} {8} {9} {10} {11} {12} {13}

40 comments:

  1. So let's see - 2 1/2 weeks of beauty, ocean, food and diving. How perfect can it all be.

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  2. Love all the photos! I can't wait to start following along and see your new adventures! Your blog is so great, so much fabulous inspiration!!


    Natalie

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  3. Oh my goodness Molly this is amazing! I can't wait to see all the photos even if March next year means me back at uni trudging through my dissertation :p also can't wait to see the photos from the Greenbrier. Your life is amazinggg xxx
    Lucy @ la-lingua.blogspot.com

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  4. AHHHHH. I'm so jealous of all of your travels! I'm dying to go to Thailand. This trip looks amazing!

    The Style Scribe

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  5. Wow Molly! You are one lucky girl! Sounds like a trip of a lifetime! I'm so excited for you!


    www.taffetaandtulips.com

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  6. I am so excited to see your pictures! You always have the most amazing travels and photos. I would love to go to Thailand myself! Have a blast!

    Eleventh & Sixteenth

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  7. you are going to have the best time, molly!!
    can't wait for pictures and details.

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  8. That looks soo amazing!!! Wow perfect trip!!


    whatsarahknows

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  9. Can't wait for your photos. Looks like you have a great itinerary lined up!
    http://liveitinerantly.com/

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  10. Stunning pictures! Thanks for sharing <3

    Sweet Madame Blue

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  11. Christine DinsmoreMay 12, 2014 at 3:40 PM

    wow, this looks like a fantastic vacation. that spa resort! how beautiful is that?! as is the amari. i love how each of the hotels are so different. the four seasons in bangkok looks really lovely as well. looks like you have planned it really well and will get to experience so much of thailand. can't wait for the pics! i'll be counting down with you ;)

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  12. Wow. Can I be your luggage? This sounds like a dream. Can't wait to see your pictures and future pictures.

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  13. I have heard Thailand is fantastic and those pictures are lonely planet worthy for sure. I hope to get there eventually. Safe travels!
    Corazón
    http://llipstickwithcoffee.blogspot.com/

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  14. Oooh girl I am jealous! Sounds like a honeymoon :) Have fun planning! xo

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  15. wow wow wow!! congrats girl! It looks like you guys are going to have a ton of fun! The place you'll be staying looks so beautiful! I'm officially envious, as Thailand (Indonesia) is one of the places in this whole world I'm dying to go to! The only problem is that the flight there is SO long, which is why I've been putting it off...do you have any recommendations for handling long international flights? The longest I have gone is 11 hour direct from NYC to go home to Hawaii, and that is more than enough for me!! lol I can't wait to see your photos from there!

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  16. Oh my gosh Molly, how exciting! Sounds like it will be a wonderful trip. I have always wanted to travel to the far east. I am sure it will be an amazing experience and also so unbelievably beautiful! I am sure you will take countless fabulous pictures when you are there. And so great that you have time to plan and prepare!
    Also cant wait to hear about the Greenbrier!

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  17. This is an amazing trip! It sounds wonderful with all those amazing hotels and such beautiful places! I have never been so I can't recommend anything! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.

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  18. Those photos are amazing! So excited for you guys! Loved seeing those pics from the Greenbrier on your Instagram.

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  19. This sounds like an amazing trip. I can't wait to go to Thailand. I will plan my trip around all the fun experiences you have. That way I have a guideline of the do's and don'ts.

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  20. Seems like you have everything already planned out. There's lots of things to do when you arrive. I would say visit the Cha Cha Market in Bangkok (The biggest flea market in the world) for your shopping. We ended up taking the sky train and made a day out of it. My husband and I have a vlog channel (Inside Hart) and we vlogged every day in Thailand. We post every sunday. Check out : http://youtu.be/SHSBQASFDjY & http://youtu.be/lX3TR8sdzvI


    Jessica

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  21. hi jessica, thanks so much for sharing your vlog links with me! they are adorable and i love being able to see bangkok from your perspective. did you take them with a go pro? again, great work with the vlog...i'll definitely be checking them out every week :)

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  22. thanks kayleigh! we are so excited about it as neither of us have been to asia before. i'm sure we will have a lot of great experiences but some flops too so i will definitely give you the full details when we get back :)

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  23. thank you melinda! we are so excited about it. and also, i appreciate your sweet comment about the greenbrier...it was nearly impossible to get a bad picture :)

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  24. thanks albertina! we are so so excited to be able to experience a totally different culture and insanely beautiful beaches :)

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  25. thanks so much for the sweet comment nan! we have never been to asia either so we are really looking forward to being able to experience a culture that is completely new to us :) i hope you have a great weekend!

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  26. hi jessica! i totally feel you on the flight and have never been on a plane for more than 9-10 hours at a time. we fly straight from chicago to korea which is over 17 hours...i'm kind of freaking out about it to be honest! however, my mom has visited thailand a few times and has told me that while yes, the flights aren't fun by any means, it is so worth it! my plan is bring ear plugs, an eyemask, a neck pillow, and ambien :)

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  27. thanks shannon! i know, we had actually talked about going for a honeymoon but just couldn't wait that long :)

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  28. lol i'm sure i will bring such a big suitcase that i will be able to fit you in there :)
    have a great weekend dear!

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  29. thank you so much natalie!
    love your blog and really happy to have found it :)

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  30. you're too sweet lucy!!! we are pretty excited about it :)
    hope you have a wonderful weekend dear!

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  31. thanks so much for the sweet comment, as always, christine! we are so excited about being able to experience a totally different culture...as neither of us have ever been to asia :) i hope you have an absolutely wonderful weekend!

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  32. thannks quyen, it was a little overwhelming trying to narrow it all down (obviously way more than anyone can see in two and a half weeks) but i think it will be a great taste of thailand :)

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  33. thanks sarah, we are really really excited about it :)
    hope you have a great weekend!

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  34. thanks madeline!!! we are very, very excited about it...thailand has always been a dream destination for us :)

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  35. thanks so much kimberley! neither of us have been to asia before so we are really excited about being able to experience a completely different culture :) have a wonderful weekend!

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  36. thank you so much kate! we are beyond excited as both of us have dreamt of going to thailand for years :) i hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  37. thank you so much merritt! we are so excited about it and will definitely blog all of my recommendations for when you go :) oh, and i have to tell you...your photos from cabo were absolutely STUNNING!

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