Client Blog: Amanda and friends amazing adventure in Thailand
- Kyle Brade-Waring
- Sep 2
- 3 min read
Honestly, when we first saw the plan from Emma - five stops in nearly three weeks - we had a moment of thinking, "Is this a bit much?" But it was the best decision we could have made.
The whole thing just worked, like clockwork. We never once had to think about logistics. The flights were perfect, a driver was always there waiting, the hotels knew we were coming, every transfer and ticket was sorted. It meant we could just get on with actually being on holiday.
Bangkok
The heat hits you as soon as you step outside, along with a million different smells - street food, incense, traffic. We were staying at the Century Park Hotel, and it was the perfect spot for just heading out and exploring.
The best way to get around is the train, it cuts right through the city, but for shorter hops we used the Grab app, which is like Uber but ridiculously cheap. The view from the top of the King Power Mahanakhon building is just mad – you can see for miles, and walking on that glass floor with the city right beneath your feet is something else!
We took to the river on a hop-on-hop-off boat, a fantastic way to see the city. The day pass was only a couple of pounds and let us visit the magnificent Grand Palace, Wat Arun temple, and the busy Chinatown.
Khao San Road is a must-visit - our favourite evenings were spent getting a bit lost and finding little hidden gems. We loved the Saxophone Bar, this brilliant live music venue where the band was playing proper old-school jazz and blues. We even found a 'secret' bar called Hex where you get in by pushing a bookcase!
A tip if you go shopping: I got some brilliant tops for about £8 that would be £200 at home. The first time you try to barter it feels a bit cheeky, but you soon get the hang of it and it's all part of the fun. My rule was to start at a third of whatever they first ask.
Krabi & Elephant Hills
After the brilliant chaos of Bangkok, Krabi was our first chance to just breathe. We checked into the Krabi La Playa Resort, and in the evenings, we’d just wander down towards the beach, find a little restaurant with its tables in the sand, and watch the long-tail boats coming in as the sun went down.
Then it was on to Elephant Hills by way of a beautiful two-hour drive. I’ll be honest, I was nervous about this bit. I saw it advertised and loved the look of it, but we don't really do 'outdoorsy' and I have never, ever camped. I was picturing a leaky tent and bugs, but our 'tent' at The Elephant Camp was incredible. A proper bed, an en-suite bathroom with a hot shower… it was more comfortable than some hotels!
The whole experience is expertly organised into small, personal groups, so it feels wonderfully relaxed. Despite all the activities, the camp itself is very chilled out, and even has a pool to cool off in.
We canoed through the mangroves, trekked deep into the rainforest and went kayaking across Cheow Larn Lake surrounded by the unbelievable huge limestone - it was so quiet and beautiful.
But the afternoon we spent with the elephants is something that will stay with me for a very long time. You get given a bucket of fruit and veg, and they just gently take it from you with their trunks. Looking one of them in the eye is just… something else. You quickly realise how intelligent they are.
Phuket
Our last stop was the Andaman Seaview Hotel in Phuket. It had a bit more life to it, which was a fun way to end the trip - one last wander through the markets, haggling for souvenirs, and eating as much Pad Thai as we possibly could before flying home.
Looking back, the whole trip was just filled with incredible moments. Trying to organise everything ourselves would have been a nightmare.
Emma sorted everything and looked after us brilliantly. We didn't have to worry about a thing and were able to just soak it all in.
Thank you, Emma, it was simply magical.
Amanda
