Exploring Thailand in 11 Days: From Bangkok to the Islands

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From Bangkok to the Islands

Thailand had been on our bucket list for a while, and after a few flights, buses, vans, and scooters, we finally made it happen! From the bustling streets of Bangkok to the breathtaking shores of Ao Nang and Phuket, this trip was nothing short of an adventure. We embraced the spontaneity of non-rev travel—no accommodations booked, no rigid itinerary—just a go-with-the-flow mindset that made every moment more exciting. Whenever the wheels touched down in Bangkok we had absolutely nothing booked, which sparked a bit of panic, but we were quickly able to start making plans!

If you’re planning your own Thailand adventure, here’s everything we did, plus a few tips to make your journey smoother!

Getting There: The Non-Rev Way

Our journey started with a flight from DFW (Dallas) to CDG (Paris), then from Paris to Bangkok—not the most direct route, but when you’re flying standby, you go with whatever works! There are definitely easier ways to get there, but we opted for the most open, budget-friendly flights.

Pro Tip: Long-haul flights can be exhausting, so a travel pillow that doubles as a blanket is a game-changer. It saved us during layovers and overnight flights. Personally, this is the one I use and recommend Travel Blanket and Pillow (affiliate link)

Once we landed in Bangkok, we grabbed our luggage and went straight downstairs to pick up an eSIM—an absolute must if your phone plan doesn’t include international data. I paid around 800 Baht ($23.77) for 8 days of unlimited data, way cheaper than the $12/day travel pass my carrier offered.

From there, we booked a Grab (Thailand’s version of Uber) and headed straight to our Airbnb.

Bangkok: City Life & Luxury on a Budget

First Stop: McDonald’s. Yes, you read that right. After hours of travel, we needed something quick, and checking out how fast-food chains differ in other countries is always fun!

ICONSIAM: Bangkok’s Luxury Shopping Destination

Next, we explored ICONSIAM, a high-end mall with designer stores, a floating market-inspired food court, and stunning views of the Chao Phraya River. While the prices were sky-high, the experience was worth it!

Chuenjai Alley: Best Local Breakfast Spot

For a more authentic experience, we had breakfast at Chuenjai Alley—so good that we ate there twice! A full breakfast platter with eggs, pork, and rice was only $4. It was also only a 2 min walk from our Airbnb.

3-Hour Thai Massage at Pimmalai Spa

One of the best decisions of our trip! A three-hour traditional Thai massage at Pimmalai Spa left us completely relaxed. If you visit Bangkok, book this.

After the Rain & Bubble in the Forest Café

For aesthetic, picture-perfect spots, After the Rain Café is a dreamy oasis where we took gorgeous boat photos. Then, Bubble in the Forest Café wowed us with its lush greenery and unique design with a beautiful sunset.

Thai Food Tour via Tuk Tuk

You can’t visit Thailand without diving into its food scene. We took a Thai food tour with Bangkok Food Tours, riding in a Tuk Tuk while stopping at hidden gems—including a Michelin Star street food spot! We tried:

✔️ Pad Thai

✔️ Mango sticky rice

✔️ Authentic Thai street food

We highly recommend booking this to experience all kinds of Thai food, that you probably wouldn’t otherwise try. The tour ends with a rooftop bar looking out onto a temple! Here is the link we used to book the food tour, we paid about $70/pp: Bangkok Join-in & Private Tuk Tuk Tours | Best Eats at Midnight

We spent three days and two nights in Bangkok before heading south.

The Journey South: Ao Nang & Railay Beach

14-Hour Bus Ride to Ao Nang

Instead of flying, we took a 14-hour overnight VIP bus with Bangkok Travel Plus—a budget-friendly option if you’re traveling with any size luggage. It was about $34/pp. The bus had a few flat-bed seats (a lifesaver), and the ticket included a meal voucher. We booked on 12go.Asia. **Heads-up: After 10 hours, you transfer to a van for the last stretch—something we weren’t warned about, so we were a little confused when they told us to get off with all our luggage!

Once we arrived in Ao Nam Mao, we took a songthaew (shared taxi truck) for about $5 to our Airbnb. This was personally my favorite Airbnb, just because of the location. It was directly over what turned out to be one of our go-to breakfast spots, Shatterbox Coffee. It was also walking distance to the beach and many other restaurants, shops, and bars. Not to mention, the host was super kind! The Airbnb we stayed at is linked here: Airbnb: Tambon Ao Nang

Railay Beach via Long-Tail Boat

We took a long-tail boat from Ao Nang to Railay Beach, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and crystal-clear waters. It felt like something out of a postcard.

Exploring the Emerald Pool, Hot Springs & Tiger Cave Temple

One of our most adventurous days! We booked a well-worth it tour to see all of these amazing sites (this tour included transportation to and from the stay):

✔️ The Emerald Pool – A crystal-clear natural swimming hole.

✔️ Hot Springs – A jungle spa with warm (some very hot) mineral waters.

✔️ Tiger Cave Temple – A grueling 1,260-step climb that tested our fitness but rewarded us with stunning panoramic views.

Pro Tip: This is where packing cubes came in handy. Having a small, easy-to-access bag for quick changes of clothes after swimming made life so much easier! Not to mention, whenever you choose not to travel with a checked bag, this tends to condense my packing tremendously! It even comes with a toiletry and dirty clothes bag! Check out the link here Packing Blocks (affiliate link)

The total ended up being about $55/pp.

Drinks at Full Moon Bar

After an exhausting but rewarding day, we hit Full Moon Bar for cocktails. A perfect way to end the night.

Phuket: Island Life & Adventures

Tuk-Tuk to the Ferry & Checking Into NH Boat Lagoon

The next morning, we took a Tuk-Tuk to the ferry, heading to Phuket. We checked into NH Boat Lagoon, our stay for the next leg of our trip. 

Food & Nightlife

✔️ Sushi at Nozomi – Because sushi in Thailand? Yes, please.

✔️ Mad Hog Tavern – A Harry Potter-inspired bar with great fries & drinks.

✔️ Speakeasies in Old Phuket Town – Hidden bars like SHHH gave us the coolest underground cocktail experiences.

Ethical Elephant Experience: Green Elephant Sanctuary Park

Unlike unethical tourist attractions, Green Elephant Sanctuary Park focuses on rescue & rehabilitation. Feeding and bathing the elephants was an unforgettable experience. This is their website if you want to read more about their practices: Green Elephant Sanctuary Park 

Scooters & VIP Movie Night

We used Bolt (like Grab) to get scooter rides that were only $3/pp, to go and watch Mufasa: Live Action at a movie theatre nearby. Tickets were $30/pp for the VIP section, that included reclining chairs, blankets, and an all inclusive full popcorn and drink service. Basic admission tickets were much cheaper. 

Phi Phi Islands Boat Tour

Our last adventure was a Phi Phi Islands boat tour, stopping at hidden beaches and snorkeling spots. While the scenery was breathtaking, we can’t recommend doing this tour—it was overcrowded, rushed, and some passengers got seasick.

Better alternative? Hire a private long-tail boat and explore at your own pace!

However, we did get to see Maya Bay where the 2000 movie “The Beach,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed!

Heading Home: Phuket to CLT

After an unforgettable 11 days, it was time to head home. Our route? Phuket → Malaysia → Abu Dhabi → Madrid → Charlotte. The best part? We scored a business class seat on the final stretch from Madrid to Charlotte, which was the perfect reset before landing!

Final Thoughts: Thailand on a Budget

Thailand gave us everything—city life, beach relaxation, cultural experiences, and incredible food.

Total cost? $1,800 per person, including flights, accommodations, food, tours, and transportation for all 11 days. Could we have done it cheaper? Sure. But we wanted to experience as much as possible!

Next time? Chiang Mai is calling!

If you’re planning your own Thailand trip, packing cubes, a travel pillow that turns into a blanket, and an eSIM are essentials that made our trip so much smoother. Ready to explore? Thailand won’t disappoint! Leave comments below or feel free to email us! We want to hear what you think or your recommendations from your trip to Thailand!

DISCLOSURE: Please note that the products on this page contain Amazon affiliate links, meaning, if you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. In fact, you often will even get a deal! The products we advertise are the ones we believe in! Please read the disclosure page for more information.