PLANNING
Flying halfway around the world to a foreign country can be a little intimidating but we’ll guide you through each step of the way. Let’s start with overcoming the common initial challenges that stop most people from ever venturing into another country like expenses, safety, and the language barrier.
EXPENSES
Thailand isn’t just a beautiful and magical country but it’s extremely affordable!
FLIGHT
Ideally, we’d like to fly first into Bangkok for the weekend to enjoy the Capital city, then to Chiang Mai for the wedding during the week, and then stop by at one of Thailand’s many beautiful beach cities before flying back home from Bangkok.
With this plan, we’ll hopefully be able to budget our long haul round-trip tickets from Chicago (ORD) to Bangkok (BKK) for under $1000 and any short range/regional flights for around $50 one way. Of course, prices might fluctuate but historically they’re the most inexpensive during the Winter when we plan to go. Don’t worry, we’ll announce when we think everyone should book their flights in order to get the best deal!
Here’s our recommended Thailand city itinerary:
Chicago to Bangkok: Depart Chicago and arrive in Bangkok to explore over the weekend (3 days).
Bangkok to Chiang Mai: Depart Bangkok and arrive in Chiang Mai for the wedding (4 days).
Chiang Mai to Krabi, Phuket, or Pattaya: Depart Chiang Mai and arrive in Krabi, Phuket, or Pattaya to spend a few days relaxing on the beautiful beaches. (3 Days)
Krabi, Phuket, or Pattaya to Bangkok: Arrive in Bangkok to rest before leaving Asia (2 days).
Bangkok to Chicago: Depart Bangkok and arrive in Chicago.
ACCOMMODATION
A room in a beautiful hotel like The Opium Chiang Mai will cost around only about around $35 a night! That’s only $245 total for a 7 night stay. Don’t think that low price means low quality either. The Opium Chiang Mai is actually owned by the family of our good friends in Chiang Mai so we know that the quality of service and amenities will be absolutely top notch, you won’t be disappointed! The Opium Chiang Mai was even featured in an article on LonelyPlanet.
MEALS
Thailand is renowned for their delicious and diverse cuisine and we highly recommend that you take full advantage of everything that Chiang Mai has to offer. Expect to pay as low as $1 for a plate of delicious and quality food from a street vendor. Local restaurants typically range $3-$10 for entrees. Prices can go way up from there if you want to get fancy but we *highly* recommend the local street vendors and restaurants specializing in local Thai cuisine. Check out our Food Guide for all of our favorite spots to get an incredible and authentic Thai food experience.
ACTIVITIES
One of the best aspects of Thailand is the ability to choose your own price range for everything that you do. Thailand can be the most budget friendly or expensive destinations you visit depending on your preferences. For example, you can choose to order a plate of street food for ฿50 ($1.62) or order a fresh lobster at a high end restaurant for ฿3000 ($97.36). The beauty with Thailand is that you can choose your own budget without sacrificing quality or quantity.
SAFETY
Thailand is one of the safest places we’ve ever visited. We actually feel safer in Thailand than most parts of the US!
Being Americans who grew up in metropolitan areas and traveled our fair share of the US, we can honestly say that we feel safer in Thailand than we do at home (seriously!). In fact, Thailand is one of the safest countries we’ve ever been to. We regularly go out late at night to explore the city, take side roads and back alleys to discover hidden gems, and have never felt unwelcome or threatened.
Tourism is a major part of Thailand’s economy so the locals are very welcoming of foreign visitors. Combine this with the all around general kindness and hospitality of the Thai people and you have the perfect recipe for a safe and pleasant experience.
LANGUAGE BARRIER
Almost everyone in Thailand speaks some English!
Mystic Mekong 