A holiday abroad | Part 2: Thailand

When I was younger, we would go back every few years to visit family in Thailand and stay for an entire month. This time, I returned after almost a decade away and experienced a very different trip than my childhood. Instead of traveling from place to place to visit family (though we did still see some family), we wanted the kids to explore the land of their heritage and see a different side of the world. From beach, to mountain, to jungle, to city, they got the full Thailand experience in just 2 weeks!

The Beach – Krabi:

Where we stayed: Since we were spending our Christmas holiday in Krabi, we wanted to stay somewhere with lots of activities where we could stay on the resort if we wanted to, but also somewhere not too far from civilization if we wanted to get out. We settled on the Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort. Nestled in Klong Muang Beach with multiple pools, a variety of bars and restaurants, a spa, and plenty of activities, it was the perfect spot to chill after all of the touring we did around Singapore.

What we did: Not only did we spend Christmas in Krabi, but we also celebrated my parents’ (belated) 50 year anniversary! Though my parents immigrated to the US shortly after they were married and have spent the majority of their lives in the US, Thailand has always been the place they considered their home. What better way to celebrate their golden anniversary than in their homeland with their kids and grandkids….on a private boat island hopping in the Andaman Sea? We chartered a catamaran that picked us up right at the beach in front of our resort. They took great care of us from the moment we stepped onto the boat with welcome drinks, snacks and beers throughout the trip, a freshly cooked seafood lunch, and a tailored sailing based on our preferences. It was a truly amazing experience and we would highly recommend the Blue Voyage by PhiPhiTours if you’re looking for an elevated experience on the Andaman coast in southern Thailand.

The rest of the time we spent at the resort enjoying the infinity pool, spa, non-motorized water sports and restaurants on-site. 

One night, we ventured out to the Ao Nang night market, a street fair along the beach with tons of food stalls and shops galore. They even had kid’s activities that kept them entertained while the parents shopped. This was the first night market experience of the trip that everyone in the family really enjoyed!

The Mountains – Chiang Mai:

Where we stayed: After the beach, we headed to Chiang Mai in the much more temperate northern region of Thailand where we stayed at the Shangri La in Chiang Mai. Aside from the dining options onsite (including a Michelin recommended restaurant), pool, spa, and large lobby where we spent family time in the evenings, we loved the central location that was walkable to many shops and restaurants.

What we did: In Chiang Mai we were back on the move, visiting over half a dozen different places during our 2 ½ days in town.

• Anusarn Market – Walkable from the Shangri-La, we went to this market for dinner two nights in a row. The variety of food available meant there was an option (or multiple options depending on how hungry you are) for everyone to enjoy. As an added bonus, the moms got to do some souvenir shopping too!
• Dantewada Land of Angels – This was a stop recommended by our driver on our way to the elephant sanctuary and we were not exactly sure what to expect. This beautiful flower garden / waterfall park included several kids play areas and even an area to pet goats and rabbits. It was a fun surprise to start off our day. 
• Doo Chang Doo Doi Elephant Sanctuary – One of the activities the kids were looking forward to the most, the sanctuary gave the kids an opportunity to see real live elephants. I rode an elephant when I visited Chiang Mai before, but these sanctuaries provide a humane way for visitors to interact with and learn about these spectacular creatures in their natural habitat. We made elephant food and soap, fed and bathed the elephants, and even made elephant dung paper (at least the kids did)! 
• Bua Thong Waterfall – Imagine a waterfall that you can climb UP with no ropes or harnesses required. That is exactly what we did at this “sticky” waterfall. The limestone rocks that the waterfalls run over creates a grippy, hard sponge-like texture that you can easily just climb or walk up. From 8 to (almost) 75 years old, our whole family was able to climb the falls together. It was truly a unique family experience that we recommend to anyone visiting the Chiang Mai province.

• Doi Suthep is a national park that is home to a sacred Buddhist temple. Perched atop a mountain just outside of Chiang Mai, we had to ascend a tall staircase flanked on each side by beautiful snake rails. When you reach the peak, you are greeted with a beautiful golden temple and an amazing view of Chiang Mai. It was definitely worth the 300+ stair climb for the kids to learn more about their Buddhist heritage and see the city from above.
• Bor Sang Umbrella Village – Our next stop was an artisan village where we were able to see local artists paint decorative sun umbrellas and even let the kids paint their own Thai silk fans. I was even able to get my phone case and airpods painted by the local artisans to bring Thai craftsmanship home with me! 
• Golf at Chiangmai Highlands – The men escaped for a day to go golfing at the Chiangmai Highlands, once rated one of the top golf resorts in Asia. In December, the temperatures in Chiang Mai range from the high 70s to mid 80s, making it the perfect golf weather for the dads to get away. 
• Sunday Night Market – This night market is located in the central part of the old city and was definitely the largest and most crowded night market we visited the whole trip. With hundreds of souvenirs and food vendors galore at some of the most unbeatable prices, it is a haven for any shopaholics or foodies alike. Go early because the center of the market became very crowded as the night progressed.

The Jungle – Kanchanaburi:

Where we stayed: After another busy few days in Chiang Mai, we went to relax at a jungle resort a couple of hours outside of Bangkok. We stayed at the River Kwai Resotel, away from the busy city where we were required to disconnect (the resort had limited cellular service and wi-fi was spotty). We stayed in small huts in the middle of the jungle next to the River Kwai, where there were plenty of activities on and around the hotel property. At the hotel, we enjoyed floating down the river on a jungle raft and relaxing by the pool.

What we did: On our way our lodging, we made a stop by the death railway at the bridge over the River Kwai, where we learned about WWII history in Thailand, and the Kanchanaburi Skywalk, where we had amazing views of the city from a clear bridge on the riverfront.

We also went to Mallika City, an ancient city that preserves the Siamese lifestyle from the late 1800s. The kids even got to dress in traditional Thai attire as they explored the ancient city, seeing an old traditional Ruen Thai House, sitting in rickshaws, and buying food using holed coins from the past (TIL: Avery taught us from her ancient China module in school that the holes in the coins were designed for people to wear the coins on their necklaces for convenience). 

The jungle resort was a great escape before arriving in the craziness of the city!

The City – Bangkok:

Where we stayed: For our last stop of the trip, we stayed right in the middle of it all at the Grand Hyatt Erawan at CentralWorld. Lucky for us, we booked this hotel using points and it was truly a steal! The rooms were a good size for the location and the property was loaded with restaurants, a spa, daily happy hour with cooking stations and premium drinks, and the best gym of the entire trip! 

What we did: Even luckier for us, CentralWorld is home to one of the biggest NYE celebrations in the city and our hotel hosted a rooftop NYE party with a live band and fireworks. It was a total blast for the whole family – what a great way to kick off the new year and to spend our first night in Bangkok.

The following day, we spent most of the time in CentralWorld, one of Bangkok’s largest shopping complexes with TONS of food and shop options. If you’ve never been to a megamall in Thailand, they are an unbelievable experience you have to see for yourself. This mall in particular had over 500 stores and over 200 dining options. We went to another megamall called Icon Siam filled with designer shops that evening, where we departed for a dinner cruise along the Chao Praya river. The mall itself was a sight to be seen, but the dinner cruise was a neat way to see the Bangkok skyline at night. In addition to a buffet, there was live entertainment including a drag show and a dance floor that the whole family enjoyed.

We spent our last days in Thailand visiting the Grand Palace and going to a floating market in the city. The Grand Palace, once home to the Thai Royal family for five generations, today houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and several government office facilities. In addition to the crowds of tourists, Thai nationals were flocking to the Grand Palace to pay their respects to the beloved Queen Mother, who passed away in late 2025 and will have her year-long mourning rituals held at the Grand Palace. It was an honor being in the presence of a revered Thai monarch known for her charitable work and the symbol of maternal virtue in Thailand (so much that Thai Mother’s Day is celebrated on her birthday).

Taling Chan Floating Market was ~30 minutes away from our hotel (without traffic) and gave a flavor of the famous floating markets of Thailand. Next time we will definitely be finding a day to travel a bit further outside of the city to get the full floating market experience.

Back to Reality – The Return Flight:

After a long trip, we splurged on business class tickets from Bangkok back to Washington, DC. After such a long trip and 20+ hours of flying, we were able to quickly bounce back from our jetlag and were ready to go back to work/school the next day. This was probably the best planning I did of the whole trip! 

Our holidays in Asia were truly remarkable. We stuffed so many activities into just 17 days and there is still so much more to experience on the other side of the world. I can’t wait to see what our next trip has in store for us!