Tight Travellers

Because one trip was wild… but two trips were proper educational.

We’ve been to Bangkok twice now, and while the first time was all temples and dodgy night-market food, this second visit was a whole different vibe — still chaotic, still sweaty, and yes… still one of us got Bangkok belly again (some traditions you just can’t shake). 

Day 1 — From Yorkshire to Bangkok

We set off mid-morning, dragging heavy bags and nerves about the thirty-hour travel slog. A Qatar Airways miscue in the airport queue was our first classic travel moment — proper Yorkshire chaos.

While waiting for our flight, we thought we’d better sort an onward ticket from Thailand, just in case immigration asked for proof we were leaving after 30days, now 60 days again. A quick search and a bit of a debate later, we booked a bus for 30 days’ time — £31.51. We use 12go if we book online. Naturally, no one asked to see it. Still, it’s there if we fancy it!

Once finally airborne and landed, we got our eSIM (we use Saily) sorted and deliberately skipped a pricey Grab from the airport. Instead, we hopped on the Skytrain for 45 baht each — cheap, breezy, and great for beating the heat before we’d even checked in.

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Our “Luxury” Lodgings

This time in Bangkok, we traded boujee for budget and checked into Mind Day Hostel — proper basic but it did the job. A private room was £10 a night, the bed only touched 3 out of the 4 walls and the ceiling was only slightly mouldy! Shower, sleep, and out the door for cheap local noodles at Hong Kong Dimsum & Noodle. It was just what the doctor ordered after airport sandwiches and a long day. 

We then headed back to our squalor. I mean, to be fair, it’s got everything we technically need (apart from toilet roll, which still hasn’t made an appearance). There’s a mattress, lockers for the shared rooms, hot water, soap, and even a rooftop weed bar if that’s your thing.

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Days 2–3 — Khao San & Market Chaos

Day 2 we eased into Bangkok life — ate waffles for breakfast because we weren’t about to jump straight into full-on Thai grub. Then we wandered the Amulet Market, proper buzzing with stalls selling charms from 100 to 1,000 baht for the same thing depending on luck and haggle skills. Absolute people-watching gold.

Dinner was at Democracy Pad Thai, a tiny side-street spot on plastic stools where every mouthful actually tasted better than it looked. By the end of the day we were buzzing — Bangkok was already showing its charms. 

Then Day 3 absolutely didn’t go to plan. One of us got struck down proper hard with food poisoning — Bangkok belly strikes again — meaning the rest of the day was bed, curses, and pep talks. Meanwhile, the other half wandered Khao San Road, soaking up the Halloween chaos: spooky costumes, loud music and more backpackers than you’d find in a hostel on a Friday night. 

Dinner at Tessako Curry House was decent, and the people-watching even better. Sometimes travel isn’t about ticking sights off, it’s about surviving a day with a curry and a bit of nosy entertainment. 

Day 4 — Markets & Mango Sticky Rice

With one person still feeling ropey, I set off solo — using a water taxi and metro because paying 273 baht for a Grab felt daft. That combo got me to Chatuchak Weekend Market dead cheap, and I wandered endless stalls — elephant pants, souvenirs, mystery snacks — before rescuing the day with mango sticky rice. Cheap, sweet, and exactly the pick-me-up needed. 

Getting lost in Chatuchak is nearly a rite of passage. Every turn I took seemed to lead back to the central bell tower (and yet I did not stumble across it once on my first visit to Chatuchak!) But that’s travel ain’t it? Sometimes you’re paying attention, sometimes you’re just wandering. 

Day 5 — Ancient City & Onwards

Feeling recovered enough to explore properly, we chose public transport again — cheap and giving us cracking city views — down to the Ancient City. Massive place, proper full of scaled-down temple and palace replicas, and great for wandering with no queues or crowds breathing down your neck. 

After a good leg-stretch and lunch from a stall, we trundled off to the bus station for our sleeper bus up to Chiang Mai— saver of cash and killer nap opportunity. It’s one of those transport experiences that’s grumpy when it’s happening and stories when it’s not. 

We booked with 12Go.

What We Learnt This Round

Bangkok is full-on and hot, but we now know the ropes a bit better — Skytrain from the airport, metro over Grab for long hauls, and markets over malls if you want proper local flavour. We both enjoyed it way more this time (even with the food poisoning cameo), and it’s shaped our whole Thailand trip in a way we didn’t quite get first time around. 

Bangkok is worth a second look if you go in with a mix of patience, curiosity, and a willingness to eat the odd dodgy breakfast waffle when your stomach votes “nay.”