After a hectic summer of work, trips, exams and fun we were in desperate need of a holiday to recharge our batteries! Asia was our destination of choice and we hit the road to have some fun in the crazy and chaotic Bangkok. One week of travel bliss with sightseeing, rooftop cocktails and chilling out by the pool! Bangkok here we come!
Getting there
‘Welcome to Suite 1k Ms McArdle, enjoy your flight!’ We definitely lucked out with our row 1 seat allocations and the trip to Bangkok was most enjoyable in our little suites. Champagne, a dessert trolley and a cosy flat bed all ensured there was no jetlag after this flight! 
The dessert trolley! On a plane!
Bangkok
Our first few days in Bangkok were spent partaking in my favourite activity. Sightseeing! Buddhas, Buddhas and some more Buddhas were on the list and we checked out all the incredible sights that Bangkok had to offer!
My favourite! The Reclining Buddha:
Wat Arun:
Tuk tuk time!
City streets!
Bangkok monks:
A David Beckham Buddha. I kid you not! 
The pool at the JW Marriott:
Ayutthaya
After a few days of Bangkok fun we decided on a day trip to Ayutthaya, Thailand’s ancient capital, which is home to all my great loves: Buddhas, ruins and UNESCO World Heritage status. Bliss! Check out our day in Ayutthaya here and how to get there here!
Wat Lokaya Sutha:
The infamous Buddha face in the tree roots at Wat Mahathat:
The Maeklong Railway Market!
As soon as the husband showed me a video of a train passing through the tiny Maeklong Railway Market near Bangkok I knew this was a must visit! The market is centered around a railway track and, the moment the train approaches, the awnings and shop fronts are hoisted up to make way for the train as it passes over the fruit and vegetables lining the track! Check out what we got up at Maeklong and our video of the train passing through here! For details of how to get to Maeklong click here!
The market is nicknamed the ‘Umbrella Pulldown market’ and it was fascinating to watch the traders and passing train in action and definitely gave me a giggle!
Shopping
I occasionally like to indulge in a spot of retail therapy (ahem, occasionally!) and Bangkok is shopping heaven! There were more night markets, floating markets, high street stores and high end delights than we could count and I felt right at home.
Yes, I’m smiling lovingly at a skirt!
Cocktails at the Hangover Bar!
Bangkok is an awesome city to admire from above and we opted for cocktails with a view at the Lebua SkyBar made famous in the Hangover movie! The views were incredible. As were the lightning storms which meant most of our cocktails were sipped indoors. You win some, you lose some, huh?!
Chilling Out!
I know I said we needed to chill out but is it any surprise we only managed a grand total of 30 minutes sitting by the pool! There was way too much to do and relaxing is what sleeping is for! It was a lovely pool though and I thoroughly enjoyed my Banana Split (a throwback to my childhood for sure!).
Where to stay in Bangkok
We’ve spent over two months in Bangkok and have had the opportunity to sample some amazing hotels across the city. Our favourites include:
- Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel: Our personal favourite hotel in Bangkok and is a real treat. It’s close to some amazing rooftop bars and shopping centres – Check prices here
- JW Marriott: Another of our favourite Bangkok hotels the location and the beautiful outdoor pool make it the perfect choice for those warm Bangkok days! – Check prices here
- Riva Surya: great value and the river views are superb – Check prices here
- 168 Hostel: is an awesome choice and the perfect option for travelers who love the social side of travel – Check prices here
- Aldephi forty nine: is fab value and perfectly located to hop on off the BTS Skytrain – Check prices here
Click here for Bangkok hotel prices
The pool at the JW Marriott:
I’ve been wanting to visit Bangkok for a while now and your post fueled my desire even more. It looks so amazing!!
Hope you make it there soon, it’s so much fun!
Enjoyed your blog. Any suggestions for good restaurants?
Thanks John! We ate a lot of street food and casual local places so I have no idea of the names! The food was amazing in them! There is a place called Cabbages and Condoms which I didn’t get to try but love their concept of helping development in the country.
This took me right back to my time in Bangkok. I loved shopping there too! Wat Arun was my favourite.
Thanks Natasha, I love when things remind me of previous travels. Wat Arun is stunning.
“A David Beckham Buddha.” Now I have to go back to Thailand and find that! Where was it? I do miss Bangkok. I was sick for the half of my staying there so I hardly enjoyed it. Definitely have to go back.
It’s well hidden in a temple called Wat Pariwas in Bangkok. It took us a while to find it even in there but it gave me a giggle!
Yeah, there’s no way I could chill out in Bangkok either. Loved Ayuthaya as well! And oh you really got in in style didn’t you?
Ayutthaya is fab isn’t it?! I couldn’t believe it was so close to the city!
Looks you had a fabulous time there…. lovely photos
A Beckham Buddha???? what’s wrong with the world lol
Honestly i was reading your post and wandering… can a place as touristy as Bangkok still reveal a slice of real Thai culture… and then BAAAAM!!! Beckham Buddha… and i had my answer.
Still your pictures are really great and the city looks worse a visit…
Bangkok, the town where everything is possible! I love that place.
I missed the railway market that looks awesome but hopefully will be able to do that another time!
Looks like you had a great week and you surely flew there in style!
The flight was a nice bonus! Definitely check out the railway market if you return, it’s good fun!
I love Bangkok, one of my all time favourite cities! I don’t care what the naysayers say, it is awesome!
Right with you there Mike!
That’s some fun reading..! Bangkok is wild and it looks like you enjoyed to fullest. How did you manage to score such seats on the flight? Did you pay first class or hacked your way in? 🙂
Somewhere between a hack and luck Veronika! It’s a little trick with business class tickets on the Istanbul-Bangkok route due to them leasing a plane! As far as I know they’re switching planes in the next few months so it’s only short term.
Lobe Bangkok, and love the sound of your business class trip! I’ve been several times and never tire of being back. Next time, I’ll check out the railway market!
Do Margherita, I thought it was definitely worth the trip out of Bangkok. There’s a nice floating market nearby so it’s a good day out!
Great pictures. It seems every blogger has been to Thailand apart from me. I would love to see the railway market! That just looks unreal! Plain mad too!
Time for a Bangkok trip Bianca?!! The railway is plain mad but not as mad as the people who stand right in front of the train until the last minute just to get a photo. Now that is crazy!
I consider it to be a successful trip when I need to recover due to too much fun. Congratulations on being so successful.
Ha, thanks Mindi! Definitely a successful trip!
Jealous of you seeing all the buddas
With the David Beckham buddha you said it all! And the tuk tuk, they should never disappear.
Bangkok ! Bangkok ! Bangkok ! its always in my mind and bloggers like Elaine make it more special.
The whole of Thailand is beautiful and worth visiting. I have been there five times and going back again…
Thanks so much for your comment Rajeev, so glad you liked the post. Bangkok is one of our faves, we always end up returning to Thailand like you! Happy travels!