Why I Chose Bangkok for My 50th Birthday Trip
"Why Bangkok?" That was the question asked most often when I shared that I was traveling there for my 50th birthday trip. For me, the question was more of why NOT Bangkok?
Bangkok, Thailand is a high-energy city known for its cultural landmarks, ornate temples, lively street scene, and friendly locals. It’s a one-of-a-kind destination that has an endless list of attractions and activities.
Read on for 7 reasons why I chose Bangkok for my 50th birthday trip:
1 - It's a Place I've Never Been Before
It’s been a childhood dream to travel around the world and experience new things. When I look at a map of the world and it's highlighted with all of the places I've visited, I'm reminded there's so much of the world I have yet to see.
My natural curiosity keeps me open to learning about different foods, cultures, and ways of living; however I sometimes need to be pushed out of my comfort zone. Bangkok was that place -- it would be my first time in Thailand, my first time in southeast Asia, and my first time in a Buddhist country.
2 - It's An Urban Experience
I love city vacations. I prefer them over resort, beach, or mountain vacations. There's a vibrancy in urban areas that can't be found anywhere else.
What I like about large urban areas is that you'll find a concentration of art, food, history, architecture, and culture that provides an immersive experience. Particularly in Bangkok, there's a mixture of old and new, East and West, and sacred and secular that's unique due to it's diverse population.
3 - It's Popular
Bangkok showed up on many must-travel-places lists, especially those for solo travelers. It's very toursit friendly, with the infrastructure to support nearly 23 million visitors in 2019 -- making it the world's most visited city.
Navigating the city is a breeze when using public transportation options like the BTS (Skytrain) or MRT (subway) or a river taxi. There's also the Grap app (the Thai version of Uber or Lyft) which I used extensively during my visit. Luckily for me, I was able to experience all that Bangkok has to offer but without the crowds and congestion.
4 - Get Luxe for Less
When I travel I aim for luxury. And in my search for places that offer affordable luxury, Bangkok showed up again and again. This affordability attracts all types of travelers. Everyone from backpackers to jetsetters will find that your money goes a lot further in Thailand.
I was able to find many luxe experiences that stretch the budget. For example, the St. Regis in Bangkok has one of the best bargains across the brand, with nightly rates well below what you would pay in other world-class cities.
5 - The Food
Bangkok is a foodie's heaven. It's street food is legendary and its fine dining is world-class. From street stalls to Michelin star dining, everyone you look there's options for whatever fits your fancy.
Food is an incredibly delicious way to experience a new culture. I'm particularly fond of taking food tours when I travel -- especially if I'm not familiar with the cuisine.
6 - The Weather
Being born in winter usually means the weather on my birthday is cold and sometimes icy. To experience a summer birthday in February I would have to travel to a warm weather destination.
Bangkok is in a tropical climate that's warm hot and humid year round. The cooler months are January and February which is when I was supposed to be visiting. Unfortunately, due to the omicorn variant of Covid-19 I had to push my travel dates to March which is the start of their hot season.
7 - It's Open for Travel
The impact of Covid-19 was a crushing blow to Thailand's tourism industry. It was one of the first countries to reopen their borders to fully vaccinated tourists. No quarantine was required with proof of a negative PCR test on days one and five. Masks are required in all public places.
In planning for this trip, Bangkok stood out as a destination that met my time constraints of one week. Traveling to a place that had a 14-day (or more) quarantine requirement would not have been practical.
