Longtail boats on Railay beach under limestone cliffs

Family trip · 20 Nov to 2 Dec 2026

Thailand

Five nights in Bangkok, six by the sea in Krabi, one by the airport before the flight home.

The plan

  1. Fri 20 NovLand in Bangkok at 7:50 pmIndiGo from Nagpur, via Mumbai. Booked.
  2. 5 nightsBangkokTemples, markets, the river, and the Loy Krathong festival on Tue 24 Nov.
  3. Wed 25 NovFly to Krabi1 hr 25 min.
  4. 6 nightsAo Nang, KrabiIsland boat trips, beaches, rest.
  5. Tue 1 DecFly back to Bangkok airportLand at Suvarnabhumi, where the flight home leaves.
  6. 1 nightAirport hotel10 to 15 minutes from the terminal.
  7. Wed 2 DecFly home at 10:50 amVia Bengaluru. Nagpur at 6:40 pm. Booked.

Bangkok first

We land at night, so day one needs no second flight. The two things that only happen that week, the Chatuchak weekend market (Sat 21 to Sun 22) and Loy Krathong (Tue 24), both fall in it. And the hot, walking-heavy days come while everyone is fresh.

Krabi second

The sea on that coast calms down as November goes on, so later boat days are better. Ending on beach days makes the second half slow and easy.

Airport hotel last

A morning flight from Krabi on the 2nd would be a separate ticket from the flight home, so one delay could make us miss it. Sleeping 15 minutes from the terminal removes that risk.

Day by day

Two or three things a day, with time to rest. Each day has its own Copy button for the family group.

Bangkok

Fri 20 Nov

Arrive in Bangkok

MorningNagpur 9:30 am to Mumbai.
AfternoonMumbai 2:00 pm to Bangkok.
EveningLand 7:50 pm. Immigration and bags take about an hour. Van to the hotel, 45 to 60 min.
The Grand Palace and big temples

Sat 21 Nov

The Grand Palace and big temples

MorningGrand Palace and the Emerald Buddha at the 8:30 opening, before the heat. Shoulders and knees covered. About ₹1,400 each.
AfternoonWat Pho's giant reclining Buddha next door (about ₹850), then the ₹15 ferry to Wat Arun (about ₹560).
EveningStreet food in Chinatown (Yaowarat).
Chatuchak weekend market

Sun 22 Nov

Chatuchak weekend market

MorningChatuchak, the huge weekend market. Be there by 9, before it gets hot. Grab, about 40 min.
AfternoonHotel pool and a Thai massage.
EveningICONSIAM, the riverside mall a short walk from the hotel, with an indoor floating market. Dinner there.
Ayutthaya, the old capital

Mon 23 Nov

Ayutthaya, the old capital

MorningDay trip to Ayutthaya's temple ruins with a car and driver, 1.5 hours each way. Optional.
AfternoonBack by 3 and rest.
EveningMahanakhon SkyWalk at sunset, Bangkok's highest viewing deck with a glass floor. About ₹2,500 each, booked online.
Loy Krathong, the festival of lights

Tue 24 Nov

Loy Krathong, the festival of lights

MorningSlow morning at the pool.
AfternoonRest before a late night. Krathongs (little candle boats) are sold everywhere that day.
EveningFloat krathongs on the river at ICONSIAM, a short walk from the hotel. One of the city's big celebrations.

Wed 25 Nov

Fly to Krabi

MorningSleep in after the festival. Check out by noon and leave the bags at the hotel.
AfternoonLunch at ICONSIAM. Leave for Suvarnabhumi at 3:30.
EveningTHAI 6:15 pm, Krabi 7:40 pm. Taxi van to the hotel, 30 to 40 min. Late dinner in Ao Nang.

Krabi

Four islands by longtail boat

Thu 26 Nov

Four islands by longtail boat

MorningThe 4-island boat tour, about 8:30 to 3:30, picked up from the hotel: Phra Nang cave beach, Chicken Island, the Tup sandbar and Poda.
AfternoonBack by 3:30 and rest.
EveningSunset on Ao Nang beach. Dinner on the beachfront.
An easy beach day

Fri 27 Nov

An easy beach day

MorningAo Nang beach, or quieter Nopparat Thara next door.
AfternoonThai massage.
EveningKrabi Town's walking-street night market (Friday to Sunday), 30 min by Grab.
Phang Nga Bay

Sat 28 Nov

Phang Nga Bay

MorningFull-day speedboat tour: James Bond Island, and sea canoes through the caves.
AfternoonTour continues. Back about 5.
EveningEarly night.
Railay

Sun 29 Nov

Railay

Morning15-minute longtail to Railay. You step off into knee-deep water. Phra Nang beach under the cliffs.
AfternoonBack to the hotel to rest.
EveningSunset dinner in Ao Nang.
Spare day

Mon 30 Nov

Spare day

MorningKept free in case the weather cancels a boat day. Otherwise the Hong Islands lagoon, or the Emerald Pool and hot springs inland if the sea is rough.
AfternoonRest, or a massage.
EveningFarewell dinner.

Tue 1 Dec

Back to Bangkok

MorningLast swim, pack. Check out at noon.
AfternoonTaxi van to Krabi airport at 1:45. AirAsia 3:55 pm, Bangkok 5:20 pm.
EveningTwo taxis to the airport hotel, 10 to 15 min. Dinner and an early night.

Wed 2 Dec

Fly home

MorningHotel van at 7:30, terminal by 7:45. IndiGo 10:50 am to Bengaluru, lands 1:15 pm.
AfternoonIn Bengaluru: collect bags, immigration, move from T2 to T1. 4:50 pm to Nagpur.
EveningHome at 6:40 pm.

Getting from place to place

Flight prices are per person and include a 20 kg checked bag for each of us, since budget airlines charge for bags separately. Driving or the train to Krabi takes 12 hours or more, so we fly.

Airport to the Bangkok hotel

Fri 20 Nov, about 9 pm

A regular taxi won't hold four big suitcases. Book a Grab XL at Gate 4 on Level 1 (about ₹2,000 to 2,800, our estimate), or use the fixed-price van counter on Level 2. Backup: two taxis from the public taxi queue, about ₹1,100 to 1,550 each. 45 to 60 minutes.

Bangkok to Krabi

Wed 25 Nov

THAI's 6:15 pm flight is the cheapest once bags are counted, it's a full-service airline, and it gives everyone a slow morning after the festival. The cost: we reach the Krabi hotel around 8:45 pm.

All 7 options compared
  • 6:15 pm to 7:40 pmOur pick
    THAI · from Suvarnabhumi
    ₹8,050 each · ₹32,200 for four
    Bag included.
  • 9:55 am to 11:25 am
    Thai Lion Air · from Don Mueang
    ₹8,350 each · ₹33,390 for four
    Early start after the festival night.
  • 7:45 pm to 9:15 pm
    Bangkok Airways · from Suvarnabhumi
    ₹9,320 each · ₹37,260 for four
    Bag included. Lands late.
  • 2:50 pm to 4:15 pm
    Thai AirAsia · from Don Mueang
    ₹10,280 each · ₹41,110 for four
  • 2:25 pm to 3:55 pm
    Thai Vietjet · from Suvarnabhumi
    ₹11,280 each · ₹45,110 for four
    Daylight arrival. Often runs late.
  • 7:35 am to 8:55 am
    THAI · from Suvarnabhumi
    ₹11,980 each · ₹47,930 for four
    Bag included. A 5:30 am start.
  • 11:35 am to 1:00 pm
    Thai AirAsia · from Suvarnabhumi
    ₹14,520 each · ₹58,070 for four

Krabi airport to the hotel: taxi-van counter in arrivals, about ₹2,250 to 2,950, 30 to 40 min. We message the hotel our arrival time.

Krabi back to Bangkok

Tue 1 Dec

It has to land at Suvarnabhumi, where the flight home leaves. AirAsia at 3:55 pm lets us use the morning and check out at noon. Vietjet's 4:30 pm is ₹1,200 less each, but it often runs late.

All 5 options compared
  • 3:55 pm to 5:20 pmOur pick
    Thai AirAsia · Krabi to Suvarnabhumi
    ₹13,250 each · ₹53,000 for four
    Add the bags online when booking.
  • 4:30 pm to 5:55 pm
    Thai Vietjet · Krabi to Suvarnabhumi
    ₹12,060 each · ₹48,260 for four
    Often runs late.
  • 9:35 am to 11:00 am
    THAI · Krabi to Suvarnabhumi
    ₹11,860 each · ₹47,450 for four
    Bag included. Leaves before checkout time.
  • 12:45 pm to 2:10 pm
    THAI · Krabi to Suvarnabhumi
    ₹14,910 each · ₹59,650 for four
    Bag included.
  • 8:45 pm to 10:10 pm
    Thai Vietjet · Krabi to Suvarnabhumi
    ₹9,970 each · ₹39,870 for four
    Hotel near midnight, up at 6:30.

Hotel to Krabi airport: taxi van, about ₹2,000 to 2,800. Bangkok airport to the airport hotel: two taxis, about ₹560 to 700 each, 10 to 15 min.

To the flight home

Wed 2 Dec

The airport hotel's van to the terminal leaves every 30 minutes and takes 10 to 15 minutes, about ₹560. Book it at check-in and leave at 7:30 for the 10:50 am flight.

Getting around each day

Bangkok: Grab (a regular car fits four of us without luggage), the hotel's own tuk-tuk to the Skytrain and ICONSIAM, and the river boats.
Krabi: boat tours pick us up at the hotel. Longtail boats to Railay leave from Ao Nang beach.

Where we stay

Two rooms everywhere, each with its own bathroom. Picked for a good bed and the lowest chance of a bad stay, judged from Booking.com ratings and what guests actually wrote about sleep.

Bangkok · 20 to 25 Nov · 5 nights

Saan Hotel Sathorn

4-star

9.2out of 10
895 reviews

Per room, per night

  • King room₹6,920
  • Twin room₹7,070

Whole stay, both rooms: ₹69,950

  • Pool and lift.
  • Only 1 guest in 40 rated it below 7 out of 10.
  • A short walk from ICONSIAM and the river, 5 minutes from the Skytrain (BTS Krung Thon Buri).
  • Free cancellation until 17 Nov.

The catch: Some guests find the air conditioning loud.

Photos and details on Booking.com

Ao Nang, Krabi · 25 Nov to 1 Dec · 6 nights

KT8 Hotel AoNang

New, opened 2025

9.2out of 10
163 reviews

Per room, per night

  • Double room₹9,790
  • Twin room₹9,790

Whole stay, both rooms: ₹1,17,480

  • 26 m² rooms with a balcony and mountain view.
  • 700 m from Ao Nang beach, where the island boats leave.
  • Guests score its comfort 9.5 out of 10.

The catch: No lift (ask for a low floor) and no pool. The rate can't be refunded, though the dates can be moved.

Photos and details on Booking.com

Near Suvarnabhumi airport · 1 to 2 Dec · 1 night

Ploen Pirom

3-star

9.3out of 10
1,218 reviews

Per room, per night

  • King room₹7,100
  • Twin room₹7,100

Whole stay, both rooms: ₹14,200

  • 29 m² rooms with a balcony, by a lake.
  • None of its 60 newest reviews complain about sleep.
  • Pay at the hotel. Free cancellation until 26 Nov.

The catch: Its van only runs to the airport, not from it, so we take a taxi from the terminal (about ₹560 to 700). Breakfast is about ₹670 each extra.

Photos and details on Booking.com

What it costs

Total, before food and shopping₹1,40,570 each₹5,62,271 for all four

The budget set in August was ₹5 to 6 lakh all-in. Sightseeing counts the three temple tickets (about ₹2,800 a person in all), the SkyWalk, an Ayutthaya car, and the three boat tours with park fees.

Could we still see the Chiang Mai lanterns?

Yes, for one evening, without a Chiang Mai hotel. It adds about ₹32,500 to ₹50,000 each (₹1.3 to 2 lakh in all), mostly because flights that week cost three times a normal week. That takes the trip past the budget, so our view is to skip it this time.

The idea

The big Chiang Mai release (CAD) is sold out, and hotels near the city cost ₹29,000 to ₹47,000 a room that night. But the Yeepeng Lanna Festival in Lamphun, an hour south, still sells tickets for Tue 24 Nov: ₹9,540 each with its buy-3-get-1-free offer, including dinner, shows, and the mass lantern release at 8:45 pm. We sleep in Lampang, about 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai, where a good hotel (HOP INN, 8.6/10) is ₹2,150 a room.

Way 1: fly to Chiang Mai

₹50,000 each · ₹2,00,000 extra in all

Tue 24: Nok Air 12:35 pm from Don Mueang, Chiang Mai 1:50 pm. A van and driver from the airport (bags stay in the van) to the festival. Then the drive to Lampang (allow 1.5 hours).
Wed 25: 1.5 hours back to Chiang Mai airport. Vietjet 3:15 pm to Suvarnabhumi, then THAI 6:15 pm to Krabi as planned.

Adds: flights ₹38,540 each (₹1,54,160), festival ₹38,150, van about ₹17,000 (estimate), Lampang hotel ₹4,300. Saves one Bangkok hotel night, ₹14,000.

Way 2: fly to Chiang Rai

₹32,500 each · ₹1,30,000 extra in all

Flights to Chiang Rai cost normal prices, but it is 4 to 4.5 hours by road from the festival.
Tue 24: Thai Lion 10:35 am from Don Mueang, Chiang Rai 12:05 pm. The White Temple on the way, then the van to the festival. Then the drive to Lampang (allow 1.5 hours).
Wed 25: 3.5 hours back to Chiang Rai. THAI 2:25 pm to Suvarnabhumi, then THAI 6:15 pm to Krabi.

Adds: flights ₹19,160 each (₹76,650), festival ₹38,150, van for two long days about ₹25,000 (estimate), hotel ₹4,300. Saves ₹14,000. About 10 hours in a van over two days.

Either way we give up Loy Krathong on Bangkok's river, and on the 25th we take two flights on separate tickets. If the first is late, the backup to Krabi is Bangkok Airways at 7:45 pm. To see Yi Peng properly, a trip planned for it should book by July.

Places we're skipping

Before we go