Luxury Holidays to Bangkok
Bangkok. Where do we start?
Preferably with a cold drink somewhere high above the city.
Bangkok is one glorious contradiction. Ancient temples sit beneath gleaming skyscrapers. Michelin-starred restaurants share streets with tiny food stalls. Long-tail boats glide along the river while tuk-tuks zip through the traffic.
It’s colourful, energetic, occasionally chaotic and completely addictive.
The trick is knowing how to do it well. That’s where we come in.
Our luxury holidays to Bangkok are about finding the version of the city that’s right for you — combining the places worth knowing with the experiences you might never have found on your own.
A little less following the crowd. A lot more “you have to see this.”
When we would go
November to February is generally our favourite time for Bangkok, with lower humidity and more comfortable temperatures for exploring.
That also makes it popular.
The hotter and wetter months shouldn't automatically be dismissed, though. Bangkok is a year-round city, and sometimes travelling outside the obvious season means fewer crowds and a completely different experience.
We'll talk you through what actually makes sense for your trip rather than simply telling you there's a "best" month.
Where we would stay
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Mandarin Oriental
Still one of the city’s most special places to stay. Sitting on the Chao Phraya River, the Mandarin Oriental ticks off the old-school glamour with the right mix of feeling modern and relaxed. Choose this if you want a great Bangkok location — and a hotel that feels every bit as memorable as the city itself.
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The Siam
For something more boutique, but still equally parts extravagent look no further than The Siam. Based next to the Chao Phraya River, The Siam feels worlds away from Bankok’s buzz. Surrounded by lush gardens, it truly is an escape you won’t want to leave.
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Capella
Sleek, serene and right on the river. Capella brings a more contemporary kind of Bangkok luxury, with beautiful rooms, exceptional dining and views across the river.
Eat this. Trust Us.
One reason to go to Bangkok is to try the amazing array of food they have available. We would recommend immersing yourself in Bangkok by trying the wonderful flavours of Thai cuisine.
Pad Kra Pao | Chilli, garlic, Thai basil, crispy fried egg. Simple. Brilliant.
Boat Noodles | Rich, punchy and ridiculously moreish. Order two.
Som Tam | Fresh, fiery papaya salad. Go easy on the chilli. Or don’t.
Mango Sticky Rice | Sweet mango, coconut sticky rice. Non-negotiable.
Anything from a busy street-food stall | If the locals are queuing, we’re interested.
From little local finds to tables worth planning a night around, your Willow & Bird team can recommend where to eat and take care of the bookings as part of your trip.
Bangkok & Beyond
Bangkok is brilliant on its own. But it’s also very good at being the beginning of something else.
A few nights here can be followed by white-sand beaches, jungle hideaways, northern Thailand or another Asian city entirely. The combinations are almost endless — these are a few we particularly like.
Koh Samui
Start with rooftop drinks, temples and dinners worth dressing up for, then swap the city for warm seas and bare feet. Three nights Bangkok, seven on the beach.
Chang Mai
Same country. Completely different rhythm. Head north for beautiful temples, fantastic food, mountains and a gentler pace of life. Perfect if you want to see more of Thailand than its cities and beaches.
Explore Chiang Mai →
For when you want the buzz first and the pool afterwards. There are some seriously beautiful places to stay around Phuket — the trick is knowing which stretch of coastline is for you.
Explore Phuket →
Phuket
A few things you might be wondering
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For a first visit, three nights is our sweet spot. Enough time to get properly under Bangkok's skin without feeling like you've tried to conquer the entire city. If food is a major part of the plan, we'd happily add another night.
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We're particularly fond of staying beside the Chao Phraya. There's something rather wonderful about coming back to the river after a day in the city — and some of Bangkok's most special hotels happen to be here too. But we'll choose the location around how you want to spend your time.
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We think so. Rather than treating Bangkok as somewhere to fly through, give it a few nights at the beginning. It makes the moment you finally reach the beach feel even better.
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Definitely. Second-time Bangkok is often better than first-time Bangkok because you can stop worrying about seeing the “must-sees”. This time we can concentrate on neighbourhoods, restaurants, galleries, markets and the places you didn't know to look for last time.
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Both. Absolutely both. Bangkok is one of those rare cities where dinner can be spectacular at £5 or £200. We’ll help you find the places worth getting excited about — whether that means plastic stools and something sizzling in a wok or getting dressed up for one of the city’s extraordinary restaurants.