Senior Citizen-Friendly Thailand Trip in 12 Days – Day 11
Beaches are nice to party and witness amazing firework at midnight, but we chose to spend the New Year’s Eve at Bangkok as my parents had their flight the next day, and we did not want to rush on the following day. For spending New Year’s eve in Bangkok, either you can go clubbing, or do the river cruise, spend time at rooftop restaurants, attend street countdown party at CentralWorld, or attend the riverside countdown show at Asiatique – we chose to spend the New Year’s eve at Asiatique.
Highlights of the Day
- Check in at Krungkasem Srikrung Hotel
- Lunch at Food Republic, Siam Center
- New Year’s Eve at Asiatique Riverfront
Krungkasem Srikrung Hotel
We have already stayed in this hotel on day 1. Because of its location right opposite to Hua Lamphong Railway Station and Hua Lamphong MRT and early check in facility, we chose to stay here again. Though during New Year’s time, you may have to wait a little before their rooms become available for early check in.
Rest Followed by Food Republic
Even though the train journey was nice and not hectic as expected, we preferred to rest for few hours before starting the day. We got fresh and stepped out by 11 AM, took a taxi to Siam Center.
I have been to Siam often, and particularly enjoy eating at the food court of Siam Center mall, named Food Republic.
Gearing Up for the Evening
After lunch, we got back to the hotel by taxi and got ready for the big evening. We left the hotel at around 9 PM and reached Asiatique riverfront by the following way:
- MRT Hua Lamphong station is just opposite the hotel – we took the MRT to Si Lom MRT, which was just 2 stops away – it cost us 18 ฿ per person.
- Change MRT line to BTS line – Sala Daeng BTS. Took the BTS to Saphan Taksin BTS, which was 3 stops away- it cost us 25 ฿ per person.
- Change BTS line to waterline. Took a boat from Saphan Taksin pier to Asiatique pier – usually this service is free, but on New Year’s eve, it cost us 20 ฿ per person. Remember, the boat service closes at 11 PM.
We reached Asiatique at around 10 PM, and we were already very hungry. Please note that almost all the restaurants will be fully packed up, it took us almost 30 min to get a free table in a decent restaurant.
It was a crazy night with dancing, music, and the firework at the riverfront was something I liked the most.
Way Back to Hotel
Be careful on the way back, too many drunk drivers! Taxis charge like mad; one of the taxi drivers asked us to pay 1000 ฿ for the mere 7 km ride to our hotel, which we certainly denied.
The crowd gets crazier and everyone is waiting for getting a taxi or some sort of transport to go back to their place.
We got a super speedy bus – the one that took Harry Potter to Hogwarts type bus – that brought us from Asiatique to right in front of our hotel in only 20 min even in such traffic. I have never seen anyone honking in Thailand, but the bus driver continued to honk all the way – I was worried if he was drunk, but then no one cared. The bus moved left to right and right to left in full speed and it actually freaked me out at sometime, yet we reached safely. It was 2 o’clock then!
Happy New Year!
Senior Citizen-Friendly Thailand Trip in 12 Days Day 12
Woah! It is January 1, 2016. All the travel to Ayutthaya, Krabi, Chiang Mai, etc. come to end in Bangkok – it was a great experience. This trip included varieties of experiences of Thailand starting from historical park to beaches to northern Lanna-style wats to countdown party at New Year’s eve at the riverfront in Bangkok.
Highlights of the Day
- Lunch at Na Aroon, Sukhumvit
- Drop to the airport
Good Food at the Beginning of the Year
Our hotel stay included complimentary breakfast at their restaurant – The Valentine Coffee Shop. There are options to choose from Thai and Western style of breakfast, and I always choose the Thai style, especially when there is congee as an option – it looks like food for the sick, but no, it is very refreshing and tasty, and also filling.
It is highly recommended to book a table if you plan to eat out on the first day of the year in Bangkok.
We checked out from the hotel soon, and took a taxi to Na Aroon, set up in Ariyasom villa, Sukhumvit. It is one of the very famous vegan-friendly restaurants in Bangkok. I had reserved a table for 4 here.
The restaurant provides organic, healthy, and tasty vegetarian/vegan food and fish and seafood, both Thai and Western style. The price was not economical but as per the standards of the restaurant, it was not as much as I had expected.
Adieu
The hardest part is to bid goodbye. Suvarnabhumi airport is around 30 km away from the restaurant, and we had enough time. So we took a taxi to Makkasan Airport Link – that was the nearest to the restaurant, just 2 km away. From there, the airport link took us to Suvarnabhumi airport for only 35 ฿ per person. I and my friend first dropped my parents. Their flight was at 3.45 PM. Then we went to the other airport i.e. Don Mueang. He flew to his home-country and I flew back to Phitsanulok.
Experiences and memories are never enough – there are more stories to tell, and a thousand miles to go. See you all until my next travel!
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN THB)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Days 11-12 in Thailand – Bangkok.
- Hotel in Bangkok for twin sharing (1 night): 700
- Getting around: 250
- Food: 650
- Miscellaneous: 380
Total expense (roughly): 1980 THB
For an overall idea of itinerary and expense of the trip, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page. You can also have a look at Senior Citizen-Friendly Thailand Trip in 12 Days – Itinerary and Expenses.
If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!
I absolutely love Bangkok! What a great way to ring in the New Year. The food looks so delicious, I miss all the night markets we visited there!
Oh yes, the night markets are really lit!
Although I lived in Singapore for 6 years I did not make it to Bangkok for NYE. Enjoying it at the Riverfront would have been fun. I enjoyed your article plus you have given me new hotels to stay in when I next visit. Thanks.
Sure Jane, I am sure you would love it.
Very impressed you already got a post up about New Year’s! I had some friends in Bangkok for new years this year too. It looks like you had a fantastic trip!
To be honest, this New Year’s eve was celebrated a year back, this New Year’s I was in Berlin.
What a place to spend New Years Eve! Those fireworks look incredible and the food looks just amazing. Congee is one of my favorites, it is simple but tastes like home to me. 🙂
Couldn’t agree more to you.
Wow! Seems like you had fun in Bangkok on New Years Eve in 2016. Those dishes look simply amazing. I was in Bangkok few days ago. But we flew back on the 31st because we got such reasonable tickets. But I guess I should have stayed back that one day!
Oh you could have stayed back for 1 more night.
Looks like you had an exciting New Year’s Eve celebration! I had a quiet one at home, just surrounded by friends and family. The fireworks looked amazing and so did all of the food. Sensible to stay somewhat centrally located so you and your parents didn’t have to stress out the following morning for their flight. There’s nothing worse than being rushed for travel on a holiday!
Well, that also has its own charm.
As usual, I love your senior citizen friendly trips. NYE celebration in Bangkok sounds super fun!
The vegetarian options at Food Republic look so yummm.. I’ll definitely go there when heading to Bangkok.
The food at NaAroon is making me drool now!
Na Aroon food is really good.
What I love most about your posts is that you take us on a step by step journey of your day. I love seeing Bangkok through your eyes! Also, all that food is so delicious! My mouth is watering in anticipation.
Nice to know, Martha.
New year’s in Bangkok sound amazing! I haven’t visited during this time of the year but looking at your article, I would definitely want to do it someday. Perhaps I’ll do that next year.
Yes sure, Daniel.
We have been away many times for New Years Eve. Good to know that Bangkok is a good option for us to consider. The Food Republic was a great spot for variety of fresh and hot food in Thailand. Kept us going thru the day. I love your shots of the fireworks show. Looks like they do it right! A great night to spend with your parents.
Yes Linda, it was good.
The dishes at Food Republic in the Siam Centre look super delicious and the place seems to have a real lively atmosphere. I really enjoyed reading about your New Years’ Eve experience in Bangkok at Asiatique Riverfront, the firework display looks impressive. I thought Bangkok would’ve been sleeping on New Years’ Day but you found a lovely vegan-friendly place to hang out in – healthy start to the year!
Thanks Vanessa.
I don’t usually do New Year after three terrible years trying to celebrate it in a row in London and a boring one in Riga, Latvia, so since then, I am usually in bed by 10pm! 😀 It looks like Thailand is a good place to celebrate and it isn’t too over the top. For me however, I would really like to try Thai food as I never been to Thailand or tried the cuisine elsewhere in the world. Looks like the Food Republic is the place to be for this.
Yes Danik, Thailand in New Years is fun!
What a foodies delight! There are so many familiar dishes here that look delicious, and others that I would really like to try, like the mango with sticky rice, rice porridge, and three-layered rice. The hotel looks lovely as well. Plus, it’s so helpful that you include the budget for the itinerary–a key to planning an enjoyable and stress-free vacation! Happy New Year!
Glad you liked it.
The food on the pictures look so exotic, purple coloured rice! I like the food there so much, though most local food is so spicy! We spent a new years eve a few years ago in Thailand as well, and it was very memorable.
Cool!
I’m hoping to visit Bangkok next year and so I was interested to read your post. I love to try local specialties and your food photos looked delicious ? the mango rice pudding looks interesting. New Year is always a busy time in cities so I suppose it’s part of it but the fireworks must have been wonderful to watch!
Great to know that you have a plan to visit Bangkok next year.
The food here makes me crave for Thai food and I realized I haven’t had one for long. Thanks for a sweet reminder. I like how the hotel you stayed in is closed to the MRT station, knowing how crazy the traffic in Bangkok is. And the fireworks was really beautiful. Now I know where to go if I find myself in Bangkok on the last day of the year.
You should visit the place soon.
Wow! What a perfect way to spend New Year’s Eve. It’s been a while since I was in Bangkok and I just miss the food. This Tom Yum looks delicious. Now, I am badly craving for one. 😛
You must have to visit there once again, and have all the food that you would love.