Senior Citizen-Friendly Thailand Trip in 12 Days – Day 1
It has always been so exciting to explore Thailand with friends or even alone – but this time I am doing it with my parents, and both of them are senior citizens. I believe the country is senior citizen-friendly. This experience will be a new thing to me – and I am very excited. As other trips I take in Thailand, this time also I preferred to spend few days in Bangkok as buffer.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY
- Check in at Krungkasem Srikrung Hotel
- Pick-up from Airport
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
Krungkasem Srikrung Hotel
It is also a very convenient hotel for anyone who has an early morning train to catch the next day.
This is an excellent hotel for families – it is located right opposite to Hua Lamphong Railway Station and Hua Lamphong MRT. Bangkok’s Chinatown and Wat Traimit are a 5-minute ride away.
I booked this hotel because there is a high chance of early check-in here due to the availability of more than 100 rooms in this hotel. Overnight train from Phitsanulok – the city I live in currently – brings me to Bangkok at 5.30 AM. I checked in at the hotel by 6 AM before I went to Suvarnabhumi Airport to receive my parents.
Pick from Airport
The most economical way to go to Suvarnabhumi International Airport from Hua Lamphong Railway Station is to take the Hua Lamphong MRT to Phetchaburi MRT for 29 ฿ and then take the connecting Makassan Airport Link to the last station i.e. Suvarnabhumi Airport Link for 35 ฿.
As it is early morning and there is no traffic, you can ask the driver not to take the Easy Pass – this saves a lot of toll money.
For three people, it is a good idea to take a taxi back to the hotel from the airport – which I did after receiving my parents.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
After taking ample amount of rest, we decided to go out for shopping. It is a weekend, so the best place would be Chatuchak Weekend Market.
This is not my first visit to Chatuchak Market- maybe 4th or 5th, and I never get tired of visiting. It is the largest open-air market in the world with more than 8,000 stalls. You will get everything here, starting from clothes, accessories, bags, toiletries, souvenirs, furniture, flowers, pets, street food, and miscellaneous.
The main market is open only on the weekends, except few sections like flowers and plant sections. They are open on mid-weekdays.
The best way to go to the market is to take the Hua Lamphong MRT from opposite of the hotel and get down at Kamphaengphet MRT. Chatuchak Park MRT station is another station. I prefer getting down at one stop earlier as Kamphaengphet MRT exit leads to the market directly, and you have to walk a lot otherwise.
After spending a good time shopping, we got back to our hotel. We took the MRT from Kamphaengphet MRT station to Hua Lamphong MRT station. The hotel is just across the street. Such tiring day needed a good sleep for all three of us. Night!
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN THB)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Day 1 in Thailand – Bangkok.
- Hotel in Bangkok for triple sharing (2 nights): 1000
- Getting around: 300
- Food: 200
- Miscellaneous: 200
Total expense (roughly): 1700 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.
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This is a very helpful post. Thailand has been on my radar for awhile, and it seems like Bangkok would be a fascinating city to explore! Glad to hear it is “senior citizen friendly.” I’m closer to that age than I care to admit, so then I know it will be a good place for me. 🙂
It is totally a great place. It has entertainment for all ages.
This is a very thorough post. I like all of the details you’ve included about your stay and tips for others. I’ve never been to Thailand but it has always been on my list for future travel. I feel like I would enjoy it a lot!
Glad to know if my post been helpful.
I miss Bangkok as I read your article. Such a beautiful city to go to. Great article, currently I am planning for a trip with my mom and in-laws whom are senior citizen
Yes, you can totally visit Bangkok with them. The city is very welcoming.
I’ve been to Thailand 3 times, and remember the Chatuchuk market well! Bangkok’s a great city to explore, and I do wonder how it’s changed since I last visited. I like the photos too, they bring back good memories!
I make sure to spend a weekend here, just to visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market.
That’s wonderful, your take on making Thailand senior citizen friendly is awesome. Everybody just talks about party places only. when they talk about Thailand
True, trying to show a different Thailand to people.
I haven’t been to Thailand yet, but I have heard so many things about Bangkok – a mixture of good and bad… :-/ Personally, Thailand doesn’t really appeal to me, so I’m not sure if I’d ever venture there, but this post is definitely helpful if I change my mind, so will Pin it to my Thailand board for then 😉 x
Thailand is heavenly. It is misunderstood a lot.
So glad that I read your article today since my friend and I have an upcoming layover in Bangkok. Your suggested itinerary fits perfectly into our trip timing. The Weekend Market seems right up our alley in terms of food and exploring. Thank you as well for the tip on staying at the Krungkasem Srikrung Hotel, we will look into it!
Hope this helps.
This is going to be a very useful series so I look forward to know how your trip turned out. With senior citizens like my parents, who didn’t travel much in their youth, you need to take it slow. I have seen that they really like exploring the markets in new places, which for me is not usually on the top of my list of things to do. So I like that you included it for day 1.
Keep following, you would surely find out.
I haven’t been to Thailand yet, but it is on my travel bucket list and I appreciate all of your suggestions. I would love to spend some time at Chatuchak Weekend Market. It sounds like the perfect place to get the vacation started!
CWM is a must-visit.
Its so convenient that you could check into the hotel so early in the morning. Amazing also that you could request to bypass the Easy Pass but I guess you have to be local to know that – so thanks for the tip. I also loved Chatuchak Weekend Market – endless things to see there but I also felt sad not being able to take the animals back. As usual I find it awesome to have a breakdown on the spendings.
Hope that’s useful, Adele.
Bangkok is such a vibrant and happening place.There is so much to see and do there. We had a great time when we are were there a couple of years ago. The Chatuchak market is always a delight to visit every time. So too are all the other night markets. We also loved the temple circuit..
Glad you liked it.
Thanks for sharing a useful post on about what to do in Bangkok and I still remember my quick 24 hours in Bangkok. I loved Chatuchak market and I purchased many things from there. It is good that you have given details about the most economical way to go to Suvarnabhumi International Airport from Hua Lamphong Railway Station.
Yes, sometimes when a single person is traveling and has a lot of time, he or she can totally avail the public transport.
Good to see a different perspective to Bangkok. The seniors too can have fun and this shows it. The day one seems quite economical and comfortable. Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the days unfold.
Yes, keep following.
Now I know a convenient place to check-in when in Bangkok. It’s a good thing that KRUNGKASEM SRIKRUNG HOTEL is close to a railway station. It’s easier to go places that way. Chatuchak Weekend Market sounds crazy exciting too… I find shopping can somehow relieve stress and going around Chatuchak Weekend Market sounds like an adventure to me.
Yes, I actually love this old hotel.