NOVEMBER 2025

Adventures With Carli

A monthly round of tips, travels, adventures and what's next

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Hello adventurers!

Somehow it's already December (tomorrow) 🙀

If you're in the US, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. And if you celebrate Black Friday, be sure to check out my blog below on 10 Practical Gifts for Travelers.

This year I opted to skip Thanksgiving (again) and head (back) to Thailand! I spent my holiday in Bangkok having my favorite Thai dish - Pad Kra Pao.

Where in the world is Carli San Diego?

November in Seattle is usually pretty quiet, and rainy, so I was home most of the month until heading out for Thailand. I'm on a 2 week tour of Thailand going through Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Pha Ngan, and Koh Samui. After which, I'll fly back through Bangkok, catch a flight to Seoul and have another fun layover in Seoul before returning home.

This is my second time in Thailand, the first was two years ago where I had an amazing New Year's celebration lighting lanterns in Krabi, and very relaxing New Year's day on the beach.

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Last time in was in Thailand I only made it to the beaches in the south. This was my first time in Bangkok. The city is HUGE and sprawling, plus there's traffic everywhere. I stayed further outside the city center to save some costs, have a bigger space with area to work AND the big bonus, a washer. On long trips, I dont want to waste my time at a laundromat, or spend money on getting laundry done through the hotel. So having access to in unit laundry part way through a trip is clutch.

I'm currently back in Phuket. The first time I pretty much hated it, but I definitely stayed inthe wrong area. So far this experience is light years better. Stay tuned for more on the south of Thailand next month.

Highlights from Bangkok:

• Spa services - If there's one beauty thing you do in Thailand it should be a massage. Massage shops are everywhere around the country. From my apartment/hotel I could walk 10 minutes down the street and hit about 15 massage studios. They will all have a menu of prices listed outside. Check Google for reviews, but you'll be able to tell if one seems sketchy. I got a 90 minute foot + head/neck/back/shoulder massage for the equivalent of $18-19 USD. Insanity.
  • These aren't the only spa services. Obviously you can find other treatments like massages, body scrubs and wraps etc. Waxing will also be cheaper as well as getting mani/pedis. While not nearly as cheap as Cambodia or Vietnam (I'm talking $5 for a basic mani or ped) I got a full 75 minute treatment for $40 USD. Still cheaper than what I pay even at my budget nail salons in Seattle.

• Hua Takhe Canal Boat, with Cats! - If you like cats and want a very unique experience in Bangkok, have I got the "tour" for you. Outside the city (not too far from the airport) in the older area of Bangkok is Hua Takhe, which has traditional floating markets along the canal. At the Si Yaek Huatakhe Cafe & Guesthouse you can pay 300 baht (about $9) to spend an hour boating on the canal while cats jump from boat to boat.

• Explore Chinatown - Bangkok's Chinatown district is one of the largest and oldest in the world. It is an incredibly vibrant part of the city for arts, food and shopping. Their night market goes from 11pm until 5pm the next day 🤯
  • Song Wat street - Street Art
  • Talot Noi - small winding streets and the Elephants on Parade
  • Chinatown Night Market - souvenirs and shopping
  • Yaowarat Road - never ending food carts
  • SSS Online Co - super cute stationary shop, write and send postcards

• Food tour - I have historically avoided food tours because I'm a picky eater. I've gotten better as I've gotten older, but there are a lot of foods I just don't like the taste, don't like the texture, or truly have no desire to eat. I also have a lot of anxiety around food, which is why I tend to stick to the same things over and over. Well, the benefit of a food tour is you can taste test lots of different food in a short(ish) amount of time, and if you don't like it, you'll move on quickly to the next spot. I had the chance to join Secret Food Tours for a 3 hour food tour through Chinatown. We made at least 6 stops. Honestly I lost count at the end because we ate SO MUCH FOOD. By the end I literally could not eat another bite. They have amazing guides and small groups, with tours all over the world. Be sure to check them out on your next trip.

Travel Lessons Learned

My hotel/apartment in Bangkok was spacious, clean, had a pool and there were plenty of food choices nearby. *But* it took FOREVER to get anywhere. I was a 10 minute walk to the canal ferry, which was the best transportation choice by far. From the skytrain (monorail) it as a 30ish minute walk to my hotel. And none of that is accounting for the time you still have to spend in transit.

To get to the city center usually took 40 minutes on the short end and an hour + for anything closer to the river. On my last day I tried taking the bus which was an interesting experience in itself.

You pay a real person for your ticket, which is based on where you're going. They don't let you just run on vibes and figure it out as you go, which is kind of my MO with transportation. Thanks to Google translate I was able to say "no I dont want the other bus, it is a 30 min wait. I'll just take this to the river and walk wherever I need to go". That seemed to appease the ticket attendant. I spent my 20 baht (60 cents USD) for my ticket and was on my way.

I stayed in Thonglor, which is great if you want a more local experience, and are staying longer in the city. But for a first timer, try to stay closer to Ban Bat, Chinatown, Siam Area, Patham Wan or Bang Rak. Basically, anywhere more central either on the east side of the river or along a transit route.

Lesson: Sometimes it's better to spend more on the accommodations for the location, especially if you are limited on time, or have never been to that place before.

Need help with planning a trip?

Starting to think about travel for the holidays? Or maybe even planning ahead for Spring Break next year? Reach out for assistance with planning and booking your future travels.

I can book everything from hotels and cruises to private airport transportation and in between.

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Blog Posts

Catch up on some of my blog posts below:

10 Practical Gifts for Travelers That They Will Actually Use With the holidays rapidly approaching it can be hard to find useful gifts that won’t end up in the donation bin. As a seasoned traveler, I have a list of gifts for travelers that the traveler in your life will actually use. Read Article

The Best of Krabi, Thailand: Hong Islands Tour There are many different island tours available in Krabi, but the Hong Islands Tour is a can’t miss during your stay in Krabi Thailand. ​ Read Article

How to Maximize an Extended Layover in Seoul If you have an extended layover in Seoul you don’t have to sit around the airport all day and wait for your flight, you can easily take a train into the city to explore. ​ Read Article

Travel Must Haves

Waterproof Sneakers My favorite waterproof sneakers are having a major black friday sale, with their Weekend shoes up to $50 off! I have 2 pairs, but the Weekend is my favorite. Comfy and lightweight = winning combo for travel. Aside from waterproof, they are also amazing against sand as I learned in Jordan. Shop Here

Travel Resources

​Get help planning your next trip​

​​Where to book all things travel ​

​My must have travel items​​

​The best travel credit card for beginners​

​Manage your credit cards, benefits and card offers with this helpful app ​

Thanks for following along! Carli