I’ve just landed back from a sun-soaked holiday in Khao Lak, but the real cherry on top was a spontaneous flight to Bangkok with my partner, and as one of my favourite characters, Moira Rose, would say, “what a deliciously chaotic 48 hours it turned out to be.”
We booked our stay at TUI BLUE Maduzi Bangkok, and honestly, it felt as though the city was waiting for us. The location? Perfectly situated in the heart of Bangkok’s vibrant Sukhumvit district – the modern entertainment hub of the city, packed with restaurants, shopping malls, and bars.
Absolutely nailed it. Once we dropped off our luggage, we dashed straight into exploration with a bicycle tour of the Old Town, the perfect way to get our bearings. Pedalling past centuries-old temples and winding streets, the city’s rhythm started to pulse through us.
Back at the hotel, it was shower, change, and off we went for dinner across town at Bimbo Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar. Now, you’re probably thinking, Mediterranean in Bangkok? Guilty as charged. And yes, we raised an eyebrow at ourselves too. But after a week of Thai food (which I adore), we fancied something different, and Bimbo’s rave reviews were irresistible.
Stepping inside felt like walking into a friend’s stylish living room: warm lighting, backlit bottles glinting like jewels, and a buzz that hinted this place knew what it was doing. Every dish we ordered was layered with flavour, bites that made us pause and smile.
Dinner wasn’t the end. We wandered through the streets of Old Town, which we had discovered earlier that day, over to the Sky Bar at Lebua State Tower. Yes, “that” Sky Bar that shot to fame in The Hangover Part II with its iconic Hangovertini. From the 63rd floor, Bangkok spread beneath us like an endless river of lights and colour, the city humming with life in every direction.
But we weren’t done yet. A tousled tuk-tuk ride; wind in our hair, tunes blaring from the driver’s boombox; whisked us into Silom. This district is pure electric energy: epic, crazy and super busy. With its bright lights, stilettos & feathers, it’s the ultimate place for prime people-watching. As many others continued with their “pre-party” drinks, we backdoored it, using the Grab App, taking a taxi back to the now sleepy setting of TUI BLUE.
Morning (Sort Of)
Our 7am alarm rang military-style, only to be ignored for just one extra hour. The cocktails from the night before staged a mild protest, and honestly, the bed was enormous and cloud-like. That extra 60 minutes felt medically necessary.
Finally upright, we headed for breakfast, one of my favourite hotel perks. At TUI BLUE Maduzi Bangkok, breakfast is à la carte and served until 1 pm. You read that right. One. O’clock. Omelettes, fresh juices, pastries and all the coffee one could need set us up perfectly for another city day.
Step outside and Bangkok hits you with heat that’s already smouldering at 10 am. First task: sunscreen. Cue internal judgment about who travels without SPF – yep that was us. With only hand luggage (we’d left our suitcases in Khao Lak), our sprays were too large to pack. The nearby 7-Eleven came up short, but opposite the hotel, we found a mall connected to the metro, and inside, a Boots pharmacy. Talk about a little slice of home. A quick ‘slip & slap’ later, we were protected and on the move.
On Foot, underground & on the Skytrain
Bangkok’s transport made getting around a breeze. Using our Visa cards we took advantage of the Metro’s contactless Tap & Go system and were delighted to see that the Bangkok MRT numbers every stop in addition to their name – genius for pronunciation-phobics like us. We hopped off at BL31 and walked through Phra Nakhon District. A riot of colour greeted us at market stalls, and the scent of flowers from Yodpiman Flower Market wove through the air like perfume.
We strolled past Wat Liap, glimpsed the King Rama I Monument, and stumbled upon sweeping vistas of Wat Arun Ratchawararam across the river. The city revealed itself piece by piece, with every turn offering photo moments or a new scent to savour.
A Reverent Pause
Stopping for iced lattes, we learned something profound. Today marked 100 days since the passing of Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother. Our café server explained that this is a significant milestone in Thai Buddhist mourning, a time when the nation gathers to make merit and pay final respects.
Because of this, the Grand Palace Bangkok was closed to visitors for the afternoon ceremonies. So yes… if only we’d listened to that 7am alarm instead of snoozing it for just that extra hour, we absolutely could have made it inside. One small lie-in, one missed palace – the timing couldn’t have been finer if we’d planned it.
Undeterred, we continued on to Wat Pho, an enormous temple complex boasting the famous 46-metre-long gold-plated Reclining Buddha. Surreal doesn’t begin to describe it, even if it was positively packed with visitors. But my Instagram? It looked like we had it all to ourselves – the fine art of social media storytelling, right?
Lunch was a laid-back beer and bite at J’s Restaurant right opposite the temple. Afterwards, we sought sanctuary in the hotel pool, an oasis of icy relief in the humid heat.
Skyscrapers & Skyline Magic
Post-pool refresh, we grabbed a free drink at the hotel bar at 5pm, a fantastic concept that brought fellow travellers together and gave us a chance to swap stories. Many of the guests we chatted with told us they had chosen this particular hotel because the TUI BLUE name reassured them about the quality and experience. I have to admit, I felt like I was in an episode of The Traitors, quietly guarding my own little secret about who I work for… but it was genuinely lovely to hear all the same.
Tonight’s adventure was a SkyTrain ride away to King Power Mahanakhon, a towering 78-floor skyscraper with skywalks and views that make your chest expand. Some say it looks like Lego stacked wildly or Tetris in a rebellious mood. As we made our way onto the SkyWalk, the vibe was electrifying. Ibiza tunes playing, mojitos being served, and then it happened – the sun setting over the skyline of Bangkok. Immense. Honestly breathtaking. The kind of moment you tuck into memory for safekeeping.
We capped things off with dinner high above the city at Nobu Bangkok on the 58th floor of Empire Tower Bangkok. Modern Japanese cuisine with city vistas that stretched forever, and as if on cue, a fireworks display lit the night while we savoured dessert.
Goodbye, Bangkok
Sunday morning arrived far too quickly. Bags packed and ready to head back to Khao Lak for a few final days by the pool, we couldn’t quite believe how much we’d squeezed into 48 hours.
And yet, it also felt like we’d only skimmed the surface.
Bangkok is layered, energetic, spiritual, modern, elegant and structurally chaotic all at once, and we only caught a fraction of what this incredible city has to offer, which, if you ask me, is the perfect excuse to come back and uncover even more.
Because something tells me this won’t be our last sunset over the Bangkok skyline.
Looking for more things to do in Bangkok in 48 hours? Read this!
Love this Neil! What an epic few days! ?
This sounds AMAZING!!! What a fantastic read Neil!! Get me booked now!! ?