After 856 days (yes I was keeping track) since my last international trip I was fortunate enough to be able to travel internationally again last month to Bangkok, Thailand. This was my first of two trips to Thailand in a span of a couple of weeks as I was spontaneous enough to book a flight back after coming back but maybe we'll talk about that another time.
Booking the flights
I prefer traveling with a companion because who else is going to take my pictures? Right? But also because traveling comes out cheaper. The cost of transportation, food, hotels, and other activities can be shared and you really can save a lot.
Since the flight was in a week I was scrambling to find someone to come with me. I've sent a message to all my close friends (and even not so close) on who would be willing to go with me and to no avail. I luckily was able to convince my friend Dave who I heavily persuaded by offering to book him in business class on Singapore Airlines on the way back to Cebu.
Screenshot of my transaction activity on Singapore Airlines
I made use of the KrisFlyer Miles I've accumulated over the pandemic and was able to book our roundtrip flight completely using miles. I was only able to book Business class on the way back to Cebu as there was no redemption availability going to Bangkok which we are totally okay flying Economy class on Singapore Airlines.
Here is how much we spent on our flights:
CEB - SIN - BKK
Economy class
12,500 KrisFlyer Miles
BKK - SIN - CEB
Business class
21,500 KrisFlyer Miles
12,500 + 21,500 = 34,000 KrisFlyer Miles + 49.8 USD (tax) per person
As long as it isn't a waitlisted fare and you have enough miles then you can get the confirmed booking on the spot online.
How I saved up on KrisFlyer Miles
I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It's a lot of hard work and isn't easy earning this many miles. From keeping track of the credit card due dates to asking your friends to let you buy things online for them and have them pay me back to doing all the groceries at home.
Over the past year and a half, I really put an effort into using my EastWest Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer World credit card for all my expenditures as well as my friends. If you have a company or work that reimburses you for expenses make sure to use your credit card so you can reap the rewards!
The Travel Experience
Preparing for the trip
Obviously, Covid-19 has changed how we travel a lot. From Covid tests to mandatory quarantines and health insurance. The reason why I chose Thailand was that the requirements were fairly easy compared to other countries and fairly cheap with no visa requirement.
To enter Bangkok (at the time of flight)* - You'll need to accomplish the Thailand Pass which is basic information about your trip like how long you're staying, flight details, etc.
You'll also be required to get Covid - 19 Insurance for the duration of your stay which can be bought while you are filling up the Thailand Pass as they provide recommended companies.
Since our trip was 9 days we had to get the 15 days coverage which cost me THB 1,100 or roughly around ₱1,720.
When before departure and upon arrival we just showed our Thailand Pass, Proof of vaccination, and Covid 19 insurance and that was it! Super smooth entry to Bangkok.
*Take note I am fully vaccinated with a booster shot. Depending on your vaccination status entry requirements will be different*
During the trip
Bangkok was very much open to the public with everything from malls, rooftop bars, and clubs open. There is a 1 AM "policy" where clubs close down. So it's kind of a light curfew so just go early or maybe by the time you go restrictions will ease further so always do your research!
We used Grab to get around since we didn't wanna get scammed by any taxi drivers and the difference was minimal. You may also take the train which is cheaper and faster especially during the infamous Bangkok rush hour. We went to a lot of malls, cafes, and some new tourist spots such as the Mahanankhon Skywalk and the Benjakitti Forrest Park. Check out my Instagram to see where else I went! @gerald.quintos on IG.
On our 4th day, we took a 3-day trip to Phuket and it was alright but we were a little underwhelmed with the tours to Phi Phi islands because we felt like the Philippines has better natural tourist spots, no bias.
Our whole trip was 9 days in total. We stayed in Marriott branded hotels namely Courtyard Bangkok, Aloft Sukhumvit, and Courtyard Phuket Town.
On our way back we had a long layover of 14 hours in Changi. Thankfully we were in Business class so we were entitled to the SilverKris Business class lounge. From what I heard it hasn't been a year yet since it opened. A wide array of food, beverages, alcoholic drinks, and even their own coffee barista! Hands down the best lounge I've been to.
We slept around 6 hours on the lounge, but sadly the nap area was still closed. Half the staff here at the lounge were Filipino so that was a welcoming sight.
SilverKris Business Lounge
Bottomline
In the end, the trip was very fun and memorable. I almost let out tears of joy when we arrived in Singapore to connect to our flight because I was finally traveling abroad again. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I went back to Bangkok 2 weeks later!
While travel hasn't fully recovered yet and anything can happen, it's nice to have a chance to travel now unlike in the past 2 years.
So what are you waiting for?
Follow me on Instagram @gerald.quintos to see what I'm up to!
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