🌅 It lived up to every bit of the hype

For both of us, Thailand was a bucket list trip — the one we’d dreamed of visiting long before we met. And when we finally went, married and traveling together, it was a home run.
It’s rare that a destination feels exactly like what you imagined… and somehow even better.

💰 Affordable, not bare-bones

Let’s get this straight: we’re not hostel backpackers. We love travel that’s smart and beautiful — not cramped and penny-pinching.
Thailand was perfect for that balance.

We stayed in luxury hotels for about $100 a night — genuinely the nicest places we’ve ever stayed.
We ate full meals for under $3, grabbed street snacks for literal cents, and laughed when something cost $5 and suddenly felt “expensive.”

Thailand is one of those rare places where you can actually treat yourself and still stay on budget.

We got a 90-minute couples massage for under $30 at a famous spa — unheard of in the U.S.
It was pure relaxation, the kind of small luxury that made the whole trip feel extra special.

✈️ How we made it happen

We didn’t even use points for our flights this time.
Instead, we timed the purchase to hit the spending requirement on a new travel credit card — which earned us a massive intro bonus that covered half of our hotels.

So technically, our flights helped pay for our stays.
We’ll break that down soon — including how we flew Turkish Airlines and used their Stopover Program for a free 24-hour stay in Istanbul, hotel included.

That story deserves its own post.

😊 The Land of Smiles

They call Thailand The Land of Smiles — and they mean it.

Everywhere we went, people were kind, patient, and welcoming.
It wasn’t just good service; it was genuine warmth. You feel looked after everywhere you go — not in a resort way, but in a human way.

That hospitality stays with you long after you leave.
It’s what makes the experience so much more than just beaches and temples.

🌏 Why it changed how we travel

Thailand reminded us what we love most about exploring the world:
that beauty doesn’t have to be expensive, and comfort doesn’t have to mean luxury.

It’s a place where you can have a five-star experience for a one-star price tag — and where you realize how far your curiosity (and a little planning) can take you.

Follow along for the rest of our Thailand series.
Next up: what we did, what we spent, and how we’d do it all again.