Dean & Jo's Midlife Travels

18/01/2025

After arriving in Phi Phi, we relaxed by the pool before heading out for a walk. The atmosphere was wonderful, and it wasn’t as crowded as we had been warned. There was a delightful mix of high-end restaurants and street food markets. We chose street food, as those spots seemed the busiest. Dean had a Pad Thai for just 60 baht (£1.50), while I went for the coconut curry, which cost 180 baht (£4.50). Both dishes were absolutely delicious—some of the best we’ve had so far. Today, we’re deciding which trips to take.

17/01/2025

Today, we said goodbye to Karon Beach and made our way to the Phi Phi Islands for a four-night stay. The crossing was a relaxing couple of hours, but it was a shame the weather was so cloudy. Even under grey skies, Phi Phi looked stunning upon arrival. The forecast shows cloudy afternoons for the next 10 days, so we'll be up early each day to make the most of the sunshine.

17/01/2025

Here’s what our unforgettable Elephant Sanctuary and Bamboo Rafting adventure looked like!

Join us for an incredible day of adventure in Chiang Mai, Thailand! 🌿🌊🐘 We kick things off with a peaceful bamboo rafting experience, gliding down a sceni...

16/01/2025

For those who are interested in or are planning the overnight train to Chiang Mai, this video covers our experience.

"Join us on our journey as we travel 2nd class on the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Is it worth it? Watch as we experience the ups and ...

15/01/2025

Just a lazy today on Karon Beach. We can't recommend Daeng's Restaurant And Bar enough. Great food lovely service on a secluded section of the beach.

15/01/2025

Don't get much better than a January Wednesday afternoon having a and lunch on the beach.

15/01/2025

Yesterday, we had an incredible trip visiting the three Kai Islands from Phuket by speedboat. The two smaller islands we stopped at were absolutely stunning, with crystal-clear seas, while the third island was a snorkel-only stop.

The tour began with a light snack at the port, where we could choose from a selection of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, toast, and biscuits. Fresh fruit was also provided at the third island. After a quick briefing, we boarded the speedboat. I recommend boarding early if possible, so you can secure seats at the front or the two near the captain.

On the first part of the trip, we had to sit in the middle, which didn’t offer much of a view. However, it’s only a 20-minute ride to the first island, with just a 5-minute journey between the next two stops, and then 20 minutes back to the port.

The islands themselves were fantastic, but the last island became very busy with other boats arriving suddenly. For this reason, I suggest booking the morning trip, as it gives you a chance to enjoy the islands with fewer crowds.

We paid £20 each for the trip, which included return transfers from Karon. This experience has definitely been one of the highlights of our journey so far!

14/01/2025

Today, we decided to try riding the Blue Smart Bus from Karon. The fare was 100 THB per person, regardless of how far you traveled. If you plan to use this bus, it's worth getting the day pass for 150 THB, which allows unlimited stops.It does however get very busy and cramped.

Our first stop was Kamala Beach, a lovely resort with a beautiful beach. After that, we took a Bolt to Patong to experience it at night. Upon arrival, we bought some street food from vendors near the beach and enjoyed it right there, where small tables and mats were set up for dining.

We then took a stroll along Bangla Road, which was as lively and vibrant as expected. Surprisingly, we found ourselves quite liking Patong. The evening ended back at our resort in Karon, where we enjoyed a performance by an Asian Elvis impersonator, who was very good.

13/01/2025

Our experience at Pattaya Beach, including our walk to the Sanctuary of Truth, with a few refreshing hotel stop-offs for a swim along the way.

Join us as we take a scenic walk from Pattaya Beach along the coastline to the iconic Sanctuary of Truth. Along the way, we explore the bustling beachfront, ...

13/01/2025

We discovered our favorite spot in Karon. Turning right on the beach, we walked all the way to the end and stumbled upon a charming little beach bar and restaurant with a truly rustic Thai vibe. The sea was warm and inviting, and the beach was much quieter compared to the busy central area.

That evening, we headed into town, where Jo was the Connect Four champion at one of the bars. We ended the night with a fun ride back to our hotel in one of those vibrant red open-air disco taxis.

12/01/2025

We had a bit of a nightmare journey, Don't make the same mistake as us!

We took a bus from Bangkok to Pattaya, and we made a big mistake—one we hope you can avoid by watching this video. The journey took three hours because the b...

12/01/2025

We flew with Fly AirAsia for the first time, traveling from Chiang Mai to Phuket. Although the flight was delayed by 40 minutes, the plane was very comfortable. We paid £7 per person for extra legroom, which was well worth it. Even the in-flight meal was surprisingly tasty!

This time, we avoided making the same mistake with a third bus journey and opted for a taxi to Karon Beach instead. The one-hour journey cost £17 using Grab. We think we made our driver’s day by tipping her 50% of the fare—she was so happy and grateful. It's hard not to feel for the drivers here; while fuel and cars aren't much cheaper than in the UK, their average daily wage is only about £10 to £15.

Karon Beach itself is beautiful, but we were slightly disappointed with the resort. It’s extremely busy with traffic and far livelier than we expected. While many say it’s more expensive in the south, we found food and drinks to be about the same price as in Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Bangkok—if you know where to go.

We took a walk along Karon Beach to Kata and found it to be a much nicer resort. At the back of Kata Beach, there was a street market where we enjoyed some delicious Thai food for just £2.50 each.

11/01/2025

Our 2nd day travelling on the Bangkok tourist boat where we nearly got scammed with the lucky Buddha tuktuk trick.

**Join us on Day 2 of our Bangkok adventure!** We explore the city with the Hop On Hop Off Tourist Boat, visiting some of Bangkok's most iconic sights and e...

10/01/2025

We are just catching up on the YouTube videos of our trip so far.Thank you for all the lovely messages and comments. When we planned our trip we found social media, YouTube etc so valuable when making decisions where to go. We are happy to help with any questions you may have.

🌟 How to Travel Around Bangkok Using the Tourist Boat | Part 1: Visiting China Town & The Flower Market 🌟Discover the most scenic and budget-friendly way t...

10/01/2025

Yesterday, we decided to hire a car and explore on our own so we could travel at our own pace and stop whenever something caught our eye. Our day began with a visit to the Sticky Waterfalls, which were absolutely beautiful and so much fun to climb. Take my advice—don’t be like Dean! Make sure you bring water shoes.

Next, we drove a short distance to Wat Tham Bua Thong, where a staircase led us down into a massive cave housing a giant golden Buddha. After that, we took a 30-minute drive through stunning countryside and charming villages to reach Wat Den Sali Si Mueang Kaen (also known as Wat Ban Den). So far, it’s one of the most impressive places we’ve visited.

On our way back to Chiang Mai, we stumbled upon something unexpected—a giant airplane parked in a car park. Naturally, we stopped to investigate and discovered it was an airplane-themed café. Entry was 150 baht, but it included any drink from the menu, which made it worth the experience.

Our final stop was a drive up a mountain to Hmong Doi Pui Village, a remote area with a unique vibe. While it was interesting to see, the village was mostly filled with shops selling gifts.

By the time we returned the car, we were exhausted, so we decided to stay close to our hotel. We ended the day at the Kao Manee Night Market, which had a fantastic selection of food. You could purchase whatever you liked and then enjoy it at picnic tables set up around a scenic lake.

09/01/2025

What an incredible trip we had yesterday! It began with a fun bamboo ride down the river, which was such a great experience. We were then welcomed at the Elephant Sanctuary by the most adorable baby elephant and his mother. The baby elephant was extremely playful, constantly trying to climb on us or give us a little push. Honestly, I’d take this trip again just to see that baby elephant!

Afterward, we enjoyed lunch while watching the elephants roam freely outside, which was such a unique and amazing experience. Following lunch, we took the elephants for a walk through the jungle, ending at the water where they enjoyed a swim—and made sure to soak everyone with their trunks!

To top it all off, we took a short walk to a stunning waterfall before heading home. We were very mindful of choosing a place that treated the elephants ethically. The staff were honest, admitting that the elephants’ lives aren’t perfect, but they’re significantly better than the harsh conditions they endured while logging.

It was truly a memorable experience!

We booked here https://www.getyourguide.com/chiang-mai-l271/chiang-mai-elephant-sanctuary-waterfall-bamboo-rafting-t826521/

08/01/2025

We are doing daily vlogs of our current travels in Thailand. When we were planning our trip we found other people's vlogs invaluable so we hope these are useful

We decided to take a walk along Khao San Road where I felt we got scammed in a restaurant. It was displayed on its signage it had numerous Michelin awards fo...

08/01/2025

We did the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai which was a fun experience. 1st class was booked out so we had to do the 2nd class sleeper which we were apprehensive about but it was fine. We probably wouldn't do it again as we didn't get much sleep. In Chiang Mai we found a self guided walking tour online for the sights which worked really well.