Hello, this is Masatora.
In May 2026, my wife and mother-in-law went to Bangkok.
This is my mother-in-law’s first trip to Bangkok, Thailand. It was my first time traveling overseas since I went to Hawaii about 20 years ago, so while I was looking forward to it, I was also worried about getting tired from the long journey and the heat in Bangkok.
Therefore, this time, rather than visiting as many famous places as possible, I prioritized not straining myself with transportation and being able to return to the hotel as soon as I got tired.
As a result, my mother-in-law really enjoyed the scenery of Bangkok’s city and riverside, and she seems to be watching Bangkok-related videos on YouTube even after returning home (lol).
In this article, we will introduce some tips for traveling to Bangkok with parents who are not used to traveling abroad, including hotels, airport transfers, sightseeing, and rest breaks.
The following article summarizes the background behind my decision to travel and how I worked 3 to 4 hours a day while prioritizing time with my family.
The appropriate schedule will vary depending on the age, physical strength, chronic illness, and travel experience of the parents. Take a look at this experience as an example.
About the author: Masatora
A freelance web engineer with four years of experience. I work with more than 20 web production companies, building WordPress sites and landing pages at a pace of three to five projects per month. On this blog, I share practical knowledge, know-how, and insights from web production for freelancers and people who want to make web production their career.
- The first thing I decided on my trip to Bangkok with my parents
- I chose a hotel where I could rest immediately after arriving on a late night flight.
- Book a family MPV instead of a sedan for airport transfers
- Request safe driving and seat belts from the transportation company
- I took a hotel break between sightseeing trips.
- Don’t force yourself to narrow down Grab, boat, BTS, and MRT to just one option.
- Tuk-tuk: Experience short distances in a hotel private vehicle
- Use cool commercial facilities and cafes as resting places
- For meals, consult with the hotel to secure a seat.
- On the day you return home, make sure you have time to pack without making any plans.
- Summary｜Leave space leads to satisfaction when traveling with parents
The first thing I decided on my trip to Bangkok with my parents
This trip was decided upon after my mother-in-law retired from her job where she had worked for about 40 years.
Since it’s a great retirement gift, I want to take my mother-in-law wherever she wants to go. On the other hand,I don’t want to go on a trip abroad that I’m not used to and end up being exhausted..
So when planning, we prioritized the following:
- Since I will be heading to Bangkok on a late night flight, I will choose a hotel where I can check in immediately upon arrival.
- Reserve a shuttle that can comfortably accommodate 3 people and 3 suitcases.
- Please drive the shuttle vehicle as safely as possible.
- Avoid walking for long periods of time during the heat of the day
- Take a break at a cafe or hotel during your sightseeing tour
- Use Grab, boat, and train depending on the situation
- Choose a safe way to enjoy Bangkok-like experiences
Rather than reducing the number of sightseeing spots, the idea is to create more space for movement and rest.
I chose a hotel where I could rest immediately after arriving on a late night flight.
The outbound flight was a late night flight departing Haneda at 1:20am and arriving in Bangkok around 5:45am.
Late-night flights allow you to spend more time in the area, but you may not be able to get enough sleep on the plane. Additionally, even if you arrive early in the morning, typical hotel check-in times are in the afternoon.
You can leave your suitcase until check-in, but even if you’re hot and tired from lack of sleep, it’s hard on your body to have to wait until check-in, so you want to avoid it at all costs.
So I choseThe Peninsula Bangkokis. This timeStay in Grand Deluxe SuiteThree adults shared the living room and bedroom.
This time, I arrived at the hotel around 7:30am and was able to go straight to my room, which was helpful. I was able to unpack my luggage in my room, change my clothes, take a break, and then go out for breakfast, so I was able to move smoothly from the first day of my trip.
On the day of my return, I informed them at check-in that I would be leaving the hotel at 5:00 pm, and was able to use the room until that time. It was also great that I was able to take my time packing for the night flight and rest until just before departure.
This is Peninsula’s uniquePeninsula TimeHowever, availability may vary depending on reservation conditions and room availability. It is best to inform the hotel of your scheduled arrival and departure times in advance by e-mail.
Book a family MPV instead of a sedan for airport transfers
We pre-booked our round-trip transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to our hotel on KKday.
It looks like a sedan could fit just three people, but this time we had three large suitcases. Since a sedan can only fit up to two suitcases in the trunk, I chose a family MPV with a large trunk.
By reserving a car in advance, you won’t have to look for a car or negotiate with three other people about whether you can carry your luggage once you arrive at the airport, making the process easier to understand even on your first trip to Thailand, and saving you time.
This time, the outbound trip was early Saturday morning, so the roads were empty, and it took about 30 minutes from the airport to the hotel. On the other hand, the day I returned was on a weekday evening, so it took about an hour to get from the hotel to the airport.
The time required for the same section will vary depending on the day of the week and time. Bangkok is notorious for traffic jams, so be sure to leave your hotel with plenty of time to anticipate traffic jams, especially on the day you return.
We basically try to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before the departure of our return flight, and assuming it takes an hour to get from the hotel to the airport, we calculate that we should leave the hotel 4 hours before the departure of our return flight.
It would be unfashionable to miss your flight back home…
Request safe driving and seat belts from the transportation company
Driving in Bangkok is faster than in Japan, changing lanes more frequently, and for some reason, there are three rows of cars on a two-lane road.Japanese common sense doesn’t work.
So that my mother-in-law, who is not used to traveling abroad, will not be surprised.KKdayWhen reserving a car withI sent an English letter asking you to drive safely.. He also added that he wanted a car that would allow him to use seat belts without any problems.
I once arranged a car with a seatbelt that was broken so I couldn’t use it, and when I told the driver, he laughed and said, “It’s broken, right?”
In other words, the awareness of car safety in Bangkok is at that level.I used to work at a travel agency, so from that experience I always make safety requests, regardless of whether they pass or not..
Here is the text that was actually sent.
One of our group members is an older person who is not very experienced with overseas travel, so we would appreciate it if the driver could avoid speeding and drive safely and smoothly. We would also appreciate a vehicle with properly working seat belts. Thank you for your understanding.
In Japanese, the content is as follows.
One of my companions is an elderly man who is not used to traveling overseas, so it would be helpful if he could drive safely and calmly and not drive too fast. Also, I would like a vehicle with seat belts that can be used normally.
I don’t know how much this request affected me, but the driver who picked me up was verySafest driving everIt was.
As soon as we got on board, all three of us thought to ourselves, “This person is the winner!” Immediately after arriving at the hotel and getting out of the car, all three of us said at the same time, “You drove safely!”
It just so happened that the same driver also picked us up on the day we returned home! Sending a request doesn’t guarantee that things will go as you want, but I think it’s a good idea to specifically communicate the conditions you’re interested in in advance.
I took a hotel break between sightseeing trips.
In Bangkok, traveling in the heat takes away your stamina more than the sightseeing spots themselves. Think of it as midsummer in Japan.
This time, I didn’t go out from morning until night, and after sightseeing and shopping in the morning, I made time to go back to the hotel.
For example, on the day of arrival, we had breakfast at Joke Prince, did some shopping, and then returned to the hotel to rest. After that, I went to Icon Siam.
Another day, we toured Wat Arun and Wat Pho, stopped at a cool cafe and Icon Siam, then rested at the hotel before heading out for dinner.
When I returned to the hotel, my mother-in-law and wife rested in their room while I continued to work.
Breaks are not wasted time when you can’t sightsee. By taking a break in the afternoon, you will be able to enjoy dinner and the night view energetically. Another reason why this schedule worked so well was that it combined my family’s break time with my work time.
Don’t force yourself to narrow down Grab, boat, BTS, and MRT to just one option.
Bangkok has a variety of transportation options, including Grab, taxis, BTS, MRT, and boats.
The characteristics of each, as well as the communications and things to bring while staying in 2025, are introduced in detail in the article below.
There are many situations where taking the train is convenient when considering just the price, but when you factor in the walking to the station, stairs, and transfers, it’s not necessarily the easiest option.
This time, I used different ones depending on the weather and destination of the day.
Grab when it’s hot or in places where it’s difficult to transfer.
On the day I went to Wat Arun and Wat Pho, I arranged a car with Grab.
You can also go by boat, but I couldn’t find a suitable boat at the time I wanted to use, and it was hot during the day. I was able to travel directly from the hotel to the sightseeing spots and conserve my physical strength.
Travel along the river by boat
When heading from the Peninsula to Sathorn Pier and the opposite shore, we used the hotel’s free shuttle boat.
Unlike driving, you won’t be affected by traffic jams on bridges, and you can enjoy the view of Bangkok from the river. It was not just a simple journey, but also a memorable experience for my mother-in-law.
Boats are also used when going from near Wat Pho to Icon Siam.
BTS/MRT is a cool and easy-to-move section
After sightseeing at Wat Phra Kaew, we moved to Samyanmit Town from the nearest MRT station. After that, I took Grab to Central World, and on the way back I took BTS to Saphan Taksin Station.
Rather than continue to use either train, car, or boat, we chose the least burdensome method for that section.
Tuk-tuk: Experience short distances in a hotel private vehicle
If you’re going to Bangkok for the first time, you might want to take a tuk-tuk!
On the other hand, I was a little worried about the fare negotiation, driving, and safety aspects of traveling long distances in a tuk-tuk.
So this time, we used the hotel’s free tuk-tuk, which runs from Peninsula to Icon Siam.
It’s a short distance from the hotel to Icon Siam, so you can enjoy it more like an attraction than a means of transportation.I was able to make a reservation at 11am on PenChat by telling them I was with 3 people..
The hotel provided a car and the ride time was short, so my mother-in-law could experience the tuk-tuk atmosphere with peace of mind.
Use cool commercial facilities and cafes as resting places
When traveling to Bangkok, you can enjoy your time by combining outdoor temple sightseeing with an air-conditioned location.
This time I often used Icon Siam.
Close to the hotel, you can shop, eat, and find souvenirs all in one place. There was also a Starbucks where you could see the river, and Sook Siam, which had a collection of food cultures from all over Thailand, so you could enjoy a taste of Bangkok while taking a break.
After touring Wat Arun and Wat Pho, we cooled down with some mango sweets at Make Me Mango.
The strain on your body will change if you don’t visit consecutive sightseeing spots and just add cafes and commercial facilities in between.
For meals, consult with the hotel to secure a seat.
Dinner on holidays could be crowded, sorestaurant”Baan Som Tam” Please contact Peninsula PenChat to make a reservation.I did.
When we requested 3 people, 6:30 pm, indoor seating instead of outdoor seating, the hotel contacted the store and made a reservation for us.
This is a helpful service when traveling with parents, as they don’t have to walk around looking for a store on the day of the trip and can also find an air-conditioned indoor seat.
Regarding dinner at the hotel on the day of arrival, I sent an email to the hotel before the trip to let them know that it was a retirement gift for my mother-in-law and that I would like a seat with a nice view if possible.
You don’t need to make detailed reservations for everything, but if you make reservations in advance for meals you can’t miss or restaurants that are likely to be crowded, you can reduce the burden on-site.
I went there and it was full…I was disappointed…
On the day you return home, make sure you have time to pack without making any plans.
My return flight departed from Bangkok at 9:40 pm, so I was able to use daytime hours on my last day.
However, instead of going far to visit new sightseeing spots, we checked to see if we had forgotten to buy any souvenirs at Icon Siam, had lunch, and returned to the hotel.
As I informed the hotel in advance, I was able to use my room until 5pm, so I didn’t have to rush to take a shower, take a break, or organize my luggage.
Rather than cramming in sightseeing until the last minute, you can end your trip more comfortably if you head to the airport with plenty of time to spare.
Summary｜Leave space leads to satisfaction when traveling with parents
When traveling to Bangkok with my mother-in-law, who is not used to traveling overseas, I kept the following points in mind.
- Choose a hotel where you can rest immediately after arrival and until just before returning home
- Reserve a shuttle vehicle that suits not only the number of people but also the amount of luggage.
- Let us know in advance your wishes for safe driving and seat belt use.
- Take a hotel break during your sightseeing tour
- Use Grab, boat, and train depending on the heat and congestion
- Enjoy short distances with a tuk tuk, a private hotel vehicle.
- Use cool commercial facilities and cafes as a resting place
- Don’t make too many plans on the day you return home.
My mother-in-law was particularly pleased with the Bangkok city atmosphere, the views along the Chao Phraya River, and the Peninsula suite.
I heard that they were still watching videos of Bangkok after returning home, so I felt that they enjoyed their first trip to Thailand, and I feel that I was able to fulfill my filial piety by taking them with me.
When traveling with your parents, it’s more important that you can feel like “I want to go again” without overdoing it than seeing how many tourist spots you can visit!
If you plan ahead for travel and rest, I think even families who are not used to traveling abroad will be able to fully enjoy the scenery and food typical of Bangkok.
