It’s official—we’re heading to Thailand in March 2024 and I’m so excited!! If you’ve never been to Thailand, then I can’t recommend joining me on this trip enough. You can always plan your own trip to Bangkok and Phuket, but it’s rare that you’ll get to experience an itinerary curated by me alongside a group of fellow food-obsessed individuals! So in case the itinerary alone isn’t enough, here are some reasons that group travel is for you. If you’ve already been to Thailand, be sure to fill out my travel survey so I can take your preferences into account if I decide to plan a group trip somewhere else in the future!
1. You want to hang out with me and a group of likeminded people
The biggest reason I’m planning this adventure is that I get to meet a group of my amazing followers! As I’ve hosted pop-ups in NYC and Hong Kong and opened my restaurant Barkada and met people IRL, one thing I’ve truly come to appreciate is the community I’ve built with Indulgent Eats. Pretty much every follower I’ve met has been a little like me: positive, fun-loving, and obsessed with food! I like to think that comes from the fact that I’ve put so much out in public about myself and how I like to live my life to the FULLest in every aspect, and so it’s cultivated a following that largely leads the same approach in their own lives.
Even if you aren’t quite as confident as I am to really put yourself out there, I’d like to think that this trip will allow us to bring out the best in each other. We will all be a little out of our comfort zone in a group of strangers, but I’ll always try to bring the good vibes to help everyone foster connections. I want us all to quickly go from strangers to friends, and I expect everyone on the trip to want the same. My husband Mike will also be joining, so if you’ve ever seen him on my stories, you know that he’s also going to add his ridiculously fun energy to the mix.
There will also be a group chat that everyone will be on ahead of the trip, which will allow you to get acquainted with the group members beforehand. If you’re traveling solo and opt to share a room, you’ll also be able to pick your roommate if there’s someone you already feel like you’ll be friends with. Regardless, you’ll leave the trip with new friends and a bigger network of people from around the world.
2. You’re ready to try new things
There’s something truly exhilarating about experiencing something for the first time, whether it’s tasting a new combination of flavors, feeling the buzz of a bustling foreign city, or seeing a magnificent landscape. Of course, there’s always a chance that you try something that isn’t quite for you, but you’ll never know unless you try, right? And if anything, there’s always a story to tell at the end of it. If you’re ready to have an open mind and say “yes” to whatever comes our way, then this is definitely the trip for you. That said, you’re also welcome to opt-out of any of the activities on the itinerary if you want to for whatever reason.
What’s most exciting for me about this trip is that even though I’ve been to Bangkok twice and Phuket 4 times, most of the itinerary includes things I’ve actually never done, from visiting the Phi Phi Islands to touring Bangkok’s floating market. So I’m absolutely pumped to experience these for the first time together with some of you!
3. No stress – the trip is planned for you!
Planning an itinerary can be incredibly taxing. There’s so much time and effort you have to dedicate, between researching things to do, cross-checking locations and opening hours, comparing costs, and figuring out how you’re getting from point A to B to C. No need for that on this trip! Everything is pretty much entirely planned. You basically only need to figure out how you’re flying into Bangkok and back home, so during the trip you can fully immerse yourself in each of the activities and let me and our local guide lead you to the next spot.
There are a few meals and activities that are open-ended, but you have me and our local guide as resources to help make the most of those time slots in the itinerary. Once I get the absolute final hour-by-hour itinerary, I will also plan in extra optional eating adventures or other activities so all you have to do is say yes or no.
Now if you’re like me and you’re someone who usually plans your trips down to the hour, this could actually be a fun way to push yourself out of your comfort zone. You’ll likely experience things you might never plan for yourself! Plus, there’s always the option to extend your trip by a couple of days before or after if you want some days that are 100% planned to your liking.
4. You want to FEAST
Sharing is caring! The best part about traveling with a group is that you can enjoy EVEN MORE dishes than if you traveled alone or with someone else. I actually dislike traveling alone because it means I can’t order everything I want to try without wasting a lot of food, though if you’ve been following my eating adventures you know that I’ll always try my best to eat as much as possible 😂
Thankfully, for this group trip I’ll have help from all of you as we make our way from local and upscale restaurants to street food stalls and night markets. Family-style is my favorite way to dine, and the act of passing food around the table or sharing a paper plate of food on a busy sidewalk just further fosters the connections we’re looking to create.
5. You want Instagram-worthy photos
While there isn’t a set photography workshop planned in the itinerary, I’ll always be around to help you all get dope photos throughout the trip. During our meals, I’ll also show you how I capture my own content and give you tips on how to make your photos and videos shine. Plus, you’ll each get a cameo in my own stories and reels from the trip!
6. There’s safety in numbers
Truthfully I’ve never really felt unsafe in Thailand since I’ve always traveled with my husband or friends. The country is very welcoming to tourists, people are generally very friendly, and there’s always lots of foreigners. Since there are nightlife areas though, there’s always room for potential uncomfortable, alcohol-fueled situations. Since we will be traveling as a group, there’s less risk of ending up alone in a sketchy area and there will always be someone to check on you, from me to our local guide to your roommate and other travel companions.
This is especially a benefit to my fellow women travelers, as I always want to make sure everyone gets home safely. I also approve every single traveler on the trip, and will do my own due diligence to ensure we have a great group of people and no creeps 😅
7. You’ll experience new perspectives and learn something
While I’ve definitely had amazing vacations when I planned everything on my own by following “must visit” lists or friends’ recommendations, it’s a completely different and often more fulfilling experience when you actually have an expert guiding you. It’s something I’ve come to value from my most recent food tour with Romi the Foodie through Florence and a past trip to Bangkok where a Michelin-starred chef led a tour of local markets and restaurants.
When you have someone local who can speak the language and actually lives in a destination, you get an insider’s perspective from someone who is likely friends with the shop and restaurant owners that they visit regularly. That’s something I’m excited to experience for this trip too, as we will have our local guides to show us around and teach us about Thai culture and cuisine. If you look at the itinerary, there are lots of dishes listed that even I have never tried before, so I can’t wait to experience all these new foods and places together!
The first 8 people get $200 off their trip, so don’t wait and head to my Indulgent Eats Thailand trip page to book your spot!
