By: Joshua J. Pinkay

I have to consider all of the components, not just the location, and let’s say, the weather. Who I went with, what I wore, what I ate – all of those things matter. I take into account how those components individually impact my experience. As I’ve looked back and reflected on my travels, I can thankfully say that a large majority of my travel experiences have been positive ones because I’ve considered these factors beforehand.

My recent trip to Thailand fits in this category because it’s a nation that, culturally, lends itself to an elevated experience with good friends and provides a stunning backdrop for documenting. I have to admit, my expectations were far exceeded by what this trip ended up giving me. If nothing else, I can honestly say that Thailand is one of the most incredible places on Earth, and it sealed its beauty in my mind as one of my best vacations yet.

Four friends and myself spent 11 days in this beautiful country, and we wanted to make the absolute best use of our time there. Our trek was a varied one, with 3 primary cities in the itinerary: Bangkok, Phuket, and Krabi – each with its own energy and points of interest. My favorite of the three was the beach town, Krabi, but I’ll get more into that in a second.

We started out in Bangkok, where we got to take in the full scope of city life in this region. From the food markets, to dining, and an incredible rooftop cocktail hour at the Vertigo & Moon Bar at Banyan Tree, our first day really set the tone for the rest of the trip. We made sure to visit one of Bangkok’s famed floating markets (Damnoen Saduak) where we shopped and ate pad thai & coconut ice cream from our own private river boat.

Next up was Phuket – Thailand’s largest island and a city that didn’t disappoint. We stayed at the Crest Resort & Pool Villas which provided stunning poolside views of the coast, decadent dining, and the ever popular floating breakfasts. While here, we made sure to visit the Tiger Kingdom for individual tiger & cheetah encounters, the Nopparat Elephant Camp, and the premiere ILLUZION nightclub in Patong Beach.

Now Krabi… located on Thailand’s southern west coast, this province was really special and elevated the entire trip for me. This beach town offered so much of an immersive experience to the country’s island culture. The pristine beaches and limestone cliffs alone make this city stand out as a primary destination. Through the rental of a private speedboat, we took the opportunity to visit its most popular offshore islands, Koh Phi Phi and Maya Bay. Of our three destinations, Krabi was also my favorite when it came to shopping. The people were kind and embracive of their visitors. To commemorate this part of the trip, we all got tattoos at H2o Ink Tattoo. My artist’s name was Nueng and goes by Nueng Tatt on the island. Our last stop was a visit to Krabi Andaman Pearl where you can buy top quality freshwater pearl jewelry, harvested directly from the islands, at the absolute best prices.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Thailand will be queued up on my itinerary for another future vacation. I was able to experience so much, and yet, there was also still so much more to do and see. I’ve convinced so many of my friends and colleagues that it is a vital destination for any traveler with the wanderlust spirit.