If you'd told me ten years ago that the country I'd return to most often—more than France, more than Italy, more than any destination with a direct flight from Chicago—would be Thailand, I would have asked you what you were drinking. And then I would have asked for a glass.
But here we are. Sixty-four countries across seven continents, and the one I keep choosing? The Land of Smiles. And not because the beaches are perfect (they are). Not because the food is transcendent (it is). But because Thailand does something no other destination does: it makes you feel simultaneously alive and at peace.
The First Trip: Sensory Overload
My first trip to Thailand was in 2016. I landed in Bangkok at midnight, stepped outside the airport, and was hit by a wall of warm, jasmine-scented humidity that felt like being wrapped in a blanket made of atmosphere. The taxi ride to my hotel was a fever dream of neon signs, food vendors, and tuk-tuks weaving through traffic with a confidence that bordered on performance art.
By the time I reached my hotel—a riverside property overlooking the Chao Phraya River—I was wide awake, overwhelmed, and completely certain that Bangkok was the most exciting city I'd ever been in.
I went for a walk at 1 AM. I ate pad see ew from a street cart that had no signage, no English menu, and no empty seats. It was the best noodle dish I'd ever tasted. I sat on a plastic stool at a plastic table on a sidewalk that hummed with midnight energy, and I thought: This is it. This is what travel is supposed to feel like.
What Keeps Me Coming Back
The Food (Obviously)
Thai food is the reason I fell in love with cooking, with culinary culture, with the idea that a meal can be a spiritual experience. And the gap between Thai food in America and Thai food in Thailand is roughly the size of the Grand Canyon.
Street food in Bangkok is a Michelin experience at a fraction of the price—literally, since Bangkok's street vendors have received actual Michelin stars. A bowl of boat noodles from a vendor in Victory Monument costs $1 and delivers more flavor complexity than most $40 entrees in American cities.
But it's not just street food. Thailand's fine dining scene is extraordinary. Gaggan Anand's restaurants have consistently ranked among the world's best. Nahm (now closed, but its legacy lives on) redefined how the world understood Thai cuisine. And the cooking classes—where you learn to balance sweet, sour, salty, and spicy in a single spoonful—are a masterclass in culinary philosophy.
The People
Thai hospitality isn't a service industry standard. It's a cultural value. The Thai concept of sanuk—the idea that life should contain joy and that even mundane activities should be approached with a spirit of fun—permeates everything from restaurant service to casual conversation.
As a Black woman traveler, I've felt consistently welcomed in Thailand. The curiosity is genuine and warm. People want to know where you're from, what you think of the food, whether you've tried the som tum at the place around the corner. It's engaging without being intrusive.
The Temples
Thailand has over 40,000 Buddhist temples, and they range from the golden extravagance of Bangkok's Grand Palace to the serene simplicity of jungle monasteries in Chiang Mai. The wats (temples) are not museums—they're active places of worship where monks begin their day at dawn with chanting that echoes across the grounds.
Participating in a morning alms-giving ceremony in Chiang Mai—offering rice to barefoot monks walking silently through the streets at sunrise—is one of the most humbling and beautiful rituals I've ever experienced.
The Islands
Thailand's islands are the dessert course of any trip. Phuket offers luxury resorts and dramatic coastline. Koh Samui offers wellness and sophistication. The Phi Phi Islands offer the kind of turquoise water that makes you question the accuracy of your own eyesight.
Why Thailand Is Different from Bali
I get this comparison constantly, and I've written about it in detail. The short version:
Bali is introspective. It asks you to go inward, to slow down, to sit with yourself. Bali is a meditation.
Thailand is expansive. It invites you outward—into markets, onto beaches, through temples, across dinner tables loaded with dishes you've never imagined. Thailand is a celebration.
Both are extraordinary. But they serve different needs. When I need rest, I go to Bali. When I need to feel alive, I go to Thailand.
The Moments I Carry
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A midnight food tour in Bangkok's Chinatown — Following a guide through alleys that smell like charcoal and star anise, eating five different dishes at five different stalls, each one better than the last.
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Sunrise at Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai — The golden temple emerging from the morning mist, monks chanting, the city visible far below. It's one of the most photographed temples in Thailand, and the photos don't do it justice.
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A Thai cooking class in a family compound — Learning to make green curry paste by hand with a grandmother who laughed at my mortar-and-pestle technique and then hugged me when I got it right.
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A longtail boat through Phang Nga Bay — The limestone karsts rising from emerald water, the silence between the formations, the feeling of being inside a painting that hasn't been finished yet.
At Caviar in the Air, we bring our travelers into these moments—not as spectators, but as participants. That's the difference.
Ready for Thailand?
Our Thailand Experience is designed for women who want to feel fully alive. Seven days of luxury, food, culture, and the kind of beauty that makes you forget what you were stressed about.
Claire B. Soares is a 5X Condé Nast Top Travel Specialist and the founder of Caviar in the Air. Thailand is her most-visited country, and she's not done yet.
