Honeymoon in Thailand

Of all the honeymoon destinations in Southeast Asia, Thailand may be the best! While there are plenty of tourist attractions to keep newlyweds busy, from palaces to temples, there is also plenty of coastline (and beautiful beaches) to provide opportunities for rest and relaxation on your Thailand honeymoon.

About Thailand

Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos. The shape of the country’s south-end forms a gulf, which is where the Gulf of Thailand is, with its turquoise waters. On the west side of the peninsula is the Andaman Sea, where Phuket is located.

The country, which was called “Siam” until 1939, is diverse in its terrain with mountains, fertile plains, rice fields and beaches. Part of the Mekong River runs through northeast Thailand. And the Chao Phraya River is an important body of water that runs through Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city.

Thailand’s Language

Thai is the official language in Thailand. Its alphabet is entirely different and sounds vary greatly from anything you’d hear in English. Learning English is part of the school curriculum in Thailand so most people who grow up there, especially in the 21st century, will have some knowledge of the language. Most guest-facing staff at hotels and resorts speak English.

Time Zone in Thailand

Indochina Time is the time zone of Thailand. It’s GMT+7, and they do not observe Daylight Savings Time. If it’s 9 am in Los Angeles during April, it’s noon in New York, and 11 pm in Thailand.

Thailand’s Currency

The Thai Baht is the local currency of Thailand. $1 USD is equal to ฿31.25 Thai Bahts. If something costs ฿2000, it’s equal to about $64 USD.  The American dollar goes pretty far in Thailand. 

LGBTQ+ Community in Thailand

The law doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages in the nation but a social culture exists that supports the gay community, and homosexuality is legal. Visitors to Thailand in the LGBTQ+ Community won’t have to endure some of the more complicated issues that gay or transgender people face when they’re living in Thailand.

Generally speaking, there will be more gay bars and clubs, for example, in urban areas like Bangkok and Chiang Mai as opposed to the suburban and rural areas of Thailand.

Weather and Best Time to Visit Thailand

Thailand’s tropical climate makes it a great destination to escape the cold. They have a wet and dry season, as well as a hot season. The climate varies depending on the areas you’ll visit during your Thailand honeymoon. Average temperatures during their hot season are 87 degrees in Bangkok, and 84 degrees in Chiang Mai.

Its wet season is also when there’s the highest risk for southwest monsoons, from May to October. The dry season is from November to February, when it’s relatively cooler too, though temperatures typically don’t dip below 57 degrees in the mountains and 70 degrees in central Thailand.

The sea temperature in Thailand remains pretty consistent all year, around 83 degrees.

Some of the best months to visit Thailand are December through February, when it’s dry season but also not too hot.

Getting to Thailand

You’ll fly over a few oceans and bodies of land to reach your honeymoon in Thailand. The journey will be long but worth it.

Flights to Thailand

There are a few international airports in Thailand. If you’re traveling around the country during your honeymoon in Thailand, the easiest thing to do, if you have the budget, is fly between cities. It will save hours and hours of time! For example, you can fly between Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

But first, you have to enter the country.

For purposes of the sample flight costs, we’ll presume you’ll fly from the United States to their capital, Bangkok, to Suvarnabhumi Airport (code is BKK).

Prices below are from three major cities in the United States, priced roundtrip per person, for two weeks in December arriving to BKK:

• LAX: $630, with one stop and just under 21 hours of travel time
• NYC: $930, with one stop and 20 hours of travel time
• IAH: $990, with two stops and about 24 hours of travel time

Passport, Visa and Vaccine Requirements

You’ll both need valid U.S. Passports to travel to Thailand for your honeymoon. It must be valid for six months from your date of entry, and should have one blank page per stamp. You don’t need a visa if you’re traveling there for a honeymoon that’s less than 30 days.

No particular vaccinations are needed if you’re traveling to Thailand from the United States.

COVID-19 Regulations if Traveling to Thailand

Visitors to Thailand will have to quarantine upon arrival. If arriving with proof of a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours of arrival, foreigners need to quarantine for 10 days. If arriving with proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, through a vaccination certificate, foreigners have to quarantine for seven days, only.

These quarantine regulations are planned to change starting on October 1, 2021, when Thailand moves into Phase 3 of its re-opening plan. 

Thailand Honeymoon Destinations and Things to Do

There are so many adventures to be had and memories to be made in this honeymoon destination, from the mainland to the islands, from landscapes to sand beaches, and from touring wats (temples) to scuba diving. Nature-lovers will delight in the treasures of areas outside the city, and city-loving couples will want to designate time on their honeymoon itinerary to bounce around places like the flower market and Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.

We’ve listed three of the most popular destinations in Thailand and some things to do in each area, below.

Bangkok, Central Thailand

Honeymooners will most likely enter the country through Bangkok, so you may as well stay at least a night or two, if not more. A visit in Thailand isn’t complete without visiting the Grand Palace, the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), and Chatuchak Market, which is a huge market open on Saturdays and Sundays.

You can also sign up for a Tuk Tuk tour, which is a small vehicle in Thailand, that will take you around the streets of the neighborhoods. The flower market, called Pak Khlong Talat, is a great place to walk around and stand in awe of the colorful flowers for sale. They also sell fruits and vegetables there. 

Stop for a meal at Pad Thai Thip Samai, known for its commitment to serving the original Pad Thai recipe from WWII. It was the first restaurant (which was a stall at the time) to officially serve Pad Thai. (Be sure to keep your eyes peeled to try Luk Chup, a Thai marzipan dessert, available all over Thailand.)

You can sign up for a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River, a perfectly romantic way to end the day during your Thailand honeymoon.

Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

The mountains present many opportunities for adventure during your honeymoon in Thailand. Sign up to go zip lining through the treetops. Visit Wat Pha Lat, a temple hidden in a spectacular forest.

You can also interact with elephants in a responsible way and location, at Elephant Nature Park, a rescue and rehabilitation center for these majestic creatures.

Phuket, Southwest Thailand

Travel to Phuket via the Phuket International Airport and take a car to reach your honeymoon resort on this Thai island. Be sure to look into accommodation options with an ocean view! Take a cooking class in Phuket at the Phuket Thai Cooking Academy or sign up for a day trip to the islands.

Some great day trips include an adventurous boat tour out to Phang-Nga Bay National Park to go sea kayaking around small islands. Or sign up for a scuba diving or snorkeling boat excursion that travels to the Phi Phi Islands. Another option is to go rock climbing on Railay Beach, a memorable experience even for someone new to the sport.

Types of Accommodations you Can Expect in Thailand

There are various options for accommodations on your Thailand honeymoon. Choose depending on how you like to travel as a couple and depending on your budget.

Hotels are abundant all over Thailand. If you and your spouse are members of any rewards or loyalty programs, like Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors, you’ll be able to find plenty of options in Thailand. The US dollar is strong in Thailand, which means you can get even more value for your money.

Hostels are available as well for couples on tighter budgets. (But you can definitely increase any budget with the help of a Honeyfund honeymoon registry!)

Home rentals, like Air BnBs and VRBOS are available in all major cities. This is a wonderful option if you want to have a complete kitchen, for instance, or enjoy supporting local homeowners and the local economy through these avenues. But if you go this route you’ll also want to consider renting a car to get between the city and neighborhood where your rental is.

Start a Honeymoon Registry with Honeyfund

Honeyfund takes the stress of the cost of a honeymoon off of your’s and your partner’s shoulders. All you have to do is start a honeymoon registry and send it to your family and friends, then let them gift you with contributions to your honeymoon, like flights, hotel nights and experiences.