X2 Vibe Chiang Mai Decem // Thailand

X2 Vibe Chiang Mai Decem is the perfect hotel for young, trendy travelers looking for a modern, but affordable place to rest and rejuvenate. With three days left in Chaing Mai, we still had so many things to experience. We found this perfect boutique hotel that was close to a lot of places we still haven’t visited. The interior décor gives X2 such a chill vibe, lots of white, green, and blue accents to make you feel relaxed and refreshed. This hotel is perfect for Instagram photos! There are so many cool backdrops, like the vertical garden by the pool, the different wall textures in the rooms, and the plant décor in the open-air café. The staff were so helpful, anything we needed help with, they were happy to assist. They have a small information desk where you can book tours and request a taxi.

THE ROOM

Once we checked in we were offered a refreshing welcome drink; a blue lychee juice in a cute glass bottle. Once we were finished, we took the elevator up to the 7th floor and entered our deluxe room. When we first entered, we saw the huge bed in the middle of the room, I loved that it had some charging outlets built into the headboard. Then looking out from our balcony, I realized we were on the top floor! From our room, you can see some of the city and the vertical garden that lines the pool down below. Next to the balcony door was a small desk where I could work on some photo editing and journaling. The bathroom was clean with gray marble walls; it also had a window that looked into the room. We had a very comfortable stay in our cozy room at X2 Vibe Chiang Mai Decem. The room is so worth the price!

THE POOL

When we had some down time between our Chiang Mai activities, we took some time to relax at the salt-water pool. It was quite small, but we had the pool all to ourselves. There are a few lounge chairs and you can order from that café if you want any poolside drinks. We got to enjoy the blue lychee drink (my favorite) and some fruit skewers. For nature lovers out there, they have a super tall wall filled with plants, giving off an earthy vibe. Take lots of photos here! 

THE FOOD

If you want to eat at the hotel so that you have more time to explore Chiang Mai, visit 4k Café on the ground floor. Here we ate our complimentary breakfast buffet, enjoyed some mango smoothies by the pool, and indulged in a wonderful dinner before heading out to the Night Bazaar. For breakfast, they have a large spread of different types of Asian and western food. On our second night, we enjoyed an intimate dinner including some mango daiquiris, hearty mushroom soups, and steak and salmon entrees!

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

X2 Vibe Chiang Mai is walking distance from a lot of shopping and food. On our first night, we walked to the MAYA, a multi-floor shopping mall with 2 full floors of food and a lot of different types of shops. If you walk a little further you can visit a small night market that sells trendy clothes. From some of the rooms, you can see Wat Doi Suthep, the golden temple on top of the mountain. From X2 you can take a taxi to the Chiang Mai Zoo and then hop on a red taxi (100 baht) to take you to the temple. If you want to venture into Old City Chiang Mai, it’s also a short taxi ride away as well! We explored the Night Bazaar and did some souvenir shopping. 

We had an amazing and comfy stay at X2 Vibe Chiang Mai Decem. Everything worked out perfectly, and I’m so glad we stumbled across this hotel while doing our research. After a long day of adventuring through the city, it was nice to come back to our base camp with such a cool vibe. Thank you for having us!

Sunsuri Phuket // Thailand Resort

After an hour long, 1000 baht taxi ride, we finally made it to Rawai, the southern tip of Phuket, Thailand. On this part of the island, it’s not too crowded, the beaches are pristine and quiet. To our right was a calm lake, and to our left was Nai Harn Beach, which we couldn’t wait to enjoy. We finally saw the entrance sign to our resort, Sunsuri Phuket, and then got dropped off at the lobby. Check in was a breeze, and we were welcomed with complimentary drinks, fruit skewers and some cool towels (it was the hottest in Phuket during our trip). Sunsuri Phuket is the definition of a luxury getaway; if you find yourself trying to plan a Thailand vacation take a chance and drive that extra mile. You’ll find yourself at one of the most incredible resorts.

Andy and I were escorted by buggy to our ocean view pool villa, all the way at the top of the hill. The accommodations are spaced far apart and it would’ve been a trek to get up to our room. Fortunately, they had a complimentary buggy service, which we used about 10 times a day. With our key in hand, we walked up the steps and opened the wooden door to our gorgeous villa. Right when we entered, there was an amazing view of the Andaman Sea and to the right was our balcony and private infinity pool. With floor to ceiling glass walls, it was the perfect place to relax and watch the sunset in our living area and then have a good night’s sleep in their comfy king sized bed. To our surprise, they set up two elegant swan towels with flowers spread around the bed (so romantic!). Then we saw the luxurious bathroom; two sinks, big mirrors, a rain shower, and of course the large bathtub that faced the view. We were in awe, and we couldn’t wait to spend the next three days in our cozy retreat.

5 Things to Experience at Sunsuri Phuket

1. Indulge in one of the many buffets

Our first night there we got to enjoy the Asian-inspired buffet at SAIL restaurant. For foodies, it’s basically heaven. There were so many options to taste. My pro tip for going to a buffet is to just take a little bit of each so you have room to try everything! My favorite part was the dessert selection! They had various types of Thai desserts in little bowls and cups. I wish I didn’t get full so I could eat more of those. For breakfast, we had another buffet at SIP, where they made special order eggs and had a yummy selection of juices like pineapple and lychee. We peeked downstairs back at SAIL and they had unlimited Thai Tea! That same day, we came back for dinner, which was, of course, another buffet. After eating a lot of street food, this meal felt so glorious. They had the best Pad See Ewe and they even had a fried banana dessert, which you could pair with ice cream and sweet syrups.

2. Lose track of time at the pool

Set in the middle of the property, there are 4 pools you can enjoy. There are so many things to do while you’re at the pool. Right off the bat, we got to experience water boxing, where you hold your balance while trying to knock down your opponent. If you lose your balance or get hit, down you go into the pool! We used our Muay Thai skills we learned earlier in the day, and I was able to knock Andy off! After that, we ordered some refreshing cocktails to enjoy poolside. I think I spent about an hour just lounging on my new pineapple floatie, pure bliss. For those thrill seekers, they also have a water slide and a diving platform! I faced my fears and jumped off a few times, it was exhilarating! We spent a good 3 and half hours at all the pools, and then realized since that wasn’t enough, it was time to enjoy the sunset at our pool villa.

3. Learn how to cook a 4-course Thai meal

Andy and I are pretty much master chefs now! With the help from Chef Aroon, we both learned how to whip up four new Thai dishes. Suited in our tall chef hat and Sunsuri aprons, we began cutting vegetables and mixing ingredients together. Our first dish was Yam Ta-Lay, spicy seafood and lemon juice mixed together into a refreshing salad. Our second dish was Gaeng Jued Gai Sab, a light chicken soup with vegetables. Our third dish was Phad Kra Prow Nue, wok-fried beef with garlic, chili, and hot basil leaves. Our final dish was a Thai classic, Kluay Buad Chee, sweetened bananas in coconut milk cream. To our surprise, we just prepared a four-course meal in about 45 minutes. When everything was finished, we received a certificate of completion and got to enjoy our delicious lunch on the outside patio.

4. Relax at Nai Harn Beach

The real reason why you visit Phuket is for the beaches, right? We took a 5-minute complimentary shuttle ride to Nai Harn Beach on our last day before check out. When you get there, rent a pair of beach chairs and an umbrella for about 200 baht, you’ll need shade if you want to survive the heat! They have a strip of shops and cafés where you can find some lunch and buy some coconuts to quench your thirst. Check out Sea Breeze Café, a partner of Sunsuri. You’ll also find stores that carry every kind of floatie imaginable! I couldn’t control myself, so I bought a huge pineapple for 250 baht. After sunbathing, we took a dip in the ocean to cool off and do some swimming!

5. Take a private Muay Thai Lesson

Imagine an outdoor deck, overlooking lush greenery and lake. Then add hot weather and Muay Thai lessons, you have the perfect workout to burn all the calories you gained at the buffet! Our instructor Patt, was very informative and patient and taught us the basics of Thai boxing. He wrapped our hands and instructed how to do basic punches, kicks, and a combination of both. After that, it was time to put on the boxing gloves and give it all we got. It was the perfect setting to have a fitness class, to learn more about Thai culture while working out is a huge plus!

Our visit to Sunsuri Phuket was simply amazing. Our two-night stay flew by, but we made so many memories and made new friendships with the gracious staff. We requested late check out, that’s how much we didn’t want to leave! Thank you Fook for having us, you made Phuket a magical destination for us!

North City Hill Resort // Chiang Mai, Thailand

Nestled 20 minutes away from the bustling Chiang Mai center, there is a tranquil resort with world-class amenities waiting for you to enjoy. North Hill City Resort is one of Chiang Mai’s top luxury resorts. This brand new resort is located on a golf course and inspires you to connect with nature. Every guest that stays here is treated like a VIP. We were so excited to arrive at our sophisticated hideaway in Chaing Mai, Thailand.

DAY ONE

Upon arrival, we entered through the gate and passed through the 18-hole golf course. We were dropped off and greeted right at the front door. It was time to check in to our room, but before that, they welcomed us with a refreshing drink and chocolate mousse, the presentation was amazing! Next, one of the front desk agents got us checked in, confirmed our spa reservation and cooking class details. I was surprised when they handed us our own personal tablet (to borrow during our stay) containing all the information you needed to know about the resort. Then we were led to our deluxe room, only a short walk from the lobby. We were blown away by the modern décor and amenities.

We had only a few minutes to settle in before our spa treatment at GayaRandra Spa, only a short golf cart ride away. We got to experience a couple’s steam, scrub and oil massage, a blissful 90-minute treatment. It was the perfect way to relax after traveling all day! First, we showered to rinse off any impurities, then we entered the steam room to warm-up before our treatment. Next, we were led to the couple's room where we began our body scrub. The heavenly scent of coffee filled the air, as we were buffed with coffee scrub from head to toe. We finished off with divine oil massages, which soothed our sore muscles and let us drift into full relaxation mode.

After our spa treatment, we walked up to the Astro Sky Bar. Sitting on top of the resort building, we sipped our White Russian and Mai Tai’s and munched on some pizza while enjoying a warm Chiang Mai night.

Day Two

We woke up bright and early since we had a morning full of elephant adventures. Our pickup was at 6:30 am and North Hill Resort started serving breakfast at 6 am. We didn’t want to rush our meal, so they let us call ahead and order. Since the menu was on the tablet, we were able to scroll through and order right away. Once we got to Zest, our breakfast was served promptly and we didn’t waste any time. Breakfast is complimentary with every reservation; you can choose either a western or Thai entree. They had the best pineapple juice I’ve ever tasted, and our breakfast was complete with pastries, yogurt, coffee, and fruit. Before we got picked up for the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, they gave us delicious iced coffees for the ride.

We returned to North Hill at around 2 pm, and we were exhausted! We spent the whole morning traveling, and then we got to feed, bathe and play with elephants. It was an amazing experience, but the ride back made me super dizzy. What better way to cure a headache, than some down time at the infinity pool. We suited up and relaxed on their massive daybeds, and then took a dip. The cool water felt so good, the temperature was rising as the sun came up.

After some pool time, we showered and took a quick nap. Then we used North Hill’s complimentary shuttle to get to Chiang Mai Old Town to meet up with our new friends we met at the elephant camp! More on this later, but it was a fun night. We got a shuttle ride back and our luxurious bed never felt better. 

Day Three

Before it was time to leave this magical place, we got to experience North Hill’s Farm-to-Table cooking class. For only 2,500 baht per couple, it’s such a great deal!

North Hill has a lush vegetable farm growing right next to the resort. Our first task was a quick garden tour, where we got to harvest fresh ingredients and smell herbs right from the source. At check-in, we selected 5 dishes that we wanted to cook. Dishes were picked in advance so that the chefs can prep some of the ingredients. When we got to the leaf shaped gazebo, a colorful array of vegetables, sauces, meats and so much more were beautifully laid out on the table. 

For the next hour, Chef Kong was our private teacher, and we learned how to prep, cut, simmer and cook our way to 5-course Thai lunch! Our first dish was called Gaeng Keaw Wan Moo, a green pork curry with coconut milk, served with steamed rice. Our second dish was the famous pad thai, stir fried noodles with prawn and tamarind sauce. This tasted so much better than street food! Our third dish was Khao Phad Moo, Thai fried rice with pork. Our fourth dish, was Pad Preow Wan Gai, chicken mixed with sweet and sour sauce and colorful vegetables. Our last creation was Khao Soi, also known as Chiang Mai curry Noodles, this was my absolute fave and I couldn’t wait to dig in.

An hour passed and I couldn’t believe we created this feast! Everything was plated perfectly and we enjoyed a private lunch in the garden after we took some food photos. We were completely stuffed, there was enough food for a family of four! After we were finished we received certificates of completion and took a photo with Chef Kong. We were now ready to leave North Hill with happy tummies and lots of amazing memories. 

Now it was time to check out, and we were so sad we were leaving this wonderful resort. At check out, we received a framed photo that we took just minutes ago. Such a sweet touch, and something we’ll never forget.

Thank you North Hill staff and Krittiya for having us, we had an incredible stay!

Recap Video:

 

Things to Do in Chiang Mai

• Visit a Night Market: If you’re in Chaing Mai on a Sunday, visit the market in Old Town. The streets are filled with vendors selling food and souvenirs. This is the best place to work your bartering magic and score some great deals!

• Get a Massage: There are massage parlors everywhere around the city! If you want to be adventurous, go to the Night Bazaar and work out a package deal for the Fish Spa and Foot Massage. It seems like a crazy idea at first, you put your feet into a tub of small fish that eat away dead skin cells. After a few minutes, you get used to the tickling vibration. Next, get a 30-minute foot massage to pamper yourself. After walking around the city and getting sunburnt, your feet definitely need some care. We spent about $10 for this hour of bliss.

• Elephant Jungle Sanctuary: About an hour from the city is an elephant camp where you get to feed, bathe and play with elephants rescued from riding camps. This was definitely the highlight of my trip and I highly recommend it! I got to see a baby elephant, it was a dream come true.