The Other Bangkok

The $500 booking deposit secures your spot on the trip. It is non-refundable but transferable to a future Habibi Lads trip if your plans change, subject to availability. One exception: if you pay the deposit and the full balance within 24 hours of booking, the deposit is treated like any other payment and follows the standard cancellation terms, so an early cancellation can be fully refunded, deposit included.

After the $500 deposit, the balance is paid in two instalments: half 180 days before the trip and half 90 days before. We send a reminder before each. If you book during or after one of those windows, we charge the instalment that is already due right away, and anything still ahead follows the schedule. More detail is on our FAQ page.

There are three ways to room: a private room to yourself or with your companion, your own bed in a shared room, or a bunk in the shared bunk room. Some rooms have their own ensuite bathroom, others use a shared bathroom in the house. Pick what suits you in the bed picker above, and your specific room is confirmed before the trip.

Bangkok has two airports: Suvarnabhumi (BKK), the main international hub, and Don Mueang (DMK), used mostly by budget and regional carriers. Either is fine, your private airport transfer is included from both, in and out. BKK usually has the widest choice of long-haul flights.

Aim to land by mid-afternoon, around 3 PM, so you have time to settle in before we gather for the welcome meeting at 6 PM and the chef’s welcome dinner that evening. If your flight lands later, do not worry, we will fold you in when you arrive.

Departures are on your own schedule across Day 7, so book whatever flight suits you. The house checks out at 11 AM.

Most Western passports enter Thailand visa-exempt for tourism (currently up to 60 days), but the rules change and depend on your nationality, so always confirm against your own government before you travel. UK: FCDO travel advice. US: US Department of State. Australia: Smartraveller. Everyone else: check your own government or local consulate.

No vaccinations are required for the trip. We do recommend booking a visit with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before, in case they suggest anything for your circumstances. If you take prescription medication, please bring enough to last the whole trip. And for peace of mind, there are good hospitals and clinics close to the house.

Late March is hot and dry, around 33 to 35 degrees. Pack light, breathable clothes, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen. Bring a pair of trousers or something that covers your legs and shoulders too, as some temples do not allow shorts.

Most things are covered, so you only need pocket money. Around $30 to $50 a day is plenty for snacks, extra drinks, tips, and the odd personal treat.

Yes. We keep a limited supply at the house, and there is a 7-Eleven a short walk away if you would like more. One quirk of Thai law: shops can only sell alcohol from late morning to midnight, with a gap in the early afternoon.

The house is a home in a residential neighbourhood, not a party venue, so there are no house parties and we keep the evenings calm and considerate of the neighbours. There is plenty of life by day and nightlife out in the city when you want it; the house is the place to land, rest, and connect.

The chef cooks around your needs at the house, and we collect them on the pre-trip intake form. Out and about, upscale restaurants cater easily, but smaller local places may not, so for anyone with dietary restrictions we always arrange either food from the house or a nearby alternative. Nobody goes without.

Moderate fitness, but please read this honestly. You'll be on your feet most days: city walking, a market wander, time in tropical heat. The house is a multi-storey pool villa, and most of it, including many of the bedrooms, is reached by stairs. We don't have step-free access, and we aren't set up to provide personal care or medical supervision, so the week suits guests who are comfortably mobile and managing their own health independently. If you have a mobility or health concern, write to us before you book and we'll talk it through honestly. We would always rather have that conversation early than have you arrive to a week that doesn't fit.

Two Habibi Lads trip leaders are with the group all week, with support on hand around the clock. You are never on your own in a new city.

Of course. The trip itself runs to a fixed schedule, but plenty of guests add days in Bangkok or fly onward elsewhere in Asia. We are happy to point you in the right direction.

Yes, it is required for every guest. The full detail is on our FAQ page.