A family vacay to beautiful Thailand

A best budget country for a family or honeymooners. Calm and serene islands, busy markets, ancient architecture and bustling city.
It was a 6 nights and 7 days trip which obviously was not sufficient to explore the whole beauty of Thailand. We covered Krabi and Bangkok in this trip, again not fully covered as there are still lots of places left.
Our Day 0 started with our taxi journey to airport. Had booked a AirAsia flights to and from Chennai. The flight to Krabi was at late night with a lay over at Bangkok.
Its 3 hours journey from Chennai to Bangkok. We reached Bangkok around 4 AM in the morning, which is 1.5 hours ahead of India. We were directed to on arrival Visa counter as soon as we reached Bangkok. A form to be filled for each of the family member and submitted along with original passport, return flight tickets and we get the Visa in less than 10 minutes.
Once we get the Visa, we can roam around the airport and can be seated at the respective gates for next flight. Our flight to Krabi was at 8.50 AM initailly when we booked, but the timing was changed to 6.30 AM which we noticed in boarding pass very late but luckily we had 30 minutes to take off, so able to catch the flight. So I suggest everyone to check the boarding time as soon as you get the boarding pass even if you are confident about the flight timings.
It was 1.5 hrs flight journey to Krabi, landed Krabi at 8 AM, booked our limousine(sharing basis) outside airport to Ao nang, a town in Krabi. It was a 1 hour journey by car. We reached our hotel around 9.30 AM. I had requested for early checkin when I booked the room and the hotel was considerate to agree for that free of extra charges. After all the check in process, we enquired about the day trips and places at the hotel itslef. It was costlier than expected, so we wanted to enquire outside the hotel with other local agents. The hotel was calm and neat. After checking into the room, refreshed and went out to check on the day trips. We found an agent who sold the trips 50% cheaper than the hotel and got our trips booked for next 2 days. It was 1.30 PM by then. The kids were hungry so went to an Indian restaurant for lunch. I had booked this hotel after researching about the indian food availability nearby. There were zillion indian restaurants around Ao Nang which I didnt expect. We are pure vegetarians and my hubby prefers only indian food, so I had to research about the food before going to any place :)
Our plan was to visit Emerald pool and hot springs on Day 1, must visit places in Krabi. But the kids were tired and sleepy. So we had to cancel the plan and let them sleep. We woke up at 5.00 PM and stepped out to take a tour of Ao Nang town. There is a beach in 300 mts from hotel and a night market in 2 kms. We visited the beach first and took a tuk tuk(share auto) to AoNang night market. There are traditional Thai street food, icecream, fresh juices, liquor(needless to say), dresses and couple of games.
My daughter and I wanted to try some of the food(vegetarian). We got sweet crepe stuffed with nutella and fruits, mocha, some fries and fresh mango shake. Every thing we ate was top notch.
It was a typical night market with people enjoying music and food. We walked back a few mts to check on some other shops but it started drizzling and so had to take a tuck tuck back to hotel. We ended our day with a dinner at Indian restaurant and back to our room for night sleep

Day started with excitement as we had planned for beautiful phi phi islands. Had our complimentary breakfast at hotel and boarded the van which took us to a beach after a short 3 kms travel. At the beach, we need to pay the money for the trip, receive the band provided for the group of people, listened to the instructions about the trip and boarded our speed boat.It was a 25 seater speed boat and the group had people from different ethnicity.
The first stop was world famous Maya bay, the most beautiful beach with white sand and turquoise water. Spend sometime there indulging in the beauty of the sea and sand, clicked pictures and returned back to our boat in 1 hour( given time).
The boat was then stopped at a place for swimming and snorkeling. The snorkeling equipment was provided by the boat service. My hubby and kids  along with many others swam and snorkelled in the sea. Followed by the activities, we were taken to monkey beach and viking cave which we viewed only from the boat. We stopped at ko phi phi le island for a buffet lunch that was included with the trip. The lunch was thai food and mostly non vegetarian. So we managed to eat fruits and salad. After lunch we were taken to our last stop for the day, Bamboo island which is again calm and beautiful. Spent an hour there clicking pictures and relaxing. Then boarded the boat and dropped back at the ferry station at 5.30 PM and back to our room at 6 PM. Refreshed and headed to our regular Indian restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we did chit chatting and had a good night sleep.

Planned for 4 island trip from same tour agent as day 2. This is also full day trip on a long tail boat. After our breakfast at hotel, boarded the van and was taken to ferry station. The long tail boat was a 20 seater motor boat and the cost was lesser than the speed boat. The first stop was Railay beach, a scenic and serene white sand beach. The boat will be anchored at west and you to need to walk towards the east to reach this beach. Spent a good time clicking pictures. You also have rock climbing activity for adventure enthusiasts. After that we were taken to chicken island,  a chicken shaped rock formations which can be viewed from the boat. Clicked pictures and we are allowed to swim and snorkel. After the activities, we have been taken to sand banks and Poda islands. Both  the islands are picturesque and kids spent time in the waters. We had our lunch provided by the trip operator at the Poda island.Again a Thai food with not much veg options. However there are shops in the island where you get corn, fresh juices and tender coconut. There are washrooms for changing. Headed back to the boat after 2 hours and then dropped at our hotel at 4.30 PM.
Took rest and stepped out to explore the street markets. There were beautiful dress shops, bags, accessories and slippers. But comparatively things are costlier in te island. There were traditional thai massage parlors where you can get a relaxing foot massage and Scrub. We then stopped by Aonang night market again to have some savories and dinner.

There was no plan for Day 4 as we need to check out the hotel. Our flight is at noon, so all the packing done and checked out the hotel. Booked a tuk tuk van(not auto) to airport. Boarded the flight and reached Bangkok by evening. Booked a taxi outside the airport and headed to our hotel . It was a 1 hour journey. The taxi driver was very cool and welcoming. He took the effort to use the google translator for communication.
Reached the hotel and checked in.
After checking in, stepped out to explore neighborhoods to have dinner. The nearest indian restaurant was 1 km. After dinner, spent sometime in famous Indra market which is around 400 meters from the restaurant. Also booked for our next day trip to Safari world.
Came back to hotel for night rest.

The kids were very excited and eager for the day to meet the animals. Our tour agent sent a taxi for us to be picked up from hotel. The safari world was 45 mins journey from the hotel. Bangkok's traffic is heavy and so we need to plan ahead, hence started by 8.30 AM after our complimentary english breakfast at the hotel.
Reached the Safari world and paid our taxi driver  for the day package. The taxi driver bought the entry tickets. The first entry was to Safari world which is a open zoo. We can see the animals from our own cars/van or we can pay for zoo's bus and use the same. It was thrilling to see the animals like wild beast, rhinos,giraffe, lion, tiger, bear and other animals like zebra, deer, Pelican, stork etc
It was a 1 hour tour after which drove out to be entered to Marine park.
Marine park is the actual zoo where the animals are in cage and to be toured by walk. It also organizes some of the enthralling shows like spy war, cow boy stunt, dolphin show, saloon show, Orangutan show and elephant show.
A timetable will be provided along with entry tickets which has the show timings. We need to tour the zoo and be at the auditorium during the shows. The shows happen at different auditoriums to accommodate different animals and human stunt.
The day went well with kids spending time with animals and we were also allowed to take pictures which is of separate cost not included in the entry fee.
Boarded our taxi and headed back to hotel. After refreshments, headed back to our regular indian restaurant for dinner. Also enquired for next day trip with the same tour agent.

The initial plan was to cover Sriracha tiger Zoo located near Pattaya as our kids love spending time with animals. Unfortunately the zoo has been closed for Covid and not re-opened since then.
So the day has been planned for visiting buddhist temples around Bangkok. Wat pho, Wat Arun, Wat Benchamabopit, The royal palace are some of the places covered. These are majestic and built in traditional thai architecture. The tour operator asked for 1500 bhats to take us around these places excluding entry fee. We felt the taxi charge was higher as the places are around 12 kms from the hotel.
We explored above places by bus and tuk tuk which costed much cheaper than the taxi.
We ended our day at regular indian restaurant for dinner and then spent sometime at the Platinum mall which is around 400 meters from the restaurant. The Indra market and platinum mall are closely located.
The platinum mall is famous for quality fashion dresses, suits, footwear, bags and accessories.
You will find all the high end brands first dupes/look alike. The cost is nominal, however you can bargain.
After a window shopping, headed to hotel for good night sleep.

Last day of the trip was leisure. Kids spent time in the hotel's rooftop swimming pool. Had our breakfast, packed our stuffs. The checkout time was 12 PM. We requested for extra time as our flight was at 9 PM. But the hotel charges a day cost for extra stay, so we checked out and left our stuffs at hotel lobby. Stepped out for lunch and shopping. We found some of the good stuffs at cheaper prices at Platinum mall the earlier day, shopped them. Then stopped by another mall called Century plaza. This mall also had some of the great brands like Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike etc first dupes. Shopped dresses and T-shirts. Stopped by a skin care shop, Watsons. This place is for skin care enthusiasts, one can find brands like Cerave, Eucerin, Biore that are not readily available in India and other brands like Neutrogena, Nivea etc had new products that we don't find in India. You also have Boots Boots drug store.
After a small shopping headed back to our hotel. On the way booked a taxi for airport transfer.
Boarded the taxi at 5 PM and bid adieu to Bangkok.
We were asked to fill Air Suvidha form during immigration. After the immigration process, got our boarding pass and headed to our gate and waited for the flight. Boarded the flight at 9 PM and reached India at 10.55 PM which is 1.5 hours behind the Thailand time.

Expenses:

On Arrival Visa-2200 bh per pax
Krabi to Ao Nang hotel- 150 bh per pax by shared shuttle/van
Sim card- 300 bh
Night market tuk tuk one way-100 bh
PhiPhi day trip- 1200 bh per pax including lunch and park fee for speed boat, 900 bh for kids less than 10 years
4 island trip- 800 bh per pax including lunch in long tail boat, 500 bh for kids less than 10 years
Airport taxi- 500bh
Bangkok Airport to hotel- 500 bh
Safari world- 1500 bh per pax including taxi and entry fee for Safari world and marine park
Wat Pho - 200 bh per pax
Wat Arun- 200 bh per pax
The royal palace- 500 bh per pax
Wat Benchamabophit- 50 by per pax
Buses- minimum 8 bh per pax in normal bus, minimum 15 bh per pax in AC bus
Airport return taxi- 300 bh

Hotels stayed:

Krabi- Kokotel Ao Nang, 3k per night tax inclusive for a family of 4. Very convenient and will rate 4.5/5
Bangkok- The victory residences, 3k per night tax  inclusive for a family of 4. Very convenient and will rate 4/5

Restaurants:

Krabi- Bawarchi
Bangkok- Diyalo Griha

Tips:
1. Always book taxi outside the airport. Stalls inside the airport always charge double. At Bangkok, they ask 950bh inside airport but we paid 500 bh outside airport but paid only 300 bh while returning from hotel to Airport. So understand the local currency value and bargain as much as possible.
2. Cost of anything in the island is always more. So try to shop in the city instead of islands.
3. Enquire 3 to 4 tour agents before booking for a trip. Our hotel charged 10k bhats for Phi Phi trip for 3 adults and 1 kid but we enquired 3 agents in the neighborhood and paid only 4500 bh
4. Do not buy entry fee at the parks, buy it from the tour agent or ask tour agent to include it with taxi or boat service. The safari world ticket at the park is 1500 bh per pax but tour agent charged 1500 per pax including to and fro taxi service.
5. Try to use buses, trains, shared van and tuk tuks to reduce the expenses.
6. Bus  numbers for all the places can be seen in Google, also double check the same with locals using google translator.
7. Locals prefer Indra square or platinum mall for dresses and foot wear but century plaza is also good and cheap.