Solo traveling in Bangkok as a black woman

If you read my bio, then you already know I’m currently 29 — but the gag is… I turn 30 in June. Insert audience booing. What a blessing it is to make it to a new decade though. This year, I decided to make a 30×30 list: 30 new things I want to do before or during year 30.

One of the big ones?

Visit three new countries.

Thailand has ALWAYS been on my list. I love everything Thai — the massages (you need to experience that at least once in your life), the food (mango sticky rice deserves its own holiday), and the culture. So when the opportunity came to finally go, I could not have been more excited.

Please read along for my adventures on this trip.

5 nights in Bangkok— Where I stayed and Sightseeing edition

Bangkok is known for its fast‑paced city life, some of the biggest shopping malls you’ll ever lay eyes on, golden temples, 4/20‑friendly shops on literally every corner, rooftop bars, and food that somehow tastes better at 2 a.m. than it does anywhere else in the world. Oh — and did I mention the 24‑hour Thai massage places? Because yes… those exist.

Now, I would be remiss not to mention that going from small‑island living in Guam to a massive city like Bangkok was a culture shock. Overstimulated is an understatement. But honestly? I was excited. The chaos, the lights, the energy — I was ready for all of it.

Let’s get into where I stayed and what I did.

Where did I stay?

What’s important to note when solo traveling — especially as a Black woman — is where you stay. For me, the non‑negotiables are simple: I need to be walking distance from food, coffee, and shops, I need easy access to transportation, and above all, I need to feel SAFE. Like “I can walk outside at night for a snack and not clutch my bag” safe (which I definitely did - sorry mom and dad).

After doing my usual deep‑dive research, I landed on the Wyndham Garden Bangkok Sukhumvit 42. The reviews from other solo travelers sealed the deal. (Pro tip: the Agoda app lets you filter reviews specifically from solo travelers — life‑changing.)

This spot gave me my own little apartment in the city — full fridge, microwave, stove, and even a washer/dryer because… if you know, you know. Why travel back with dirty clothes when I can wash them mid-trip.

The location was chef’s kiss. The metro was less than a 5‑minute walk, there was 24/7 security at the front, and everything I needed — food, coffee, convenience stores — was right there. And the best part? I paid a grand total of… checks receipt… 275 BOOMBOCLAAT dollars. Like… America could never.

And baby, the view? Get into it:

The great thing about solo traveling is getting to do whatever the f**k you wanna do. You wanna sleep in until 11? Do it. You wanna wake up early, watch the sunrise, grab a coffee, then take a morning nap like a housewife? Absolutely. The world is literally your oyster when you’re by yourself.

I tried to make this trip mostly sightseeing and relaxing, but somehow it turned into more running around than resting. Everyone told me the traffic in Bangkok was insane, and I was like, “Please… I lived in LA. I’ve seen things.” Girl… I was humbled QUICK. I spent more time getting to places than actually doing the things.

Solo traveling pro tip: Map out where your must‑see spots are and try to stay near the cluster. Bangkok is huge, so you’ll still be traveling, but at least you won’t be fighting for your life in traffic every day like I was.

My goal was simple: do at least one thing from my itinerary each day. And that? I did.

Sightseeing

I’m gonna be real: once you’ve seen one temple and one Buddha, you’ve kinda seen them all. They’re beautiful, they’re sacred, they’re iconic — but after a while, they start blending together like different shades of gold.

So I took up someone’s “special deal” and did a mini tuk‑tuk tour around the Grand Palace to see different Buddha’s and a few other temples for 100 baht (about $3.20 USD). Now… did I promise myself I wasn’t going to get scammed? Absolutely. Did I lowkeyyyy get scammed anyway? A little bit, yeah.

They did take me to the temples, but they also sprinkled in a few “bonus stops” where they clearly get commission. Places I would never shop at or buy from. So just be aware — the hustle is real.

Overall, that was the extent of my temple sightseeing. I got my photos, I got my cultural moment, and I got my “girl, I think they played me” story. Balance.

Definitely ‘DO’ on your trip to Thailand.

Next: The Jim Thompson House was also on my list of things to do… and I’m gonna keep it short and simple. It’s basically a museum about an American man who came to Thailand, got deeply involved in the silk industry, built a company, and became a whole legend here. Then in his 60s, he visited Malaysia and mysteriously disappeared. No body, no answers, no closure. Very “true crime podcast” energy.

Do I think it’s worth visiting and paying for? Honestly… no. I wish I would’ve used that time to learn about someone actually born and raised in Thailand who created something meaningful to the culture. The house is cute, the story is interesting, but it didn’t give what I thought it was going to give.

Definitely ‘NOT’ a recommendation for your trip to Bangkok, in my opinion.

ICONSIAM mall

Everyone kept saying, “You have to go,” and honestly… they were right. This mall is not just a mall — it’s a whole experience. The mall of all malls if you will. It’s giving luxury, it’s giving riverfront views, it’s giving “I should not be spending money but here we are.”

The place is massive. Like… “I need a snack break halfway through” massive. You’ve got high‑end stores, local brands, a floating market inside the mall, and food options that made me question why I ever settle for basic mall food back home. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s worth walking around just to feel rich for an hour.

I’d be lying if I told you all that I just “wandered” around. I shopped, then shopped, and shopped again. Also, buying a Thai brand perfume is a must; I chose the brand ‘Panpuri’.

Solo travel pro tip: Make sure to bring your passport to the mall for that VAT refund. It’s only cheaper to shop in different countries when you get that tax refund. Especially if you are making big purchases.

The great thing about solo traveling is, you can spend as much or as little anywhere. I did in fact swipe that chase preferred card and had some fun. I ended that night with me, my shopping bags, and a sunset view with of course..a GIN dirty martini before heading home.

This is definitely a ‘DO’ on your trip. I want to mention, even if you don’t end up going, there are plenty of other malls with lots of stores as well. Don’t worry.

Tingly’s Thai cooking school

One of my favorite solo‑travel pro tips — the one I tell everybody — is this: do an Airbnb Experience. Immerse yourself in someone else’s culture. Take a cooking class, explore the city with a local, join a bar crawl if that’s your ministry. It’s one of the easiest ways to meet people and actually feel connected to the place you’re visiting.

For my Airbnb Experience in Bangkok, I chose a cooking class. It only made sense — I wanted to recreate some of my favorite Thai dishes and try a few new ones. I ended up at Tingly’s Thai Cooking School, and when I say I had the BEST time… I mean it. Four hours of laughing, learning, eating, and pretending I was auditioning for MasterChef Thailand.

By the end, I was full, happy, and low‑key proud of myself because the dishes were way easier to make than I expected. Our instructor was so fun and interactive, and the group vibe was perfect — I was one of four solo travelers in the class.

Immersing yourself in experiences like this is always great. You get to leave either by yourself and go back solo or meet friends and decide to keep the party going.

This is definitely a ‘DO’ on your trip. This one helped me ‘Liv a little”.

24/7 Thai massages?!

You had me at hello! One of my favorite things I couldn’t wait for was to have access to 24/7 Thai massages places. The thought of going and getting a massage at midnight or 1 am…sounds like the greatest thing ever. I do want to make sure you know..do that research before you go anywhere. “Erotic” massages are a big thing in Thailand so make sure you are going somewhere that’s not about that. After a long day of shopping, walking, and drinking..those massages were needed. Also, $10 USD (350 baht) for a 60 minute massage?! Gagged and a must.

P.s just know you have to be a littleeee flexible for a Thai massage.

Overall:

This was just a list of some of the things I did on my trip to Bangkok. There’s so much to do and see. Something for everyone. I hope you can use my lists to help create your itinerary for your next trip to Bangkok.