UK to Thailand in 6 days. Is this crazy?

[TMarieClara]

A few years ago a good friend of mine moved to Phuket. In November she has asked a couple of us to come visit. I would love to go, but between my work and childcare situations (I have a 4yo and a 6yo) the longest I could go would be 6 days, which realistically given travel times to London then to Thailand it would mean 4 days in Phuket.

My friends think this is crazy - but they don’t have kids and perhaps don’t realise how impossible longer would be (or how peaceful a longhaul flight sounds). Accommodation would be free and flights aren’t that much (about £600).

is this worth doing? Or will it all be too cramped to actually be a good experience. I feel out of the habit of travel having just done UK holidays for the last few years.

TIA!

I personally wouldn't. Long haul in economy is generally not very peaceful and you will also have the difference in time zones to deal with. Phuket will also involve a change in Bangkok so you are probably looking at 17 hours travelling each way plus the trip to the airport.

Absolutely don’t do this!
Took me two days to get over the jet lag when I went to Thailand!

Just do it. Life is short. I have just been to Asia for a work trip, 5 nights there and back again. It’s totally doable, I am not even that jet lagged.
ideally I would spend at least 5 nights there and then take a night flight back (so you would be gone 7 days).

I did it to Texas. Not as far, I agree. I did Monday (travelling) to Friday (travelling).

I was very tired but was full.of energy to explore!

If that’s all you’d manage I’d give it a go. It’d be different if you were paying a lot for a fancy hotel but for £600 I’d think why not.

Oh go for it! Try to pick good flight times. Who cares if you’re jet lagged if there are no children there - it’s the sort of jet lag where you will wake up later and stay up later which is the fun kind!

not enough days for recovering from the flight and time zone imo. can’t the kids stay with their dad while you go for a couple of weeks in the school hols?

Do it. Life or short and worst case scenario when you get home you’re tired for a few days. You’ll recover.
I’ve just got back from Asia for 6 days and it was totally worth it. Make the most of the flight and enjoy food,drink and sleep. Take a book and download podcasts/films. Pack some face masks for the flight x

Do it, you'll regret it otherwise. Take a sleeping pill on the plane to make the journey go quicker - or just enjoy if you are a good traveller and can watch films, nap, read, etc.

I went to Australia for 6 days for a close friend's wedding. Worth every second of the flight time!

I would, I’ve gone to Cape Town for 3 nights and Barbados for 4 nights. If you spend your life waiting for the perfect opportunity to go for the perfect length of time you may never end up going.

Fuck it, why not?!

My DH did 5 days in Brisbane for a wedding - depends how much you want to go!

I would, life is short (as someone else said) and these are the kind of things you regret not doing. Before having kids I flew Sydney to UK and back for a wedding, was in the UK for approximately 60 hours. I left Australia Thursday afternoon and got back Tuesday morning.

I don't think the travelling is worth it to be there such a short space of time. We went for two weeks, and that felt like it wasn't long enough to justify the travel to be honest. Beautiful country though and would go back in a heartbeat!

no! Wait and go another time and plan it so you can do 2 weeks at least!

we went for a month and it wasn’t long enough 🤣

if you don’t want to leave the kids that long could you take them and do a 2 week holidays?

6 days leading your normal life with chores, work and monotony or 6 days, child free, travelling to a gorgeous location and making memories with your friend? You’d better get packing!

Don’t forget the holiday starts at the airport!

I say go for it! (But I can force myself to sleep wherever and can push through tiredness to do fun things) You might need to plan to be wiped out when you get back to recuperate but life is way too short to wait for the perfect opportunity that might never come. Have an amazing time!

God yes. I’ve been to Jamaica for long weekends a couple of times.

one of the flights is usually a night flight. Be prepared to feel pretty crappy for a week or so after. In my experience you’ll be fine when you are there as it’s a short time and you won’t adjust but you’ll feel it when you get back and you have to catch up.

get yourself a Turtl pillow so you can sleep!

Ah just do it… I went to Bangkok for the same amount of time last year. Yeah you’ll be shattered but you’ll live! Enjoy!

We did pretty much this length trip to Thailand when my DD was little (left her behind obvs). Might have been 1 day longer possibly? Like 7 days 6 nights incl travel time. It was AMAZING just having ourselves and having fun to worry about. Very relaxing. Do it!

Do it! I’ve done Barbados for 3 nights and New York for two. You only live once.

Very doable. I regularly travel from London to Mumbai for a long weekend / few days. Given it’s not as far as Thailand but the fact that Bangkok is decently far means you can get a decent amount of sleep on the flight (take an overnight flight). I also do London - NY on very tight timings and it’s way worse than an Asia trip as you only get about 4-5 hours to sleep.

Do it.

Did it and spend 5 days in Thailand. Do it.

You won’t get many of these opportunities in life. Do it.