🌏 Thailand & Bali 10-Day Adventure – Our Real Review on Booking Through Groupon & InterTrips
- cruisinwithchewy
- Jun 5, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: May 19
In May 2024, we finally turned two long-time travel dreams into reality—Thailand and Bali. These destinations had been sitting high on our bucket list for years, especially after seeing countless videos online of people swimming in crystal-clear waters, trying colorful street foods, and soaking in the lush, green landscapes. We’ve definitely felt the travel FOMO, and this time, we turned that inspiration into action.
Like many savvy travelers, we turned to an old favorite: Groupon. It had been a while since we booked through the site, but we found a Thailand and Bali combo package that looked promising, and we were ready for the adventure. From personal experience, we know that most people shopping for vacation packages online are hesitant or skeptical when buying some of the packages offered on Groupon. This is our way of providing value to the travelers' community, by giving you our honest, detailed opinion.
We were also exploring opportunities to expand our business services or start a new venture, the Groupon that we were considering offered tours of the International Gems Gallery and the Royal Latex Research and Manufacturing Center. This was a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the currency exchange and work with manufacturers abroad to import products for us to sell. We won't get too deep into this business venture in this post, but if interested you can read more about this HERE.
Now... Back to the Groupon:
✈️ How We Booked This Trip for $5,398 (For Two!)
We booked this Thailand & Bali tour for $5,398 total through Groupon, which led us to redeem the package with InterTrips, a reliable tour operator.
This was our first time hiring InterTrips for their services. We had no issues communicating with them and providing them the paperwork they needed to set us up for our trip.
Why This Was a Smart Move:
Easy booking through Groupon.
Not all Groupons work this way, but you simply just take the "Voucher code" provided upon purchase and claim with InterTrips
InterTrips provided all the details online with a smooth process for uploading our passport info and itinerary review.
Their team responded quickly to questions and had clear WhatsApp contacts for support.
It is worth exploring if you could potentially get this or a similar vacation without purchasing a Groupon or going through a Travel Agency and preparing all of the logistics yourself. We do just that and more in this Blog. (LINK COMING SOON)
💼 Our Travel Financing Tip: Smart Use of Credit Card Points
We used a Chase Sapphire Preferred card offering:
0% interest for 12 months. (This varies, we were lucky to catch this offer, Chase does not always offer this, so be on the lookout for these offers. On average, interest rate can be between 19.99% to 28.49% depending on your credit score)
$95 Yearly fee (Worth it! as this card comes with many perks such as 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel)
A 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards- huge travel rewards bonus after meeting the minimum spend of $5,000 within 3 months of opening the account (This one purchase earned us 100,000 points PLUS the points earned from the purchase)
Why This Helped:
We earned points we can now use for future flights or hotels—just by paying responsibly, not spending more than what we could pay off, or losing ourselves and spending "just because we have the credit" with this card.
We would only suggest trying this strategy if you can control your spending and are responsible with your finances. We both utilized a strategy known as 'Credit Card Rewards Hacking,' which we detail HERE. (LINK COMING SOON)
💳 Pro Tip: Apply at least a month in advance for a no-interest travel card before your trip. You can enjoy big rewards if you pay off your balance on time!
Looking for a travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred mentioned above to help fund your next big trip?
Click here to apply:
By clicking on this link above, we earn 10,000 points per applicant that is approved.
Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we use and trust.
The vacation package covered the logistics for Airfare and Hotels. Read on for more details about the Groupon.
✈️ Our Flight Experience: Comfort & Connections
Our journey started with a long-haul flight on Emirates, known for its service and comfort, and continued with AirAsia for our intra-Asia leg.
International Flights:
Outbound:
EK204 – May 19: JFK → DXB (11:20 AM departure, 7:50 AM arrival on May 20)
EK370 – May 20: DXB → BKK (9:00 AM departure, 6:20 PM arrival same day)
Return:
EK369 – May 28: DPS (Bali) → DXB (7:50 PM departure, 12:50 AM arrival May 29)
EK203 – May 29: DXB → JFK (2:50 AM departure, 8:50 AM arrival same day)
Flight Notes:
Emirates provided excellent in-flight service, spacious seating (for economy), and smooth connections through Dubai.
Overnight travel was manageable thanks to in-flight meals and entertainment.
We also paid an extra $432 for seat selection ahead of time and extra leg room for at least one of the seats on each Emirates flight. Well worth the purchase for such long flights. Also an extra $20 for in flight internet service to be able to surf the web. Streaming shows was limited, sometimes completely unavailable.
We used the Chase Sapphire Preferred mentioned above to pay for all of these extras to make our long flights more comfortable.
Don't forget to create an account with Emirates Airlines to claim your miles and save for future flights!
Regional Flight:
AirAsia QZ245 – May 25: Bangkok (DMK) → Bali (DPS), Economy Class.
Baggage: 20KG checked, 7KG carry-on.
Note: Extra baggage/seats must be pre-purchased online.
Flight Tip: AirAsia is a budget airline, so we recommend booking seats early and purchasing extra baggage ahead to avoid fees at the airport.
🏨 Our Deluxe Accommodations: Great Value for the Price
Location: Riverside area, peaceful but a bit away from Bangkok’s central districts.
Google Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Highlights:
Spacious rooms with river views.
Great breakfast buffet.
Slightly older decor, but excellent service.
Good for relaxing after a busy day of sightseeing.
Why Stay Here? Ideal for travelers who want to be close to the action, but still enjoy a quiet, riverside retreat.
Close to great attractions like ICONSIAM, about a 15-20 minute taxi ride
Rafi and Dani at ICONSIAM
Long Beach Garden Hotel – Pattaya (LINK COMING SOON)
Location: Naklua Beach area, quieter than central Pattaya, but still near attractions.
Google Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.1/5)
Highlights:
Private beach access and a large pool area.
Comfortable rooms, good amenities.
Close to the Sanctuary of Truth and other local sights.
Why Stay Here? Great mix of beach relaxation and easy access to Pattaya’s lively scene.
Location: South Kuta, near beaches, restaurants, and the airport.
Google Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.2/5)
Highlights:
Close to Kuta Beach and shopping.
Excellent service and relaxing atmosphere.
Why Stay Here? A perfect base for exploring Bali with a touch of resort luxury.
🗺️ Activities Breakdown: Included & Optional Highlights
Bangkok:
Included:
Visit to Marble Temple (Wat Benchamabophit) – Stunning white marble design.
Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit) – Home to a 5-ton solid gold Buddha.
Chinatown District – Vibrant markets and food culture.
Optional:
Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise – $65 per person. A must-do for romantic views of Bangkok’s floodlit temples.
Pattaya:
Included:
Stop at International Gems Gallery – Insight into gem craftsmanship.
Visit the Sanctuary of Truth – A massive wooden temple, culturally rich and breathtaking.
Buddha Mountain (Khao Chi Chan) – Iconic rock carving.
Royal Latex Factory – Educational tour + product showcase.
Optional:
Alcazar Cabaret Show + Seafood Dinner – $65 World-class performance, vibrant and entertaining.
Floating Market & Elephant Sanctuary with Lunch – $135 Ethical elephant experience + local shopping.
Bali:
Included:
Pura Taman Ayun – 17th-century temple surrounded by lotus ponds.
Bedugul Village – Highland beauty, local market, and Lake Bratan with Ulun Danu Temple.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces – UNESCO World Heritage Site, serene trekking experience.
Leisure Day:
May 27: Free day for beach time or self-exploration.
Dani admiring Karma Kandara Villages in Bali
💬 Our Thoughts:
The mix of structured tours and free time gave us the perfect balance to explore, learn about a completely new culture to us, relax and explore new business ventures. Optional activities seemed interesting but we decided to check out the cities on our own.
👏 Shoutout to Our Amazing Tour Guides!
Thailand:
Our guide in Bangkok and Pattaya, Ken and Yuli, were incredible—friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure we were always taken care of. They both shared personal stories, local insights, and even helped with restaurant suggestions during our free time.
Bali:
In Bali, Ian made our tour truly special. He was warm, patient, and passionate about Balinese culture and provided an excellent tour fully escorted by our own driver. His explanations of the temples and rice terraces gave so much depth to our experience and our driver made sure that we were comfortable the entire trek.
He can be contacted at his Whatsapp #+62 818-348-572.
Ian is able to schedule a tour for you as well as get a driver for you and your companions. Just let him know what you are interested in seeing and he can set it up for you.
All three guides made us feel safe, welcomed, and valued as travelers. We couldn’t have asked for better hosts!
💡 Why Couples on a Budget Should Visit Thailand & Bali
Traveling as a couple earning in US Dollars? You’ll love:
Favorable exchange rates make meals, shopping, and tours super affordable.
We enjoyed 3-course meals for less than $30 total.
English is widely spoken, making navigation easy.
Luxury experiences without luxury prices!
📝 Final Verdict: Was It Worth It?
Absolutely! For $5,398, not including our business investments, food, and activities not covered by the tour, we had a seamless, exciting, and beautiful journey through Thailand and Bali. Booking through Groupon with InterTrips gave us:
Deluxe hotels.
Great tours with local guides.
Smooth logistics.
Plus, we earned credit card rewards to help fund our next adventure.
Also, check out our next blog post on what we explored to find our next new business concepts while on vacation by clicking HERE. (LINK COMING SOON)
🎯 Our Final Tip:
Don’t hesitate to explore Groupon travel deals, especially when combined with smart financial planning. Thailand and Bali are perfect for couples who want to travel well without overspending. If you rather not spend as much and prefer shorter flight times becasue you may be limited on vacations, then consider other Groupons for the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, which we have checked out and reviewed in these blog posts HERE. (LINK COMING SOON)
For $5,398, we experienced a once-in-a-lifetime journey across two iconic destinations, with deluxe hotels, guided tours, and the freedom to explore as well as look into business ventures in this side of the world. Booking through Groupon and working with InterTrips was seamless, and using credit card points helped us get even more out of the trip.
Whether you're looking to splurge smartly or maximize value, this package delivers. Couples looking to see the world without overspending will find Thailand and Bali an ideal combo of luxury and affordability
All images © Chewy Reviews – Unauthorized use is prohibited.
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