Travel-Sized Itineraries
BY NIMARTA NARANG
One of the topics that comes up when catching up with someone, be it a friend, family member, auntie, uncle, or acquaintance, is where one has travelled and where they will be travelling in the near future. Perhaps they’ve seen a mutual friend’s latest Instagram travel post, or maybe they’ve heard about how Italy is the new favourite place to summer – I myself know of nine different individuals, six of whom reside in Bangkok, who travelled to Rom last summer; my feed was fiilled with gelatos galore!
As travel is becoming normalised again post-pandemic, so are the globally- recognised awards for Food & Beverage and hospitality, such as the Michelin Guide and James Beard Foundation Awards for food, as well as the different worldwide rankings for hotels, the number of which is growing each year. For example, Michelin has now released their Michelin Keys list, which ranks hotels worldwide by one, two, or three keys, akin to their star rankings for food. And the global recognition of Thai restaurants and hotels continues to skyrocket – fun fact, there were five Thai hotels listed iTravel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for the 100 Best Hotels in 2024, and Capella Bangkok topped The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024 list.
But just because these rankings exist does not mean that they are necessarily used religiously. Masala spoke with three individuals based in Thailand who love to travel, and how much they use these rankings when they plan their trips, if at all.
KAUSHI KOGAR, 34
Kaushi Kogar lives in Chiang Mai and works remotely at a feminist movement building organisation. She bases her travel off of her work schedule but last year, she travelled about 50 percent of the year, and has taken four international trips this year alone. “I actually don’t care so much about award recognition at all. I am not inflluenced at all by rankings and awards in terms of places to stay or restaurants to go. I spend most of my time reading other people’s reviews, whether that’s on Google, Reddit, or other platforms,” she revealed.
Her most recent travel destination was Kyoto with her partner, during which they went to Gion Sasaki, a three Michelin-starred restaurant in Japan. It is touted as one of the most difficult restaurants in the country for which to get a reservation. didn’t even know that it had a Michelin Star rating until we got to the restaurant!” Kaushi shared ruefully. “That’s how little I take these awards into consideration.”
However, Kaushi admits that she does look at TikTok or Instagram video recommendations, but not necessarily to jump on the latest trend of restaurants or hotels to visit. “I’m mainly curious about how many people will be waiting in line for the restaurant based on likes, views, or comments,” she says. “I don’t think that I derive inspiration for my travel plans in that it probably won’t determine the places I want to go, but it might help me decide if I should visit or avoid somewhere I’ve already decided on.”
MANISHA MANCHANDA, 31
For Manisha Manchanda, social media plays a role for travel inspiration: “One Instagram page leads to another, and before I know it, I’ve spiralled down a rabbit hole of stunning landscapes and delicious food pics. Girls, you know how this goes!” she says with a laugh. Manisha is a primary school teacher with a decade of experience in international education based in Bangkok, Thailand, She travels frequently and takes a couple of major trips a year. She also makes time for shorter tips or weekend getaways closer in the region, along with travel for work conferences or professional development trips abroad. She, like Kaushi, does not follow guides like the Michelin Guide or the World’s Top 50 or Top 100 lists, preferring to rely on personal recommendations and her own research.
“I prefer seeking hidden gems, like a quaint hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Newtown, Sydney, where the finest gnocchi melted in my mouth, perfected over generations. In South Africa, I dined at a restaurant where the waiters performed on stage, and in Malaysia, I enjoyed the unique experience of dining in the dark, guessing flavours without sight,” she recalled. “In Japan, I sampled fresh tuna at a bustling fish market, indulging in a tasting platter ootoro, chutoro, and akami. These memorable experiences truly make a trip unforgettable.”
Manisha also looks for diverse experiences when it comes to lodging and accommodation: “I spent Christmas in a charming manor house at the Rickety Bridge Wine Estate in Franschhoek, South Africa, featuring a thatched roof and beautiful wooden interiors. Ultimately, while I admire the artistry of award-winning places, it’s the unique and authentic experiences that captivate me.”
NIRAN SACHDEV, 31
According to Niran Sachdev, rankings and awards “often present curated experiences that don’t fully delve into the cultural aspects I seek.” Niran, based in both Bangkok and Phnom Penh, is a Design Director at a real estate company specialising in serviced apartments and hotels within the hospitality industry. He travels frequently for work and for leisure.
“Being in this industry has spoiled me, particularly in Southeast Asia, where the service and cleanliness standards are unparalleled,” said Niran. “I often find myself comparing other parts of the world to these standards, and more often than not, I’m disappointed.” Niran prefers accommodation that goes beyond hotels – in fact, he prefers Airbnb rentals for most of his travels.
The one list that he does follow, though, is the World’s Top 50 Bars, and whenever he travels somewhere new, he checks the list for cocktail bars in that location. “In my view, they highlight creativity in a unique way. The entire process of experiencing cocktails from these places is vastly different and more imaginative compared to dinner menu or a tasting menu. It’s an art form of its own,” he explained.
Niran makes it a point to visit at least one cocktail bar on the Top 50 list if they are in the city he’s travelling to. “One of my most memorable experiences was at Little Red Door in Paris, which stood out among many others,” he recalled. Cocktails, like travel, he tells me, can be concocted and curated to fit each person’s preferences an restrictions – be it through dietary or lodging.
IN CONCLUSION
Kaushi, Manisha, and Niran are only three of the many residents who live in Thailand. All in their 30s, they represent a decent contingent of the communities who have access to social media at their disposal. Inevitably, they will come across any of these world-renowned lists but, like many around them, they each engage with them differently. However, one thing is certain: travel anecdotes travel well through word of mouth. Those close enough to them will hear about their journeys directly, or for the rest of us, through their Instagram profiles.
