We were off to Hat Yai to celebrate Chinese New Year as a family this year! We decided to spend quality time together overseas instead of the usual visiting.
We chose Hat Yai because:
- Lunar New Year is not a major holiday in Thailand, hence the shops should be open
- Hat Yai was a less popular destination as compared to Bangkok or Phuket so hopefully there will be less crowds
- Relatively affordable plane tickets & accommodation
- We have never visited Hat Yai before
 |
| Super excited for their first flight in 2018 |
The flight was extra bumpy, with a lot of sudden drops during take off and landing! The boy was so scared he clung to the handles of his seat for dear life! Poor boy.
 |
| The terrified boy during the turbulent take off and landing |
I don't know if it's because we haven't travelled on a budget carrier for a long time and therefore forgot how bumpy they were. Our smoother than smooth flights on Emirates and Singapore Airlines must have really spoiled us! *laughs*
We arrived at Hat Yai International Airport earlier than expected, which was surprising given that we were travelling via a budget airline.
 |
| The boy was so excited to start our trip! |
We took the Airport Limousine from the exit to take us to our hotel. It only cost us 500 baht for all 7 of us! We basically took up the entire minivan!
 |
| Travelling in our Airport Limousine Taxi |
We arrived at Centara Hotel Hat Yai about 40 minutes later, after dropping off all the other passengers who travelled in the same minivan.
 |
| Centara Hotel Hat Yai (Address: 3 Sanehanusorn Road, Tambon Hat Yai, Amphoe Hat Yai, Chang Wat Songkhla 90110, Thailand) |
 |
| Checking in at the front desk |
 |
| We were each given a welcome drink of chrysanthemum |
After checking in, we headed to our Premium Deluxe rooms, which we booked for S$105 per room per night via Agoda. We booked a total 3 rooms: one for the hubby, boy and I, one for the girl and Mum-in-law, one for the brother- and sister-in-law.
 |
| Our Premium Deluxe room |
 |
| Good size bed |
 |
| Study table and TV |
 |
| Clockwise from left: The usual amenities available in the wardrobe; Central control for all the lights and air-conditioning in the room; Bathroom located at the entrance. |
 |
| Bathroom with shower but no bathtub |
 |
| The usual amenities including Bath foam, Shampoo and Conditioner |
The best thing about our hotel was its location in the heart of Hat Yai's Chinatown and surrounded by lots of shopping malls and restaurants! đ
The first 5 floors of the hotel itself was occupied by Central Shopping Mall, and fully assessible directly within the hotel.
 |
| Central Shopping Mall (Address: 33 Prachathipat Rd, Tambon Hat Yai, Amphoe Hat Yai, Chang Wat Songkhla 90110, Thailand) |
 |
| Our best purchase of the trip is this Seiko musical clock we got from Central Shopping Mall. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it! đ |
Located opposite of Centara Hotel is Lee Gardens Plaza, another shopping mall. It used to be more crowded but business has slowed and now only certain levels in the mall have some human traffic.
 |
| Lee Gardens Plaza (Address: Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand) |
 |
| We spent the most time at Level 2 of the mall |
 |
| Found this shop with handmade and customised keychains and slippers |
 |
| We customised a whole batch for all our colleagues! (I even got a Mini Logo one for myself hehe) |
 |
| You can also choose to engrave on their faux leather keychains as well. So pretty I got one made for myself as well! |
As we were getting hungry, we tried to hunt for good food in the area. The hubby identified a famous restaurant but it was closed so we had to go with whatever restaurant happened to be nearby.
We finally decided to have dinner at Khong Kong Dude āšā¸้ā¸āšā¸้ā¸ā¸ูā¸ because it looked decent.
 |
| āšā¸้ā¸āšā¸้ā¸ā¸ูā¸ (Address: Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand) |
 |
| Tom yam and egg omelette rice. So yummy! |
This restaurant is not bad, cheap and they have an English menu so it's worth checking them out.
We ended the day chilling and chatting in our room with snacks we bought from the supermarket downstairs. So relaxing!
DAY 2
We did not book the hotel's breakfast hence we went out searching for a place to have Brunch.
The first restaurant we stumbled upon that looked decent was Burapha Bird’s Nest – Shark’s Fin Restaurant (or Booraha on Google Maps).
 |
| Burapha Bird's Nest Restaurant (Address: Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand) |
The restaurant serves decent Chinese noodles and vegetables, which tasted good but took a long time to be served.
After brunch, we continued our usual shopping at the various shopping malls nearby.
 |
| Kids had to try the McDonald's here! |
We discovered Odean Shopping Mall, another mall in the area.
 |
| Odean Shopping Mall (Address: 79/7 Thumnoonvithi Rd Tambon Hat Yai, Amphoe Hat Yai, Chang Wat Songkhla 90110, Thailand) |
 |
| Matchy-matchy outfits with my kids |
The mall is filled with hidden jems but the biggest had to be their food court at the top level of the mall. The Bang-Rak Stewed Pork Leg is so good!
 |
| Bang-Rak Stewed Pork Leg |
 |
| Yummy! |
After lunch we hung out at Centara's swimming pool and kids club. The hotel has a gym too, which I should have used if I had brought proper shoes.
 |
| Kids Club Play Room |
 |
| The super duper cold pool |
 |
| View of the city and the setting sun |
 |
| Kids playing with their floats that we brought |
After working up a good appetite, we headed to Hamid Restaurant for dinner as it came recommended by various websites.
 |
| Hamid Restaurant (Address: Hat Yai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90110, Thailand) |
 |
| Group selfie at dinner |
 |
| We loved the Pad Thai and fish! |
 |
| Also recommend the pandan chicken, which were really good! |
We've been enjoying our feasting and shopping here so far! Lovely city to visit =)
Continue to >> Hat Yai Day 3-4: Central Festival & Klong Hae Floating Market
~~~~~~
Download our Hat Yai Itinerary 2018 Printable
OR
Visit MADPSYCHMUM TRAVELS for the rest of my posts on Hat Yai, Thailand
as well as other travel itineraries!
You can also follow my travel adventures on Instagram via the hashtag #madpsychmumtravels! =)