Thailand | Bangkok+Pattaya, the endless summer in Thailand, super detailed and realistic~Thailand travel guide

 

Okok—after two months of planning, our Thailand trip finally began at the end of September. This journey mainly revolves around two cities: Bangkok and Pattaya. I’ll describe both cities in detail based on real experiences; with limited time I can’t cover everything—treat this as a reference for first-time travelers to Thailand. (Photos shot with phone + camera)


Preparation:
1. Passport (Thailand is visa-free, but your passport must be valid for over 6 months. If not, renew at the immigration office in advance; expect about 10 days of waiting.)
2. SIM card (Buy online; insert on arrival. I used the Happy card—stable data.)
3. Thai baht (Exchange via domestic banks or at the airport after landing. Suggest exchanging about RMB 2000 worth of baht in advance; some say entry spot checks happen, but I didn’t encounter them on this trip.)
4. VISA card (If you carry enough baht you may not need it, but for safety, bring one. Taxis and market stalls mostly take cash; big malls may accept WeChat or Alipay. A VISA card is a good backup.)
5. Air tickets (Book round-trip tickets in advance; customs may ask on departure but won’t always inspect.)
6. Apps (Transport: Grab/Bolt—both work; Grab is more convenient and offers food delivery. Maps: Google Maps shows English and Thai. Translation: iOS built-in or any app—ensure Chinese–Thai, as some locals don’t understand English.)


About Thailand:
1. Accommodation (Service is excellent and friendly. Hotels above ~RMB 300 typically have pools. Bangkok hotels are generally good but rooms can be smaller; Pattaya hotels are more spacious—seaside stays are a great option.)
2. Transportation (Taxi/private car/tuk-tuk/metro/motorbike—choose per budget. Grab hailing is smooth, similar to Didi at home. Interested travelers can try Bolt motorbike rides. Bangkok taxis are pricier but not extreme—Bangkok is very congested; Pattaya rarely jams.)
3. Language (Don’t worry—most service staff speak some English and often prepare Chinese translations. Broken English works for most scenarios. Overall, Bangkok has higher English usage than Pattaya. Use translation apps or gestures when needed—things will get sorted.)
4. Food (The more local the better—city walk if you can. Seafood is a must; try desserts too. Note: better mall restaurants usually add 10%–20% service fees.)
5. Tips (Not mandatory, but when service is great, it’s fine to give a little—20–50 baht.)
6. Cannabis (Legal but regulated; typically found in bars/night venues with obvious leaf signage.)
7. Clothing (Light sun-protective wear recommended. Outdoors are hot; indoors air-con is strong. October is rainy—carry a sun/rain umbrella and a hat. Temples require covered shoulders and knees; sunscreen spray can be bought locally.)
8. Convenience stores (7-11s everywhere—similar to home, meeting most needs. Many guides recommend 7-11 eats; if you’re rushed, 7-11 works—shrimp dumplings, instant noodles, custom drinks are fine—but if you have time, try freshly cooked local food.)
9. Smoking (Strictly prohibited in public and hotels—fines apply. Always smoke in designated areas.)

 

Main text begins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After exiting Suvarnabhumi International Airport (smooth entry, short queues), we booked a private car straight to Pattaya. You can ask your hotel—many offer transfer services—or book via online platforms. It’s about 2 hours from the airport to Pattaya and costs roughly RMB 400. Our hotel was near the seaside—sunrise views in the morning, dogs and pigeons strolling leisurely along the shore. Checking in at dawn, pulling open the curtains, the relaxed vibe instantly won us over.

Pattaya Accommodation: Zhongtian U Elegant Garden (9/29–9/31, 4-person suite, 3 nights ≈ RMB 2500)
Pattaya Itinerary: live-fire shooting / sunset restaurant / weekend market / 79 / Koh Larn / Sanctuary of Truth / Terminal 21

If you’re interested in live-fire shooting, give it a try. I took Package B—over RMB 400—for 30 rounds across 3 gun types, with one-on-one professional coaching. They even help you take photos. Handgun recoil is strong—pay attention to safety. I chose Blackwater King Shooting Club, but there are many options in Thailand.

Package: 2500 THB/person

This restaurant requires a reservation. It’s spacious and seafront, serving mainly Thai dishes—overall pretty good—about 600 THB per person. After dining, you can watch the sunset and take photos. It’s a bit of an internet-famous spot. Pattaya has many seafront restaurants; browse recommendations and choose per your taste.

This night market is quite large, similar to those at home—with snacks and stalls selling apparel and daily goods—prices are low. Bring cash; most stalls don’t accept Alipay. We were tired and left early to see 79. Tickets—if I recall—were about 150 THB/person; phones aren’t allowed inside, but lockers are available. Let’s just say it’s eye-opening—part of local culture—while we Chinese are more reserved.

Tickets: 700 THB/person (79)

I personally loved it—the water is crystal clear and there are water activities. Take the ferry from Pattaya pier to Koh Larn; mind the departure times or you might wait an hour. It’s 30 THB/person—times are shown in the photos below. The island has multiple beaches; songthaews run on demand for about 20 THB/person. I recommend not riding motorbikes—don’t ask why. Always confirm what’s included and which beach activities are at, otherwise they might take you to another beach. Toilets: 20 THB/person; showers: 30 THB/person. Don’t try bargaining—some locals can be stern. Wear a bikini with a sun-protective cover for easy on/off—otherwise changing is a hassle. Despite hiccups that day, we saw a stunning sunset on the boat back.

Ferry: 30 THB/person
Songthaew: 20 THB/person
Motorbike rental: 300 THB/person, deposit 1000 THB
Facilities: toilet 20 THB/person, shower 30 THB/person

 

A large wooden temple in Thailand; tickets are 500 THB/person. Chinese-speaking guides are available—they’ll assign a meeting time and place and lead the group. The temple is impressive (not as finely detailed as some back home, but it’s huge), so it’s worth a visit. Construction continues while open—wear the provided helmet. There are other activities on site but nothing highly recommended.

Tickets: 500 THB/person

A local mall—honestly, if you don’t need to shop, you can skip it. We just had some signature milk tea, bought dog snacks, and ate at the top floor before leaving.

We took a private car back to Bangkok from Pattaya—everyone slept along the way. The driver thoughtfully played Chinese songs and adjusted the temperature. Drowsy at check-in, we were about to enter the elevator when the front desk ran over with four packs of candy. I thought it was a random gift, but in the room we realized it was to celebrate China’s National Day—very heartwarming.

Bangkok Accommodation: Sotetsu Grand Fresa (10/1–10/3, 4-person suite, 2 nights ≈ RMB 2500)
Bangkok Itinerary: Chulalongkorn Night Market / Maeklong Railway Market / Damnoen Saduak Floating Market / ICONSIAM / Grand Palace

 

A night market near Chulalongkorn University—similar to campus night markets at home—with all kinds of food and heavy foot traffic. We tried some online-recommended stalls—some were decent, some not to our taste. Trust your eyes and instincts when choosing.

A classic attraction about an hour from Bangkok city. Trains have set schedules. Our car was rushed—by the time we arrived, the train departed after only a few photos. Stalls on both sides of the tracks resemble a wet market—prices are cheap but quality varies. The mangosteen we bought here wasn’t fresh—recommend not buying goods here.

About 20 minutes from Maeklong—can be planned together. Morning is best; due to miscommunication between our driver and platform, we went in the afternoon and the market had largely dispersed. We booked a rowboat; there’s also a motorboat—faster but noisy. How to describe it—regrettable to miss, but underwhelming when you go. The water is dirty and both sides are mostly commercial stalls. The format is interesting, but avoid buying goods—at most try snacks. Note: multiple piers—check your ticket for the correct pier or buy the ticket at the pier itself.

Boat: 600 THB per boat, up to 6 people

If you want to shop, stroll here—it used to be Asia’s top mall. Overlooks the Chao Phraya River, has a giant indoor waterfall, and Thailand’s largest Starbucks. Note: there are several “Siam” malls—be sure which one guides refer to. We didn’t realize there are multiple, so we wandered and couldn’t find brands we wanted. On the G floor there’s also an indoor floating market with various snacks. We even caught a lion dance (far weaker than back home). Tried a Cha Ba Dao drink—lemongrass region special (just okay)—and bought wax apples; oh, not cheap—maybe because it’s in a mall. In the end, you can’t help but sigh: the world is a gigantic China.

 

Classic Thai architecture—glittering and lavish. Dress code: no exposed legs or shoulders. The outer court has the Erawan Shrine; inside is the Grand Palace. Touring takes about an hour—avoid the hottest hours; I nearly had heatstroke and couldn’t focus on visiting.

Tickets: 500 THB/person

Lastly, be sure to treat yourself to a Thai massage. We picked a place near the hotel—the technique differs from home. After several days of a fast-paced trip, it was pure relief—we could’ve slept there for an hour. Masseuses were very friendly despite the language barrier.

Cost: ~1000 THB (depending on package)

 

That’s essentially the end of our journey. Re-entry was smooth—everything went well. The worries I had before departure were resolved—it wasn’t as difficult as imagined and felt safer than expected. Thanks to my companions for mutual understanding—overall, the Thailand trip was delightful.

A few more words about Thailand: tourism is very mature; service staff are friendly; food is great; scenery is lovely—perfect for vacations. You’ll see many Westerners and ethnic Chinese here; inclusiveness is strong. Locals are gentle and patient; all the drivers we met during our private car bookings were easy to communicate with and cheerful—perhaps selection bias, but still. Safety shouldn’t be a concern. Pattaya’s adult industry is developed but it isn’t chaotic; in Bangkok you’ll see some ladyboys—learned the term from our driver, haha—but overall things are controlled. So you can confidently visit Thailand—a beautiful country with island charm. If anything is unclear, feel free to ask. Okok, that’s all~~~


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Lastly, a few dog photos we captured in Thailand—we loved their relaxed vibe～～～