The first two days set the tone for a Pattaya trip. Most small mishaps, such as an overpriced ride from the airport, a sunburn on day one or a boat trip booked for the wrong morning, come from trying to do everything at once. Here is a calmer way in.
How should you get from the airport to Pattaya?
Decide before you land. From Suvarnabhumi, a direct airport bus is the cheapest option by day, and a taxi or a pre-booked car is the easiest after a long flight or with children. The Bangkok airports to Pattaya guide compares every option with fares, timetables and travel times. Flying into U-Tapao instead? See the U-Tapao airport guide.
What should you sort out on day one?
- Connectivity: a tourist SIM from an operator's shop with your passport, or an eSIM set up before the flight.
- Cash: withdraw larger amounts less often, because Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a fee per withdrawal.
- Orientation: ride a baht bus the length of Beach Road and back along Second Road once. In half an hour you will understand how the town is laid out.
- Dinner: keep it simple and close to your hotel, in a mall food court or a busy local restaurant.
The details are in getting around Pattaya and in the guide to prices and daily budgets.
What is the best way to spend day two?
Use the morning for the sea, when the light is softer and the sand is cooler, then spend the hottest hours indoors over a long lunch, a massage or a mall. Late afternoon suits the Big Buddha and the Pratumnak viewpoint, which look their best towards sunset. Not sure which beach to pick? Compare Pattaya Beach and Jomtien and Dongtan.
When should you plan the Koh Larn day?
Keep the island for day three or four, on a weekday if you can, and look at the forecast the evening before. That leaves a spare day if the sea is rough. The Koh Larn guide covers ferries, beaches and the last boats back.
Which early mistakes are easy to avoid?
- Agree the price before a chartered baht bus or motorbike taxi sets off, or use an app with the fare shown upfront.
- Photograph or film a rented scooter or jet ski before you use it, and never leave your passport as a deposit.
- Respect the sun: the UV index is very high all year, even under cloud.
- Carry a light cover-up for temples: shoulders and knees must be covered.
The guide to scams and safety explains each of these in detail. None of it is complicated: doing things in the right order is what makes the rest of the week easy.