From Bangkok’s bustling streets and street food to Pattaya’s beaches and vibrant nightlife, this trip was full of adventure, flavors, and surprises. Curious how to explore it all? Read my guide!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated

February 11, 2024
Batangas

Date of Trip – January 25-28
My itinerary for the Thailand Trip is Bangkok and Pattaya

My best friends and I have been planning this trip to Thailand for the past year, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. We had Bali in mind at first, but ultimately settled on Thailand—more particularly, Bangkok and Pattaya—as our vacation destination. I had to try all that Bangkok had to offer, thus this trip was the finest one I’ve had to Bangkok so far! haha

Visa Requirements

Philippine passport holders could stay up to 30 days “visa free” in Thailand. But before traveling to Thailand, make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months.

Flight Amount: It’s tricky; we missed our flight and had to arrange another, but a flight from Singapore to Bangkok costs only 200SGD or PHP 8305.04 round trip.

Currency – 1 Thai Baht = 1.56 PHP. My friends decided to convert SGD to Baht because the exchange rate was considerably better. They had to trade at SuperRich outlets in Bangkok, where 1 SGD equaled 26.68 Thai Baht. We also utilized their ATMs in Bangkok; please be sure to use ATMs from local banks rather than lesser-known banks for better exchange rates.

Internet Connection -I used my e-sim, which I also used in Singapore and can be used anywhere in Asia. Thailand has excellent Internet connections anywhere we go, and it is fast(I will check MBPS next time) I had no signal issues

Power Socket

Plug A , 220V

Language

Siamese or Thai is a widely used language. English is another language that is spoken, but not everyone can speak it well, thus you need Google translate.

Religion

The vast majority of the Thai population identify as Buddhist although other major religions are practiced.

Weather

When we arrived in Bangkok, the temperature was between 25 and 32 degrees Celsius which was much way better when we first visited. In Bangkok, there are only two distinct seasons: the warm season (February to June) and the wet season (July to January).

Timezone – +7GMT

Transportation – We used the MRT and Grab. Thailand’s transportation system is excellent. I was amazed at how you were able to arrange a Grab ride from Bangkok to Pattaya for only 2,000 Pesos.

Accommodation – Thailand has fantastic lodging options; for a modest fee, you can get a room at a four-star hotel. The Arden Hotel in Pattaya is my favorite. The Bangkok time for check-in is 3:00 pm and the time for check-out is 12:00 pm.

Furama Silom Hotel in Bangkok- SGD57.20 or PHP 2375.24/night
Arden Hotel and Residence in Pattaya – SGD80.72 or PHP 3351.91/night
Hilton Hotel in Bangkok – SGD88.25 or PHP 3664.60/night

Day1 January 25 (Thursday)
Changi Terminal 4

I woke up at around 7 a.m. to catch our 11 a.m. flight to Bangkok. Leaving Aljunied, where I was staying, at 9:00 a.m., I waited for my friend at the Expo terminal station. Little did I know that upon arriving at Changi MRT with my friend John, we would need to take a shuttle bus to Terminal 4, where our AirAsia flight was scheduled to depart from. Unlike Terminals 1-3, which are connected to the MRT, Terminal 4 isn’t. Arriving at Changi Terminal 4 around 10:30 a.m., we missed our departure time. Unfortunately, Mark also missed his flight as he had forgotten our departure was at 11:00 a.m. With the complications of missed flights and rebooking, we ultimately decided to forgo Bangkok and instead stay in Singapore at first.

We then met our friend Tin for lunch at Jewel Changi Airport Terminal 1, and after lunch and much thought, we decided to fly to Bangkok rather than stay in Singapore. We spent around 190.4 SGD, or PHP 7889.79, for a one-way flight to Bangkok because our original flight could not be rebooked. My return ticket to Singapore cost 209 SGD, or PHP8678.77, and I chose to buy it via AirAsia as I hadn’t booked it in advance.

After reviewing my return ticket to Singapore, I discovered that I inadvertently chose a connecting flight to Danang, which would have led to my arrival in Singapore later on Monday, January 29th, rather than selecting a direct flight. It’s unfortunate that I couldn’t proceed with this connecting flight, as it would have extended the travel time.

Even after all my travels, I manage to make these really foolish blunders. To make a long story short, I rebooked my return journey to Singapore with Thai Airways that cost SGD192. Haha

*This is a terrible experience that will never happen again; I am currently attempting to get my SGD209 back from AirAsia; they have responded, so I’m hoping they will complete the refund. Update as of Mar292024, I was unable to process the refund.

Don Mueang International Airport

Our AirAsia trip to Bangkok was scheduled for 5:00 pm, and we arrived at around 7:00 pm, which was perfectly timed for supper. Compared to its other Bangkok airport, Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang was very different. Although it was cramped and busy with tourists, the process of clearing immigration was easy and trouble-free.

Suppaniga Eating Room – Tha Tien
Price SGD126/3 pax = PHP5190.65
MON-FRI : 11:00 hrs – 22:00 hrs
SAT-SUN : 10:00 hrs – 22:00 hrs
*Last order 21:00 hrs

With views of both the Chao Phraya River and Wat Arun, this restaurant is one of my favorites. It was a lavish meal with wonderful friends in Bangkok, and seeing Wat Arun lit up at night is really magical. The finest Thai food, including thai milk tea, crab omelette, isan pork steak, tom yum, and pad thai, were on our order. Frankly, I thought PHP5,000 for three people was a fair price for this view.

The Stranger Bar (House of Drag Queens)
400Baht or 600PHP for 3 beer drinks

After we got settled into our hotel and showered, we made our way to Silom to see the drag show at The Stranger Bar. It was the most exquisite drag show I’ve ever seen. The term “drag show” refers to a type of live performance where male and female impersonators take the stage, usually at a nightclub or bar. After what felt like an eternity, we returned to our hotel to get some sleep in preparation for our adventure the next day.

Day2 January 26 (Friday)

Brioche from Heaven
200-400Baht or 300-500PHP

We went out for breakfast after checking out of our hotel. This is by far my favorite brunch spot in Bangkok. It is also near the Mahanakhon Tower. I really appreciated how accommodating and polite the staff was. They ensured that our baggages were stored while we dined here. It was a great brunch with friends, and we really enjoyed their baked pastries; this is a must-try while in Bangkok.

Moo Ping (Thai-Style Grilled Pork Skewers) 
25baht or 38.91PHP

This is a Thai-style grilled barbecue pork skewers and famous street food snack from Thailand that you must definitely try. In certain ways, it reminds me of Filipino grilled pork barbecue. On our journey to Brioche, we gave it a go on the streets of Bangkok. Flavorful, juicy, and bursting with meat. The fact that you can make a cashless payment is an added bonus.

Wattana Panich
Ekkamai Road
Opens M-Sun 9:00am-7:30pm
50baht – 77PHP/small soup, accepts Cash only

After our breakfast in Brioche, we headed over to Wattana Panich for lunch. The atmosphere of the eatery was old-fashioned. This place is known for a soup that has been passed down through three generations of the same family, simmering for half a century, is one of the oldest soups in the world. It was one hell of an experience, it was so flavorful and aromatic. I had the best time sipping broth, it was meaty and has tasty noodles.

Pattaya Thailand

We booked our Grab going to our hotel in Pattaya after our sumptuous lunch at Wattana Panich. I was so impressed that you can book Grab going to Pattaya.

It takes two hours to drive from Bangkok to Pattaya, which lies in the southeast. Pattaya is famous as the “sin city” of Thailand because it attracts mostly retired foreigners who frequent the city’s many beer bars and nightclubs. However, upon arrival, we discovered that it differs greatly from our expectations. While it may lack a tropical paradise, I found that it has abundance of beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and exciting new entertainment options.

Our second hotel, the Arden, was enormous, clean, and had a balcony when we got there. We checked in, showered, and then set out for our first Pattaya destination.

The Glasshouse Silver
SGD117.89 or PHP4895.41 for 3 pax

When we arrived, it was almost time for dusk. At this laid back restaurant, you might have delectable food while admiring the beach view. Aside from the milk teas, our order included sweet and sour seabass, seafood rice, papaya salad, tom yum, mango sticky rice, pad thai, and fried pork. As we lingered in anticipation of dusk, we shared a delicious supper. This beach club, which was only a fifteen-minute drive from the hotel, was fantastic.

The Sanctuary of Truth
Open Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 08:30 p.m
Entrance fee – 500baht or 770PHP but during
at night around 6pm onwards it’s 700baht or 1089.57PHP

The Sanctuary of Truth, an art piece, religious shrine, and cultural landmark all rolled into one, is constructed completely of meticulously carved wood (no metal nails used) and offers a breathtaking view of the ocean. The architecture and atmosphere of this amazing religious institution, which is divided into four wings honoring Thai, Khmer, Chinese, and Indian iconography, are truly remarkable.

Every half an hour, there is a guided tour of the building that is available in a variety of languages. We got there right before the English tour began. During the course of the tour, we must also wear helmets. The museum was enormous, and I was astounded by the amount of wood used in its exhibits. We also gave wood carving a go; it was a blast, but a real challenge! Even more so at night, the sight of it was hypnotic because of how beautiful it was.

To make getting a Grab to Pattaya Walking Street easier, we got going before the tour ended.

Things to Note – Getting to the museum required a little bit of stairs hiking

Walking Street Pattaya
Free

Walking Street is a 700-meter-long road that begins at the southernmost end of Pattaya Beach Road and ends at Bali Hai Pier. Walking Street gets its name from the fact that the street is normally closed to traffic from around 6 p.m. to the early hours of the morning. Walking Street is Pattaya’s most popular entertainment and adult nightlife area. Walking Street, as promoted by the large neon signs, is home to a number of Pattaya’s most popular Agogo bars, discos, and nightclubs. There are a number of restaurants and beer bars lined up outside of this walking street, and you may choose which one you would want to try out.

The transaction that took place in this stretch came as quite a surprise to me because I have never before seen girls waiting in line in the streets for their customers while also conducting business. Also, I have never seen guys dancing on a pole without their tops on haha! (this was outside the bar, we didn’t go inside).

We headed out to drink in Starbucks before heading back home to rest, it was a very long day.

Thai Massage in the Hotel
500baht or 770PHP for an hour

We had a relaxing massage in the hotel. It was good for me, I really love thai massages.

Day3 January 27 (Saturday)

We headed out for a swim in the pool but decided to head out for the beach.

Sky Gallery Pattaya
36.80SGD or 1528.13PHP/3 pax

One restaurant in Pattaya that offers a breathtaking view of Pratamnak hill is the Sky Gallery. Actually, it was around twenty minutes’ drive from the hotel. Despite the breathtaking scenery, the quality of the cuisine was lacking. The fact that you are unable to swim at the beach while dining there was another drawback; it can only be used by those with a confirmed hotel reservation.

Cozy Beach

We set off for Cozy Beach, which is conveniently located within walking distance of the Sky Gallery. The beach was passable; it was clean, and the sand was coarse. Unlike my buddies, I did not go swimming.
Things to Note – Getting to the beach required a little bit of stairs hiking

Chocolate Factory
9SGD or 373.73PHP/3 pax

We stopped by Chocolate Factory, a chocolate shop not far from the beach, to get some chocolate drinks and bars to go as we awaited the Grab that would take us back to the hotel. We loved it!

Our next stop was at the hotel where we showered. By the time I finished my shower at 12:30 in the afternoon, the hotel had already cut off the power in the room, forcing us to leave. haha

We booked our Grab on our way back to Bangkok. We checked in at Hilton and headed over to our first destination.

Natura Cafe
150-300baht or 200-500PHP/person

Indulge in a tropical experience without ever leaving the capital at this outdoor cafe with its verdant garden. This is located in what was previously called “Venice of the East,” the Thonburi-Bangkhuntien Canal neighborhood.

The cafe was perfect for my mood; it was peaceful and beautiful. Naturally, I also loved their Thai milk tea and coconut desserts. Being in the cafe was really peaceful.

Wat Arun
100baht or 155.65PHP entrance fee
Please note – wear appropriate clothing or covering for girls,
men can wear shorts but not girls

The missile-shaped Wat Arun temple rises from the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Its name, Temple of Dawn, comes from the Hindu deity Arun, who is associated with the morning. Although it was tiny, this temple was really picturesque. A large number of tourists brought their own photographers and posed for pictures while dressed in traditional Thai attire which you can rent outside of the temple.

Jodd’s Fair Night Market and Leng Zabb
50SGD or 2076.26 PHP/3 pax
Rama 9
Only accepts Cash
To Note – if you are going to restroom,
better to use the mall’s restroom as it’s also near

Following our exploration of Wat Arun, we made our way to Rama 9, the site of Jodd’s Fair Night Market which was 25 minutes by drive. John has been begging to sample this restaurant’s renowned Leng Saeb (Spicy Pork Bone Soup), so that’s why we’re here.

Tourists flock to Bangkok’s night markets. The truth is that I have never set foot in one of their night markets. I was astounded by the degree of cleanliness and organization. Our destination was Leng Zabb, home of the massive spicy pork bone soup—a dish that managed to be both spicy and flavorful. Timely service was also provided. Here, we enjoyed a fantastic meal.

After eating and shopping, we headed back home using the MRT. Instead of a card, they’ll offer you a coin to tap if you’re using a single journey ticket to enter the MRT. After reaching Silom MRT, we walked for 30 minutes to reach out hotel haha!

We ended our day with a Thai Massage, it was the best massage I had ever tried and experience in my whole life.

Day4 January 28 (Sunday)

I headed to Suvarnabhumi Airport for my 8 in the morning flight to Singapore via Thai Airways. I arrived before lunch and was very tired and slept for hours to recuperate.

Visiting Thailand with my pals was an incredible experience. The most incredible thing happened to me, and I will never forget it. Whenever I travel to Thailand, I feel more liberated than I ever have before. Having great friends who will be there for you no matter what—even if your flight is delayed—is the best way to celebrate life. Despite the setbacks, our time in Thailand was absolutely fantastic, especially during the pleasant weather. I intend to return without a doubt.

Love,

Maria, sometimes, Niskie