FIRST TIME — A SINGLE TRAVELER TO BANGKOK/PATTAYA

Pattaya is like Las Vegas; if Las Vegas is all about money, Pattaya is the place for spending that money. Since there are a lot of attractions and places where you will be spending money it is but wise to save money and spend it in Pattaya for that once- in-a-lifetime experience. The simple calculation, I pay 1200Baht in a taxi to go to Pattaya or I pay 250Baht and go in a Luxury Bus. And both take more or less the same time. And the money you save from this you can do better things in Pattaya…wink wink.

Solo Traveler — Do your Homework and Acquire Knowledge

Let me tell you the most important thing — going to Pattaya is very easy. Don’t spend money with Travel Agents, Travel Portals, Travel Packages and not even with people who are ready to give you their apartments. Travel agents who will provide packages are only bothered with the ticketing and the hotel booking. That’s where they make their money. Rest of the things are mostly put in to look attractive. So do your homework before you go.

You can go to these tourist spots by yourself. You don’t need a travel agent to take you there. Do some research on google; you will get tons of information by just searching for `Top ten Places to see in Pattaya’. So knowledge is the key; learn how to search on google.

Travel agents/portals will not even take you to all the places. They will cover only 3–4 places tops, in your 7day 6night package. For the rest you have to pay extra.

Learn from others’ experience

Here’s an example for you — I took Bombay-Kuala Lumpur-Pattaya flight it took total time of 9 ½ hours, which included 2 Hour 15 Minutes layover at Kuala Lumpur Airport. A direct flight takes 4 hours 15 minutes. But with this flight I was able to save six thousand rupees. The other point is that direct flights usually reach during early hours 3AM or 5AM, and you still won’t be able to start your day. You will still go to the hotel and sleep. On the other hand, I slept en-route Bombay-Kuala Lumpur flight which was 5 Hours 15 Minutes. I slept within minutes, as it was 2:15 in the morning. I had already eaten and was least interested in the food and drinks. And Oh! I enjoyed my layover at the Kuala Lumpur Airport as well.

My point of view; my experience

As far as booking a room in Pattaya is concerned, you should not book a room in a luxury hotel. A 3 Star or even a 2 Star hotel will do in Pattaya. I have gone out from my room at one clock in the afternoon and have partied till 5 in the morning. And when you doze at 5 in the morning, getting up even at 10AM is likely. In another scenario if you have brought company along you are not getting up at all. And the company is not bothered about what hotel you took her to, she is only bothered about what you have agreed to pay her.

So even if your hotel has the best of the facilities, you are not going to utilize them. If it’s a five-day trip, chances of you using even the pool are rare. I have never seen or heard any of my friends utilizing the gym facility even when their hotel had that facility. You will need plenty of energy for other exercise in Pattaya but that’s not in the gym. In Pattaya you will be out of your hotel most of the time. Sometimes I have not even utilized my free breakfast as I was sleeping.

This thought does not apply, if you are filthy rich or you went to Pattaya for peace of mind, literally.

You can also read my blogs at my website Mast Yatri