After clearing arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport, take your prebooked car toward Pattaya via the Bangkok–Chonburi Motorway (Highway 7). The drive is usually around 1½–2½ hours, but traffic leaving the airport can stretch it—confirm the driver’s meeting point and hotel drop-off before you set off. If you prefer the airport bus, services run to Jomtien; you’ll need a taxi or ride-hail for the final leg. Check in at Marine paradise Encore, then take a breather before heading out.
Spend about an hour unwinding at Pattaya Beach in central Pattaya. It’s an easy first taste of the city after the drive: find a spot along the waterfront, watch the boats, and keep an eye on your belongings if you’re swimming. For dinner, take a taxi or ride-hail north to Surf & Turf Beach Club and Restaurant in Wong Amat; allow roughly 15–25 minutes from the beach, depending on traffic. Expect around ฿500–1,000 per person, and check opening hours or reserve ahead if you’re arriving late.
After dinner, return to Pattaya Beach Road for a relaxed 45-minute promenade walk. The seafront is liveliest around sunset and into the evening, so stroll at your own pace and stop for a drink if you feel like it. If you’re tired from the journey, keep the walk short and arrange a ride back to the hotel rather than trying to fit in more.
Head to Bali Hai Pier early—around 7:30–8:00 a.m. is a good target—so you have time to find the right boat and beat the busiest boarding rush. Public ferries to Koh Larn usually take about 30–45 minutes and cost roughly ฿30–฿50 each way; speedboats are quicker but typically cost several hundred baht. Check the day’s departure and return times at the pier, and bring cash, sun protection and a dry bag.
On arrival, make your way to Tawaen Beach for a couple of hours swimming or unwinding by the water. The beach is popular and can feel lively, especially later in the morning, so keep valuables close and agree on a meeting point if you split up. For lunch, choose a casual beachside Thai seafood restaurant in the Tawaen Beach area; allow around ฿250–฿500 per person, and check the menu prices before ordering seafood.
Continue to Samae Beach on the island’s southwest coast for a quieter stretch of sand and open coastal views. Local songthaews and motorbike taxis connect the island’s beaches; confirm the fare and destination before setting off, and avoid renting a scooter unless you’re experienced—the roads are hilly and can be busy. Leave enough time to get back to Bali Hai Pier for an afternoon boat; the crossing takes around 30–45 minutes by ferry, with extra time needed for boarding. Back in Pattaya, take a songthaew or taxi to your hotel and keep the evening relaxed after a full day in the sun.
Start at the Sanctuary of Truth in Naklua, ideally around opening time (usually 8 a.m.; check the official schedule before you go). Give yourself about two hours for the immense hand-carved wooden structure and its seaside grounds. Admission is roughly ฿500–฿600, and modest clothing is expected; helmets are provided in construction areas. Take a Bolt or Grab from central Pattaya—allow about 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Head south to Terminal 21 Pattaya in North Pattaya, around 15–20 minutes by car. Browse the airport-themed floors, then have lunch at the Pier 21 food court for inexpensive Thai dishes, or choose one of the sit-down restaurants; budget roughly ฿200–฿500 per person. The mall generally opens around 11 a.m. and stays open into the evening, so there’s no need to rush.
Continue to the Central Pattaya shopping area along Beach Road for an easy 1–1½-hour wander through local shops and the mall. Then take a Bolt or Grab south to Jomtien Beach—usually 15–25 minutes, but allow extra time in traffic. Finish with a 1½-hour beachfront walk or swim; bring a change of clothes and check the sea conditions before swimming. Beachside cafés and casual seafood spots make an easy dinner stop before heading back to your hotel.
After checking out in the morning, allow the planned 2–3 hours for the transfer and Bangkok traffic; confirm that your driver knows the drop-off point near New Phiman Riverview Guesthouse. Once you’ve checked in or left your bags, head to The Deck by Arun Residence in Tha Tien for lunch. Its riverside tables look across the Chao Phraya, and lunch is typically around ฿500–1,000 per person. It’s popular for the view, so reserve ahead if you can, and check the restaurant’s current hours before setting out.
From Tha Tien, make your way to Tha Maharaj, a small riverside complex with cafés, shops, and places to sit for a relaxed hour. Then board the Chao Phraya Express Boat from a nearby pier for a scenic ride; allow about 1–1½ hours, including time to return toward your hotel area. Fares depend on the boat and route—ordinary boats are usually inexpensive, while the tourist boat offers a day pass—so check the pier’s current service and fare information before boarding.
Finish with an easy 45-minute wander along Phra Athit Road in Banglamphu, where casual cafés and restaurants make it easy to stop for a drink or an early dinner. Keep the evening unhurried after the transfer, and check the boat’s last departure time if you’re relying on it to get back toward the guesthouse.
Aim to reach The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew shortly after opening, usually 8:30 a.m.; allow 2½–3 hours and expect security and ticket queues. Admission is around ฿500. Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees—strict dress checks apply—and bring water for the sunny walk around the grounds. From New Phiman Riverview Guesthouse, a taxi or Grab is simplest; allow extra time for Old Town traffic.
Walk to The Sixth, a small Thai restaurant near Wat Pho, for lunch before the midday heat sets in. Mains are roughly ฿200–400 per person, and it’s compact, so you may need to wait or be flexible about seating. Then spend about 1½ hours at Wat Pho (entry around ฿300), including the Reclining Buddha; remove your shoes where indicated and keep shoulders and knees covered. From there, head to the Tha Tien pier and take the short local ferry across to Wat Arun—typically about ฿5 each way. Allow 1–1½ hours to explore; the steep steps and sun-exposed grounds are good reasons to take it slowly.
On the way back, browse Pak Khlong Talat, Bangkok’s flower market, for about 45 minutes. It operates around the clock, though the stalls can be especially lively later in the day as flowers arrive and vendors prepare orders. A taxi or Grab back to your guesthouse is convenient; otherwise, use the nearest transit connection and leave a little buffer for traffic.
Have breakfast at New Phiman Riverview Guesthouse in Banglamphu, then check out and ask whether they can hold your bags while you make a short final stop. Head to Thewet Market, about 10–15 minutes away by taxi or a 20-minute walk; allow around an hour to browse the flower stalls and food vendors, and pick up a light snack. It’s busiest in the morning, so go before the market winds down around midday. Bring small cash—snacks are often ฿30–100.
Return to a Banglamphu café near the guesthouse for an unhurried coffee before collecting your luggage; budget roughly ฿100–250 per person. For Suvarnabhumi Airport, use a prebooked car or metered taxi and allow about 45–90 minutes, with Bangkok traffic making the longer estimate prudent. For an international flight, aim to arrive around three hours before departure; confirm your pickup time with the driver and leave extra margin rather than squeezing in another stop.
No packing list attached yet.