Best Itinerary in Thailand for 3 Days
Looking for the best itinerary in Thailand?
I live in Thailand for seven years and it’s so nice to be back again reminiscing down some memory lane after my ex-pat posting in 2012.
So, if you’re planning to visit Thailand, here is my best itinerary in Thailand for 3 days with tips, trips, and photography to enjoy your trip!
Thailand is a great destination for budget travelers, ex-pats, and to everyone who wants to spend their time at the beach, enjoy the nightlife, and delicious food.
Itinerary in Thailand: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya
We arrived in Bangkok at 5:30 pm from Manila. Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport, we rented a car to go straight to Pattaya.
Pattaya is about 147 km southeast of Bangkok and the closest destination you can get to soak yourself under the sun and enjoy the relaxing beachfront atmosphere.
How to get to Pattaya:
Option 1: Rent a car
There are several trusted car rental companies in the airport arrival area like Avis, Hertz, AOT limousine, and Thai Rent A Car.
As a tourist, you just need to carry the driving license you obtained in your home country, then you can rent a car for just a few days to drive to Pattaya and its neighboring cities.
Or you can opt to hire a car with a driver to drive to Pattaya. It will take you about one-and-a-half-hour drive from Suvarnabhumi Airport.
This is the second chapter of our escapades together after our Beijing Trip to the Great Wall of China as empty nesters couples.
AOT LIMOUSINE is one of the official limousine services at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. They provide an airport transfer service that serves major cities throughout Thailand.
Their fare is a charter rate depending on the distance and type of vehicle you choose. They operates 24 hours and they provide a VIP lounge at the arrival hall exclusively for customers.
Click here to check AOT Limousine Rates.
Option 2: Airpot Pattaya Bus
If you are traveling on a budget, taking the Airport Pattaya bus from Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok is the best option for you. And once you reach Pattaya, you can either take a taxi or tuk-tuk (3-wheeled taxi) to reach your hotel.
You can find the Airport Pattaya bus stop just outside gate 8 on Level 1 at the Suvarnabhumi airport arrival area.
Book the bus from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya.
Not coming from Suvarnabhumi airport? Click here for other options to get to Pattaya.
Itinerary in Thailand: The Walking Street in Pattaya
Pattaya is not only popular for its beautiful beaches, but also famous for nightclubs which makes the city as a party destination.
The walking street is a different experience if you are in Pattaya, but of course, if you are with your kids, it is not ideal to walk here, though I see a lot of tourists exploring the walking street with their kids. I would say a notorious place in Pattaya (sex shows are solicited in the open).
Along the street, you will find a Turkish ice cream vendor, fruit stalls, convenient shops, a massage parlor, different street performers, and a variety of seafood restaurants.
Tankay Seafood Restaurant in Walking Street Pattaya
Tankay Seafood is one of the restaurants that you will find at the forefront on walking street.
This seafood restaurant is being among the oldest restaurants on Walking Street.
We ordered Thai curry crab, oyster cake, fish, shrimp cake, and my Thai favorite vegetable dish called “yud mala wan” (chayote leaves) that was tasty and crunchy!
Most restaurants in Patttaya offer seafood. Their oysters, crab, and fish are all fresh and tasty. The price is reasonable and we enjoyed the meal.
Where to stay in Pattaya?
During our stay in Pattaya, we stayed at the Movenpick Hotel for 2 nights located at the beachfront and one night in Holiday Inn Sukumvit Bangkok.
The Mövenpick Siam Hotel Na Jomtien Pattaya
Movenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya is a 5-star hotel with luxurious facilities and a warm sense of Swiss hospitality. The room is very nice & spacious with fast wifi, clean, the facilities and amenities are great and the staffs are courteous and friendly.
We booked a room with a sea view that has one king-size bed and a big bathtub in the bathroom. A well-maintained hotel – all the facilities are clean with good service-minded staff.
Pattaya is not famous for the white sand beach but offers a lot of fun water activities like banana boat, scuba diving, flyboarding, sailing, windsurfing, etc.
Whether you’re an adventure water junkie or a food enthusiast, you will surely entice yourself to Pattaya.
If you are traveling with kids, I’m sure that your kids will love the swimming pool – very suitable for the family.
A huge sparkling clean swimming pool surrounded by sunbeds with umbrellas for you to relax.
And they have a huge selection of breakfast buffets to satisfy your palate.
Things to see and do in Pattaya Thailand
There are many other things you can do, see, and enjoy in Pattaya like the cabaret show, crocodile farm, elephant shows, botanical garden, enjoy all kinds of seafood, and even sipping their sweet grilled coconut on the street.
There are many varieties of delicious and refreshing fruits that you can enjoy while you are in Thailand.
Everywhere you go in the country, you’ll come across plenty of fruit stands. Not only are they tasty and healthy, but also very cheap!
Itinerary in Thailand Day 2: Nongnooch Garden Pattaya
Nongnooch garden Pattaya is one of the most popular botanical gardens to include in your itinerary in Thailand Pattaya that is welcoming tourists from all over the world.
You can choose to spend a half-day or a full day at Nongnooch Garden. A truly magnificent garden in the heart of Pattaya.
A 600-acres beautiful landscaped park in Pattaya. The garden is one of its main attractions. Nongnooch garden consists of more than 30 gardens – literally a great and breathtaking plant kingdom that you must see!
They have the mammoth elephant park, aquatic garden, azalea garden, palm garden, sky garden, and a lot more.
The garden can be explored by walking. It’s a worth visiting place for all age groups.
They also provide a good shaded elevated walkway that takes you to see the garden view from the top.
The Thailand Cultural Show at Nongnooch Garden
If you decide to visit the Nongnooch garden, I recommend that you watch the Thailand cultural show. The Thai cultural show showcase Thailand history with drama and actions, colorful costumes, elephants, and stage effects.
A mix of dance, history from different periods of Thailand history.
I have been watched this cultural show a few times but it’s really worth coming back to.
Thailand Itinerary: Watch the Elephant Show
You can also enjoy the Elephant Show while inside the Nongnooch garden in Pattaya Thailand. You can participate and take photos and, even a ride with the Elephant just right after the show.
The Elephant Show at Nongnooch Gardens is an impressive performance because it’s not every day you see elephants playing soccer or painting or riding bicycles.
Itinerary in Thailand: The Tiffany Show in Pattaya
Tiffany show is a world-class transvestite cabaret show that Pattaya offers. Ladyboys, otherwise known as “kathoeys” are part of Thai Culture.
The Tiffany show is really a ‘must-see’ and highly recommended for visitors of any age coming to Pattaya.
You will definitely be amazed by the colorful costumes, lightings, music, and glamour of their performers.
After the show, the performers come out and take pictures with guests. If you want to take a picture with them, be advised that you have to tip them.
The show is 1 hour and 15 minutes that you will truly enjoy. Definitely worth a visit when in Pattaya due to its amazing performances and very entertaining. Note that you are not allowed to take photos and videos during the show.
The Tiffany show is so popular that tickets are sold out every night so, I highly suggest that you book in advance using their online website. Click here to check availability and prices.
Watching the Tiffany Show should be included on your itinerary in Thailand.
Day 3: Shopping Adventure in Bangkok
Shopping adventure?
One of the popular less expensive shopping areas is the MBK also known as “Mahboonkrong”. You must include MBK in your itinerary in Thailand. It is located in the National Stadium BTS station.
BTS (Bangkok Transit System) is the most efficient way to go around Bangkok due to heavy traffic along with the city.
There are several things that you can find in MBK from clothing, shoes, bags, luggage, fashion accessories, Thai delicacies, massage parlor, beauty salon, restaurants, dental, camera, phone, DVDs and so much more.
The Tokyu department store owned by Japanese store chain Tokyu is also located here.
There are several neighboring shopping areas that are also walkable from MBK such as Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon (high-end shopping), Pratunam (wholesale market), and Siam Square – this is where fashionistas get a real taste of style and the price is so reasonable. Siam Square is one of my favorite places to shop when I used to live in Bangkok.
Emporium Department Store
If you are looking for luxury shopping, Emporium Department Store is the place.
How to get to Emporium Department Store:
Emporium is situated at Phrom Phong BTS Station that offers world-renowned designer brands, cinema, art exhibition space as well as an expansive supermarket that offers almost anything that you need for cooking and snacking. They also have a wide variety of food courts.
The Emporium Department Store is on Sukhumvit Road at Sukhumvit Soi 24 beside Benchasiri Park.
Benchasiri Park is the park where my husband and I used to jog every morning because it is just about a 10-minute walk from where we used to live before.
The Waterford Diamond is a condo and apartment located in the Sukhumvit area that is about a 10- minute walk to BTS station and Emporium Department Store.
Bamboo Spa & Massage in Bangkok
Bamboo Spa is just a walking distance from Phrom Phong Station.
We were quite happy to get a last-minute booking at Bamboo Spa & Massage. The place is nice and clean.
If you want to have a good massage in Thailand, I highly recommend to visit the Healthland.
Click Here to learn more about Healthland Spa and Massage.
Final thoughts
With lots of places to visit and live, Thailand is like no other. The Food. The People. And with the cheap cost of travel and cost of the living standard are remarkable.
I loved Thailand and the 3 days spent was worthwhile.
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About Jeng Cua
After borrowing her lifestyle living paycheck to paycheck, this work from anywhere mom wouldn’t let anything stop her from chasing her dreams. Now, Jeng has achieved more than she ever imagined. Her mission is pretty simple – to help you love your life and family using her four distinct life systems.
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