Thailand Trip with My Bestie: 5 Days of Awesome!
So many people were curious about my Thailand trip with my best friend, so I decided to share our experiences! This is for anyone heading to Thailand for the first time, like me, to hopefully help you avoid some common pitfalls and save some duit (money)!
How Much We Spent
Total Cost for 5 Days, 4 Nights: RM2,150 per person (excluding shopping and souvenirs)
Pre-Trip Prep
1. Flights
We booked our flights with Malaysia Airlines, paying RM884 per person return. This included 7kg of cabin baggage and 23kg of checked baggage.
2. Hotels
- Pattaya: We stayed at The Tung for RM95 per night (2 nights). The room was clean and spacious, about 1.8km from the beach, but no breakfast included.
- Bangkok: Our hotel in Bangkok was Sleep Withinn, right on Khaosan Road, costing RM107 per night (2 nights).
3. SIM Card
Bought a local SIM card at KLIA for unlimited data for 7 days. Super handy!
4. Koh Larn Island Tour
We booked a day tour of Koh Larn Island, including banana boat rides and lunch on the island.
5. Alangka Cruise on the Chao Phraya River
This included dinner. The food on the cruise was actually pretty good, with a decent selection.
6. Currency Exchange
You can exchange Ringgit to Baht in Malaysia, but I think it's better to exchange it there, a little at a time. That way you don't end up with leftover Baht!
Our Itinerary: KL - Pattaya - Bangkok
Important Tips
- Respect Local Customs: Just be mindful and respectful of Thai culture.
- Toiletries: Pack your toothbrush and toothpaste. Many hotels in Thailand don't provide them. Also, bring your own slippers for the room.
- 7-Eleven is Your Friend: Thailand has tons of 7-Elevens (like our KK Mart), with cheap and convenient food options.
- Night Markets: Places like Jodd Fairs, China Town, and Khao San Road, are quite similar in general. So you could pick just one.
- Shopping Malls in Bangkok: Bangkok has lots of great malls like Icon Siam, Siam Paragon, and Central World. If you love shopping, go for it! But if you only have time for one, Icon Siam has an amazing food court, it has a floating market in the basement.
Alright, let's go!
Day 1: KL – Suvarnabhumi – Pattaya – Walking Street
Our flight landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1:30 PM. Clearing immigration was easy. After getting our luggage, my friend got the luggage while I got money from an ATM.
We headed to Magic Food Point for lunch. Lots of choices and so cheap! You buy a 200 Baht voucher (like a pre-paid card) and get a refund for whatever you don't spend.
We checked into our hotel around 6:00 PM, freshened up, and walked to Mae Sri Ruen (restaurant). It was pretty close, perfect for exploring a bit. After dinner, we took a stroll along the beach, grabbed some snacks, and then hit up Walking Street. Think Bukit Bintang. Lots of people, not a ton of food, but definitely an experience. We took a Grab back to the hotel.
Day 2: Koh Larn Island Tour – Buddha Mountain – Terminal 21
The tour van picked us up at 8:30 AM. The island was beautiful. If you want to store your stuff, lockers are available for 100 Baht. We had lunch on the island around 11:30 AM, and then left around 3:00 PM.
The tour was pretty good, the water was clear and clean. The tour guides were polite and helpful, and they took photos of us. At 4 PM the tour van dropped us off at our hotel. We showered and changed.
At 5:00 PM we took a Bolt to Khao Chi Chan (Buddha Mountain). It was about 21km from our hotel and cost 198 Baht. Then we went to Terminal 21 for dinner. At Terminal 21, there is a food court, so many choices!
Around 10:00 PM, we took a Grab back to the hotel. Showered and went to bed.
Day 3: Sanctuary of Truth – Bangkok – BACC – Jodd Fairs
At 8 AM, we took a Bolt to the Sanctuary of Truth. The architecture is stunning. You'll take lots of photos. By 10:00 AM, we went back to the hotel.
We checked out, rested until 4 PM, and then Google Mapped our route to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC). The museum is free. If you like art, this is a great place to visit. Around 5:30 PM, we left the museum and took the BTS Skytrain to Jodd Fairs. Take the BTS to Mochit, transfer to the MRT to Phra Ram 9, and exit at Central Plaza Rama 9. From there, find the Famima convenience store and walk straight out the side door. If you are unsure about the route, just ask the people at the ticket counter.
Jodd Fairs is a food paradise! We tried the famous pork ribs (but honestly, we didn't love them – too salty for our taste). However there are also juices, desserts, and mango sticky rice.
We stayed until 9:30 PM, and then took the BTS back to our hotel. Our hotel was near Khao San Road, so it was pretty lively. But we were too tired and slept!
Day 4: Big C – IconSiam – Chao Phraya River Cruise
The original plan was to visit Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) first and then go to Big C on our last day. But since our flight was at 2:20 PM the next day, we didn't want to rush. So, we decided to dedicate half a day to Big C. Best decision ever!
At 8:00 AM, we took a bus to Big C. The bus number was 3(1-15). Big C opened at 9:00 AM, and we went in and shopped for souvenirs. Everything is cheaper than at home.
There's a VAT refund counter near the luggage storage area. If your total bill for the day is over 2000 Baht, you can apply for a refund. Collect all your receipts and register under one name. Take this document to the airport on Level 4 Door 10 for a stamp, then go to the VAT Refund area (after immigration) to claim back the money.
We took the bus back to our hotel, rested and then took another bus to IconSiam in the afternoon. Wow. It is the most beautiful shopping mall in Bangkok! So big. The basement level is like a street food heaven (like Jodd Fairs). There's also a water fountain show at 6:30 PM.
At 6:00 PM, we went to Peir 4 (opposite Hermes) to check in for the Alangka Cruise. The food on the boat was decent, but the main draw is the views of the temples lit up along the Chao Phraya River. There was live music on board, too. A must-do! We boarded the cruise at 7:15 PM.
The cruise ended around 9:15 PM. We took a Bolt back to the hotel to pack.
Day 5: Wat Arun – Suvarnabhumi Airport – KL
We started at 7:30 AM and went to Wat Arun. Tell the driver to take you to the back entrance to avoid a boat ride. There are many shops renting traditional Thai costumes near the entrance (200 Baht per person), and the entrance fee to the temple is 100 Baht per person (includes a free bottle of water). We took lots of pictures.
At 9 AM we had exhausted every photo opportunity. Go early! There were so few people there then.
At the airport, we did our check-in, went through immigration, bought some mango sticky rice for souvenirs, and that's it!
That's the end of our 5-day, 4-night trip. I hope this helps you plan your own trip to Thailand!
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