Day 3: 26 May 2022, Thursday
After spending two nights in Bangkok, it was time to move on to Pattaya. As we would be returning to the same hotel in Bangkok two days later, we had packed what we needed for Pattaya into one suitcase and a backpack, and deposited our two large suitcases with the concierge at Grande Centre Point Ratchadamri hotel. We read some online reviews that the check-out process at the hotel can be very slow but thankfully, there was no queue this morning so our check-out was very smooth.
We left the hotel at 9:10am and walked for 10 minutes to Chit Lom BTS station. The single-trip ticket to Ekkamai, six stops away, costs 37 baht (S$1.54) each. The Skytrain was crowded and there were no empty seats when we boarded. When two seats became available at Nana, two stops after we boarded, an elderly Thai man gestured to dad to ask him to sit down. However, dad preferred to stand because from where he stood, he could see the LED screen showing the stations and progress of the journey. It was a small gesture, but it displays the warmth and kindness of the Thai people.
The ride to Ekkamai took just 10 minutes. After alighting, we walked to the Eastern Bus Terminal, which is located right beside the BTS station. As its name suggests, the Eastern Bus Terminal is where you can obtain bus and minivan services to the eastern provinces of Thailand, including Pattaya. Here, you can also buy bus tickets to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Vientiane, but buses to these international destinations depart from Mo Chit Bus Terminal (near Chatuchak), which has express buses mainly serving the northern parts of Thailand.
The moment we set foot to the Eastern Bus Terminal, staff from the various ticket counters shouted at us, trying their best to get our attention. It became a matter of who shouted the loudest, as the fares were not displayed at the counters so it was hard to compare prices. We decided to take a minivan because we thought it would be faster and more comfortable than taking a bus. We eventually went for a company that quoted 140 baht per person for a non-stop minivan service. However, when we said we wanted to be dropped off directly at our hotel instead of at the Pattaya bus terminal, they asked for 20 baht more. Considering that the total fare was only 160 baht (S$6.64) for the two-hour journey, it was still very reasonable, so we went ahead with it.
After paying, we were not issued official tickets but instead, we were given three laminated passes that we would need to hand over to the minibus driver later on. We went for a quick toilet break before being ushered to the minivan. Our minivan looked quite old, and it appeared that other minivans were newer. Here’s a tip: If you have time, it would be good to scout around the different companies and perhaps even ask to see the actual minivan before committing, so that you can assess the conditions better. With the fierce competition around, I think they will accede to your request.
When we boarded our minivan, there were still several empty seats so we chose the seats that were more spacious. The back row was especially cramped and we pitied the Caucasian guy who came later and sat there. There was hardly any space for luggage. The interior of the minivan was even more dinghy than its exterior, with rusty inner frames and improvised holes cut into the front sides of the vehicle for better ventilation. Thankfully, the air-con was strong enough. After the van was packed full with 11 passengers, we departed at 10:03am for the 140km journey to Pattaya.
Upon hitting the expressway, the driver drove very fast, cutting across chevrons and weaving between lanes without signalling even when there were big container trucks and lorries around. Thank goodness, I was sitting in the second row, with the headrest of the seat in front of me blocking my view. If not, my heart rate would have raised a few notches if I could see the way he was driving. I decided it was best that I keep my eyes closed for most of the ride.
At 11am, we stopped at a petrol station to refuel, but the driver didn’t ask if anyone wanted to use the bathroom. 10 minutes later, we sped off again. We made several quick stops to drop off some of locals along the way. Of the 11 passengers, only about five of us were tourists. The driver also stopped to dabao (take away) his lunch from a small roadside restaurant.
Finally, after a hellish ride, we arrived at our Hilton Pattaya hotel at 12:28pm. The hotel is part of the same building complex that also houses the huge Central Pattaya shopping mall, which is why the hotel lobby is on the 7th floor. Upon arrival, we were each given a welcome drink (ice-cold pomegranate juice), which was very refreshing indeed. As it was still too early to check in to our room, we deposited our luggage at the concierge before proceeding to the mall for our lunch.
Central Pattaya (formerly known as CentralFestival Pattaya Beach) opened in 2009 and it is Asia’s largest natural beachfront shopping complex with over 350 shops spread over seven floors. We ventured to the basement, where there were two big food courts, Food Park and Beach Eats. As with other food courts in Thailand, you’ll need to buy a stored value card from a centralised counter to make payment at the individual stalls. We ordered basil minced chicken rice, fried rice and a bowl of tom yum soup for 260 baht (S$10.80), and mango sticky rice (70 baht/S$2.90) for dessert.
After lunch, we did a spot of shopping before returning to the hotel at 2:30pm. I had booked a King Deluxe Ocean View room for the three of us via Agoda and our two-night stay cost S$618.35, including breakfast. It was rather pricey but we wanted to pamper ourselves with a nice international hotel for a change, this being our first overseas family trip since COVID-19. I think we all agreed that it was worth the money.
The hotel lobby is very chic, with soft earth tones, minimalist pebble-shaped furniture and artistic wavy fabrics across the entire ceiling that swayed with the breeze. There is a classy lounge and bar here called Drift, which has an outdoor terrace with sweeping views of Pattaya Bay. The infinity pool is also here on the 7th floor, with beautiful landscaped gardens and plenty of sundecks to relax in.
Our room also didn’t disappoint. It had the same earthy hues as the lobby, with plenty of concealed lighting creating an elegant and relaxing mood. Even with my extra bed, it was still very spacious. There was even space for a rotating round sofa, which was very comfortable to chill in. The triangular balcony faced the land but we still had an awesome view of the beach and the ocean below.
The bathroom was very stylish, with beautiful white marble tiles, a bath tub (that we don’t use) and a large glass window, just perfect for couples on a honeymoon (you can bring the blinds down to offer some privacy). The only grouse is that there is only one sliding door shared by the two cubicles – where the toilet bowl and the standing shower are, so you can’t have two people using them at the same time. The marble floor in the shower is also quite slippery, so it would be good to have an anti-slip floor mat. But that is just nitpicking.
After settling down in our very comfy room (it was hard to extricate ourselves), I booked a Grab car to take us to Outlet Mall Pattaya, a premium outlet shopping mall located about 5km away from our hotel. The Grab fare was 113 baht (S$4.70) and we arrived just before 4pm.
Our driver dropped us at the main building facing Sukhumvit Road. The building wasn’t very big and it had only two levels – a ground floor (or a basement) and a first floor. Some of the brands here included Levi’s, Skechers, Lee, Mango, Giordano and a large Sports Stadium store. We spent about an hour shopping here, well, actually mostly browsing because the goods on offer weren’t that great. At about 5pm, I booked another Grab car to take us to our next destination, Terminal 21.
While waiting for our Grab car to arrive, I realised that we had missed out on another wing called Phase II, located along Tepprasit Road. It wasn’t connected directly to the main building so we didn’t see it. When I asked the security guard on duty for directions, he didn’t understand English so I couldn’t get anything out of him. The Phase II wing had more familiar international brands like Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Lacoste and Oakley and these were more suited to our tastes. It was a pity, but I think we didn’t miss much.
The drive from Outlet Mall Pattaya to Terminal 21 took 20 minutes and the fare was 130 baht (S$5.40). Where we alighted at Gate 1, there was a real King Power aircraft parked on the “runway” in front of the building. We weren’t surprised to see the plane as we were familiar with Terminal 21’s concept of an aviation hub that gathers the entire world in one place. We took some photos with the plane before taking the “aerobridge” to “board our flight” at Gate 4.
Having already visited the Terminal 21 mall in Bangkok, we knew what to expect, but it was still hard not to be awed by the sight of the six storey-tall Eiffel Tower standing in the middle of the building. It was beautifully lit up with lights that changed colours every few minutes. It was really very impressive.
Each of the six levels is themed to one of the world’s renowned shopping destinations – Paris, London, Italy, San Francisco, Tokyo and Hollywood. The other outstanding landmarks showcased here include the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Golden Gate Bridge. As usual, no effort was spared on décor, and that includes the washrooms as well. The Terminal 21 here at Pattaya is much better and larger than the one in Bangkok. Definitely worth a visit, just to experience something different from a regular shopping mall.
We didn’t spend too much time here though. At 6:40pm, we left Terminal 21 to Tree Town night market. The Grab car ride took 10 minutes and the fare was 99 baht (S$4.15). Our driver dropped us at an open-air market along Soi Buakhao, a short distance away from Tree Town night market. The stalls here sold mostly ladies’ clothes, shoes and bags, on the lower end of the scale.
As we walked along Soi Buakhao, we encountered many sleazy pubs and billiard bars lining both sides of the road. With names like Stunners Club, The Krazy 80s Bar and Piss Stop Bar, it was a noisy and rowdy street targeted at lonely Caucasian men looking for companionship.
The actual Tree Town night market was a mix of open-air bars, restaurants, live music and food stalls. I intended to get some dinner here but the place didn’t give us good vibes so we quickly left and headed towards Pattayasaisong Road, where our hotel and Central Pattaya mall was. Along the way, we passed by Pattaya Night Bazaar, an indoor market with many neatly arranged stalls, so we popped in for a look. The stalls were all selling the same generic stuff that didn’t appeal to us, so we didn’t linger for long.
So far, the night markets in Pattaya have been disappointing. We ended up having dinner at the Beach Eats food court of Central Pattaya, where we felt much more comfortable and safe. After that, we went to the beach for a stroll. The beach was flat and wide. It was quite nice, save for the din that was coming from the vehicles and numerous bars fronting Beach Road.
Following that, I bought a beef skewer (50 baht/S$2) and mango sticky rice (60 baht/S$2.50) from the street food bazaar in front of Central Pattaya for supper. We simply love mango sticky rice so we kept eating at every opportunity! We were back in our room at 8:15pm. Overall, it was not a very eventful day, but at least our hotel was nice. Sometimes, that’s all you need when you’re on holiday – a comfy hotel room to laze in.
