Disclaimer: This post is written primarily to preserve these memories for myself, rather than for a third person.
My last foreign trip was to Langkawi, Malaysia — where Kathy and I went for our honeymoon. While we got Sheryl’s passport 6–7 years ago, we hadn’t travelled outside India since then. Mostly because it’s expensive — with flight and stay costs involved — and when you travel abroad, you typically need to take at least a week off. This time, we decided to go abroad no matter what the situation.
Why Thailand?
It’s affordable and felt like an exciting new place to explore.
Where in Thailand?
Kathy and I are always interested in the history, culture, and local life of a place. So we wanted to visit the capital, Bangkok. While I did consider going to Phuket, it would’ve meant wasting a day on travel and booking an additional flight. Instead, we chose Pattaya — more accessible and cost-effective.
Where did we stay?
In Bangkok, my first choice was Old Capital Bike Inn (oldcapitalbkk.com), but they didn’t have rooms available for our dates. So we booked our second choice — Carlton Hotel in Sukhumvit. It turned out to be a blessing, as Sheryl loved the hotel pool.
In Pattaya, we stayed at Rabbit Resort, located on Dongtan/Jomtien Beach — on the quieter side, away from the main Pattaya Beach. In fact, we didn’t see a single Indian in the area during our walks. Some had warned us that Pattaya might not be suitable for families, but thanks to Rabbit Resort, we didn’t face any issues and mostly saw other families around the beach.
Day-wise Itinerary
Day 1
We flew from Delhi to Bangkok. Bought a SIM card at the airport — cheaper than international roaming from India, though slightly more expensive than outside the airport.
My first impression of Bangkok? It looked like any Indian state —
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Just cleaner
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Lots of pickup trucks on the road
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Toyota seemed to dominate the car scene
Visa-on-arrival was smooth and quick.
We settled into the hotel and dined at a Michelin-listed restaurant. Loved the soup and the duck pancake.
Day 2
We visited the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha Temple, and the Reclining Buddha Temple. What stood out was the unique Thai architecture — especially the Garuda wings on the temple roofs.
The highlight was lunch at Thong Lee Restaurant, near the Grand Palace. Tried mango sticky rice and stir-fried meat with basil on rice, topped with a fried egg — absolutely mind-blowing. Until then, I thought Thai food was just green curry.
We also took a ferry tour and saw temples built around Bangkok’s canals — quite fascinating.
Another food discovery: Teppan Fried Rice at Terminal 21.
Day 3
We went to the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. It was fun negotiating and buying touristy items from a boat. We also visited the popular Instagram-famous Railway Market, which was a unique experience. Tip: If you want to buy souvenirs, buy them at the Railway Market — better prices than the floating market.
Day 4
Sheryl was getting a little bored with temples, so we took her to Safari World & Marine Park — and she loved it. It was my first time watching a dolphin and sea lion show. Sheryl enjoyed feeding giraffes, birds, and other animals. I also saw zebras and giraffes in large numbers for the first time.
Day 5
Time to pack up and head to Pattaya.
General Thoughts on the Bangkok Stay:
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Loved visiting 7-Eleven stores every day and picking up snacks.
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The breakfast spread at Carlton was excellent — Korean, Japanese, Thai, pastries, and other Asian options.
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Used Grab extensively for local travel — cabs arrived in 2–3 minutes.
Staying in Sukhumvit was a great choice — lots of food and shopping options nearby.
Day 6
Checked into Rabbit Resort and simply enjoyed the peaceful beach setting. Rabbit Resort is located in a slightly forest area in Dongtan beach. Dongtan/Jomtein Beach is at the other side/away from Pattay Beach. So you see only locals and families in this part of the beach. Hotel pools were again lovely and the staff was very helpful. After seeing the rabbit resort, i now believe Pattaya would be a better option than going to Goa for Indians (considering the good hotels are cheaper than Goa)
Day 7
Went to Ramayana Water Park. It’s spacious (note: it’s just a water park, no amusement rides). Sheryl really enjoyed it — her first time in a water park. It’s pricier than Indian parks but much less crowded.
Day 8
Visited Koh Larn Island — my first experience at a white sand beach. Beautiful views and fun activities like jet skiing, banana boat ride, and parasailing.
But the highlight was the sea bed walk — a bit scary, but fascinating and totally worth it.
Day 9
Packed up and returned to Delhi.
Final Thoughts
Rabbit Resort was perfect — just a few steps from the beach. Morning walks and evening dinners at the beachfront restaurant, with the sea breeze for company, were unforgettable. Morning prayers by the beach were a personal highlight.
Food was a major highlight of the trip — and the fact that this was our first overseas family trip made it all the more special.
