Travel Notes: Thailand and South Korea Guides
Day-by-day travel notes from Bangkok, Pattaya and Seoul: transport, accommodation, budget and the practical details that matter on the ground.
23 posts
Bangkok
- Vasu Exchange Bangkok: Rates, Location and Our ExperienceWe exchanged 100 dollars for 3,252 baht at Vasu Exchange near Nana, Bangkok. Rates, location, and what to watch out for when changing money.
- ICONSIAM and Chinatown: Your First Day in BangkokOur first-day visit to ICONSIAM and Chinatown in Bangkok, including boat transport, the giant dog statue, musical fountains, and street food vibes.
- Boss Suites Nana: 7 Nights in Bangkok for 4,500 TLOur Boss Suites Nana hotel experience: deposit details, room cleanliness, breakfast cost, and why Nana is a convenient area for staying in Bangkok.
- Wat Hong Temple and the Wat Arun Plan: Bangkok Day TwoOn our second day in Bangkok, we visited Wat Hong Temple, met Buddhist monks, and saved Wat Arun for the next day.
- Wat Paknam: The 69-Meter Giant Buddha in BangkokWe visited the 69-meter seated Buddha statue at Wat Paknam in Bangkok. How to get there, entrance details and what to expect on your visit.
- Wat Arun and Empire Tower: Coffee on Bangkok's 55th FloorWe explored Wat Arun, the temple clad in Chinese porcelain, then had coffee on the 55th floor of Empire Tower facing the skyline. Fees and locations.
- 32 Bar X, The Mall LifeStore and June Pang: Bangkok Day 532 Bar X, where they make their own chocolate, The Mall LifeStore full of million-dollar cars, and June Pang's creamy milk toast. Locations inside.
- Wat Samphran Dragon Temple: Climbing Down a Giant DragonAt Bangkok's pink Wat Samphran temple we rode the lift up 17 floors and climbed down inside the giant dragon. Entrance fee, transport and location.
Pattaya
- Bangkok to Pattaya: The Cheapest Way, a 180-Baht BusWe bought a 180-baht bus ticket on 12Go and left from Suvarnabhumi Terminal 2. E-ticket swap, the transfer-driver trap, and reaching your hotel by Bolt.
- Beach by Anatolia Condo Suite: 4 Nights in Pattaya, 6,000 TLJust 50 meters from the sea, 4 nights for 6,000 TL (~150 USD). Spotless rooms, a big pool, daily housekeeping and a location next to the mall.
- Pattaya Day 1: Swensen's, Cafe Amazon and Walking StreetOur first day in Pattaya: Turkish breakfast, a beach walk, Cafe Amazon, the best ice cream at Swensen's RGP, and a night on Walking Street.
- Koh Larn Island: Motorbike Tour and Beaches Near PattayaWe took the ferry from Bali Hai Pier to Koh Larn, rented a motorbike for 250 baht and toured the island. Nual and Tawaen beaches, prices and routes.
- Wat Phra Yai and Terminal 21: Big Buddha and an Eiffel TowerWe visited Wat Phra Yai, known as the Big Buddha, and its Yaksha guardians, then saw the Eiffel Tower inside Terminal 21. Locations and prices inside.
Back to Bangkok, then Seoul
- Emsphere Sky Beach Club and Terminal 21: Last Day in BangkokThe free rooftop Sky Beach Club pool at Emsphere mall, a Honda scooter test ride, and Terminal 21 as our goodbye to Bangkok. Locations and prices.
- How to Get a K-ETA: Bangkok to Seoul Flight and Korea EntryWe flew Bangkok to Seoul with VietJet in about 6 hours. What the K-ETA is, what it costs, who is exempt in 2026, and how to avoid fake application sites.
- Incheon Airport to Seoul: The Cheapest Way Into the CityAREX all-stop train for 4,750–5,350 won or the airport bus for about 17,000 won. Incheon to central Seoul transport options, travel times and a cash tip.
- Urban Hotel & Play: 4 Nights in Sinchon, Seoul ReviewUrban Hotel & Play in Sinchon, Seoul: 4 nights for about 10,000 TRY. Spotless rooms, free drinks, a 5-PC gaming room, 5 minutes to the subway.
- Money Exchange in Seoul: US$100 = 149,500 Won in MyeongdongWe got 149,500 won for US$100 in Myeongdong, far better than the airport. Rate tips, small buy-sell spread and a free toy for a Google review.
- Seoul Climate Card: Unlimited Subway and Bus Pass GuideSeoul Climate Card: 5-day pass for 15,000 won plus 3,000 won card. Unlimited subway and buses, prices, where to buy and where it doesn't work.
- Seoul Day 1: Yonsei, Seonyudo Park and Paris ParkMy first day in Seoul: an 8,800 won chicken burrito, Yonsei University, a public piano on Seonyudo, Paris Park and a 3,600 won break at Mega Coffee.
Guides and Costs
- Best Places to Visit in Bangkok: A 7-Day Local ListWe spent 7 nights in Bangkok. From Wat Arun to the 69-meter Big Buddha and the Dragon Temple, the places not to miss, with real prices and locations.
- Best Places to Visit in Pattaya: A 4-Day Local ListWe spent 4 nights in Pattaya. Koh Larn's clear water, the Eiffel Tower in Terminal 21, Walking Street and a 250-baht motorbike, with real prices.
- 13 Days in Thailand Cost: 29,009 TRY Excluding Flights13 days in Thailand for 29,009 TRY excluding flights, about 2,231 TRY a day. Accommodation, food, transport and Pattaya costs itemized.