Thailand Travel: How to Plan Bangkok & Pattaya Tour on Budget

Planning a Bangkok and Pattaya tour from India is achievable with smart planning and costing. Thailand offers a 60-day visa exemption for Indian citizens holding valid and regular passports for tourism and short business trips. Hence, visa expenses are already out of the way. By choosing affordable air travel, the right accommodation and putting the right attractions in your travel itinerary, you can plan an exciting Thailand trip.

How to Plan Bangkok & Pattaya Tour on Budget

If you are planning a Bangkok and Pattaya tour from India on a budget, and wondering how to save costs, here is a quick travel guide. Read below to learn more about saving costs and enjoying the best of Thailand.

Search and Book Air Tickets in Advance

Air travel is going to eat up a major chunk of your Thailand travel budget. Hence, it’s essential to time your air travel at a time when there are moderate to low flyers from India to Thailand. Now, how do you save costs on air travel? There are a few simple steps. First, check websites like Skyscanner, Cheapflights, or Kayak to compare prices for different airlines. Rule out any airline that is offering air tickets at a cost that is going above your budget. Next, secure a ticket that is within the range of your air travel budget. If the ticket prices are too high, plan your Thailand travel in the shoulder or low season.

The most commonly used airlines for flying between India and Bangkok are: Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, Thai Air Asia, Air India, and IndiGo.

How much does a return flight ticket cost between India and Bangkok?

To give you a rough estimate, a return air ticket between the two destinations can range from INR 22000 to INR 31000.

Choose a 3 Star Hotel or a Hostel

Most of your day will be spent sightseeing. You just need a place to crash at night with a clean room, comfortable bedding and essential amenities. For such a space, choose a 2 to 3 star property with good enough rating and reviews from real travellers. There is no dearth of clean, comfortable and wonderful budget properties in Bangkok and Pattaya. When on a cash crunch, look for budget hotels, hostels or even a homestay in Bangkok and Pattaya for your accommodation needs. Check out websites like Booking.com or Agoda for hotel price comparison.

Here are some of the top budget properties in:

Bangkok: Fullrich Residence, Yaks House Hostel, and The Suvarnabhumi Apartment

Pattaya: P72 Hotel Walking Street Pattaya, Red Planet Pattaya, and Prima House Pattaya

Visit the Free Attractions in Bangkok and Pattaya

This one is a no-brainer when it comes to saving money and still experiencing the best of Pattaya and Bangkok. Both these prominent Thai destinations have a range of attractions that does not even cost a penny. You can take a walk and explore walking streets. Enter a mall for window shopping. Visit an open air art gallery to admire artistry. Visit temples and admire its architecture and grandeur. Then comes the night markets of Bangkok and Pattaya, perfect for soaking in the local vibes.

Here is a tabular representation of the top free attractions you can explore in Bangkok and Pattaya:

Bangkok:

Chatuchak Weekend Market, Lumpini Park, BACC, Asiatique The Riverfront, Flower Market, Chinatown, Wat Arun, KhaoSan Road, Siam Paragon, MBK, Terminal 21

Pattaya:

Pattaya Beach, Wong Amat Beach, Jomtien Beach, Thepprasit Road Nightmarket, Pattaya Walking Street, Big Buddha Temple, Jomtien Night Market.

Eat Cheap (Street Food & Restaurants)

You don't have to eat gourmet dishes at a Michelin starred restaurant to admire the authentic Thai flavours. Some of the best food in Bangkok and Pattaya is available on its street stalls. After a day full of exploration, a freshly squeezed fresh fruit juice or a tender coconut water acts as a great thirst quencher. Similarly, a plateful of mango sticky rice, Thai papaya salad or pad Thai noodles will keep you full. The street food in Bangkok and Pattaya does not cost more than 100 THB which is great for the portions you get. You can try the spiciest to the sweetest of food items from the street stalls in Bangkok and Pattaya.

Top places to grab a bite in Bangkok and Pattaya:

Bangkok: Wang Lang Market, Khao San Road, Silom Soi 20, Yaowarat Street

Pattaya: Thepprasit Night Market, Soi Buakhao Market, and Jomtien Beach Night Market.

Getting Around in Bangkok

Your air tickets and accommodations are sorted and so are the sightseeing and eating out aspects. Now it comes to commuting in Bangkok to get from one place to another. The best commute option in Bangkok is BTS sky train. It’s cheap, affordable, clean and air conditioned or you can choose the MRT train. Most attractions in Bangkok are either located near BTS or MRT train stations. Ferries are also a popular option to get from place to place in Bangkok. Next is Grab taxi (app based service) and tuk tuk that are also good for commuting from one place to another.

Getting around in Pattaya

The cheapest way to get around in Pattaya is Songathaew and tuk tuk. If your budget allows, book a taxi from apps like Grab or Bolt for a comfortable travel. Pro Tip: Walk or take a tuk tuk to visit attractions located close to each other.