Researched Trip to Bangkok & Pattaya from India (Bhubaneswar)

Reached DMK airport in Bangkok at 3:30 am , and moved towards VOA zone for immigration formalities. We need to have few things handy:
1. TM6 form which has the arrival card ( to be retained until Departure immigration).
2. Another form you get there , attested with your passport size pic and few details. ( You might need a fevistick to stick your pic)
3. This process took half 45 mins ( but might take even longer depending on your arrival time. When I reached the queue was very short but got longer in no time).
4. Your Flight tickets (to-fro), Hotel tickets of all days, TM6 form, another form(Don't remember name), Passport pic, Boarding tickets.
5. Once your docs are verified , you will be given token to move to another counter for form submission.
6. Finally move to your 3rd and last counter where you will get your Visa stamped. (We were lucky to have our Visa fee exempted and that saved us few bucks).

You should keep 10k baht per head as the rule says but It was not verified anywhere.

We collected out baggage and looked for few local local sims around. Got one at 170 bahts of Dtac for 5 days unlimited internet. It had good connectivity through out our trip.

Since we were heading for Pattaya, we thought to stock up ourselves with few water bottles and snacks from a shop. It was 6 am and we looked out for a metered taxi for MorChit Bus station which is in North of Bangkok. We got into one and he left without starting the meter. I asked him to but he denied and demanded 300 baht for Mor chit bus station. He abused us and dropped after 500 meters on a busstop. We found another taxi and he agreed for 140 baht. Took 30 mins reached at 6:30 and found the ticket counter for bus to Pattaya. Tickets were 117 baht each. We got seat no. 33 and 34 which was on the second last row for bus at 7:00 am. There are buses at regular frequencies of 30-40 mins. We were asked to pay 20 baht each for 2 check in luggages .(was not required though , we got to know later while returning).

Bus was kind of okay- and took 2.5 hours and didn't stop anywhere in between. We got down at Pattaya Bus station and took a tuk tuk from the main road which took 50 baht at dropped us at the dolphin circle near Terminal 21 mall. Our hotel ( L K Emeral)was at a walking distance from there but could have also taken a free shuttle provided by them.
You also have options of bike taxis , taxi and other tuk tuk but they will charge more at bus station.

Although Our check in was at 2 pm , we reached at 10 itself, requested for early check-in but didn't get it.

We kept our luggage, got fresh and walked out to main road for brunch at La Baguette- a French bakery. Food was awesome. We spent sometime window shopping at Terminal21 before returning back to hotel and checking in.

In the evening we went down to the walking street.
You can take shared tuk tuks at 10 baht each without asking where it is heading to, or else they might charge you more all over Pattaya.

Sanctuary of Truth and Mini Siam
Had already booked the tickets from Klook.com- we got ready and took tuk tuk going towards Naklua, which dropped us at Soi 12 . We were walking towards sanctuary of Truth until the same tuk tuk requested us to hop in for a free ride until Our destination . ( We paid him 15 baht and he happily took it).

Spent an hour there and moved towards Mini Siam.

Day ended at Pattaya beach.

We also had our dinner at Panchwati Restaurant and foot massage @200 baht each at a nearby centre.

Trip to Koh Larn Island.

Tiger park (Tickets booked at Klook.com)
Some shopping at Terminal21.

Aroma Massage at Rasayana Retreat.

Took bus to MorChit back to Bangkok and Grab taxi to Hotel (P and R Residence near River City Complex.) Booked hotel through Travel spice.

The hotel was only 200 meters from the River City Complex, where we had also booked tickets for Chouphraya River Cruise through Klook.com for the evening dinner. Boarding at River City pier, this was amazing experience with Indian Buffet for 2 hours with picturesque view of Bangkok from the Chouphraya River.

After breakfast, we checked out and left our luggage. From SiPhraya Pier, got into orange flag Boat to Grand Palace. We got tickets there itself. Had some clicks and roamed around before moving to Wat Pho which was just 400 meters away.

Scam Alert #1- We we're lured by a tuk tuk guy who agreed to take us around 4 temples in only 20 baht. He explained us that on the way he will take us to Gems jewellery where we can just spend 10 minutes without buying anything, he would get free gasoline from the sponsor for just taking us there. The shopkeeper tried all his best to fool us but I researched through Trip Advisor in the meantime and got to know of the scam, and quickly escaped. Tuk Tuk guy dropped us at Wat Pho and vanished.

We spent sometime at Wat Pho and walked out, it was very hot so we decided to take another tuk tuk for nearest pier for catching boat to Wat Arun which was just on the opposite side of the river.

Scam alert #2- another auto guy lures us to take us to the nearest pier for 20 baht only from where we can take the boat to Wat Arun but takes us all around and drops us to a different pier- where few scamsters tried to convince us to take a long tail boat ride for 1000 baht in the Chouphraya. We somehow escaped and went to catch Yellow Flagged Boat to Wat Arun from Rajinee Pier.

From Wat Arun we took another boat for Icon Siam mall and back to SiPhraya Pier to walk towards our Hotel.

Took Grab Taxi from hotel to DMK airport and back to India. .

##Do you know tourists can also get their VAT Refunded - Yes.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is applied at 7% to the manufacturer price of goods before they are sold in Thailand. When shopping on your trip, it is recommended to buy in bulk at retailers display the 'VAT Refund for Tourists' sign. Purchases must meet a minimum of 5000 Baht (inc. VAT) and have been purchased from each retailer from a minimum of 2000 Baht per day.

To claim the VAT Refund you will need to keep your receipt and fill out a VAT Refund Application for Tourists Form at time of purchase. Upon departure you will need to get your receipts checked and VAT Refund Form stamped. Make sure you get it done before check-in, as the items might be checked. After you are done with security, you can go to the VAT refund counter and get your amount in Cash.
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