Solo Travel in Thailand: Chonburi to Pattaya Guide

Back from my very first trip abroad (THINGS TO DO IN LAKE COMO, LUGANO & MILAN), can you believe it? Within just two months (Rome), I found myself on my first solo adventure. It wouldn't have happened without my girlfriend, who was at Amata Golf & Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand, organizing a golf tournament. She was amazing. Without her, I wouldn't have even considered traveling alone, especially for the first time. I owe her so much. 

But it's heartbreaking to think she's no longer here. She passed away a few years ago from breast cancer in her early 50s. I miss her to this day. I was there for her through everything, from her chemotherapy to her funeral. It still brings tears to my eyes.

 

But let's put that aside for a moment. I booked my flight to Bangkok, and my husband saw me off at the check-in. I was shaking with nerves as I went through the procedures, basically following others, and made it on board in one piece.

 

Arriving in Bangkok on a Friday, I was nervous again as I waited in line for immigration clearance. I struck up conversations with some ladies in the same queue, and it hit me that for Western women, traveling solo is normal. But for me, it was a big deal, especially knowing many Indian women who still wouldn't dare to travel alone (SEOUl, KOREA: A JOURNEY THROUGH MY EYES).

 

After nearly two hours, I received a disapproving look from a lady for clearing immigration—only she knows why. What a relief it was to find my bright pink luggage set aside rather than going missing. Note to self: bright and unique luggage has its advantages. Thankfully, the taxi my friend arranged was still waiting outside the airport. As we drove to Chonburi, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The rest of the day was spent catching up with my friend at one of the luxurious bungalows in Amata Golf & Country Club. The view of the lake and the surrounding nature was breathtaking and so peaceful.

The next day, my friend had to work, so I found myself alone in the bungalow, feeling bored out of my mind. To make it worse, there was no Wi-Fi connection. On Sunday, I tagged along with her and her colleagues to Siam Country Plantation Golf Course. While they were busy with work, I stood by myself, staring at the golf course for at least an hour, not wanting to intrude on their discussions, questioning if coming along was the right decision. But lunch at the coffee house made up for it. Trying Thai food in Thailand for the first time was a delight; the Tom Yum soup was particularly unlike anything I'd tasted before.

From there, we went to Pattaya, and it was chaos - traffic jams, struggling to find parking, and following my friend into Central Mall as she focused on picking up food and groceries at the supermarket. Feeling that I must at least see Pattaya beach, I excused myself, got out of the mall, crossed the road, and there it was—the beach packed with people. It felt like a daytime party, with people enjoying drinks and a bit of romance thrown in. I found a shaded spot but was indirectly shooed away for not ordering a drink.

On the way back to Chonburi, we stopped for Thai street food—mango sticky rice and other toppings like spicy-sweet sauces and dried shrimp. We packed some Thai rice, opting for the dishes we wanted. Back at the golf course, we dove into the food, which was delicious! Thankfully, the street food didn't upset my stomach, as some people warned it might. I suppose my tummy is well-trained from Malaysian street food.

Feeling bored again, I decided to join one of my friend's colleagues on a ride to Bangkok for my solo adventure the next day.

 

Planning Your First Solo Adventure

While I don’t want to place blame on my friend, this first solo trip made me realize an important lesson: never rely on others to make your travel experience memorable. It's essential to arrange your own accommodations rather than staying with someone else. Meeting up for meals can be a great way to connect without feeling tied down.

 

There were moments I won't delve into, but they left me feeling at the mercy of others, needing to follow their lead in every situation. Though I regretted some of those choices, I was ultimately grateful for the decision to pack my bags and embark on my solo journey to Bangkok.

There’s nothing quite like the independence of traveling alone; it frees you from relying on anyone else and allows you to explore at your own pace.

Don’t miss out on hearing about my Bangkok solo adventure—stay tuned!