What to Buy at Home for Pattaya

In order to maximize your trip there are a few things you need to buy at home for Pattaya.

Some you may already have, but if you don't, start preparing by making lists of what you need and enjoy going shopping.

Here are the categories:

  • Comfortable clothes for the flight
  • Helpful things for the flight
  • Clothes you need for Pattaya
  • Personal needs in Pattaya
  • Luggage and carriers
  • Other things

Comfortable Clothes For the Flight

I hate being uncomfortable and there are not many situations more uncomfortable than sitting on a plane for 15 plus hours on the first leg of my flight to Thailand.  Finding ways to make this arduous trip more comfortable is critical.  I do see men on the airplanes wearing very uncomfortable clothes; tight jeans or pants, belts, sport coats, hats and boots.  Not me.  I value my comfort.

Here is What I Wear on the Flight:

  • My normal, comfortable, loose boxer shorts.
  • Mid-calf length wool socks.  I like to take my shoes off while on the plane but want my feet to be warm.
  • Loose, baggy, comfortable knee length cotton or at least soft shorts held up by a drawstring (no belt to remove for security or to bind in your seat).  Make sure they have deep pockets on both sides so your stuff doesn’t fall out.   Knee length to pull down over it is cold or to hike up if it is warm.
  • Short sleeved, button down, soft material shirt with breast pocket.  I keep my reading glasses and boarding passes in the pocket.
  • T-shirt under the button down shirt if I am traveling in the winter.  Not really needed if traveling in summertime.
  • Fleece jacket if I am traveling in the winter.  The jacket works as a blanket during the flight.  Again, no need if traveling in the summer
  • Comfortable, supportive tennis shoes with laces.  Good for walking through the massive airports and easy enough to take off during the flight.

Most of these clothes I already have and use in my day to day life.  The main thing I do buy at home for Pattaya are the shoes.

Helpful Things for the Flight

  • Backpack that gets stowed in the overhead bin.
  • Neck Pillow.  I have one, but so far I haven't found it to be that useful.
  • Noise cancelling earphones.  These are great
  • Reading glasses.  I need these anyway.  I keep them in my shirt breast pocket.
  • Wallet in my front right-hand pocket.
  • Cell phone in my front left-hand pocket.
  • I buy 2 large bottles of water for the long leg of the flight in the airport
  • Fanny pack that I keep on me for the flight.  

Clothes You Need for Pattaya

I bring as few clothes as possible.  I drop off my clothes at a nearby laundry nearly every day so I always have my favorites available.

  • Another pair of tennis shoes in addition to the ones I wore on the flight
  • Black ankle high socks (usually about 6 pairs).  It is too hot in Pattaya to wear long socks, but I need them for my tennis shoes
  • White ankle high socks (usually about 4 pairs).  I tend to wear the dark ones more.
  • Sandals.  I wear these around the hotel, up to the pool and for short jaunts.  If I am planning a good amount of walking, I wear my tennis shoes.
  • Nice Shorts (2 pairs) that require a belt to hold up properly
  • Loose, lounge shorts (2 pairs)
  • Belt (1)
  • Boxer shorts (usually 9)
  • Swimsuit (1)
  • T-shirts (3)
  • Tank top (1)
  • Short sleeve button down shirts (4 or 5) in addition to the one I wore on the flight
  • Hat (1)
  • Sunglasses (1)

What You Do NOT Need

  • Pants.  It is just too hot to bother with pants.
  • Hiking boots.  Again, too hot.
  • Long sleeve shirts.  Too hot.  Although, if you need more sun protection on your arms, these would be nice.  I just get into the shade as needed.
  • Enough clothes for all the days of your trip.  There are plenty of laundry's to inexpensively get your clothes cleaned every day or so.

Personal Needs in Pattaya

This is what I need.  You may need less, some may need much more.  The best way to know what you need is to take careful notes from your other travels.  What is really needed on a day to day basis and what is not.

One of the things you don't really need is some type of cologne.  Even though you may be trying to meet some Thai ladies and you know the ladies at home like nice smelling cologne, in Pattaya, it is always hot and you are taking multiple showers a day, it is a waste of time, effort and money to bring any.

  • Contact lens solution
  • Extra contacts
  • Contact lens case
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrush
  • Anti-perspirant
  • Small shave cream
  • Disposable razors
  • Cold sore medication
  • Any other medications I need
  • Dry ear for swimming
  • Condoms

Luggage and Carriers

Backpack

  • Computer with cord, mouse and extension cord
  • Cell phone charger
  • 2 extra reading glasses
  • Toiletry kit
  • 1 T-shirt
  • 1 pair of boxers
  • 1 pair of  socks
  • 1 pair of loose shorts
  • Planner book
  • Pens and pad of paper
  • Folder with important papers
  • Neck pillow
  • Noise cancelling headphones
  • Fanny pack

I take my fanny pack out of my backpack on the plane.  Stow the backpack in the overhead bin and keep my fanny pack on me or by my feet during the flight.

Fanny Pack

  • Passport
  • Big wallet with all my cash
  • Gum
  • Individual mints
  • A few packages of my favorite candy junk food
  • Wet wipes
  • Kleenex
  • Ibuprofen
  • Diarrhea medication
  • Tiny pen and some paper to write on 

Checked Bag

This will be a medium sized soft sided luggage that expands, has wheels and a pullout handle. I will put everything else in here.

Other Things to Buy at Home for Pattaya

Vitamins and Supplements

I have stumbled onto a vitamin and supplement regimen that works for me to stay healthy at home and also some extra supplements to avoid getting sick.

Here are the normal vitamins and supplements I take and when:

Every morning

  • Men’s Daily Vitamin – 1 pill
  • Vitamin C – 3 pills, 1000 mg each
  • Fish Oil – 2 pills
  • Creatine – 5 g

Twice a week – Monday and Friday morning

  • Vitamin D – 50,000 IU

Here is what I take when I first notice a cold or flu coming on (first sneeze, first cough, first sign of sniffling or throat tickle). 

  • Garlic pill – 1 pill
  • Vitamin C – 1 pill

If I take these 2 immediately, I usually bypass a cold or flu altogether with just this treatment.  Sometimes this comes on when I am not home to take these right away and I suffer with symptoms until I get home to take these.  Since I missed my opportunity to nip this in the bud, I will normally need to keep taking the garlic and vitamin C a number of times, perhaps once an hour until I think I am over it.

I usually can just keep taking this combination every 1 to 2 hours until bedtime or until the Vitamin C makes me need to have a bowel movement.

You can buy Vitamin C in the 7 – 11’s in Pattaya.

Jewelry

Everyone advises against wearing an expensive watch as it invites thieves.  Everyone also advises against wearing expensive gold jewelry as the Thais love gold.  You will see more well-off Thais wearing nice gold necklaces and bracelets.

But that is for them.  If you like to wear gold jewelry, it's fine to wear a modest amount.  I wear a decent watch and some leather or stainless steel pieces - necklace, rings and bracelets.

I like to try to buy some inexpensive jewelry in Pattaya in the night markets to wear over there and bring home.  

Like women everywhere, Thai ladies like it when men dress up a bit and wear some accessories.

Watches For Sale in Pattaya

When you're in Pattaya, there are plenty of salesmen walking around selling watches out of a box.  It is pretty well established that even though they look nice, they are fake.  I just say no, move my head from side to side and wave my hand and they move on.  But be ready to be approached.

There are some nice watch stores in Pattaya.  Those have the real ones for sale if you'd like to add to your collection.

Buy at Home for Pattaya Wrap Up

I find taking care of the things to buy at home for Pattaya to be one of the easier things and satisfying things to to prepare for a Pattaya trip.  I need these things.  They don't cost that much and they make the trip very easy, comfortable and more fun.