If you're landing at midnight, I'd just grab a taxi straight to Pattaya. The highway's dead at that hour so you'll make it in about 90 minutes, versus wasting half your first day on the BKK shuffle. Check-in is no problem at 3am as long as you've told the hotel ahead of time, lots of places on Second Road and Soi Buakhao are used to late arrivals. You'll wake up on Beach Road with a full day ahead instead of staring at a hotel ceiling in Bangkok.

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just crash in bkk near the airport, grab a nap and head down after breakfast. pattaya's fun but it's a 2 hour drive and you'll be exhausted at 3am, not exactly the best first impression

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mate it's a week in pattaya not a backpacking gap year come on. land at midnight take the bus from the airport to pattaya you'll be on walking street by 2am watching the show. three hours of sleep before a full day beats two nights in bkk.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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