Coral Island, Koh Larn. Is a short speedboat hop off Pattaya, and a full day buys time to find the quieter beaches on the far side. Parasailing, banana boats, a long seafood lunch under a beach umbrella. The water gets clearer the further you walk from the pier.

The drive into Bangkok ends at the temples. Wat Pho's reclining Buddha is forty-six metres of gold leaf, the soles of its feet inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Shoulders and knees covered, shoes off at the door. The half-day tour barely scratches the old royal island.

Safari World is a drive-through animal park plus a marine park of dolphin and sea-lion shows. Entirely for the children, and they don't stop talking about it. Allow the full morning; the show schedule runs to a tight clock and you'll want to catch the orangutan boxing.

The last evening goes to a Bangkok night market. Silk, street pad thai cooked in a flaming wok, mango sticky rice from a cart. The vendors quote high and expect you to halve it; the haggling is part of the transaction, not a fight.