Siam City hotel is only a few minutes walk from the skytrain, so easy enough to get around the city centre. If you like your old wooden buildings, on the opposite side of the road is Suan Pakkard Palace. This is a collection of old wooden buildings that used to be home to a princess. Just as nice as Jim Thompson's house or Vimanek Palace but far less visited.

A meter taxi from city centre Bkk - Pattaya can be had for 1500 baht. (When you are in the taxi from the airport into Bkk you'll probably see a rate for long distance fares - in theory you can take a Bangkok taxi to Chiang Mai for well under 100 quid.) For going to Pattaya it's probably best to get your hotel reception to call the taxi firm direct rather than you stand on the street trying to flag down a cab. (There are some big estate taxis that could take 5 people & bags easily but you'd have to order one in advance as 5 adults & suitcases in an old Corolla would be a squeze.)