Im going to pattaya in 3 weeks with some friends.
Im looking forward to my fun in the sun so much, but am slightly worried about all the negative things ive heard about things such as the police, scams and violence….
I will be fine cos im going with a few lads, but am still interested in knowing all i can about such things…
Have you been to pattaya and whats it like at night?
topics- police, saftey, taxis/tuk tuks, girls, bars, hotels, money etc
From Bangkok you can get a VIP bus from the Ekamai bus terminal that will take under 2.5 hours to get to Pattaya. The price of this ride is less than 120 baht. From the Pattaya bus terminal you can get a parked baht bus for 20 baht that will take you to Beach Road. Any other time you take a baht bus in Pattaya City the ride will be 10 baht if you wave a MOVING baht bus down, hop on and only pay 10 baht when you get off. Check the below travel forums for more specifics.
Choose a hotel that is close or near to Pattaya 2nd Road or a side soi. This way you can walk to many areas and be able to take the baht bus south on Beach Road or north on Pattaya 2nd Road. (Read how to take baht bus on TripAdvisor Forum.)
When you need hotel recommendations mention how much you want to pay for your room so you will get prices that match your budget. Beer bars are cheaper than go-go bars.
If you rent a motor bike you can figure that one of you may be in a serious accident, especially if it is a high power bike and you are drunk! I think I read somewhere that bikes kill more Brits than anything else in Thailand!
No tuk-tuks in Pattaya. In Bangkok tuk-tuks are more expensive for tourists than meter taxi cabs by the way. Safety wise don’t wear gold chains and bring valuable stuff with you. Some tourist might steal it from you. Don’t flash money around. If you are not sure of a price for something ask a long term expat or frequent tourist what to pay – don’t ask a Thai what to pay for something! Lots of bars on Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road from the dolphin statue to Walking Street. You can swim at the beach in Jomtien but don’t do it at Pattaya Beach. Pattaya Beach is okay for walking, sunbathing, bars, malls, movie theaters, restaurants, street vendors but don’t swim in the water it is too dirty.
Map of Pattaya (Pattaya Sai Song is Pattaya 2nd Road:)
http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/pattaya_map/pattaya_map_pattaya.html
Virtual Tourist
http://forum.virtualtourist.com/forum-1449746-1-Travel-Pattaya-1-forum.html
TripAdvisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g293919-i9439-Pattaya.html
Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forum
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/index.jspa
Thai Visa Forum
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?act=idx
Travellerspoint
http://www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm
If you Google up Pattaya Bars you will get tons of hits:
http://www.google.co.th/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Pattaya+Bars&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=Pattaya+Bars&fp=2696560fd18d6eb2
Good luck.
Well my friend you and your mates are going to The Party Capital of the World and Pattaya is safer then Brighton.
Start off my not getting ripped off at BKK airport by taxi – can cost at least 1200 – 1500 bht one way there and 800-1200bht back.
use belltravelservice.com who will get you to pattaya and then to you hotel for only 200bht each.
First bit of advice is show Thai people respect at all times.
Second bit of advice is not get drunk as thats when you always have problems.
Only take out what you need for night and leave your valuables and passport in hotels safe or hotel deposit box.
During the day I suggest you get on a Baht Bus , 10bht per Journey each and go to Soi 6.
Then go to Soi 7 and Soi 8 where you will find plenty of Bars and Thai Ladies.
Up to you what you do next but you can still go down to Beach road get another Baht Bus which will go to Walking street for more Bars, Boxing, Showgirls.
Pattaya is 24hr so pace yourself – baht buses run all night and unless you are staying at a very expensive hotel then the Hotels are guest friendly and do not charge you extra.
If you need more advice I suggest you mail me.
Well…….. your not going to find Pattaya, Pattaya is going to find you!
It will be a life changing experience for you, and completely alter the way you carry on every day.
Trying to tell you all the pros and cons will only minimize a truly humbling and beautiful experience.
Enjoy!!
Drunk Brits are there own worst enemy. Keep a clear head and chances are you won’t have any problems.
tuk tuk’s fair can be over charge. the fair shouldn’t be over 60 baht (depends on distance). taxi’s metered cant be over charge so i think taxi is better!
Yes i have lived in pattaya and its a lot of fun…
BUT…..
Do not disrespect or try to impose yourselves – granted Thais are very liberal and open minded in Pattaya, morso than other places. BUt i have also seen a lot of people get beaten sensless and thrown in jail..
Its basically just alcohol and girls… and money money money
SO if you take a girl, make sure you pay for it.. there is no such thing as a free meal ticket in Pattaya. you pay either way, just be nice and you will pay less.
be nice with everyone and they will be nice with you. dont go shouting at thais or showing off. dont go singing national football anthems in walking street. and dont disrespect this wonderful open minded country which is one of a kind in the entire world.
dont drink so much that you cannot walk or get out of a bad situation. there are plenty of bad people in pattaya that if they see you as an easy target… your wallet and wellbeing will be gone..
now enjoy and one last note from a professional pattaya goer.
DONT stay at the same hotel for too long. If you want to enjoy more girls with less hassle, and also get a change of scenary and not burn yourself out. circulate about 3 hotels during your stay, that way the girls you meet or bring back wont come knocking each and every night to meet your latest friends…
This is a good hotel website i found for basically every hotel in pattaya and every promotion..
http://ido24.com/cosmedicjetaways.com
Enjoy and always play safe…. BIG box from seven eleven hint hint