Pattaya



Pattaya (พัทยา) is a seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand, about 150 km southeast of Bangkok. Pattaya is mostly famous for its go-go and beer bars, but local authorities have made some efforts to provide more family-friendly attractions and activities. Although the sex industry is still going strong, Pattaya also attracts domestic and international tourists. If you are going to be offended by the sight of old western men holding hands with young Thai women, then Pattaya is not the place for you.

Efforts by local authorities over the past few years have improved the quality of the beaches, but they are still lacklustre by Thailand's standards, and overdevelopment has long since destroyed some of the natural charms the area once had. However, the plethora of hotels and guest houses, and easy access from the capital and airport, make it a popular weekend getaway. Catering for over five million annual visitors, Pattaya is also able to offer an excellent range of eating options and a wide variety of things to do. Its population is a colourful mix of nationalities and ethnicities from near and far. On weekends and holidays, Pattaya Beach is crowded with domestic visitors, many of them day-trippers, from Bangkok and surroundings, since it's a 2-hour drive from the nation's capital. On these occasions, the daytime might not be so comfortable for some foreign tourists, but at night, everything goes as usual.

Pattaya occupies most of the coastline of Bang Lamung District (one of the eleven districts that comprise Chonburi Province). This article only deals with Pattaya proper, which spans the areas to the east of Naklua Beach and Pattaya Beach, plus the Buddha Hill headland (which is immediately south of Pattaya Beach). Jomtien is covered in a separate article, and contains Jomtien Beach and the areas east of it, including Dongtan Beach. The beaches of Jomtien are much broader and generally in a better shape, and the atmosphere locally is more sedate and family-oriented than at Pattaya Beach.

Orientation


Pattaya's downtown area is easy to get around. Running north-south, a few hundred metres apart, are Beach Rd (Thanon Hat Pattaya, sometimes also referred to as First Rd) which borders the main beach (Hat Pattaya), Pattaya Second Rd and Pattaya Third Rd (with the smaller but busy Soi Buakhao in between), and the main Sukhumvit Road coastal highway. Beach Rd is one-way (southbound), likewise Second Rd (northbound) -- this is the main circuit of the songthaews that cruise downtown.

These are connected by the three major east–west aligned roads: North Pattaya Rd (Thanon Pattaya Nua), Central Pattaya Rd (Thanon Pattaya Klang) and South Pattaya Rd (Thanon Pattaya Tai). North Pattaya Rd is a dual carriageway and carries the highest volume of traffic to and from Sukhumvit Rd.

Also connecting Beach Rd and Second Ro are a large number of smaller streets or "sois". The main sois are numbered from 1 to 16, from north to south. Sois 1-6 are between north Pattaya Rd and central Pattaya Rd; sois 7-13 are between Central Pattaya Rd and South Pattaya Rd (including the "Pattayaland" sois, immediately north of south Pattaya Rd); sois 14-16 are south of south Pattaya Rd. Most of these east–west sois are (in theory at least) one-way.

Beach Rd, Second Rd, and north Pattaya Rd (plus Naklua Rd to the north) all meet at the Dolphin Roundabout landmark.

Second Rd south of South Pattaya Rd becomes Pratamnak Rd, which shares a junction with both the southern end of Third Rd and the northern end of the main road to Jomtien, Tappraya Rd.

Beach Rd south of south Pattaya Rd is closed to vehicles in the evenings (18:00-02:00) and is called Walking Street; it's the main tourist area, both for nightlife and shopping. Other major tourism areas include the section of Second Rd between sois 1–4, and the sois immediately north of south Pattaya Rd.

At the south end of Walking Street is the New Pier, usually called Bali Hai Pier (sometimes "Pattaya Pier" or "South Pier"). The Old Pier, close to the junction of Beach Rd and south Pattaya Rd, is still shown on most maps but was dismantled and removed at the beginning of 2006.

Sub-districts
Pattaya's coastal side is divided longitudinally into six contiguous sub-districts. Each one is named after the section of beach or headland at its seaboard.

In the middle are the three Pattaya Bay sub-districts, which share the main baht bus route (so most places are within 5 minutes/10 baht of most other places, at any hour) and have much else in common, and hence in combination make up the main quasi-downtown zone:


 * North Pattaya (Pattaya Nua) - not the northernmost part of Pattaya (as Naklua lies further north), but the section of Pattaya adjacent to the northern end of Pattaya Beach and extending inland to both the north and south of North Pattaya Rd. Does not include Naklua.
 * South Pattaya (Pattaya Tai) - not the southernmost part of Pattaya (as the Buddha Hill headland, and then Jomtien, lie further south), but the section of Pattaya adjacent to the southern end of Pattaya Beach and extending inland to both the north and south of South Pattaya Rd. Includes Pattayaland and Walking Street. Does not include Buddha Hill or Jomtien.
 * Central Pattaya (Pattaya Klang) - not the dead centre of Pattaya, but the section of Pattaya adjacent to the middle of Pattaya Beach and extending inland to both the north and south of Central Pattaya Rd. Some maps/guides disregard the central Pattaya convention, and instead extend north Pattaya and south Pattaya to meet each other along central Pattaya Rd; sometimes, Beach Rd is described with a similar division, and the respective halves given "North Beach Rd" and "South Beach Rd" monikers.

Flanking the Pattaya Beach sub-districts are:


 * Naklua - immediately north of north Pattaya, and with quick, frequent, and inexpensive transport to and from the rest of Pattaya; Naklua is popular with visitors whose native language is German. In terms of tourism-related locations, it's the smallest and least significant sub-district, the main attractions being the beaches (which are quieter than Pattaya Beach) and the Sanctuary of Truth.
 * Buddha Hill/ Pratumnak - named after the Buddha Hill landmark and sandwiched between south Pattaya (to the north) and Jomtien (to the south). The area surrounding Buddha Hill (as far as the beaches) is referred to as Pratumnak and is noted for its undulating or steep Sois and numerous high rise towers & hotels. Also a quieter part of Pattaya but without a regular songthaew service, limiting public transport options to motorbike or regular taxis (or the Bolt app).

In practice, exactly where each sub-district ends and the next begins is a very grey area as none of the boundaries lie along major roads, and none of the many readily available tourist maps attempts to define boundaries at this level; nevertheless they do provide a handy rough guide to approximate latitude. Further inland, the sub-district names are used less, and locality/road names take precedence - for example, an address might state "Sukhumvit, Naklua" which is useful in that it makes it clear the location is to the north of the Sukhumvit/North Pattaya Road intersection, however exactly the same place would not normally be described simply as being "in Naklua" as that would give the misleading impression of it being in the main beachside/tourism area further west.

East Pattaya also known as Darkside is to the east of Sukhumvit Rd and the railway line. It is mostly a residential area with few hotels. It has bars, clubs, golf courses and restaurants serving the needs of locals but some Pattaya tourist attractions like the crocodile farm and elephant village are located there, too.

Jomtien an outlier part of Pattaya, is also primarily a residential area but has become a good alternative stay for tourists with accommodation options ranging from cheap guest houses to 5-star hotels (primarily along Jomtien Beach Road). If you are on a budget and don't mind a quieter location, it can be good value for money. It is well served by the songthaew network which stretches from the southern end of Jomtien Beach Road all the way to Pattaya along Second Road. Return trips to Jomtien start at at the intersection of South Pattaya Road & Second Road just outside the school.

Jomtien has several tourist attractions of its own but is primarily preferred for its beach which stretches for about 6km with a more south-westerly aspect towards the Gulf of Thailand.

History
Pattaya's name was originally "Thap Phraya", meaning Army of the Phraya - commemorating the surrender of Nai Klom's army to that of Phraya Tak (later King Taksin the Great), without a fight. Thap Phraya became Phatthaya (the name of the north-easterly wind at the beginning of the rainy season), and then Phatthaya (the true phonetic spelling).

American GIs fighting in Vietnam made Pattaya the most popular R & R destination and eventually a world-famous tourist magnet. From its beginning in 1959 with a small private bungalow where American officers on leave took turns to come and rest, this sleepy village by the sea has grown and changed dramatically into one of the world's tourism hot spots. The opening of the new Suvarnabhumi Airport (to the east of Bangkok, alongside the expressway to Pattaya) has made visiting easier than ever.

Pattaya is popular not only as a beach resort and for its entertainment, night life and shopping, but also for the broad selection of pastimes it caters for, from golf and horseback riding to bungee jumping, karting and shooting - not to mention a wide variety of watersports such as scuba diving, jet-skiing, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, and a whole lot more.

The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) Information Office is just outside the centre, exactly 1 km south of the junction of Second Rd and South Pattaya Rd. Proceed along Pratamnak Rd, continue straight up the hill, and where the road bears sharp right part way up, turn sharp left into the small side soi. Worth a visit if you're in Pattaya for an extended period and want to browse for fresh ideas for new things to do/see. Open daily, 08:30-16:30, tel. +66 38 428750 / 8990 / 7667 or use the TAT freephone number: dial 1672 or e-mail: [mailto:tatchon@tat.or.th]

Read

 * The city-produced "Official Map of Pattaya" is available at Pattaya City Hall, and may also be available from the Pattaya Police, the Tourist Police and the Immigration Police.
 * The city-produced "Official Map of Pattaya" is available at Pattaya City Hall, and may also be available from the Pattaya Police, the Tourist Police and the Immigration Police.

By car
Pattaya is 150 km from Bangkok and can be reached in a comfortable 2 hr drive. There are two convenient ways to get there:


 * Via the Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway (Hwy 7). The motorway is linked with Bangkok's Outer Ring Rd, (Hwy 9) and there is also another entrance at Si Nakharin and Rama IX junction.
 * Via Bang Na-Trat Hwy 34. From Bang Na, Bang Phli, cross the Bang Pakong River to Chonburi and take Chonburi's bypass to meet Sukhumvit Rd, (Hwy 3, passing Bang Saen Beach, Bang Phra to Pattaya.

By plane
Bangkok Airways flies to/from Ko Samui and Phuket. Flights from Pattaya to Ko Samui are usually slightly less expensive than BKK to Ko Samui ones. Air Asia offer direct flights to Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket and Udon Thani in Thailand and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Thai Lion Air also flies from Chiang Mai and That VietJet Air flies from Ho Chi Minh City. There are many seasonal charter flights from various Russian cities as well.

Ground transportation:

The easiest way to transfer between U-Tapao and Pattaya is by direct door-to-door minibus. Three different companies operate on this route and deliver passengers to their hotels, including Bangkok Air's and Air Asia's minibuses. Pre-booking is not required and buses can be found at the front doors of the airport. However, pre-booking surface transport might be essential, as competitively priced door-to-door transfer services may not be available on arrival. Driving time is normally about 30-50 minutes. 150 baht at the front doors. If you don't get one to where you specifically want to go, note that it may drop you at the North Bus Station (which is still a far distance from the Beach strip). The Songathaew drivers know this, and will always ask for another 150 baht from the North Bus Station to the Beach/Walking Street (it should be 10 baht, though).

If speed and convenience don't matter, the ad hoc option is to hop on virtually any bus on Sukhumvit Rd. Going south, if it's a bus that terminates at Sattahip you'll have to swap buses or finish the journey by songthaew; if it's going further east (e.g., Rayong, Chanthaburi or Trat) it'll drop you off at the airport entrance as it goes by. Going north, wait for a bus that's going further than Sattahip and then you won't need to transfer. Alternatively, you can use the white songthaews that travel Sukhumvit Rd between Pattaya and Sattahip.

Or to buck the trend big time, go by rail (3rd class, weekdays only) between Pattaya and Sattahip. Get off just before or after the line crosses Hwy 3, and connect with the airport by songthaew or bus. It's a 40-50 minute train ride. Departs Pattaya 10:18, arrives Sattahip 11:00; departs Sattahip 13:30, arrives Pattaya 14:21. But don't forget, no trains on Saturdays or Sundays.

Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport is only 110 km from Pattaya (40 km closer than Don Mueang). Transfers by road are inexpensive and quick (around 80–90 minutes in dry weather, 120 minutes in wet weather) and getting quicker as the upgrades to the connecting highway are completed.

Taxis are a fairly inexpensive way to travel, especially at night. Fares from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya should be negotiated with the driver in advance. You should confirm the rate before leaving the taxi rank. At quiet hours you may be able to negotiate downward. Passengers will be expected to pay the two tolls en route.

Unlicensed taxis may try to solicit business from you, and it is important to note that these drivers do not have proper accreditation. Similarly, solicitations to take a metered and apparently licensed taxi from the departure level is an attempt to avoid the airport fee (or for the driver to pocket it.)

It is also possible to arrange airport pickup through most hotels, and through any number of local taxi brokers. Fees through less expensive local hotels are generally the same as the standard metered taxi rate, with larger resorts and international chain hotels often charging much higher rates. There are also local prearranged cars.

Return fares from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport are 800 baht plus tolls for a returning metered taxi if arranged in advance. They may not be available at the last minute.

Don Mueang Airport
Don Mueang Airport is where low-cost carriers (domestic and international) like Air Asia and Nok Air fly from. The easiest way to transfer is by taxi; the cheapest alternative is to go by bus via Mo Chit (Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal).

By bus
Pattaya is a mess for bus travellers unless they are going to Bangkok. There is no single bus station as in most Thai towns. Going to Bangkok, you go to the "Air Conditioned Bus Terminal Pattaya-Bangkok" (that's the real name) on North Road. If you want to go to Chiang Mai, Ubon, Surin, Nan, or elsewhere, you've got to find the Nakhonchai Air bus terminal (inland side Sukhumvit Road). To Hua Hin (via Suvarnabhumi Airport) it's the Yellow Bus Company or Bell Travel/Roong Reuang. To Udon, it's the 407 Bus Company Station. There are other small bus stations for other destinations. There is no comprehensive guide to stations or destinations. Travel "agencies" are not much help as there is no money in buses for them. Best bet is to ask at your hotel. Motorbike taxi drivers are another good source. They know where all the stations are, even if they don't know the routes they service.

From Bangkok
1st class buses from Bangkok to the North Pattaya Rd bus station are air-con, almost always have an on-board toilet, are essentially direct (i.e., no stops), and provide a no fuss, no frills, hassle-free service. Departures from the Eastern (Ekamai) Terminal and Northern (Mo Chit 2) Terminal are frequent (every 20–40 minutes, depending on the time of day; more frequent still on public holiday weekends) and usually take 2-2½ hours. Those from the Southern (Sai Tai Taling Chan สายใต้ตลิ่งชัน) Bus Terminal are less frequent and take a little longer.

Departures:
 * Ekamai (East) to Pattaya: first 05:40, last 21:00
 * Pattaya to Ekamai (East): first 04:30, last 23:00
 * Mo Chit 2 (North) to Pattaya: first 05:40, last 19:00
 * Pattaya to Mo Chit 2 (North): first 05:20, last 20:00
 * Sai Tai Mai (South) to Pattaya: 05:30, 08:30, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:30
 * Pattaya to Sai Tai Mai (South): 06:00, 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00

Fares may vary slightly depending on the route taken. For example, at busy times when the Mo Chit service uses the elevated express toll way, a marginally higher fare applies. However, exact prices are always clearly posted at the official ticket counters.

All 1st class direct services from Bangkok use the redeveloped bus station on North Pattaya Rd. These buses are usually full when they depart, and must be boarded at the terminus. Tickets are sold at the bus station; it's not possible to pre-book these services more than an hour or so in advance. Usually, if the bus that's due to leave next is already full, there will be seats available on the next one. The longest queues are for the very early morning departures from Pattaya. To get a seat on the first bus of the day you need to be in the ticket queue at least 30–40 minutes early. The bonus is that these pre-rush hour services can take as little as 90 minutes to get to Bangkok.

From the North Pattaya Rd bus station, dark-blue songthaews (a cross between a pickup truck, a share-taxi, a local bus) depart when full (every few minutes). The standard fare is low, however usually they will charge 150-200 baht. If you wait with a group, the driver may go down to 50. The key is to flag the songthaew while it's driving, and try to get on the back without talking to the driver; this would be about 25 baht, if you succeed. Press the buzzer button on the underside of the roof when you want to get off.

Pattaya to the Eastern (Ekamai) Terminal: if requested, this bus will stop at the On Nut Skytrain Station on Sukhumvit Rd. Depending on your final destination and the traffic conditions, you may want to transfer to the Skytrain (system map) there. If so, wait until the bus departs Pattaya and then confirm with the crew that you want to be dropped off at "On Nut". This bus does not stop to pick up passengers at On Nut (or anywhere else) on the outbound leg. Also on request the bus will stop along the Bangna-Trat Expressway opposite the Central Department Store, Bangna.

Pattaya from/to the Southern (Sai Tai Mai) Terminal: if the direct bus is fully booked, take the Eastern (Ekamai) Terminal bus instead, and use the #511 (air-con, every 30 minutes 24/7) bus to connect between Ekamai and Sai Tai Mai.

Pattaya from/to Suvarnabhumi Airport: Bell Travel Tel. +66 38 3700556, +66 2 7474673 to Airport: 06:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 and to Pattaya: 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 18:00. Their bus travels directly from the terminal building to the northern bus station. This service includes van transfers from/to your hotel in the 240 baht price, although they will not go to hotels on Sukhumvit Rd or at Chaiyapruek Rd or further. You need to go to Bell Travel's website to book your travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya. They don't accept walk-in requests.

Pattaya from/to Suvarnabhumi Airport: Government bus 389 143 baht (as of December 2023): Hourly 07:00-22:00. The bus departs directly from the airport at Level 1 and makes stops along Sukhumvit Rd at Pattaya Nua Rd (north), Pattaya Klang Rd (middle), Pattaya Tai Rd (south) and its bus station at the south end of Thepprasit Rd in Jomtien. However, the 21:00 and 22:00 buses drive to the bus station at Pattaya Nua Rd (north). Departures to the airport from the bus station in Jomtien are hourly 07:00-21:00 without any stops.

Second class bus
2nd class services (air-con, usually no on-board toilet) don't use the expressways, and make frequent (and sometimes lengthy) stops, hence they take considerably longer than their 1st class counterparts (which at worst will only halt momentarily once or twice to let passengers jump off on the final approaches to their destination). The difference in price doesn't amount to much.

Many 2nd class buses from Bangkok continue on to Jomtien, so may be worth considering if that's your final destination and you're not in a hurry. For travel from Jomtien to Bangkok they have the advantage that they can be flagged down and boarded as they crawl along Jomtien's seafront road (Jomtien Beach Road - Thanon Hat Jomtien), avoiding the need for a preliminary trip to the bus station.

The terminus for 2nd class services to/from Bangkok and other short-haul destinations is on South Pattaya Road, but in practice these buses pick up and drop off the majority of their passengers en route. Tickets are sold both at the bus station (although advance booking may not be possible) and on the bus itself.

The airport bus service from Suvarnabhumi Airport is direct from the airport and terminates at Jomtien Beach Rd & Soi Chaiyapruek. There are 5 return trips either way per day.

From Chiang Mai
Nakhonchai Air buses depart from the Nakhonchai Air Terminal at Chiang Mai's Arcade bus station (behind Terminal 2) regularly throughout the day. Travel time is about 11 hr, with no stops longer than 5 min. Buses arrive at Pattaya's Nakhonchai Air Terminal on Sukhumvit Rd.

From/to Hua Hin/Cha-am
Roong Rueang Coach in conjunction with Bell Travel Service runs a daily bus from Hua Hin/Cha-am to Pattaya. It leaves Hua Hin Bus Station (between Sois 96 and 98) daily at 11:00, stopping to pick-up passengers in Cha-am at the bus stop at the Government Savings Bank at 11:30. Fare is 389 baht. Drop off in Pattaya at the Pattaya Bus Station on N Pattaya Road. Buses from Pattaya Bus Station on N Pattaya Road to Hua Hin/Cha-am depart daily at 11:00. Fare is 389 baht. Drop-off points are the Cha-am intersection (bus stop at Bangkok Bank) and the Hua Hin Bus Station (between Sois 96 and 98). Reservations may be made on 12GO.

From Udon Thani and points north
The 407 Bus Company runs buses daily from Nong Khai/Udon to Rayong, stopping on Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya. Their station in Udon is in front of Bus Terminal Number 1 on a main street. Their last bus departs Udon at 20:50 arriving Pattaya about 06:00. It stops at various places such as Khon Kaen en route, and can be boarded at any stop. A VIP seat is 636 baht (Oct 2015).

By minibus/minivan

 * Bangkok - minibuses run between Pattaya and Bangkok's hotels and Khao San Road, offering the convenience of a door-to-door service. Departure times vary, but 09:00, 12:00, and 17:30 are the most widely advertised. Driving time is about 2 hours, however it can take quite a bit longer overall (especially if you're the first to be collected and the last to be dropped off). One such service runs direct between Pattaya Dynasty Inn (Soi 13) and Bangkok Dynasty Inn (Soi Nana), and can be arranged through the Dynasty Inn reception desks.
 * Eastern Bus Terminal next to Ekamai BTS station: vans to Pattaya. T-Tour tel. +66 80 0906540.
 * Ban Phe (gateway to Ko Samet) - about 90 minutes; departures typically 07:30, 11:30, 15:00.
 * Laem Ngop (gateway to Ko Chang) - about 3 hours; departs 09:00.

It's also possible to travel by minibus to Hat Lek (for the southernmost border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia), but not every day of the week. this service may or may not go via Laem Ngop, depending on overall demand. depart 07:30, arrive around 14:00, Tu and F only, but liable to change, so enquire locally for the latest schedule.

Travel agencies (ubiquitous throughout Pattaya) plus many hotels/guesthouses sell minibus tickets, and tourist-oriented services such as these invariably include collection from your hotel/guesthouse/wherever (allow extra time for this - times quoted above are approximate transit times and make no allowance for the vagaries of the collection process).

By taxi
Public taxis serving the airport must have a meter, be air-conditioned, and be less than five years old. The driver should have an Airports of Thailand certificate.

To Bangkok - widely advertised in Pattaya (the lower price is because it'll be a Bangkok cab returning home), and easily arranged through most travel agencies and hotels/guesthouses. The driver pay commission to the agency, if you can hail one yourself you might be able to negotiate lower. Minibuses can also be chartered taxi-style.

From Bangkok - prices range from the official meter-taxi rate to a way higher price; arranged car services will tend toward the higher end, but licensed meter-taxis should be negotiable to the lower end of the range. Allow about 90–120 minutes, depending on where in Bangkok you're coming from; more around rush hour.

From Suvarnabhumi Airport - there is an official meter-taxi price to Pattaya plus the highway ("motorway" or "expressway") toll (this isn't necessary outside peak times, when travelling down below is just as fast). Allow around 80–90 minutes in favourable conditions.

Scams to watch out for when headed for Bangkok by taxi include being told that the pre-paid price is fully inclusive, but then, on arrival at the first toll booth, being told that the expressway fees are extra.

Many of the more upmarket hotels can arrange (for an additional fee) to have you met at the airport gate by a personal driver with a limousine, thus avoiding the need to negotiate with taxi drivers, or you can book a limousine in advance on-line

By train
Provided it's a weekday, the most economical way to travel between Pattaya and Bangkok by public transport is by rail. The one-way fare is just 31 baht, and if you've never experienced a 3rd class Thai ordinary Train No. 283/284, this can be an interesting experience.

From Monday to Friday, a single daily 3rd class (non-air-con) train departs Bangkok's Hualamphong Train Station at 06:50 and arrives at the main Pattaya station at 10:18 before continuing on to Sattahip. It then returns via Pattaya at 14:21 and terminates back in Bangkok at 17:40 (on Saturdays and Sundays it turns back to Bangkok at Chachoengsao, so is of no practical use for getting to or from Pattaya on weekends). Regardless of direction, simply turn up and buy a ticket at the station. This train can't be pre-booked.

There is a surcharge for transporting a bicycle (up to 20 kg) between any two points on this line (i.e., Bangkok-Sattahip).

Tickets for other journeys can be purchased (up to a maximum of 60 days in advance) at the Pattaya Train Station ticket office between 08:00 and 16:00. The same tickets can also be arranged through Pattaya agencies, who will add on mark-up to cover their assistance and the cost of sending a moto-taxi to collect the tickets from the station.

Travelling by train although is the most economical, is far less comfortable than travelling by bus (train is non-air-con, not very clean and no toilet). Also travelling by train takes longer time, as much as 3.5 hours compared to bus 1½-2½ hours.

Pattaya has two train stations, both just east of Sukhumvit Rd:
 * Getting there: a songthaew waits here for the train to arrive and charges a reasonable 30 baht/person to anywhere in the Pattaya Beach area. In the opposite direction, budget around 40-50 baht for a motorbike taxi from Beach Rd.
 * Getting there: a songthaew waits here for the train to arrive and charges a reasonable 30 baht/person to anywhere in the Pattaya Beach area. In the opposite direction, budget around 40-50 baht for a motorbike taxi from Beach Rd.



By songthaew
Apart from a handful of privately operated examples, Pattaya has no tuk-tuks and most ad hoc local transport is undertaken by a flotilla of over 700 dark blue coloured songthaews - pickup trucks used as buses (hence the local term "Bahtbus"). The Bahtbus fare is the same for trips within Pattaya for locals and foreigners, and is usually 10 baht. Having the correct change is by no means essential, but does keep the potential hassle factor to a minimum. Some drivers will short-change you on a 20 baht note if you don't act like you know what you're doing, but most will return the correct amount. Avoid asking destination (or talking to the driver at all) when riding a songthaew, as many drivers will charge you a lot of money (100-200 baht, as its considered a private journey). If you know the direction of where you're going, it's recommended you just wave at the truck to stop, get on the back, and ride the songthaew without talking to the driver. That way you will just pay the normal fare per person no matter how far you go.

Flat fares only apply when operating as a bus. Beware of the driver of an otherwise empty songthaew, especially one that's parked at the roadside, who might presume (or decide on your behalf) that you want to charter him as a taxi, in which case expect a much higher fare, depending on your negotiating skills. Taxis in Pattaya do not use meters at all.

The busiest route is the beach circuit: from the junction of Second Rd and South Pattaya Rd, north along Second Rd to the Dolphin Circle roundabout; then south along the full length of Beach Rd; then briefly east along South Pattaya Rd to complete the loop. Frequency is virtually non-stop, and even at the most unlikely hours, average waiting time is literally no more than a minute, often only a few seconds during daytime hours.

Routes sometimes vary. For example, with a left turn (from Beach Rd or Second Rd) into Central Pattaya Rd; or no left turn at the Dolphin Circle roundabout (where Second Rd, Beach Rd and North Pattaya Rd meet) and going straight on to Naklua (or even a right turn towards the bus station and Sukhumvit). The only way to know the route for sure is to ask (but don't let the driver mistake your asking as a charter request). Sometimes the driver will just decide to turn down a random soi for no apparent reason, or because he's just been hired as a taxi, but you'll still be expected to pay the normal fare if you've ridden for more than a soi or two.

It's also easy to catch songthaews along South Pattaya Rd, Central Pattaya Rd, and North Pattaya Rd. In the latter case, there's often a songthaew waiting at the Dolphin Circle roundabout (they depart from here at regular intervals, or when full) and there's also a free songthaew service to the Tesco-Lotus supermarket on North Pattaya Rd.

For Jomtien, songthaews wait at the beginning of Pratumnak Rd (the continuation of Second Rd, from the South Pattaya Rd crossroads) near the school. They will head south (over the hill) along Thappraya Road, turn right towards the beach when reaching Jomtien central at the Hanuman statue and then continue about 4km further south along Jomtien Beach Road. Note that not all songthaews will go all the way to the end (Na Jomtien) as drivers sometimes do a U-turn on a whim if there's only a few passengers on board and little likelihood of a fare on the return journey.

For Naklua, take a songthaew up Second Rd to the Dolphin Roundabout. If the songthaew turns left or right at the roundabout (i.e., it's not one of the few that continue straight on to Naklua), disembark immediately and cross to the north side of the roundabout, and either walk or take a northbound songthaew from there.

White coloured songthaews ply Sukhumvit Rd, going as far as Si Racha and Sattahip. Full-size buses to destinations as far away as Trat and even Chiang Mai also stop and pick up passengers on Sukhumvit Rd (at the South Pattaya Rd, Central Pattaya Rd, and North Pattaya Rd junctions).

If you're overcharged by a songthaew driver, note the three digit vehicle number (top left corner of the windscreen, also stencilled on both sides and in the back) and report the problem to:
 * Pattaya City Manager: dial +66 38 429216.
 * Banglamung District Baht Bus Cooperative: dial +66 38 221271, +66 38 423554.

By local bus
A local bus company, called Beach Bus, runs a circular route: Pattaya Floating Market - Chaiyapruek - Jomtien Beach Rd - Thappraya – Pattaya Second Rd – Dolphin Roundabout – Northern Bus Terminal – City Hall – Pattaya Beach Rd – Walking St - Thappraya - Jomtien Beach Rd - Chaiyapruek - Pattaya Floating Market.

By motorbike taxi
The quickest way to get around is by motorcycle (motosai). A moto-taxi will be less expensive than a songthaew charter or taxi, but, annoyingly, still overpriced by Thailand standards (more expensive than a metered air-conditioned taxi in Bangkok), and arguably less safe. Roadside moto-taxi stands are scattered throughout town, and waiting drivers usually clap their hands or sometimes call out to attract the attention of potential passengers; alternatively just flag down the next available one that cruises by, as the drivers are easily identified by their coloured vests. Some will carry two, or more, passengers although this is illegal. These can also be booked via the 'Bolt' app (found in both google store and apple store), but be aware that its a private driver. The cost is usually good value.

By taxi
Meter-taxis are a common sight in and around Pattaya, however none of them will accept a fare using the meter. All are from Bangkok; their drivers bring passengers from the capital, and then operate locally until a return fare becomes available. There are also some car services and non-metered taxis that operate on an on-call basis; minibuses can also be chartered. These services are suited primarily to longer trips outside the core of the town or to another city, and can be arranged through most travel agencies and many hotels/guesthouses. Expect to pay considerably more than the cost of a songthaew charter, probably in the order of a few hundred baht. If you are going back to Bangkok, there is the cheap possibility of catching a taxi which has just came from there (with some passengers) and has to return. Since the driver isn't going to get a passenger as soon as he leaves Pattaya, he'll be willing to take back a passenger for cheap.

By car
If considering renting a vehicle, bear in mind that traffic in Pattaya can seem very erratic by Western standards, and that driving on the left can be confusing not only for those who have previously only ever driven on the right, but also for those unfamiliar with the common Thai practice (even the police do this) of motorcycling alongside the kerb on the "oncoming" side of the road, or the wrong way up one-way streets. The latter problem is especially prevalent in the Pattaya Bay area, where the majority of the roads in the main tourism zones are one-way; and the northern section of Second Road requires great care as some treat the right-hand "bus" lane as oncoming, while others do not.

Motorcycles, bicycles and electric bicycles rental
Motorcycle rentals are a very popular way to get around, but not the safest, especially in the case of visitors with limited previous experience of motorcycling and Eastern traffic habits, and even more so in Pattaya given the large number of motorcycle-mounted holidaymakers who seem hell-bent on a Darwin Award. Also note that a motorcyclist carrying a shoulder bag, and anything placed in the front basket of a motorcycle, makes an especially easy target for bag-snatchers. Also beware the "No Parking" signs.

Motorbikes can be rented without difficulty at countless locations in Pattaya, including many hotels and guesthouses, usually without having to produce a licence; however it's common for foreigners to be asked to deposit their passports as security. To avoid this, simply shop around until you find one of the many places that will accept a photocopy instead. Cash deposits are also often required. Motorcycle rentals do not include insurance, and both motorcycling accidents and motorbike thefts are common. Some outlets have a third-party cover which covers you for medical attention. If motorbikes don't carry this insurance they are illegal and should not be entertained. One company offering this cover is Nittayas who operates from Soi 12 Naklua.

There are many places where you can hire bicycles, prices start at 150 baht per day. Besides, it's also possible to rent electric bicycles for 150 bath per day, which don't require a helmet or a drivers license. Punctures can be repaired or a new inner tube fitted at bicycle repair shop on Soi Buakhao, directly opposite Princess Bar. Another bicycle repair shop can be found if turn left at end of Soi Buakhao onto South Pattaya Road, shop on left just before traffic lights with 3rd road.

Cars and jeeps rental
Cars can easily be rented, and are a good way to explore beyond the city limits, but they are not such a practicable way to get around the busiest central areas as traffic can be congested, and parking spaces can be difficult to find in the evening and on weekends. However, the major supermarkets offer free parking, and low-cost parking is available at the major shopping venues such as Royal Garden Plaza, Central Festival, & Big C on Second Road.

High season rental prices (from early November) are generally a few hundred baht more.

Getting the correct type of insurance cover on any rental car in Thailand is extremely important. Commercial "Car Rental Company" first-class insurance provides the absolute full legal cover as opposed to limited personal or third party-only insurance cover. Request a copy of the policy document and check that it states "For Commercial Use".

By boat
Regular ferries depart from to nearby Ko Lan island, trip costs 30 baht per person and takes about half an hour. Some of the ferries go to Na Baan pier on the Pattaya side of the island; others go to Tawaen Beach pier on the far side of the island.

Besides, it's also possible to charter there a private boat going to Ko Khrok island (2 km east of Ko Lan) or Ko Phai, and other islands in the Ko Phai group.

See
Many attractions marketed as being in Pattaya are actually located in Jomtien, Sattahip and Si Racha.

Beaches
The 3 km long runs alongside the city. The beach is full of life with hotels, restaurants, shopping malls all along the road facing the beach. The street south of Beach Rd, Walking St, comes alive with rock music as the night sets in. People throng the street to experience the night life, which is unique in all respects. There are hundreds of beer bars, go-go bars, discothèques around the area. Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing, in open arenas in some of the beer bars adds to the carnival atmosphere.

Jomtien Beach, more popular with families, is in the southern part of the urban area, and separated from Pattaya Bay by Buddha hill. Jomtien, a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, is calmer and more serene compared with Pattaya. Jomtien is also popular for its amusement park and tower, to keep children entertained. The 1 km long, Wong Phrachan Beach, at the north end of Pattaya Beach is a favourite among swimmers.



There are acres of sand jam-packed with deck chairs (recliners) and umbrellas (usually with an "in-house" supply of drinks), serviced by an army of laid-back but tenacious hawkers offering anything and everything from food (especially seafood, fruit, ice cream) to massage, manicure/pedicure, tattoos, lottery tickets, newspapers, herbs, flowers, gems, perfumes, sunglasses, CDs, watches, lighters, clothes, toys, souvenirs, handicrafts and so on. Eventually you buy a pair of very dark sunglasses and just pretend to be asleep.

Pattaya Beach is almost 3 km long and bordered by Beach Rd. Due to its central location and proximity to several hundred hotels, and because it's a relatively narrow strip of sand, it's crowded at the best of times (and even more so at high tide). Hefty fines for littering help keep the sand neat and tidy, however the sea is not so clean.

The north end of Pattaya Bay is occupied by, which is accessed from Naklua; and beyond the southern end, around the Buddha Hill headland that separates Pattaya Bay from Jomtien, are several more smaller beaches.

Naklua Bay is immediately north of Pattaya Bay, with Rachvate Cape separating the two. , to the far north, is the main strip, with the smaller and then  further south. Beyond them is Wong Amat Beach which occupies the northern end of Pattaya Bay, but is accessed from Naklua. All are generally cleaner and more suitable for quiet relaxation than Pattaya Beach.

Pattaya's main beaches are popular and busy places for activities. Some of these include banana-boat rides, jet-skiing, water-skiing, para-sailing, windsurfing, and the like; anyone who just wants to enjoy a simple swim or a good splash around with a Frisbee or rented inner tube will always find themselves with plenty of company as well.


 * Skydiving Thailand have a base in town, but the jumps are away inland by Nong Kho lake.

Cabaret


Pattaya is well known for its katoey cabaret (aka ladyboy or transvestite) shows. Two of the best known (expect busloads of Asian tourists) are:

NB: Some roadside local travel agents offers significantly cheaper ticket prices for the above shows, including for VIP seats. They also provide tickets for other things like sex shows.

Cinemas
Cinemas in Thailand tend to be severely air conditioned - bring a long sleeve shirt, or jacket, or both! Otherwise, the four large mall cinemas in Pattaya are mostly up to Western standards. Some (but by no means all) Thai-language films are subtitled in English (check the billing at the theatre) and some films will have both subtitled and non-subtitled showings. Visitors must stand up during the national anthem.



Diving
As with most coastal towns in Thailand, Pattaya is a good place for diving. The diving is done mostly on the near islands, Ko Larn, Ko Sak, Ko Krok. Once in a while the dive centres go out to the far islands, Ko Rin and Koh Wichai.

The diving off Pattaya is also known for its numerous wrecks: the HTMS Kut, HTMS Kram, the Bremen, and the Harddeep.



Watersports
In June 2016, the Regional Environmental Office said, "The sea water along the busy central Pattaya beaches is of poor quality and could endanger human and marine life".

For those who choose to ignore the warning, speedboat-towed parachute rides are available along the main beaches, and in Pattaya Bay from several large floating platforms with speedboats ferrying customers out from the shore.

Learn
Training in scuba diving and trips for a wide range of ability levels and interests, certified by a number of different organisations, including both NAUI and PADI, are available through numerous dive shops.



Buy
There are numerous malls, supermarkets, bazaar-style markets, and thousands of other shops. Sadly, you'll be seeing a lot of the same stuff over and over again — there's no endless variety in Pattaya. Also, Pattaya is not a good place to go shopping for hi-tech products, such as cameras and computers—expect to see prices around 50% higher than the best prices advertised in the West. Also beware of buying fake branded and designer goods, since these could be confiscated by customs officers at the airport.

Foreign currency can easily be exchanged for Thai baht at the many exchange booths which can be found in all areas popular with tourists — there are even mobile exchanges/ATMs in specially adapted minivans that are set up as and when and where the need arises. Note that the majority of exchange booths will buy foreign currency but will not sell it — if you need to obtain US dollars, for example if you're going to Cambodia, use one of the larger branches of a major bank, such as the Bangkok Bank branch on Second Rd (almost opposite Soi 6).

ATMs are widely available around the city, however, the vast majority of them now charge a steep 220 baht fee for using foreign cards, on top of what your home bank normally charges. The only exception was until 2014, Aeon bank but they now charge too. Their ATMs are located at the ground floor of Big C near KFC, Central Pattaya Rd (around 400m up from the Second Rd crossing), near Homework Furniture Mall entrance (just behind Big C on South Pattaya/Sukhumvit Rd intersection, accessible songthaews parked near Second Rd intersection), and in Lotus at South Pattaya. Also at Lotus on North Pattaya Rd on the ground floor.

Markets
There are many bazaar-style markets in Pattaya where you can haggle 'till you drop, including:



Shops

 * Art galleries are also considered to be rising business in Pattaya, most of the places will offer variety works and services including custom orders and art reproductions. These galleries in Pattaya have reputations in affordable prices and fine quality artist skills.
 * Convenience stores are everywhere, especially 7-Eleven and FamilyMart shops (all open 24/7), plus countless independents. If you use the family run shops the prices aren't always marked but should be the same, or just a baht or two higher.
 * Gold shops abound, with concentrations around the market on South Pattaya Rd and around Central Pattaya Rd near Second Rd, plus numerous jewellery shops towards the south end of Beach Rd. Small jewellery shops can also be found as part of supermarkets.
 * Tailor shops Are everywhere, offering men's clothes, but quality is variable. Ideally, make sure you get two fittings before buying.

Eat
There are many restaurants, food carts, food courts, food markets, motorcycle-sidecar hotdog and meatball vendors, fruit sellers both mobile and stationary, even a roaming coffee peddling tuk-tuk. OK, so the germ theory of disease doesn't yet seem to be widely accepted but don't let that stop you from ordering the sushi. Many (although not all) non-Thai-cuisine restaurants also have at least a limited menu of Thai favourites as well.

Chonburi Province has a lot of fresh seafood and dried fruits. As there are a lot of people from the Isaan region living and working in Pattaya, there is an abundance of northeastern favourites such as spicy papaya salad (som tam) and spicy-sour chopped pork salad (larb).

Drink
Pattaya is internationally known for its nightlife—you might want to think twice before heading into the insanity that's called Pattaya. Obviously famous as a sex tourist destination, you don't necessarily have to partake in order to experience Pattaya's nightlife. More and more visitors come over just to see what the fuss is about. There are ample opportunities to dance, drink, and observe humanity even if paid sex is not of interest. Steer clear of the staid hotel bars and head into the warrens of central Pattaya, where nightclubs, transvestite cabarets, coffee shops, karaoke bars, open-air bars and restaurants with live music and entertainment compete for attention. Most of these establishments are located along Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya 2 Road, and in South Pattaya, which is also the city's major shopping area.

Beer and go-go bars


Pattaya is especially famous for its beer bars, staffed by "bar girls" who are "for hire" to the tourists and ex-pats who drink there. Popular beer bar pastimes include pool, connect-four and shut-the-box.

Open-air beer bars can be found all over Pattaya, with the biggest and best known concentrations being along and around Soi 7/Soi 8 and Walking Street, at numerous points on Second Road, Beach Road, Soi Buakhao, and in smaller numbers just about everywhere else, including along the southern end of Naklua Road. Although the staff of a typical beer bar will usually include many working girls, customers who have no wish to pay a "bar fine" and take a lady are welcomed and indeed make up the majority of the clientèle. Indoor beer bars can also be found all over Pattaya, the most notorious areas being Soi Yodsak (Soi 6) and parts of Soi Post Office (Soi 13/2). While some of these bars are much more "bar fine" oriented, in most cases customers who simply want to drink are welcome.

Go-go bars differ from beer bars as they have bikini-clad girls dancing around chrome poles on stages. The main concentrations are along Walking Street and Soi L.K. Metro (see below), with more dotted around the most popular beer bar areas. Sightseeing tourists are welcome in go-go bars, however, cameras are not. Signs prohibiting photography are widespread, and a minority of venues require patrons to deposit their cameras with security staff as they enter. This rule is enforced: if caught snapping shots, you'll be lucky if you're only thrown out and not beaten up.

The official closing time in "entertainment zones" is 01:00, although in practice usually somewhere between 01:00 and 03:00, depending on location—however, "closing" is defined as switching off the music and non-essential lighting, and numerous beer bars remain open 24 hours. Bars outside of these zones close around midnight. So, you're passing through Pattaya and you've set aside a few hours to check out the bar scene—but where to go? The most popular (and generally the most densely concentrated) beer bar and go-go bar locations (listed south to north) are:







Same-same but different
The following go-go and beer bars are a little different from the usual:



Bars and pubs
There are many roadside bars dotted around Pattaya. Live music (especially popular rock oldies) can be heard at several open-air venues along Walking Street, and at various bars elsewhere.



Nightclubs
Pattaya has two types of nightclubs—those that are on or near Walking Street, and those that are further away. Those on Walking Street are more popular with Westerners accompanied by bar girls, and with bar girls looking for customers.



The ones further away from Walking Street are generally more typical Thai nightclubs: no special area for dancing, but lots of shows and great atmosphere.

There is also one club which is not the first type, nor the second type:



Coffee shops
Pattaya also has plenty of good coffee shops dotted around town including a few Starbucks such as in Central Festival, Royal Gardens Plaza and TukCom.



Sleep
Pattaya has an extensive selection of inexpensive mid-range accommodation, and a good variety of more upmarket options. Standard room (double bed, air-con, cable TV, refrigerator, hot shower) rates are invariably per room, not per person. Soi Buakhao has many relatively cheap guest houses and is popular with long-stay visitors, with other budget places along Soi LK Metro and Soi Honey Inn. Very few of these can be booked online, or appear on hotel booking sites. The cheaper places are often above bars or massage shops, and may therefore be noisy at night. There's generally no need to book in advance.

Like all resort areas in Thailand, hotel pricing is seasonal. High season dates vary from hotel to hotel, but typically prices go up considerably during the Christmas-New Year's period (which coincides neatly with the season of best weather), and are lower between February and October/November. In addition to higher rates during the holiday period, guests staying over Christmas and New Year's Eve will often be required to pay for compulsory "gala dinners" which can substantially increase the cost of the room. Some hotels insist that March is also covered by 'high season' prices — presumably because professional Western visitors are usually free to visit during a long Easter holiday break from work, and are happy to do so despite the worsening weather.

With the exception of large resorts or international chains such as the Hard Rock and Marriott, the lowest rates available from abroad are typically those available from the hotels directly. Except for the least expensive, many will handle reservations via email or a web form. Many will expect a deposit, especially during high season, usually by credit card or bank transfer.

While some hotels do not allow prostitutes to accompany guests to their rooms, the majority of hotels in Pattaya are used to (and even expect) it — though some "upmarket" hotels may charge a "joiner fee" for unregistered visitors as discouragement. In most hotels, security staff will keep hold of visitors' ID cards until they leave, to help protect the client from possible theft or assault, and to deter prostitutes under 20 years of age from entering the hotel. On leaving, staff will ask the girl if she had any complaints about the client. They may also call the room to check if the client is well.

For visitors who want to sleep soundly, a box of high-grade foam earplugs is a wise investment when staying at many Pattaya hotels. Also be aware that many hotels in Pattaya allow smoking in all rooms. This is nearly universal in the budget range. With the exception of those operated under the auspices of large international chains, those hotels that have dedicated non-smoking rooms will typically only have a few of them. If you are intolerant of tobacco smoke, make sure to inquire directly with the hotels about their policies and the availability of non-smoking rooms.

Traffic
For most people, the most hazardous aspect of visiting Pattaya is the traffic. The top three accident black spots are:


 * Dolphin Roundabout (intersection of Beach Rd, Second Rd, North Pattaya Rd and Naklua Rd)
 * junction of Beach Rd and Central Pattaya Rd
 * junction of Beach Rd / Walking St and South Pattaya Rd

Most accidents in Pattaya involve motorbikes, and are especially common late at night and in the early hours of the morning, when drunk driving is a significant problem. Be careful on the roads, even if you're just crossing one on foot (and be equally careful both on and off pedestrian crossings, as Thai drivers generally ignore them, and many foreigners seem to approach them with the hope of scoring double points); be careful on the pavements too - obstacles apparently purpose-engineered to trip up as many people as possible are commonplace, and motorcyclists use footpaths as short cuts with impunity. When riding in the back of an otherwise empty songthaew, it's probably safest to sit directly behind the cab.

In the event of an accident, the injured are usually bundled into the back of the next available songthaew or pickup truck or even onto the back of a motorbike (now you know why Pattaya has so many songthaews, why Thailand is the world's biggest pickup truck market, and why so many Thais ride motorbikes).

A completely different genre of traffic-related accident was highlighted by a fatality in January 2006 when a surfacing diver was hit by a speedboat propeller near Ko Laan. The popularity of Pattaya's beaches combined with a relatively relaxed attitude to safety concerns in general means that swimmers and divers (and even sunbathers on the beach!) being struck by speedboats and jet skis is not such a rare occurrence. Stick to swimming in the 4 or 5 areas cordoned off with red and white booms and you should be safe as boats and jet skis are unable to enter.

Scams
Some of the scams to be wary of:


 * Jet-skiing rentals are available along all the popular beaches, with rates starting around 600 baht for 30 minutes. A common scam involves some operators attempting to collect surcharges for supposed damage - call the Tourist Police (1155) if necessary.
 * Be careful when paying for relatively small purchases with 1,000 baht notes, particularly in bars and nightlife venues. Verify the notes you hand out, use a flashlight if needed. 100 and 1,000 baht notes are easily confused in dimly lit conditions, and the waiter might take a chance to "mistake" the note you gave him.

Police


The Pattaya Tourist Police advise that in theory foreigners should carry their passports with them at all times, however they also suggest that in practice a good photocopy (personal details page, visa and entry stamp pages, and TM card) is acceptable.

Crime
Like most of Thailand, Pattaya is generally safe for tourists and violent crime such as mugging or robbery is unusual, with the exception of jewellery and bag snatching (usually with the thieves on motorcycles, and often with the victims on motorcycles too) which is endemic.

Beware of lady boys approaching you with questions ("Where you from?") and later she and/or her friend try to kiss you just in order to snatch your jewellery. In fact leave all your gold and valuables at the room safe or even at home.

Watch out when doing water sports at the beach areas. There is a common tourist trap where tourists going for jet ski-ing are being forced to pay for equipment damages (which are not caused by the tourists) amounting up to 100K baht. Even after negotiations and intervention from the related embassies and agencies, a payment of around 10,000 baht is still required for the damages. Thus, you must exercise extreme caution when doing equipment loans or doing sports on vehicles provided by the shops.

Swindles and pick pocketing are more commonly encountered by tourists. It is inadvisable to tell anyone that it is your first visit to Thailand, since you will then be marked down as an 'easy touch'.

The nightlife/entertainment areas have a lot of activity and are generally very safe, however pickpockets are a problem, especially on Walking Street when it's crowded, despite the official Tourist Police patrolling the area at night. For this reason, a visitor should not carry a passport and/or credit card with them, especially at night. These should be left in the safe at your hotel along with the bulk of your cash, or if they must be carried then they should be securely concealed. If you have been pick pocketed and then you actually spot the likely pickpocket departing, do not follow. You could be mistaken, and you almost certainly will be accused of being mistaken. Just put it down to experience, and leave the immediate area.

Never ever 'pick a fight' in any circumstance, no matter how much you have had to drink. Never try to intervene, even verbally, in an argument between two or more Thai people.

No matter how much you are being pestered, just smile and walk on. In cash payments, disputes over the value of notes and the amount of change can be avoided by carrying smaller notes and trying to give near enough the exact amount.

The beach side of Beach Road used to be worth avoiding late at night, however the entire length of both the promenade and beach are now floodlit, and although it's still a popular haunt for "freelance" prostitutes, it's now much busier from dusk through until dawn and by no means a "no-go" area.

Visitors should not visit entertainment venues that do not display a long-standing fixed sign outside, or which appear to be very poorly lit inside. Also, one or two of the hundreds of seemingly bright and established venues may actually be operating as a 'clip joint', offering free admission and then refusing to allow visitors to leave until they have settled a fake bill for non-existent drinks. Again, it is wisest to simply pay up, leave and put it down to experience.

As always, travellers should take extra care in all poorly lit or more remote areas, and very late at night. This is especially the case if one has had too much to drink.

Most reputable hotels will require the presentation of ID cards by guests. Throughout Pattaya guests will not be admitted to hotel rooms if they are under the age of 20. This is a useful way for tourists to guarantee that their new-found friend is actually the age he/she says she is, and thus avoid possible police attention.

Drugs: as in all of Thailand, the penalties for possession and/or distribution of drugs are harsh.

Gambling: is illegal in Thailand, and the local press reports Pattaya Police as having a "zero tolerance" policy for gambling offences.

Drinking
The legal minimum age for customers in drinking establishments and discos is 20. In Pattaya this is rarely enforced for foreigners, but is frequently enforced for Thais, including those accompanying foreigners. Pattaya police conduct raids to check for underage employees (especially in "indoor" and go-go bars) and patrons (especially in discos) from time to time, and less frequently to enforce closing times. Foreign tourists are not the targets of these raids and are usually asked to produce ID (photocopy of photo/ID page of passport will normally suffice) and then allowed to leave, but are sometimes tested for drugs via an on-the-spot urine sample.

Health
Pattaya has several hospitals and dentists of a high standard. It's a good place to get medical treatment at reasonable cost.



Internet
Internet access is widely available in Pattaya, and speed and reliability of the connection is generally good; however, as is the case throughout Thailand, quality varies. The majority of Internet shops tend to open late and close late, but many are open 24/7. Charging per minute is typical for predominantly tourist-oriented shops, many of which also offer lower rates for pre-paid blocks of time. It's not difficult to find well-equipped, quiet, air-conditioned Internet cafés if you shop around a little; likewise shops that can accommodate users who want to hook up their own laptops can easily be found.

Many Internet cafés and photo-processing shops have facilities for off-loading digital photos from memory cards and burning them to a CD. As always, carefully verify the integrity of the images on the CD before re-formatting the memory card, and consider having two copies burned to CD — one CD to send home by mail, the other CD to take home in your luggage as a backup.

Many hotels and bars have the free(but password protected) wi-fi available. Ask for it from the hotel reception or the bar staff. They usually share the password for the customers.

Telephone
The area code for Pattaya is 038. You only need to dial the 0 if you're calling from within Thailand. Overseas calls can be made from many agencies and Internet shops, as well as guest houses and hotels. Using local SIM card may be a cheaper and more convenient alternative.

Pattaya Telecommunications Centre (183/44 Soi Post Office (opposite the Post Office, about 6 shops east, M-Sa 10:00-18:00). Outside, in the 24/7 payphones booth, there's an International Operator Direct Connection (IODC/Home Country Direct) service phone which provides one button press connections (suitable for making reverse charge / collect calls) to operators in Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines (Philcom and PLDT), Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom and United States (AT&T, MCI and Sprint).

Post
Pattaya has several post offices, the most central of which can be found (believe it or not) halfway along Soi Post Office (Soi 13/2). As well as the usual postal services, it handles Western Union transactions and hosts a large number of post/security boxes. On weekdays (except public holidays) it's open 08:30-16:30, and on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays it's open 09:00-12:00;. One-stop-shops that handle DHL, EMS, FedEx, TNT and UPS are relatively common. Try:



Money transfer and ATM withdrawals
If you need money sent to you urgently then there are many Western Union agents located throughout Pattaya. If you regularly visit Thailand or for extended periods then it might be worth opening a local bank account to avoid the high ATM charges for international bank cards typically 180 baht, as well as fluctuating exchange rates. Standalone ATMs in the tourist areas generally give a maximum withdrawal limit of 10,000 baht. ATMs at banks typically give up to 20,000 baht, the TMB bank gives up to 30,000 baht. Its advisable to use ATMs in or outside bank branches during opening hours as they tend to be safer, and if you experience any problems, then you can report that directly to the bank without delay.

Airlines
Various online and print resources give Pattaya addresses for Kuwait Airways, Orient Thai/Orient Express/One-Two-Go and Thai Russian Air Service — however all these offices have been closed. The following airlines still have offices in place:



Consulates

 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Immigration
Entry permit extensions are processed on a same day (if applied for before noon — collect after 15:00) or next working day (if applied for after noon). On Saturdays, previous applications can be collected, and new applications can be submitted (for collection next working day). For most nationalities, 30 day entry permit stamps and 60 day visas will usually be extended for an additional 30 days (further extensions beyond 90 days are sometimes possible). In all cases, the 30 day extension fee the same, and two passport photos must be supplied. Photocopies and photos are available from a shop inside the immigration office compound (these prices are about four times as much as can easily be found elsewhere). Note that entry permit extensions are discretionary, and must be applied for in person. Shorter extensions are likely to be issued to nationalities who do not qualify for "visa free" entry; longer extensions are issued in certain circumstances.

Laundry
Small laundry services abound, charging by the piece. If you have a lot, a few will charge larger loads by weight. All hotels and guesthouses worth their salt also cater for this, although prices tend to be higher—starting about double the above at inexpensive places, running up to international chains and similar large splurge properties.

In smaller and more informally managed accommodation, the maid who cleans your room will probably welcome the opportunity to boost her meager salary and do your laundry by hand, typically for a few baht more than an outside laundry service. Usually it's a next day service, but might take a little longer if it rains.



Publications
Pattaya has several foreign language newspapers; most come out weekly. The English newspapers include Pattaya Times, Pattaya Today, Pattaya Mail and Pattaya People Weekly. Additionally, there are French, Norwegian, German, Russian and Japanese publications. There are also several tourist magazines and nightlife, most of them coming out monthly.



Go next
Nearby destinations suitable for day trips include:


 * Bang Saen - see what Thais do at the beach
 * Chonburi - one of the local festivals like the Buffalo Race may justify a day trip
 * Jomtien - officially a part of Pattaya, this beach front is more mellow and popular among families and expats
 * Ko Laan - small island close to Pattaya
 * Ko Sak - small island just north of Ko Laan
 * Ko Samet - quiet white beaches
 * Ko Si Chang - small nearby island, not focused on beach life
 * Laem Chabang
 * Rayong - some of the best beaches on the eastern coast
 * Sattahip - hosts many attractions that are marketed to tourists as being in Pattaya
 * Si Racha - open-air zoos, a large butterfly garden and many golf courses
 * Trat near Cambodia coastal border and gateway to Ko Chang, Thailand's second largest island.