Pattaya Money Concerns

You will need to have your Pattaya money concerns handled for your first or any trip to Pattaya.  While many things are much less expensive in Thailand than the US or Europe, you need a good chunk of money to have the best experience.

I have been seeing recent reports from Pattaya that many of the costs associated with meeting Thai ladies have risen.  Inflation is affecting Thailand, plus Thai businesses had a horrible time due to the covid restrictions and have been raising prices to make up for lost time.

The good thing about those types of prices is you can easily just scale back a bit.  Meet a few less ladies and go to the places where prices are typically less like the older gentleman's clubs and Soi 6.

Lodging and meals will still be a bargain.  Don't let the rumor of high prices throw you off.  Just take a bit more money.

Credit and Pattaya Money Concerns 

You need credit for the roundtrip flight, lodging, travel insurance, expenses to and from your home countries airport, expenses at the airport and emergencies. 

If you have no credit, you cannot take a trip of any kind to anywhere.  You need credit.

I overextended myself on my trips.  I wanted to go when I could, in my late 50's before I was too old to enjoy myself.  My desire for adventure in Pattaya overwhelmed my frugality.

Credit I Used on my last Pattaya Trip in USD

My last trip was August 2024.  Prices were higher than my first trip in November 2022.  

Cost

$1,717.20. 

$535.80

$109.27

$15.80

$270.00

$65.71

$2,713.78 USD

Item

Roundtrip Flight from O-Hare. Coach w/upgraded seats

Hotel - 16 nights.  Rewards points to reduce the cost

Travel Insurance

Freeway tolls to airport and back

Parking at O-Hare airport

Refuel vehicle when I get home

Total

Cash and Pattaya Money Concerns 

This is huge.

The US is a high cost country for most everything.  Most live paycheck to paycheck, charging everything and trying to chunk down the bills on payday.  

This lifestyle works in countries that accept credit cards everywhere.

But Pattaya, and Thailand, are all cash once you arrive.  You bring your countries cash and exchange it for Thai Baht for all your daily expenses or go to ATMs to pull out Thai baht from your home country checking or savings account.

Here is What You Will Need Thai Baht (ThB) For:

  • Meals and snacks of any kind and anywhere.
  • Drinks of any kind and anywhere.
  • Anything you buy at any store.
  • Local transportation, buses, baht buses, taxis, Bolt, Grab, motorbike taxis.
  • Anything having to do with the ladies.
  • Admissions to anything.
  • Trinkets you buy from street vendors.
  • Massages.
  • Barbershop services.
  • Products at pharmacies.
  • Anything at 7-11 and other small stores like that.

You may be able to use your credit card at the main stores in the big malls (Central Festival Mall and Terminal 21 Mall).  Maybe.  I only bought a book at a bookstore and some meals and snacks at the malls, so I'm not sure.

How much cash?

I budget $350 USD or so per day.  A 10 day trip would mean $3,500 USD in cash.  Some days I may spend more, some less. 

But I prefer to bring $5,000 USD and bring money back.

I have brought cash back on each trip so I would not have needed to bring so much.  But I prefer to have a bit of a buffer. 

I try to bring enough ThB home with me for the transportation from the airport to the hotel for my next Pattaya trip and to get off to a good start on my first day.

How to Carry Your Cash to Pattaya

You need to brings nice, unfolded, unmarked, newer paper money cash in large denomonitions.

Hundred dollar bills from the US or the equivalent in your countries currency.

Small bills ($1, $5, $10 and $20's) are useless.  I've heard 50's are ok, but to be safe, bring 100's.

Long Wallet from UnsplashCarry your cash in a long wallet like this so the bills are not folded

I carry this long wallet in my fanny pack through the airports and taxi to Pattaya.  I keep my fanny pack with me at all times.

  • Not in my checked bag that goes into the airplane storage.
  • Not in my backpack that goes into the overhead bin.

In my fanny pack with me in my airplane seat.

I also keep my passport in my fanny pack.

Once I get to my hotel, I put the long wallet with all my countries cash and passport in my hotel safe.

I walk around Pattaya with my normal wallet with the Thai Baht bills folded up.  They will take Thai baht no matter what condition they are in. 

Walk Around Wallet Pattaya Money Concerns

I use my normal wallet to carry my walk around money in Pattaya all day and night.  

It is a bi-fold wallet that I carry in my right front pocket.  I am right-handed.  I don't like to sit on my wallet and find those types a lot easier to lose.  I am constantly patting my wallet to make sure it is there.

I slim it down in Pattaya by taking out all the cards I carry in the US (credit cards, debit cards, insurance cards) and leaving those in my hotel room safe.  I only wear pants and shorts with deep front pockets.

There is no reason to walk around Pattaya with your countries money or your credit cards.  It would be foolish to do that.

ThB to Carry Around

  • 10 baht coins.  Used for the baht bus.
  • 5 baht coins.  Use 2 for the baht bus as everyone hoards 10 baht coins.
  • 20 baht bills.  Carry a lot of these.  You can give the baht bus driver and 20 and wait for your change. Typically 2 5's instead of a 10.
  • 50 baht bills.  These are handy but not as many in circulation.
  • 100 baht bills.  Carry a lot of these.  
  • 500 baht bills.  Similar to 50's, handy but not that many.
  • 1000 baht bills.  The more of these you, the more fun is possible:)

I keep my ThB bills organized with all the like bills together.  I spend a few private moments organizing my money throughout the day and night.

I think it's better to use a wallet to try to keep the amount of your money private rather than a money clip or loose.

Pattaya Money Concerns - Keep Your Money Safe 

Morning in the Hotel Room

I enjoy the hotel in the morning without spending any money.  Instant coffee in my room, journaling on the balcony, catch up with texts and emails, update my records. 

I put my walk around wallet in the hotel room safe while I spend some time in the sun and swim at the pool as that is when my room gets cleaned. 

I leave out all the ThB coins that I am rapidly collecting as change right on the hotel room counter.  The cleaning staff will not touch it.

Late Morning and Afternoon Out and Exploring

I will put enough Thai Baht in my walk around wallet for lunch, a massage, laundry, a few beverages, some trinkets and anything else I plan on picking up that day.  If I need to obtain Thai baht, I will take some USD along with me and exchange it right away when I go out.

I leave the hotel for a midday meal, dropping off my laundry on the way.  After my meal I explore the city by baht bus or by foot.  I may get some type of massage and a refreshing drink at some point.

By late afternoon I head back to my hotel, stopping to buy anything I need and picking up the laundry I dropped off the day before.

I put away my freshly laundered clothes, have a cup or 2 of instant coffee, relax on the balcony, or the room, make a few tentative evening plans and take a nap before getting cleaned up and dressed for what should be another epic night.

Evening

Go out for drinks some time between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm depending on my energy level.  

Typical Nighttime Costs:

  • Drinks
  • Snack (maybe 2)
  • Costs associated with the ladies
  • A massage
  • Baht bus
  • Motorbike taxi

A word about nighttime street vendors. They are out and about roaming the bars, restaurants and streets and will display their wares to you.  You have to be prepared to say no, shake your head and wave your hand multiple times a night.

Watches, jewelry, cloth bracelets, cigarettes, ED medication, small figurines, lottery ticket stamps, roses and snacks.  All small items they can carry around in a crowd.

Sometimes a very young child will be the one asking you to buy something you don't need or want to carry around all night. 

I'm a sucker for a the cloth material bracelets, buying a few early in my trip.  They are kind of expensive, but I wear them the whole trip and can shoo away the next salesman by showing her my wrist.

Pattaya Money Concerns - Be Careful When Paying

Avoid showing anyone the contents of your wallet.  Keep it close and pointed towards you when you pull out money.  

Most all workers in Thailand are adept at looking into your wallet while you are pulling out some money and will pester your to spend more on something you don't want.

Tip to Ease Your Money Anxiety

I fold up two $1,000 Thai Baht bills and hide them deep in the inner pockets of my walk around wallet.  It is reassuring to know they are there to help buy me out of trouble. 

Pattaya Money Concerns Wrap Up

Once you've been to Pattaya a time or 2, you will get far past your money concerns.  

Your biggest concerns will be a lack of money and vacation time to go as frequently as possible.