Potential Problems in Pattaya thailand

Pattaya is paradise, but it isn't all roses.  I've been 5 times (with many more planned).  All the trips were fantastic.  But there are potential problems in Pattaya Thailand that you need to be aware of and try to avoid.

Pattaya is totally different than home, in an extremely refreshing way.  But there is a steep learning curve on your first few trips and you should do some research, planning and go with an open mind and an adventurous spirit.

Problems in Pattaya Thailand - The Weather

The Heat (Jerry, the heat)

The heat can be overbearing if you live in a temperate area.  I'm from the Midwest USA.  It gets hot where I live, but not very frequently.  Most of the year it is either cold or cool.  The heat arrives late June and usually wraps up by mid-August.  The heat typically last a few days before it breaks.

In Pattaya, it is just hot almost all the time.  The Thais have a running joke - hot, hotter, hottest.  

I have not been yet in the heart of high-season around Christmastime.  I hear it can get a bit cool.  

There were a few days during my August trips where it was just too hot to be out in the afternoon and I gave up exploring to just hang around my hotel room all afternoon.

The Humidity

Pattaya is right on the ocean causing constant humidity.  It is not a dry heat.  

My typical slow pace of walking slows to a crawl to avoid drenching myself in sweat on some of the almost unbearably humid August nights.

The hotels, malls, restaurants, massage shops and closed door bars have the AC cranked making it very comfortable and cool inside, until you go outside again.  Many guys just go from one air conditioned building to another.

The good thing is that all the reasons we go to Pattaya are still mostly available even in the most humid of weather.

The Rain

Sometimes it rains...a lot. In low season, it can rain frequently.  During my 2 August trips I had to do some adjusting of my plans to work around the rain.

But I can only think of one time where the rain lasted more than a few hours during my 5 trips.

Then it stops as quickly as it starts.  If it rains during the day, as soon as the rain stops the sun quickly dries everything up so you don't even realize it rained. 

The rain refreshes everything too.  The streets get cleaned.  The air is refreshed and it will be a bit drier and cooler.

Flooding

The low areas flood during the times when it rains very hard for a few hours.  Similar to most parts of the world, the intersections are typically lower than the surrounding streets with the storm sewer drainage inlets at the corners and the sewers cannot keep up.  The water can get up to a foot or higher in these locations.

Pattaya Street Flooding November 2022Notice the depth of water at this intersection. It may be over a foot deep

The picture at Second Road above was during my first trip in November 2022.  I was surprised and afraid of the flooding.  Would we get washed away into the ocean?

My fears subsided by observing others. The Thais waded or drove through the water.  A few brave tourists waded through also.  Most tourists just waited where they were or walked toward higher ground.

Most building are up above the road a step or two, with the most expensive ones up even more, to be up above the normal expected floods.

Here is some more detail on the Pattaya weather focused on the seasons - Pattaya High Season and Low Season

Problems in Pattaya Thailand - Staying in the Wrong Location

You'll be tempted by the low cost and fancier amenities farther away from the Central Pattaya party zone. 

But it's best to stay in Central Pattaya so you can walk to most venues, make strategic use of the baht bus and fully enjoy the exciting nightlife without wondering if you can make it back to your hotel.

Everything is so close, you can walk and take the baht bus to get around.  It's refreshing to be able to do so much without traveling very far.

I have stayed in the Central Pattaya areas at both the D-Hotel and at the Adelphi Hotel a number of times.  It's a 10 minute walk or less to all these locations:

  • Pharmacies.  To buy Sidegra and any medications I need when feeling ill.
  • Laundries.  I drop off my laundry nearly every day and pick it up the next all beautifully cleaned and neatly folded in a plastic bag.
  • Money Exchanges
  • Barbershops
  • Massage shops
  • Multiple restaurants offering up a massive variety - Thai food, paninis, breakfast, Mexican, burgers, Chinese, steaks, chicken, Italian, pizza.
  • Coffee shops
  • Incredible nightlife with multiple bars on and off Soi Buakhao, some with live music and most with meetable ladies.

Part of the fun in traveling, is going out of your hotel room multiple times a day doing something fun and then going back to rest, use the restroom, clean up, enjoy the hotel or change clothes and then head out again.

I like to stay staying close to the action when I travel in the USA rather than in a cheaper hotel on the outskirts.

In Pattaya, it's even better because of the low cost of the hotels compared to the extremely high costs in the best locations in the US.

Central Pattaya Location

Central Pattaya Area

Problems in Pattaya Thailand - Safety

Pattaya is friendly, easy-going and safe even though it is packed with people (Thais and tourists) walking around all day and night with many partying heavily having the time of their lives.

No fights, guns, knives, crime or murder. No bad guys to worry about.  Mostly just friendly Thais and happy tourists.

And just a very few homeless, who are obviously very down on their luck (no legs, etc.) and not just freeloading bums like in the US.  I have not noticed any pick-pockets or petty crime either.

No worries about all that stuff we have to worry about in the big cities in the west.

Basic Safety Tips

  • Don't rent a motorbike or scooter.
  • Minimize riding motorbike taxis.
  • Plan your trips to minimize walking.
  • Walk against traffic when walking in the street.
  • Watch for low hanging wires, obstructions and holes on the sidewalk.
  • Watch your sun exposure.
  • Don't drink tap water.
  • Don't walk through flooded streets.
  • Use common sense around others.  Avoid arguments and be respectful.
  • Avoid drugs and illegal activities.
  • Keep your wits about you during the day and especially at night.
  • Hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are all available.
  • Sleep, nap and enjoy soothing massages.

Problems in Your Length of Stay

I stayed 12 nights on my first trip, using 2 full weeks of vacation time.  It was enough to overcome the steep learning curve, rest up from the exhausting flight and overcome some other issues.

The fewest nights I've stayed have been 9 nights.  I wanted to stay longer but I was severely restricted with work and other committments at home.

It would be best to try to try for 2 whole weeks, but I had two 1.5 week trips and had a great time.  This required 60 hours of vacation.  I worked Monday and Tuesday, left late Tuesday night, arrived in Thailand and Thursday and had the next week off.  That is a more realistic amount of vacation time to balance your work needs.

I don't think Pattaya is a place you can go for just a long weekend unless you've already been there or are a very experienced traveler.

There is a lot to learn, a lot to do and you, will most likely, need time to overcome the flight and exhaustion.

Many You Tuber's and Pattaya websites will say you need 3 weeks minimum.  

Don't listen to that.  Most of us in the USA do not have nearly enough vacation time to be gone from work for 3 weeks.  Our jobs would be gone when we got back!

I certainly hope to stay much longer when I retire and have unlimited free time, but until then I will go with as much time as I can spare.

Miscellaneous Problems in Pattaya Thailand

Your Attitude and Preparation

  • Don't get angry.  Go with the flow.  Be patient.  
  • If you are the type of guy who gets drunk and wants to fight, don't go to Pattaya.    
  • Keep your voice low and be respectful to everyone - Thais and tourists.
  • Trying to do everything you do at home in addition to enjoying what Pattaya has to offer.  I did some weight training one trip and got very run-down and ill.  I was exhausted from the flight and the first 4 nights of heavy-duty partying. 
  • Underestimating how how large of a city Pattaya is and walking too far.  
  • Waiting too long to go to a pharmacy when you need some medical help. This is the tough it out attitude we have in the west because we hate going to the doctor in the west - setting appointments, waiting for a long time, missing work and the enormous cost.  All that stupid nonsense is avoided in Pattaya.  Walk into any Pharmacy, describe your ailment and the Pharmacist is usually going to be able to recommend some relief for a low cost.  You will be feeling better in hours rather than suffering for days like back at home.  
  • Trying to get by on the extreme cheap.  Things cost less in Pattaya than in the West but they still cost something.

Dealing With Salesmen and Vendors

Many Thais need to sell us something to survive.  They are eager  and a bit pushy.  Not Mexican hawker in your ear pushy, thank God, but they do need to sell.  

The traveling vendors  are constantly on the move from bar to bar, restaurant to restaurant selling cigarettes, men's products, snacks, roses, lottery stamps and jewelry.  Just wave them away without getting angry.  Expect to get offers in all the open-air beer bars and even if you are sitting at the beach.

Expect pushy male salesmen at the various markets, especially the tailors.   

Problems in Pattaya Thailand Wrap Up

Thailand is different than the west.  Better and more fun as long as you keep the problems in Pattaya Thailand in mind, you will be able to navigate through them and have the time of your life.