Vacation Time for Pattaya

A huge stumbling block for enjoying paradise is a lack of vacation time for Pattaya.

I never had more than 2 weeks of vacation time for the first 22 years of my working career.

My second job did not even provide sick leave.  I rarely used my vacation time, saving it until the end of the year in case I got sick.

Thankfully for the last 12 years I have had a much more generous vacation package.  Nearly 4 weeks of vacation and accumulated sick leave so I don't have to save my vacation for illnesses.

Most in the US, don't have this much or have the vacation/sick leave blended into PTO (paid time off).  This negative employee system forces you to be very careful in utilizing your vacation time.

Our American overlords don't offer most of us much time off, preferring that we focus on work - work - work and not allowing us a few weeks in paradise. 

Other countries have the advantage over the US.  European vacation time is much more generous.  Australians have a shorter flight time making long weekends a possibility.

You need plenty of vacation time for Pattaya.  It takes a long time to there with potential pitfalls and a steep learning curve.  

Why You Need Plenty of Time in Pattaya

You need time in Pattaya, just in case.

You are likely to get rundown and ill after you've been in Pattaya a few days.  You will at least get exhausted and need some extra sleep.  It's easy to enjoy the low cost of drinks and overdo it.  There is a tremendous variety of delicious food that may impact your digestive system.

And the language barrier makes everything more time consuming.  You cannot really just go-go-go and do-do-do like you might on an expensive vacation in your home country.  You need to slow down the pace and do less.

Think in terms of one week minimum.  Two weeks is far better for your first trip to overcome the steep learning curve and some downtime to deal with an illness or exhaustion.

Pattaya is not the party location you can just breeze into for a long weekend, at least on your first few trips there.

The travel to Pattaya takes a day and half and is exhausting.  It isn't at all like flying to party destinations in US (Las Vegas, New Orleans, Nashville or a Florida coastal city).  These cities are set up for weekend getaways with big airports and hotels near the nightlife areas.  

They're good for the party atmosphere, but the extremely high cost of alcohol, food and lodging tends to spoil the experience, unless you're quite rich. 

And these cities do not offer anything close to what Pattaya has to offer. 

Mexico is good for a long weekend and a bit less costly than the US, but Mexico pales in comparison to Thailand for the extent of fun and the friendlier people.

The Mexican buskers are always in your ear pressuring you to buy something you don't want.  Plus there is the feeling you are going to get ripped off and even robbed. 

Pattaya is far, far safer and easier going.

My Problems on My First Pattaya Trip

Even though Pattaya is safe and easy-going, that does not mean everything will go smoothly.

My first trip was a mini-disaster in some respects.

Weather Anxiety

  • I had poor weather on drive to the airport with heavy rains and fog slowing my drive.  At some point, I wasn't sure I was going to make it to the airport on time.
  • I experienced a massive rainstorm in Pattaya that flooded the streets and made getting back to my hotel an ordeal.  I had no clue how long it may take for the water to subside.

Airport Delays and Problems

  • My midnight flight out of O-Hare was delayed 3 hours with the poor weather (and the lack of work ethic brought on by the covid restrictions).  The whole flight I was stressed wondering if I would make my connection in Taipei Taiwan.
  • Thankfully I had a 4 hours layover in Taipei.  But even so, I went to the wrong gate in Taipei and barely made my flight.
  • The Visa line in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport was extremely confusing.  Which one?  Everyone was wearing masks and I could hardly understand their instructions.  I started in one line, waiting for an hour, before realizing I was in the wrong line.  I started over at the back of the massive line.  The Visa line was agonizing slow with the masks and a lack of Thai workers, evidenced by mostly empty Visa booths.
  • It took at least 3 hours to finally get out to the luggage carousels.  With 20 carousels, I had to look at each one and never found the right one. I finally gave up and determined my luggage was lost.
  • The lost luggage area was difficult to find and when I finally did, it took a long time for a worker to help me find my luggage.
  • The airport itself is massive and confusing.
  • When I finally made it through the Visa Line and found my lost luggage, I was shocked to find the exit area in total chaos. It took me a long time to find my taxi.

Taxi Driver

  • Luckily  my taxi driver waited 4 hours for me at the airport and I piled into the back and we left.
  • But he kept harping on how long he waited the entire 1.5 hour drive to Pattaya.  I decided to give him a big tip ($500 Thai Baht) rather than worry that the cab company would blackball me (or that he would do something worse) and I would not be able to get back to the airport to go home.

Hotel Issues

  • I had to pay an unexpected $1,000 Thai Baht cash deposit at the hotel.
  • My hotel air conditioner fan made sleep difficult.
ear infectionI suffered with an ear infection for a few days towards the end of my first Pattaya trip

Exhaustion & Illness

  • I quickly got exhausted my first day, leaving the hotel multiple time for various things I needed.  
  • During my first full day I walked way too much, suffering with blistered feet the rest of my trip.
  • Overall, I tired easily from so much walking in the heat.
  • I had a horrible bowel issue from Indian food I ate during the flood.  I barely made it back to my hotel before the explosion.
  • I agonized with an ear infection until I went to the Pharmacy for some medication.
  • My ear infection was healing but I was still quite sick on the flight home.  Coughing and sneezing into my mask and trying to avoid the evil stares from the other passengers still in covid lockdown mode.

Buying Stuff

  • I overspent on a hat and sunglasses at an expensive Beach Road shop instead of shopping at the inexpensive inland markets.
  • I scoured the stores and markets looking for pad for my hotel outdoor chair and never found one.
  • I purchased some expensive leather wallets to get past the extreme pressure from a relentless Koh Larn street salesman. 

Cell Phone

  • My old cell phone would not keep a charge.  Very disappointing at the Art in Paradise Gallery where the camera gives you an incredible experience. Plus, I needed the mapping App to find my way around.
art in paradise 1Art in Paradise is a must see on your Pattaya trip. Make sure your cell phone or camera is fully charged for the experience.

Steep Learning Curve With the Ladies

Even with all the issues and problems detailed above, the most difficult part of my first trip was meeting my first Thai lady.

My first 2 nights I was too afraid to even speak to a Thai lady.

I went out for a drink that first Sunday night, late and exhausted, and was shocked and intimidated with the number of bars and the number of ladies. I chugged a few quick beers and hustled back to my hotel for bed.

After sleeping in Monday morning, I walked and explored all day.  In the evening, I went out again for drinks, but still did not talk with a lady. 

I was starting to think the whole trip was a waste.  I felt like going home already. I still had 10 more days left of my trip and was beginning to wonder if I made a massive mistake in coming here.

But on Tuesday, the tide turned.

Tuesday morning I was lounging around the D Hotel pool, soaking up some sun and paddling around the pool.  I chatted with a gregarious Australian who shared a bit about him - his work, his marriage to a Thai lady and their child.  He visited Pattaya a few times a year to spend time with her and the child.

Happy Older Man Sitting at the PoolLounging around the pool in the sun

I thanked him for his invitation to join him, his wife and some friends at a bar on Soi New Plaza later than night

After a big breakfast at Easy Corner, I explored the City by baht bus and visited Ripley's Believe it Or Not, then ended the afternoon with some more pool time and booked a different hotel for the next 4 night.

I strolled down to the bar the Australian said to meet at.  I had a few beers, waiting for him, but he must have been on Thai time.  I don’t like staying in any one bar too long if I am not with someone or doing something.

So I left and stopped for beers at other bars, listened to some live music and then the moment happened that changed my life forever!  I finally screwed up my courage to talk to a lady!

Reason for Vacation Time for Pattaya

I met my first Thai lady at the Twilight Bar on Soi 8.  She was 40 years old, with long black hair, gorgeous face, slim, feminine body,  wearing tight, black pants and very kind.

I bought drinks for me and her (buying a Thai lady a drink is how you have them sit with you). 

I told her I was new to this, this was my first time in Pattaya and did not know what to do.  After she explained how things worked, I told her to go ahead and set all this up.  

Afterwards, I was on cloud 9.  This was the first lady I met in Pattaya, but not the last and the start of my love affair with Pattaya.

I felt bad missing out on 2 full nights of fun, but I learned how much vacation time for Pattaya is needed.

Vacation Time for Pattaya

Here is a summary of my vacation time for Pattaya with trips, with the number of nights in a hotel, the day I arrived in Pattaya and the last night I spent in a Pattaya hotel along with the actual number of vacation hours I used.

Vacation Time for Pattaya - Summary of Days and Hours Needed

Trip

1

2

3

4

5

Pattaya Nights

12

12

10

9

16

Arrived & Left

Sunday - Friday

Sunday - Friday

Thursday - Saturday

Thursday - Friday

Thursday - Saturday

Vacation Time

80 Hours

80 Hours

60 Hours

60 Hours

120 Hours

With a Sunday arrival, I can put in a full week of work and leave for the airport around 5 pm on Friday.

With a Thursday arrival, I worked 10 hour days on Monday and Tuesday, leaving for the airport on Tuesday around 5 pm.

Vacation Time for Pattaya Wrap Up

I had nowhere near as many issues on my next 4 trips.  I have dialed things in and know what to do.  But that first trip was nearly a disaster.

Start being more careful with your vacation time.  Save up 2 full weeks for your first trip.