Pattaya dos and don’ts
To get the most out of a visit to Pattaya, Thailand’s liveliest resort, it is best to brush up on a few dos and don’ts. These tips will help you avoid any embarrassing tourist faux pas and preserve the beauty of the area for others to enjoy in the future while also ensuring your safety and increasing your cultural sensitivity.
A large proportion of Pattaya activity revolves around the sea, with many tourists spending days upon days diving, snorkelling and swimming in the warm waters offshore. If you plan to dive while in Pattaya and haven’t done so for a while, make sure you re-familiarise yourself with all the diving gear you will be using. While the Pattaya nightlife is tempting, getting an early night and avoiding alcohol are prerequisites for any diving expedition.
Fortunately, snorkelling doesn’t require any previous experience or abstinence from alcohol the night before. Wear a life jacket for safety and buoyancy while in the water and be sure to paste yourself in a thick layer of sun block as it is easy to turn a lobster red shade in under an hour while chasing colourful fish. Joining a guided tour is a convenient way of finding the best snorkelling spots in a short space of time. Stick with your group and avoid touching or breaking any coral. While pretty, coral is definitely best enjoyed underwater at a distance rather than as a dead artefact in your home.
Anglers have plenty of opportunity to sink a line in Pattaya but they need to choose the right season for certain types of fish. For instance, stingrays hang around Pattaya from October to November while queen fish are best caught from July to September. Organised tours can hook you up with all the right equipment or you can simply hire a guide to take you out. Don’t attempt to go fishing alone in case you get lost or have an emergency. More on fishing in Pattaya.
One activity that just about every visitor to Pattaya is sure to try is swimming. Any visit to the beach should be accompanied by plenty of sun lotion, a hat and sunglasses. While the laid-back feel of Pattaya makes it easy to overlook taking proper care of your belongings, don’t expect your purse to still be on the beach when you get back from a swim if you leave it unattended. When swimming it is best to go in pairs and stick close to the shore. Jellyfish can be a problem at some times of year (mid-May to October) and in rare instances, stings can be fatal.
If all the water activity leaves you in want of something cultural, take the time to visit a few of Pattaya’s temples. Exchange your beach wear for something modest that covers your legs and arms and modify your behaviour so as not to disturb worshippers. Remove shoes before entering and stick to designated paths. It is best not to touch any religious images and to seek permission before taking photographs. Women should not touch or pass anything to monks though it is fine to converse with them. More on Thai culture in Pattaya.
When out sightseeing, avoid the midday heat and take care when crossing roads as vehicles don’t always stop for pedestrians, even at designated crossings. You may prefer to hire a bicycle or a motorbike for trips around town but of you do so, make sure you have sufficient riding experience and carry a bottle of water at all times. Always wear a helmet as road traffic accident figures in Thailand are high. It is also best to avoid riding alone in isolated places.
If you plan to spend most of your time in Pattaya chatting up bar girls rather than getting active or doing cultural sightseeing then there are a few dos and don’t you may like to consider. Beer bars are found all over the resort and are easy to identify by their female staff and pool tables.
If you want to take things further than simply flirting with Pattaya bar girls, expect to pay a ‘bar fine’ to take her away from the bar for a few hours, or indeed the rest of the night. If you are here as a sex tourist, be sure to practice safe sex as some of the working ladies have up to seven customers a fortnight.
Go-go bars are different in that they have partially clothed or naked dancers. Do not under any circumstance try to take photographs in a go-go bar or you could find yourself thrown out or even worse, ruffed up. Like at the beer bars, most of the girls at these venues are available to take home but expect the usual bar fine.
If you take a bar girl back to your hotel do check her in at reception to avoid any problems. The girl will be asked to leave her ID card at the front desk, which can be collected upon departure. Finally, take care with your valuables around bar girls or you may wake up to discover your wallet a great deal lighter than the night before.
