Your guide to shopping in Pattaya
As with any tourist centre in Thailand, Pattaya is popular with shoppers. In fact, barring Bangkok, it has the cheapest and best selection of produce in the country, with clothing, electronics, and souvenirs being the main buys.
For the most part, the shopping in Pattaya is at the lower budget end, catering to the masses of wandering tourists who are more likely to pick up a knick-knack either on the beach or in among the bars than an expensive purchase. There are, of course, top-end shops in the flashier, out-of-the-way malls, where the quality and range of branded names is as good as the next city.
Fake Rolex watches and Oakley sunglasses are the norm on the street, along with natty handicrafts. Shopping for jewellery in Pattaya is not really a good idea and money-back guarantees may be voiced but are generally not followed up for cheaper goods.
Beach Road is the busiest shopping area in Pattaya, lined as it is with vendors and lone tradesmen on foot with just a briefcase or holdall. There are some larger stores farther north along Beach Road, while the so-called Second Road and associated sois is generally a better bet.
Where to shop in Pattaya
Open-air markets and street stalls are common in Pattaya, along with a plethora of shop houses and Western-style department stores. Cheaper goods can generally be had in the non-air-conditioned shop houses, although serious shopping should only really be practiced in a nice air-conditioned mall where there are toilets and eateries.
One of the most well-known stores in Pattaya is Mike’s Shopping Mall. It stretches across the entire block between Pattaya Beach and Second Road beside Soi 11. It has all sorts of products on offer, but mainly clothes and household items.
Mike’s is next to the upmarket Royal Garden Plaza, which has great shopping and a number of side attractions and eateries. It is also somewhat of a hangout and is good for families.
Walking Street in the heart of Pattaya’s night scene is manic by night, yet by day its classy shops open for trade. There are many antique stores along this traffic-free stretch, along with jewellers and arts and handicrafts stores with a huge range of carvings.
Back on Second Road are many cheaper art and crafts stores and shoe shops. It is less of a hassle shopping along here although the traffic is a problem. Second Road has more of the traditional shop house type shops as well as clinics and a 7/11 store every 100m or so.
Pattaya also comes with the obligatory Western-style supermarkets, like Tesco Lotus, Carrefour, and Big C. They are located farther out and generally cater to residents, yet they come with food courts and side attractions. Big C is on Second Road, Soi 3 and comes with decent shopping and eating, and a multi-screen cinema.
Naklua and Jomtien, lying north and south of Pattaya respectively, have much less in the way of shopping and if you are staying in one of these places, you’d be better off taking a red taxi (songthaew) to Pattaya.
What to shop for in Pattaya
Aside from the usual tourist tack like carved fishbone painted dark brown to look like wood, along with fake watches and sunglasses, clothing is the main buy in Pattaya. You can pick up some fabulous bargains in the shopping malls and side street shop houses.
Legitimate sportswear, like Adidas and Nike, in quality stores is sold at standard Western prices. Anywhere that professes to sell you the real thing for a knockdown price is selling copied, grade A or B tack. If you don’t want to pay full prices, this is your option, and while they look good they will not last as long as the real thing.
Ladies shoes and handbags are a favourite buy in Pattaya and there is fantastic range and quality in Royal Garden Plaza on Beach Road, along with Central towards Naklua. Expect to pay several thousand baht for a good, Western brand handbag, or just a few hundred baht for a locally-made bag.
Pattaya is awash with tailor shops, and while their hired helpers can be a pain grabbing your arm on the street, some of these places have great bargains. If you’re after a Thai silk suit, this is the place to come. Quality and prices vary wildly and knowing your fabrics is a good idea before you part with your cash. Walking Street, Beach Road, and Second Road all have tailors.
Pattaya shopping tips
- Bargain, bargain, bargain! This is Thailand. Don’t feel awkward asking for a discount, even in a shopping mall with fixed prices, but especially in a market. It is the done thing. Prices are inflated in markets to absorb given discounts.
- Aiming for a discount of between 10 and 40 per cent is about right.
- Always smile when bargaining as it makes a difference.
- Stick to buying items in Pattaya with cash only, unless you’re in a reputable shopping mall. It just isn’t worth the risk for the convenience of using a credit card. If you do use your card, be sure you’re not charged a fee as this is a totally illegal practice despite what the vendor may say.
- Do not let a taxi driver talk you into letting them take you on a shopping trip as you will invariably be ripped off with shoddy products at a high price. The taxi driver gets commission.
- Be aware that it is forbidden to export Buddha relics and some antiques – check ahead with the Fine Arts Department in Bangkok if you are unsure (tel: 02 221 7811).
- When shopping for genuine Thai silk, there are some telltale signs if it is indeed cheaper Chinese or Indian silk. The main point is that Thai silk is much more expensive, is richer in colour, and has unique weave and lustre.
Getting to Pattaya
Pattaya is 120kms south of Bangkok and around an hour from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport by taxi. Taking a taxi directly from the airport is the best bet, but be sure to take a legitimate meter cab, bookable from the taxi desks, as opposed to a tout in Arrivals.
Bus travel is the cheapest versus convenience option and buses run from Ekamai (Eastern Bus Station) on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok and from Mochit Station north of Bangkok. There is also a direct service from Chiang Mai. Trains run to Pattaya direct from Bangkok’s Hualamphong Station, although there’s only one service per day and it is slow. In addition, it terminates several kilometres from Pattaya proper.
