Considering Pattaya
 

At the end of our four week trip throughout Thailand (Bangkok, Chang Mai, Ko Samui, Krabi)we are considering Pattaya for a three night stay. Is this a worthwhile destination?

Sure, Pattaya's a fine spot to round off your Thailand holiday. It's a great shopping place so you can grab some last minute bargains. Check out the Walking Street, there are several water-side restaurants serving spectacular and reasonably-priced Thai seafood meals.

It depends on what you are looking for. Pattaya has a well-earned reputation for being sleazy. If you want less sleazy, you can go farther south to the Jomtien Beach area.

There have been several recent reports here on Pattaya. Take a look.

Give it a miss! Or if you're male & single or looking for a Thai bar girl-go there! We thought it was a complete waste of our trip time ( 3 nights). We stayed near Jomtien at Pinnacle Resort. It was just OK. Full of package tourists who booked the sun beds weeks in advance of their trip!

Shopping is expensive compared with Bangkok & Hat Yai.

Phuket might be a better choice. At least most of Phuket is not "sleaze city". Check out Kata or Karon beach areas. Patong is sleazy (or it was in early 2004).

Have fun wherever you go but Pattaya doesn't have much going for it unless you're looking for Asian female company!

After Samui & Krabi, you will be diappointed with the beach, bar girls, & crowds at Pattaya.

Why not stay at a different beach on Samui or take a trip to Ko Tao (from Samui) or Phi Phi (from Krabi) for a few days? Pattaya is really not nice - v sleazy. If you want to stay somewhere down the coast from Pattaya - perhaps post for JamesA. He has lots of recommendations.

Biking, it depends what you are looking for, Pattaya is a large 'city on the coast' and not just a vacation place, there are a lot of sighseeing tours and trips, if you are looking for relaxed beach time your should have that in Krabi and Samui, but if you want some shopping and sightseeing etc then Pattaya is close to Bangkok and there are beaches of course before Pattaya and also along the coast after Pattaya. Another option is south from Bangkok around Hua Hin if you want a beach area where you can head straight to BKK airport by taxi, but you can of course do that from pattaya / Jomtien etc also, realy depends how you want to spend those days.

I would recommend you look at Koh Chang.

My wife and I had a great time there.

For a more relaxed time, I'd look at Koh Phi Phi or Hua Hin rather than sordid Pattaya. Have fun!