Hi, could someone tell me their thoughts on going to Pattaya for 21 days as a first timer to Thailand? Is there enough to see and do in the area for
this many days? How much could you expect to spend on meals, eating in family style restaurants?

For me, one day in Pattaya would be too much. What made you choose Pattaya? It is well known as a magnet for European sex tourists, and the beach and the water are not very clean. I would recommend almost any place in Thailand over Pattaya.

I also think that with three weeks in Thailand, you will need more than one base. I'd recommend a city as well as a beach. I love Bangkok, but not everyone does. So you might opt for Chiang Mai instead. You don't tell us what time of year you are taking this trip, which is important for beach locations. You have lots of options for beaches: Hua Hin, Koh Samui, the whole Phuket area, which includes Krabi, Ko Lanka, Koh Lak, etc. Use a good weather data base to figure out which beaches have less rain at the time of the year you plan to travel.

I'd suggest you do some more research on Thailand - take a look at some guidebooks like Lonely Planet and check out some websites such as travelfish.org

I have been to Pattaya. I like it but I have also been to quite a few other cities in Thailand. I would not recommend you to ONLY visit Pattaya! Couples, family groups and single tourists do visit Pattaya quite often. There are special tourist attractions geared for children. Yes, there is nightlife. There is nightlife in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai too.

There are quite a few expats who have retired to Pattaya - Jomtien area.

Is there enough to do? What do you want to do? Are you male or female, are you traveling with family or as a couple? If the primary reason you want to visit Pattaya is to swim at a beach - choose another beach location! The beach is crappy and most Western tourists do not swim in that water! Quite a few hotels in Pattaya do have pools if that is good enough. If you need a good beach choose another location in Thailand. Pattaya is popular with tourists from many countries throughout the world with recent years seeing a huge increase in Chinese and Indian tourists.

Plus side. Pattaya is, in my opinion, the cheapest beach area you can visit in Thailand. Easy to get to from Bangkok by bus, taxi or other private transportation. Local transportation in Pattaya is only 10 baht using baht buses. Good restaurants, several modern malls, movie theaters, hospitals and dentists for tourists who want medical/dental stuff done.

Negatives. Everyone mentions "nightlife, sex tourists and even Jomtien Gay Beach area" but tourists by the millions (even with children) still visit year after year! Children cannot enter bars on their own by the way! Solo women do visit Pattaya too! Something for everyone. Unlike many European countries no nudity on the beach. Or for not too long until the police nab the naked culprit!

Below link may be hard to believe so Google the claim up on your own computer to verify accuracy.

https://govisity.com/most-visited-ci..._in_the_world/


My recommendation is to see a little bit of various parts of Thailand. A beach good for the month you visit. (Some beach areas better for certain months than others times of the year.) Bangkok and a visit to Chiang Mai. This will give you a little taste of north, south and central Thailand.

Low season corresponds with hot weather and rainy weather. Right now is sort of in between high season and low season. Tourists visit all the time no matter if very hot, rainy or nicer weather. Low season cheaper hotels and more vacancies. High season Bangkok is late November to early February. Christmas and New Years holiday period is the most expensive time for hotel charges.

Bangkok can be cheaper than good beach areas further south. Bangkok has some decent city transportation unlike a beach city like Phuket where transportation is more expensive. Where you choose to eat and drink determines how much you pay for food and beverages. You will find cheap food courts in malls, cheap local Thai restaurants, even McDonalds and pizza places. You will also find swankier restaurants too. Hotels can vary from something around the equivalent of $20 US to over $200 US per night. A 600 baht hotel ($20 US) can be found with hot water, private bathroom, television, air conditioning and security box. The more you pay then fancier the place.

Google search will give you links for "things to do" in Pattaya geared for what you like.

Hotel location Pattaya City area - places on Pattaya Sai Song or near Beach Road gives you more things to walk to. Naklua is north and Jomtien is south.
https://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/pat...ttaya-map.html

As they say in Thai beer bars "up to you!"

I should have said I'm looking at late October, to mid November for travel time.

Pattaya is a very urban destination - the sex tourism is not really a problem tase days.... it certainly isn't a danger.
Pattaya has a huge amount to see and doo outside the sex industry in fact the rest of the city dwarfs it these ays.
There are good value hotels, good shopping from malls to markets and a mind-blowing range of restaurants.
The beach is second rate to say the least but it is being unkept to a point and arms are fenced off for swimmers. The beaches between Pattaya and Jomtien are the best. Avoid the jetskis - they are scammers

Whichever beach you try, you need to be pretty impervious to crowds.

Transport around the city centre and beach area is cheap and simple by Some Teaw (pickup bus).

There are also loads of attractions such as water parks theme parks ghastly animal entertainments (void anything with animals like the plague!) , really impressive Layboy shows and parks and gardens.

Altogether there is a lot to do, biut most of it is rather on the tacky side - which is great for some - "its a tropical Butlins".

However 21 days is a long time - you might want to plane some trips out - day trips or even overnighters.
Pattaya is actually not a bad space to start if you want to see more of Thailand - especially the Eastern side of the country...

You could plan trips to the islands of Samet or further away, Koh Chang. - Both would require a stop over night least.
National parks Khao Yai and Khao Chamao are also within a days drive.
For beaches, sea along the coast toward Sattahip and then Rayong, there are some really nice beaches near enough for a dat out.
Inland is is Bang Phra resevior, Big Buddha mountain and Silverlake Winery
North there is Sri /racha, ad Bang Saen and even a trip into Bangkok.

The beauty of Pattaya is that it is so easy to arrange trips out, either through your hotel or the plethora of travel agents that litter the streets.
If you book a hotel for 3 weeks they are sure to give you a discount, and then could go towards any other accommodation you get on your outside trips....

Ok - this is the end of the wet season, by the second week in November the weather in Pattaya is pretty cool and dry.
Places like Samui are still very wet.....you should check out a weather map of Thailand to get an idea of rainfall in particular regions.

this interactive weather map is particularly good...

https://www.travelfish.org/weather_fish.php


PS - Utapao Airport services Pattaya and has flights around Thailand - putting you within about an hour to an hour and a half from such places as Samui and Phuket

Would 21 days in Phuket be a better choice?

Certainly Phuket is a much better beach destination than Pattaya. But I still don't understand why you are asking about 21 days there. There is much to see and do in Thailand, not just beaches.

Yes Phuket would be better, for me at least. But I do agree that if it is possible for you, you might want to visit other destinations in the country. but I cannot believe that three weeks in Phuket would be a hardship, even if it has become very built-up since I was last there....1980s, when a "hotel" meant a "bungalow" on the beach!!

"How much could you expect to spend on meals, eating in family style restaurants?"

Phuket is in general a more expensive location.Hotels and food will be more.

Basic Thai dishes in the side streets of Pattaya range from 50 to 80 baht whereas in Phuket the same stuff can be twice that price.

It is also worth bearing in mind that Phuket is considerably rainier the Pattaya at that time of year.

whatever your main destination, if you have 21 days, I would suggest you consider some extra destinations as well.

as I said Pattaya is a great place to use as a hub, probably better than Phuket which is and island with a Southerly location - Pattaya is more central

" Would 21 days in Phuket be a better choice?"

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You are asking about the cost of meals, Phuket is the most expensive city in Thailand! The cost of transportation can be much higher than other cities. Both Pattaya and Bangkok have cheaper transportation.

If you actually need to swim at a beach Phuket has better beaches. All of Thailand has warm weather. For a first time visit I would not choose a single location for 21 days. (Exceptions for me would be if someone else is paying the bill, in that case I would stay put anywhere Thailand when someone else is paying for it!)

Many flights from Europe and the Americas first land at Bangkok.. This could mean changing flights to get to Phuket. (For Pattaya, from Bangkok, you can even take a cheap 2 hour bus to get there if you need to conserve money.)

Sample Google search for Cost of Living Phuket. Do a search for other links.
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Phuket

Anywhere in Thailand your meals will cost more in swanky - posh places vs smaller private restaurants and even food courts in malls. Modern supermarkets are available. Also lots of Seven Eleven type stores. You can pick up beer, soft drinks and snacks in Seven Eleven stores cheaper than restaurants.

Phuket is nearer the bottom of Thailand, Bangkok around the middle and Chiang Mai nearer the top. Bus ride from Bangkok to Phuket would take around 12 hours just in one direction.

Your choice.

21 days in the only Pattaya is really too much as there are not much of attractions that you should stay for 21 days. you can cover the Pattaya tour in maximum one week and then you can continue with Bangkok and Thailand tour to more destinations as you can cover more of this beautiful world,