When to Go
Best Time to Visit
November–February. Cool dry months with calm Gulf of Siam waters; March–May is hot, monsoon hits June–October.
Daily Spend in USD
Budget
Budget
$35/day
Mid-range
$90/day
Luxury
$280/day
Beach guesthouses are dirt cheap; resort hotels on the Jomtien side and Wong Amat push the top tier.
With Kids
Family Travel
Koh Larn ferry to clear-water beaches, the Cartoon Network water park, the Nong Nooch tropical garden.
Together
Couples Travel
A Jomtien beach sunset, an island-hopping speedboat day, the Sanctuary of Truth at dusk.
On Your Own
Solo Travel
English-friendly and easy; hostels in Pattaya and Jomtien are sociable, dive shops welcome new divers.
Food
What to Eat
- Tom yum goong. Spicy-sour shrimp soup with lemongrass — the Thai staple, everywhere.
- Pad thai. Stir-fried noodles with shrimp, peanut, lime — order at a beach-strip stall.
- Som tam. Spicy green-papaya salad pounded to order — the Isaan classic.
- Grilled seafood. Beachside BBQs grill the day’s catch — pick the fish, weigh it, eat with chili-lime sauce.
Transportation
Getting Around
Songthaews (pickup taxis) run fixed routes for ~10 baht; Grab is universal for longer rides.
Negotiate longtail boat fares to Koh Larn ahead of time at the Bali Hai pier; round-trip is honest.
Where to Base Yourself
Neighborhoods
- Pattaya Beach. Main strip — hotels, restaurants, the Walking Street nightlife district.
- Jomtien. Quieter beach south of Pattaya — family hotels, calmer water, beach umbrellas.
- Wong Amat. Upmarket beach north — resort hotels, more relaxed pace, fewer crowds.
What to Know
Safety
Generally safe in tourist areas; watch for scam jet-ski rentals (forced damage claims) and stay out of bar disputes after midnight.