Thailand : Safety by CityPattaya is a resort located on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand, around 150 km southeast of Thailand’s capital – Bangkok.
Pattaya is a city notorious for its booming sex industry and sex tourism is, actually, the main means of money earning in Pattaya.
However, even though it’s most famous for its go-go and beer bars, the local authorities in its city are trying to provide more family-friendly attractions and activities.
The beaches in this area are, unfortunately, below Thai standards for beaches, but authorities have been trying to improve their quality – destroying, along the way, some of the natural charms this area once had
Warnings & Dangers in Pattaya
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Generally speaking, Pattaya is relatively a safe city, though there are some scammers and petty thieves, especially along the beaches. You better apply all possible precautious measures, just in case you stumble upon them.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: HIGH
One of the greatest risks in Pattaya lies in its transportation system and reckless drivers. The number one cause of death for visitors to Pattaya is motorbike accidents that often occur on the narrow, mountainous and twisty roads and the speedboats that cause many accidents in the water. Avoid public transport too, as this is where the pickpockets operate.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Pickpockets can be usually spotted along the beaches that are filled with foreigners, where excessive vigilance is highly recommended. You'll see pickpockets and petty thieves in all crowded places so are very careful.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
As for natural disasters, Pattaya is known for its devastating flooding and occasional tsunamis.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
Kidnappings are not often and neither are muggings, though they're possible, especially in the remote areas of the city and other secluded areas outside of it.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Thailand has been a target of small bomb attacks and shootings, but places like Pattaya aren't probable targets since they're secluded and mostly consist of beach resorts.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Be prepared that most people providing any type of service for tourists in Pattaya are probably going to try to scam you or rip you off. Tuk-tuk drivers, fake police officers, street vendors are all possible scammers. Keep in mind that ATMs are places where criminals try and steal pin codes.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Even though Pattaya could generally be considered a safe city for women, they are still highly advised to follow the basic rules of precaution. Apart from that, use your common sense and apply all basic precaution measures.
So... How Safe Is Pattaya Really?
Pattaya is mostly safe for foreigners and tourists.
Probably the most severe, danger in Pattaya, and the number one cause of death for visitors to this city is motorbike accidents, that often occur here.
Always wear a helmet, avoid driving at night at all costs and never drink and drive.
There has also been an accident recently involving a speedboat propeller that hit a surfacing driver and killed him on the spot.
Be careful on the roads too, even if you’re going on foot (and be equally careful both on and off pedestrian zones, because Thai drivers have been known to completely ignore them and just drive along with them, regardless of the people walking there).
Petty theft like pickpocketing or bag snatching is more than common and you should expect it at every step.
Violent crime has been on the rise during the past couple of years and muggings and robberies are not rare at all.
Avoid any confrontations at bars and clubs as you might get severely beaten up.
Keep in mind that you should never, under any circumstances, say or mumble anything negative, or make jokes about the Thai royal family, as you might get attacked, and severely so.
How Does Pattaya Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Pattaya | 42 |
| Bangkok | 49 |
| Phuket | 45 |
| Chiang Mai | 73 |
| Krabi | 70 |
| Brussels (Belgium) | 60 |
| Shanghai (China) | 66 |
| Belize City (Belize) | 37 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
| Sao Paulo (Brazil) | 45 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
Useful Information
Visas
US citizens planning on traveling to Pattaya for less than 30 days do not need a visa. Just make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months past the date of arrival into this city. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Thailand embassy for further information.
Currency
Thai BAHT is the official currency of Pattaya. In this country and, by itself, this city, you should treat the money well: never step on a coin, or throw, tear or burn paper bills, because it shows disrespect to the royal family.
Weather
The climate in Pattaya is tropical, with mostly high temperatures and an abundance of humidity throughout the year. The best time to visit this city is between November and February.
Airports
U-Tapao International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport serving two Thai cities: Rayong and Pattaya. It is located in Ban Chang District of Rayong Province.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Pattaya, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Pattaya Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Low °C | 27 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
| High °F | 88 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 |
| Low °F | 81 | 81 | 84 | 86 | 82 | 81 | 79 | 81 | 81 | 79 | 81 | 81 |
Thailand - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Bangkok | 49 |
| Chiang Mai | 73 |
| Krabi | 70 |
| Pattaya | 42 |
| Phuket | 45 |
Pattaya is really must see place. I don’t say that everyone will enjoy it, but it is unique and it is something that you’ll probably see only there. One of the craziest places in the world. And it is pretty safe.
Experience
Its a very friendly and exciting place i have been 6 times and always ride a motorbike there and had no problems so far have only had one hassle and that was with hiring a jetski they tried to say my mate caused damage we just ignored them an asked to see the tourist police to which they refused
Get a guide and you’ll love this place even more!
When going to Pattaya do your research so you know what you should be visiting and what not and get a guide. Getting a good guide will save you so much time and you’ll instantly learn the history of the place and know what you can do here. I can’t stress this enough. Pattaya is a beautiful, welcoming place (that deserves a much higher rating on this Safety Index) and it will be even better with a guide.
I traveled twice to this place, the first time without a guide. The first time was nice but if I would have had a guide from the start I would have definitely enjoyed it so much more. This is a place mostly for adults as it’s focused more on the sex industry. The government is actively trying to offer attractions for families but it’s not there yet.
Below I will talk about a few of the things I visited.
The Sanctuary of Truth is a massive, wooden monument, which reflects on the cycle of life and our own relationship to the Universe around us. When you visit this place you can also see cultural shows or even Thai boxing or take a ride on a speedboat.
Mini Siam is a very unique place. It has many miniature models of some of the more known spots in the world like London’s Tower Bridge or the Sydney Opera. Everything is well made and will entice children in particular. I had no idea something like this existed until my guide talked about it.
Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden is one of those places you can visit with your family and you’ll have a great time. So many gardens to explore, with plants from all over the world, from bonsai to palm trees. There’s also the Thai Cultural Hall that offers many traditional events like sword-fighting, Thai dancing. I highly recommend you also rent a bike to see the whole park in a different way.
Exciting City!
One thing you can say about Pattaya is that “It isn’t boring”. Number one is the great adult nightlife, but
there are many other things to do for people not into that. There are many nice beaches, great restaurants, great hotels at low prices, water parks, historical sites, tours, etc. Be careful with your valuables (I always use a personal portable safe, but at a bare minimum use the hotel safe). Don’t flash gold chains, smart phones, money, etc (but you shouldn’t do that anywhere). Respect the Royal family and never say anything negative about anyone important, especially the King (yes you can go to jail for that in this country)! Be careful of scams, especially taxi scams, jetski scams, jewelry scams. atm scams (google ways to avoid these). Finally, have a good time, but be careful falling in love:)
Pattaya had no tsunamis! That was Phuket connected to the west side of Thailand.