Just now, Digitalbanana said:

How in your mind do you define better people in this instance?

Higher class.

9 minutes ago, susanlea said:

Higher class.

Like you?

Pattaya is for the budget conscious. Food, sex, transport all cheaper.

 

Phuket is for those who want something a bit better, generally cleaner and better air quality, less piles of garbage.

 

Both are good. 

If they both cost the same, Phuket would win, a whole tropical island versus Jomtien to Nakluea.

11 minutes ago, RSD1 said:

Like you?

Phuket people are below my level.

2 hours ago, susanlea said:

Phuket transport is a rip off but rooms and food much the same.

Exactly. I went to Phuket when I first arrived in Thailand 30 years ago, and I have not returned since - due to the transport mafia there. I don't have to go where I'm sure I'll be cheated/abused.

Quote

Why do so many people like Pattaya but hate Phuket?

I have no liking for either.

19 minutes ago, BangkokHank said:

Exactly. I went to Phuket when I first arrived in Thailand 30 years ago, and I have not returned since - due to the transport mafia there. I don't have to go where I'm sure I'll be cheated/abused.

The only solution I found was to book a hotel near airport. Walk there. Actually a nice beach and a good area.

25 minutes ago, susanlea said:

Phuket people are below my level.

Surely they all agree with you. 

1 minute ago, RSD1 said:

Surely they all agree with you. 

You love Pattaya?

58 minutes ago, susanlea said:

The only solution I found was to book a hotel near airport. Walk there. Actually a nice beach and a good area.

My solution is to go to Nha Trang, Vietnam, when  I want to have a beach vacation. There are cheap direct flights to there from Bangkok (DMK), I can get a great hotel right near the beach for less than 600 baht a night, and there are several awesome restaurants in the city. And the transportation around the city is quite cheap: With Grab bikes, I rarely paid more than 20 baht to get wherever I needed to go. And while the airport is far from the city, there is a cheap bus into the city center - and from the city center back to the airport every half hour. And as if all that weren't enough, the people there are very warm, helpful and welcoming. With all that, who needs Phuket?

I was first there in 1976. No resorts. A few bungalows on the beaches. Beachfront land was 1,000 baht a rai. They could not give it away. Very charming. 

 

Went back in 1986. Had developed alot. Still very nice. Again in 1993. Far more development. Still amazing. Azure seas. Spectacular women everywhere. Great food. 

 

Did not return until around 2008. It was degraded, for the most part. But, still decent. Good nightlife.

 

Again a few years ago. Then again last year. It was dreadful. Packed with Russians and Arabs. Low end tourism has taken over. No need to ever return. The charm is lost. The over development is stunning. The prices were crazy. 

1 hour ago, susanlea said:

The only solution I found was to book a hotel near airport. Walk there. Actually a nice beach and a good area.

Rent a smaller car 650-750B a day, problem solved. 

Phuket....."Little Russia"....🙄

Phuket is like an oversized village which caters mainly for tourists and cruise ships, it only great feature is access to some bays and islands, the entertainment is just for tourists and overpriced. Pattaya is a city with everything for tourists and Thais, great shopping, buckets of restaurants from around the world, various entertainment to cater for all, and good transport locally. So, what not to like? Just a shame first the Russians and now Indians trying to run everything, till their money runs out. running night clubs in walking street and so many empty Indian restaurants. still it is just the wheel of lost fortunes and it turns slowly but, surely.

I hate both 

Phuket is a rip off, I can go to Majorca for that.

Phuket has way more criminals and scam artists per square head of population.

6 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

I have been having a trial retirement and one thing that made me give Jomtiem a go rather than say Patong or Phuket town was it seemed like - unless you get a car - everything you need is close by. Jomtiem isn't too busy, nice outlook to the sea, affordable condos with gym and swimming pool, excellent food, massages etc nearby - and Pattaya minutes away if you want better shopping entertainment or other stuff. 

I have spent a lot of time in Phuket and the beaches are of course much better but there isn't one town or area that ticked the boxes though I may have a month or two in Phuket too - maybe Phuket town or in the west with a car - a bit later. 

I prefer phuket, but i agree on what you say. Your points are very very valid!

Pattaya or Phuket....both disgusting🤢

4 hours ago, susanlea said:

You love Pattaya?

Indifferent. 

6 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

 

some lovely nature and waterfalls and coffee plantations etc near Pakse in Laos but I sense that's not your thing.

 

Laos is too corrupt, and you can find yourself truly up the proverb-creek with no recourse.

 

I am legal to live there due to some historic preservation links. I will never live there.

 

But it is gorgeous, that island in the Mekong near Champasak. You are def putting me in the mood for spending my next smoke season month down there.

 

 

7 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

I am not convinced still about staying long term here but as a potential place to spend a few months over winter I give it a 6 or 7. 

I give Phuket 10 out of 10 for beaches  ( there are other beaches I prefer) 

phuket you need a car, good supermarkets/ malls only near Phuket town. 

Pattaya 2 out of 10 for beaches, 10 out of 10 for shopping and malls.  ( I prefer Bangkok for shopping).

Pattaya , near Bangkok and the airport as I like traveling round. 
Pattaya has public transport.

Phuket has practically none , and taxis are the worst nasty crooks and rip offs. 
lastly , Phuket prices/ rent/ buy are twice Pattaya . 

Can't say I like either of the actually.

 

Both have a tad too much sleaze, beach in Phuket better, but I'm not really a beach guy.

 

First time we visited Pattaya, probably 15 years ago our son was maybe 8, walking  together through downtown, couldn't get over the high pressure hustle of the girls. I was walking with my wife and son for God's sake

 

Family vacation?

 

I don't think so 

7 hours ago, RSD1 said:

What a farce. Says who? Phuket gets more visitors than Pattaya ever year. People vote with their feet. 

. Phuket is more expensive than Pattaya, but it is more suited for families, kids and couples². Pattaya is a better choice if you’re looking for a busy beach city, lively nightlife and party vibe¹. Pattaya is also better suited for adventure freaks, adrenaline junkies and the spoiled part of

9 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I agree... it's because most of the expats here in Pattaya are retirees on a budget, Phuket is more expensive. 

It's probably why I see so many miserable elderly foreigners here in Pattaya, being on their pensions they don't have the funds to enjoy their retired life. 

 

I choose Pattaya for the international airport location, I travel internationally every month. 

 

 

Did not know Pattaya had an international airport. Is it just newly constructed?

9 hours ago, susanlea said:

an upmarket Pattaya with better beaches and better people

 

Probably for this reason.

People like myself who love living in the Pattaya area don't actually live in town. We live just down the coast or in one of the rural areas. I can't blame people for choosing Pattaya over Phuket, it has everything. Folk who hate Pattaya, I think you'll find, have never actually visited here, but wish to hell they had. 

1 hour ago, SpaceKadet said:

Did not know Pattaya had an international airport. Is it just newly constructed?

U-tapao International Airport, VTBU, UTP. Old airport, new terminal.  International does not mean anything except "connects to places outside Thailand, with CIQ", but the list is growing. And, Swampy now very easy to get to/from. Don Muang not so easy.

1 hour ago, Grusa said:

U-tapao International Airport, VTBU, UTP. Old airport, new terminal.  International does not mean anything except "connects to places outside Thailand, with CIQ", but the list is growing. And, Swampy now very easy to get to/from. Don Muang not so easy.

So, it's more like Rayong international airport with 3 flights weekly to UAE, Singapore and Malaysia.... Very international.

And BKK international is still almost 2 hours away....

I really like them both. *default crying face*