Pattaya Is Busy For September

[chiang mai]

The message is I think that Bill the builder who freelances on a cash in hand basis for six months out of the year, claims various state benefits and then relaxes in his bar in Pattaya for the rest of the time is in for a life changing experience soon.

Its Bob, chiang mai, Bob the builder

I had in mind the twins, Bill and Bob, but only referred to the elder of the two for the sake of brevity, just in the same way that I refer to you as SBK and not SBK and Boo.

[neil324]

With regards to tourism, I've always believed that Pattaya is a bit of a "one Off".

I think there is a "hard core" (no pun intended), of Sex tourists who will continue to patronize Pattaya, regardless of the troubles here. They don't care about airports belong closed - worse case scenario is they can't go home - oh dear what a shame!, or any of the other problems that have been plaguing Thailand.

Sure the world recession may have hampered their travel plans somewhat, which will account for the obvious drop in tourist numbers, but there are still plenty of taxi drivers, truck drivers, electricians, plumbers and other various "black economy" cowboys who have avoided the worst ravages of the economic downturn and are able to put their little nest egg together and have their few weeks of sex, booze and fights in the sun.

The families and mid to up market tourists may have stopped coming, but I feel this will effect other holiday destinations such as Phuket and Chiang Mai, much more than Pattaya.

Only time will tell if I am correct.

I totally agree with all of that. In going forward however I suspect that things may change somewhat as the impact of tighter scrutiny from the UK government starts to be felt. Passports are now being swiped on arrival in the UK, bank accounts are coming under closer scrutiny, benefits recipients are (hopefully) being looked at more closely etc. The message is I think that Bill the builder who freelances on a cash in hand basis for six months out of the year, claims various state benefits and then relaxes in his bar in Pattaya for the rest of the time is in for a life changing experience soon.

Well good on 'Bob', everyone has their fingers in the cookie jar some way or other, some more than others for sure.

[ace]

I believe its the bald, tatooed scumbag convention.

Did I miss that again? They gotta to stop changing the date thought it was next week.

[pattaya_girl]

Soi Arunothai is not busy for September.

It use to be a lively little Soi, drove down there at 10pm Sat Evening, not a soul in sight.... It is the same most Evenings.

[Tolley]

With regards to tourism, I've always believed that Pattaya is a bit of a "one Off".

I think there is a "hard core" (no pun intended), of Sex tourists who will continue to patronize Pattaya, regardless of the troubles here. They don't care about airports belong closed - worse case scenario is they can't go home - oh dear what a shame!, or any of the other problems that have been plaguing Thailand.

Sure the world recession may have hampered their travel plans somewhat, which will account for the obvious drop in tourist numbers, but there are still plenty of taxi drivers, truck drivers, electricians, plumbers and other various "black economy" cowboys who have avoided the worst ravages of the economic downturn and are able to put their little nest egg together and have their few weeks of sex, booze and fights in the sun.

The families and mid to up market tourists may have stopped coming, but I feel this will effect other holiday destinations such as Phuket and Chiang Mai, much more than Pattaya.

Only time will tell if I am correct.

I totally agree with all of that. In going forward however I suspect that things may change somewhat as the impact of tighter scrutiny from the UK government starts to be felt. Passports are now being swiped on arrival in the UK, bank accounts are coming under closer scrutiny, benefits recipients are (hopefully) being looked at more closely etc. The message is I think that Bill the builder who freelances on a cash in hand basis for six months out of the year, claims various state benefits and then relaxes in his bar in Pattaya for the rest of the time is in for a life changing experience soon.

Funny isn't it when you consider it was the Bankers of the world that caused most of the current economic problems.

It makes sense to target the workers.

[johnswift1956]

I am actually optimistic this will be a good high season if not derailed by the upcoming protests.

A place like Pattaya may do particularly well as I think regulars can maybe miss one year but two years may be out of the question. Places like Soi B could do particularly well as I do believe visitors will reduce expenses by taking a step down in accomodation venues, meals, etc.

I arrive on Friday and getting worried about my trip there. I have been many times but all my friends have backed out of coming and it is now only me left. If most of the bars are closed then there are no girls and if no girls then why got to Pattaya? Is walking street still ok and which areas of town are still busy?

Not sure I like too many falang bars though. I much prefer the Thai Bars. One sure thing that get up my nose is all the rude business owning falang that suck up to all the falang on holiday with money. They live in Thailand like leeches sucking off respectable falang to pay for their existence because they cannot go back home. Why the Thai's have not kicked them all out, "Budda only knows". They will not exist much longer if the Falang stop coming as the Soth Asian holiday makers (Koreans, Japanese, Chinese) are not going to use falang beer bars, restaurants, etc. Goes for the Indian Tailors too. Donot see many Chinese queuing outside them.

[britmaveric]

^quite busy as the OP has stated.

[anothertorres]

I arrive on Friday and getting worried about my trip there. I have been many times but all my friends have backed out of coming and it is now only me left. If most of the bars are closed then there are no girls and if no girls then why got to Pattaya? Is walking street still ok and which areas of town are still busy?

just about every bar is closed. even the 7/11's are closing up. so do us a favor, turn off the lights when you leave. and one last word of warning... the girls have all gone to Burma for work.

[Ulysses G.]

Plenty of bars. Plenty of Girls, but not so many guys in early October. Should be fun!

[harrry]

Plenty of bars. Plenty of Girls, but not so many guys in early October. Should be fun!

So not a lot of reading goes on in Pattaya UG.

[Ulysses G.]

I brought a bag full of great books, but only read one about the Beatles - which was excellent!

[pgt99]

Was in Pattaya / Jomtien from the 15th Aug to 13th Sept. Riding my bike from Soi 5 off Jomtien Beach Road and going down right to the bottom. Virtually all the bars only had the bar staff in them and not a single customer. Towards the mid Spetember did notice more tourists (white) than before. Things are definatley on the upturn.

[gotlost]

I was their from 17 September to 25 September, Soi 2, Soi 6, Soi 7, Soi 8 OK but nothing great. Some bars had customers and the bar next door empty. The hotel I was in 24 rooms 8 booked. Thank positive.

[thaijasmine]

I know this thread is about pattaya but I would also like to mention the day before yesterday and yesterday

I traveled by bus to the Cambodian border near Trat and back to Pattaya. If this is near the beginning of the high season

for Thailand, it seems to me it's going to be shocking because on the two occasions I was at the bus station in Trat

( arriving on Thursday and then returning yesterday ) there were no more than

one or two foreigners. This is significant because I have been there many times and usually there is an endless

stream of farangs arriving and departing to go to Koh Chang island ( or Cammodia ). Even at the

border there was hardly anyone there. I have never seen it so quiet. maybe it will pick up

closer to Christmas but right now its dead

[Ulysses G.]

This is the lowest of low season. It should pick up in about a month for Loy Katung.

[Mobi]

Sorry UG, but "anectdotal" evidence from someone who comes here for a week or so in September and gets around to dozens of bars and eating establishments by day and night and reports that there doesn't seem to be many customers about, is simply not acceptable as evidence that Pattaya is NOT busy.

The only acceptable evidence is the stats that are issued by the official authorities (TAT, Pattaya City Council, the local Tour groups etc).

Anything else is a figment of your imagination and is just written to spread doom and gloom amongst the Thais. (such is the wicked nature of foreigners)

If you don't appreciate the busy September in Pattaya, you should go back to where you came from, and leave it to the one or two remaining tourists to enjoy the thousands of bars by themselves.

[JR Texas]

Sorry UG, but "anectdotal" evidence from someone who comes here for a week or so in September and gets around to dozens of bars and eating establishments by day and night and reports that there doesn't seem to be many customers about, is simply not acceptable as evidence that Pattaya is NOT busy.

The only acceptable evidence is the stats that are issued by the official authorities (TAT, Pattaya City Council, the local Tour groups etc).

Anything else is a figment of your imagination and is just written to spread doom and gloom amongst the Thais. (such is the wicked nature of foreigners)

If you don't appreciate the busy September in Pattaya, you should go back to where you came from, and leave it to the one or two remaining tourists to enjoy the thousands of bars by themselves.

One sampling methodology that works is random scan sampling (goes by other names as well). For Pattaya, if I were interested in doing it, I would:

1) construct one question: Is business up or down compared to the same time last year (English and Thai)

2) select 4-5 sections of the city

3) select every 5th or 10th business in each section for the sample (this makes sure the sample is random)...........so you pick #1, then walk down the street to #5 or 10, etc.

4) ask the owner or manager the question and record it

This method produces responses from a representative sample of businesses.

Try it and post the results in two categories:

a) think it is up compared to the same time last year (percentage)

think it is down compared to the same time last year (percentage)

I think this would be far more accurate and informative than "official statistics." The business owners know.

[britmaveric]

The only acceptable evidence is the stats that are issued by the official authorities (TAT, Pattaya City Council, the local Tour groups etc).

:D

[Spalpeen]

The only acceptable evidence is the stats that are issued by the official authorities (TAT, Pattaya City Council, the local Tour groups etc).

I'll second that ! Official stats. are worth about the same as politicians promises.

[yogi100]

I visited the Champagne and the Oasis gogo bars the other evening and nearly every seat was taken. Another evening I visited some gogos in WS and they were busy. The common factor was reasonable priced draught beer and pretty girls. The majority of the punters seemed to be British and because of the weakness of the pound they are going to go where their pound goes further. Bar owners want 'bums on seats' as this attracts the attention of other punters. Better to sell 100 bottles of beer at 45 baht than 5 at 70 baht.

The working man wants value for his money and the 'high class' family tourists that Pattaya hoped to attract will never materialise.

[moo9]

I visited the Champagne and the Oasis gogo bars the other evening and nearly every seat was taken. Another evening I visited some gogos in WS and they were busy. The common factor was reasonable priced draught beer and pretty girls. The majority of the punters seemed to be British and because of the weakness of the pound they are going to go where their pound goes further. Bar owners want 'bums on seats' as this attracts the attention of other punters. Better to sell 100 bottles of beer at 45 baht than 5 at 70 baht.

The working man wants value for his money and the 'high class' family tourists that Pattaya hoped to attract will never materialise.

Those places are usually crowded, because they do the right way of business.

There are bars around with no pretty sights which charge you 120 Bht for a Gin Tonic. No wonder that you won't visit those places again.

Peppermint was busy last Saturday...as well as the security taking care of a drunk Brit....business as usual....

Cheers