Is Pattaya really on the bones of it arse at the minute?

[konying]

Was in Pattaya yesterday, the bars on second road were rocking, eg, Wonderful Bar 2, The Meeting Point, standing room only.

What the heck was going on outside Central yesterday about 5 in the evening, we had Michael Jackson, Minnie Ha Ha and Haiwatha giving it big lix.

Opposite Mikes, the farang cheap chalee or farang kee ngok brigade were out in force.

Yes Pattaya Rawks.

You forgot to mention, yesterday was Friday, many visitors from Rayong and Bangkok like yourself.

Come down on Sunday through to Thursday and see if its rawking

[rgs2001uk]

Was in Pattaya yesterday, the bars on second road were rocking, eg, Wonderful Bar 2, The Meeting Point, standing room only.

What the heck was going on outside Central yesterday about 5 in the evening, we had Michael Jackson, Minnie Ha Ha and Haiwatha giving it big lix.

Opposite Mikes, the farang cheap chalee or farang kee ngok brigade were out in force.

Yes Pattaya Rawks.

You forgot to mention, yesterday was Friday, many visitors from Rayong and Bangkok like yourself.

Come down on Sunday through to Thursday and see if its rawking

I only report what I saw.

, many visitors from Rayong and Bangkok like yourself.

How do you know where I live?

Notice you didnt deny the CC brigade that frequent Mikes was rawking, <deleted>, big bottles of Chang. phrases such as farang kee ngok were flying around, who TF was the tawat wearing the Vietnam Vet hat yesteday?

46 year old slappers winghing about business, jeez luv, go and look in the mirror, even the Thais dont want you.

Yes Pattaya rawks, got myself booked in for 4 nights in Jan next year.

[konying]

Was in Pattaya yesterday, the bars on second road were rocking, eg, Wonderful Bar 2, The Meeting Point, standing room only.

What the heck was going on outside Central yesterday about 5 in the evening, we had Michael Jackson, Minnie Ha Ha and Haiwatha giving it big lix.

Opposite Mikes, the farang cheap chalee or farang kee ngok brigade were out in force.

Yes Pattaya Rawks.

You forgot to mention, yesterday was Friday, many visitors from Rayong and Bangkok like yourself.

Come down on Sunday through to Thursday and see if its rawking

I only report what I saw.

, many visitors from Rayong and Bangkok like yourself.

How do you know where I live?

Notice you didnt deny the CC brigade that frequent Mikes was rawking, <deleted>, big bottles of Chang. phrases such as farang kee ngok were flying around, who TF was the tawat wearing the Vietnam Vet hat yesteday?

46 year old slappers winghing about business, jeez luv, go and look in the mirror, even the Thais dont want you.

Yes Pattaya rawks, got myself booked in for 4 nights in Jan next year.

You live in Bangkok as per your posts, Not really a rocket science.

I have no idea about what you saw at Mike, so why would i comment?

[BWPattaya]

Thursday night only one seat available in Peppermint when I called in, Palace and Sweethearts jam packed full. Looks like it is that time when I stay home!

[Leviathan]

will know in a few more weeks if the season is picking up, my guess is what u have now youll have until mid January, then it will simply be tours and weekend traffic, I could be wrong.

[thaibeachlovers]

Thursday night only one seat available in Peppermint when I called in, Palace and Sweethearts jam packed full. Looks like it is that time when I stay home!

That is 3 gogos. Try the places on Soi Post Office or Yamato, Soi 8 and elsewhere to see if they are "packed" as well.

Pattaya has had an oversupply of bars and gogos compared to number of customers for at least 20 years.

[thaibeachlovers]

Yes let's blame the Russians for rising prices. Why not after all they get blamed for just about all Pattayas woes. Funny though they have minimal impact on places I visit. Of course they are in Pattaya in their numbers but I never see them in my favourite bars, very few in Go Go bars when I go, I don't notice them in the restaurants and they certainly don't frequent the same guesthouses I stay at. Of course in other parts of Pattaya they are more prominent but so what? Do the Brits, Aussies or Europeans have more of a right to be in Pattaya than the Russians? I have friends who own businesses and they depend on Russian customers when they are there. So to blame Russians for rising prices is dumb!

Pattaya is still excellent value despite the inevitable price rises. It's about 50% less than comparable prices in Bangkok. I really think most punters confuse fluctuating currency prices with rising prices. In the last 10 years there have been significant fluctuations of the $US, Aust$, Euro and GBP. For example my trips to Pattaya are about 15% more expensive than 12 months ago. Why? Because the Aust$ has fallen against the US$.

Too many beer bars? Too many restaurants and food outlets? Too many hotels/Guesthouses? Too many GOGos? Yes to all of them. Why do you think Pattaya is very affordable?? It's called COMPETITION.

If some places make big money from any nationality tourist, it doesn't take long for every other place to think that's what they should be earning too, and put their prices up. At the moment it's the Russians.

What the no star hotels don't take into account is that the Russians mainly stay in their own enclaves, and don't stay in dumps.

When dumps on Soi Buakhao start asking over 600 baht a night, it's getting ridiculous.

[Flanno]

The bar scene around Soi Post Office and Yamoto has been dead for about 10 years now. There's plenty of cheap guesthouses there and a few regular drinkers still stick to the bars they been drinking in for years. But the scene has moved to the area around LK Metro. Soi Yamoto has a few lady boy bars and Stringfellows Go Go and it would not surprise if this is the direction it's heading in. I know these Sois well. I don't seem to recall running into Russians there, except those cutting thru to Second Rd from the beach.

I really don't know what you are whining about. Prices around Soi Buakhow and Soi Diana are still very reasonable. I will be back in 2 weeks and staying at an old time favourite guesthouse for 500 Baht a nite, fan room, high season. Same daily price all year round. Still plenty of good decent bars where I pay 50 Baht for a cold Tiger and a great variety of eating places at very reasonable prices. I cannot wait to get back. But if it's not your scene, or too expensive, or too many Russians why don't you go somewhere where you may be happy.

[thaibeachlovers]

The bar scene around Soi Post Office and Yamoto has been dead for about 10 years now. There's plenty of cheap guesthouses there and a few regular drinkers still stick to the bars they been drinking in for years. But the scene has moved to the area around LK Metro. Soi Yamoto has a few lady boy bars and Stringfellows Go Go and it would not surprise if this is the direction it's heading in. I know these Sois well. I don't seem to recall running into Russians there, except those cutting thru to Second Rd from the beach.

I really don't know what you are whining about. Prices around Soi Buakhow and Soi Diana are still very reasonable. I will be back in 2 weeks and staying at an old time favourite guesthouse for 500 Baht a nite, fan room, high season. Same daily price all year round. Still plenty of good decent bars where I pay 50 Baht for a cold Tiger and a great variety of eating places at very reasonable prices. I cannot wait to get back. But if it's not your scene, or too expensive, or too many Russians why don't you go somewhere where you may be happy.

You seem to be reading a lot into what I say that I didn't mean.

I don't mind the Russians, as the women are pleasant to look at on Walking St.

I get an AC room on Buakhao for 500.

I have been trying to answer the OP, with reasons why less farangs may be going there.

[john1000]

thaibeachlovers, on 16 Nov 2014 - 20:18, said:

Flanno, on 16 Nov 2014 - 19:35, said:

The bar scene around Soi Post Office and Yamoto has been dead for about 10 years now. There's plenty of cheap guesthouses there and a few regular drinkers still stick to the bars they been drinking in for years. But the scene has moved to the area around LK Metro. Soi Yamoto has a few lady boy bars and Stringfellows Go Go and it would not surprise if this is the direction it's heading in. I know these Sois well. I don't seem to recall running into Russians there, except those cutting thru to Second Rd from the beach.

I really don't know what you are whining about. Prices around Soi Buakhow and Soi Diana are still very reasonable. I will be back in 2 weeks and staying at an old time favourite guesthouse for 500 Baht a nite, fan room, high season. Same daily price all year round. Still plenty of good decent bars where I pay 50 Baht for a cold Tiger and a great variety of eating places at very reasonable prices. I cannot wait to get back. But if it's not your scene, or too expensive, or too many Russians why don't you go somewhere where you may be happy.

You seem to be reading a lot into what I say that I didn't mean.

I don't mind the Russians, as the women are pleasant to look at on Walking St.

I get an AC room on Buakhao for 500.

I have been trying to answer the OP, with reasons why less farangs may be going there.

Have to agree with you there. Best eye candy around.

[rgs2001uk]

Thursday night only one seat available in Peppermint when I called in, Palace and Sweethearts jam packed full. Looks like it is that time when I stay home!

That is 3 gogos. Try the places on Soi Post Office or Yamato, Soi 8 and elsewhere to see if they are "packed" as well.

Pattaya has had an oversupply of bars and gogos compared to number of customers for at least 20 years.

Ah good old Yamato and PO, dark dingy uninviting rundown places on dirty smelly litter strewn congested sois.

Please give three good reasons why I should either of the sois above.

Personally I find them drab and depressing with nothing to offer.

As mentioned by another poster, the prettiest "girls" are in Stringfellows, just about says it all.

[tropo]

Thursday night only one seat available in Peppermint when I called in, Palace and Sweethearts jam packed full. Looks like it is that time when I stay home!

That is 3 gogos. Try the places on Soi Post Office or Yamato, Soi 8 and elsewhere to see if they are "packed" as well.

Pattaya has had an oversupply of bars and gogos compared to number of customers for at least 20 years.

I don't think it's a case of over or under supply of customers. Customers always gravitate to the most popular (best) joints and even in very busy times you'll find quiet places. Soi Post Office and Yamato bars are a poor indication of the business in general. They are just not popular gogo bar locations at present. Yamato is full of boy bars (are there any girlie bars left there?), and Soi Post Office is too isolated with too few bars for gogo bar hopping. People who are interested in small hole-in-the-wall bars will prefer Soi 6. People don't go to Soi 8 to visit gogo bars as that is primarily a beer bar street. Check out Soi LK Metro - it's pumping most nights.

[tropo]

Thursday night only one seat available in Peppermint when I called in, Palace and Sweethearts jam packed full. Looks like it is that time when I stay home!

That is 3 gogos. Try the places on Soi Post Office or Yamato, Soi 8 and elsewhere to see if they are "packed" as well.

Pattaya has had an oversupply of bars and gogos compared to number of customers for at least 20 years.

Ah good old Yamato and PO, dark dingy uninviting rundown places on dirty smelly litter strewn congested sois.

Please give three good reasons why I should either of the sois above.

Personally I find them drab and depressing with nothing to offer.

As mentioned by another poster, the prettiest "girls" are in Stringfellows, just about says it all.

Even a few years ago when they weren't as dingy the customer service was terrible and the prices ridiculous. They were always out to rob customers, especially in Yamato.

[rgs2001uk]

Thursday night only one seat available in Peppermint when I called in, Palace and Sweethearts jam packed full. Looks like it is that time when I stay home!

That is 3 gogos. Try the places on Soi Post Office or Yamato, Soi 8 and elsewhere to see if they are "packed" as well.

Pattaya has had an oversupply of bars and gogos compared to number of customers for at least 20 years.

Ah good old Yamato and PO, dark dingy uninviting rundown places on dirty smelly litter strewn congested sois.

Please give three good reasons why I should either of the sois above.

Personally I find them drab and depressing with nothing to offer.

As mentioned by another poster, the prettiest "girls" are in Stringfellows, just about says it all.

Even a few years ago when they weren't as dingy the customer service was terrible and the prices ridiculous. They were always out to rob customers, especially in Yamato.

Tropo, both those sois were shytholes 20 years ago, nothing has changed.

You are correct about Yamato, the leases ran out and the rents went up, the only way to recoup was to up prices.

Why TF would I want to sit in the front of some dingy shophouse bar with no a/c, when for the same price I could drink in PL1 or 2.

I remember WS before it existed as it is today, Black & White Bar, Roo Bar, heck even the cheesey ladyboy show in Simons was better value.

The sad thing is, there are places I would use on LK, but there is no parking, plenty of decent big a/c rooms available, sadly I have to consider where to park the car.

I remember Daves GB bar moving to 2nd Rd, it was like the kiss of death, the back of beyond, people didnt use it, it was in the middle of nowhere.

Personally for me, the whole area went to crap when The Anzac closed.

[wotaplonker]

Pattaya is built on the sex industry and the merchandise being sold today has a lot to be desired. Most is defective or way out of date. Perhaps my standards are a little high but Pattaya sure has declined over the years. I think the best years have come and gone.

Thats what it was built on. Then enter all the big commercial developers and big touring business riding piggy back on that. These Asians and Russians and Thais that make up the majority of tourists today seem to be oblivious to the declining quality of the over all environment in Pattaya: Traffic , construction, pollution ,

garbage thrown all over the place. All the crumbling incompetently constructed infrastructure everywhere.Then all the scams and neck less snatches by local lowlifes.There should be no expectations of the future of Pattaya being anything more than a congested seedy third string seaside town in decline.

After eight years as a property owner in Patters, I have to agree with most of this - except the future.

There are several potential scenarios which could be game changers.

1. The Hi-Speed Rail to Bangkok: If this much-discussed project is ever completed, then Pattaya would become a suburb of Bangkok, and that would have a major impact, for obvious reasons. Right now, the connections to Bangkok are limited to the two hour road trip, which makes a commute unthinkable.

2. Legalization of Gambling: It is no secret that gambling is very popular in Asia, and if Patters ever had legalized gambling, the influx from China and elsewhere would be massive. Since Patters has been the Las Vegas of the sex industry for some time, it might as well go all the way.

3. Finally, my personal favorite would be International Arts Festivals of various kinds - Film Festivals, Theatre Festivals, etc. Artists have gentrified seedy neighborhoods around the word , and , if given some fiscal incentive, an influx of artistic talent from around the world could do wonders for the city's image. Indeed,

this makes a lot more sense than the current Tourism Minister's hare-brained scheme to make Pattaya a sports center. After all, athletes do not like seediness. Artists, on the other hand, thrive on seediness!

Ah well - one can always dream! ;

gambling, fantastic, just imagine those sea side hotels in Pattaya and Jomtien with large casinos!! it would bring in so much money it would defy belief, especially from the crazed gamblers of China,

also many tourists from USA, Europe, Australia etc who love a bit of roulette and blackjack, of course it would be a disaster for many local thais particularly the bar girls who after

visiting a beach road card reader/fortune teller would head for the casinos with their nights/weeks earnings expecting to win 000's of baht, especially after seeing the occasional lucky

winner, of course they would all lose in the end, but nevertheless it would be a huge earner for Pattaya, bring it on

[wotaplonker]

thaibeachlovers, on 16 Nov 2014 - 20:18, said:

Flanno, on 16 Nov 2014 - 19:35, said:

The bar scene around Soi Post Office and Yamoto has been dead for about 10 years now. There's plenty of cheap guesthouses there and a few regular drinkers still stick to the bars they been drinking in for years. But the scene has moved to the area around LK Metro. Soi Yamoto has a few lady boy bars and Stringfellows Go Go and it would not surprise if this is the direction it's heading in. I know these Sois well. I don't seem to recall running into Russians there, except those cutting thru to Second Rd from the beach.

I really don't know what you are whining about. Prices around Soi Buakhow and Soi Diana are still very reasonable. I will be back in 2 weeks and staying at an old time favourite guesthouse for 500 Baht a nite, fan room, high season. Same daily price all year round. Still plenty of good decent bars where I pay 50 Baht for a cold Tiger and a great variety of eating places at very reasonable prices. I cannot wait to get back. But if it's not your scene, or too expensive, or too many Russians why don't you go somewhere where you may be happy.

You seem to be reading a lot into what I say that I didn't mean.

I don't mind the Russians, as the women are pleasant to look at on Walking St.

I get an AC room on Buakhao for 500.

I have been trying to answer the OP, with reasons why less farangs may be going there.

Have to agree with you there. Best eye candy around.

its all about taste in the end, when I was there end September to Mid October the Russian girls were often skinny, pale, very ordinary not at all like those stunners on Russian dating sites,

and in fact most of them were about as attractive as the average thai bar girl, that is not very attractive

[loppylugs1]

Ill say its dead.

5 bedroom detached house 4 bedroom en suite on brightside cheap,cheaper than condo and at least one half of the houses empty. luxurious living complete with furnishings wonderful, few years ago no chance.

decided me for a year or two to hang on but Portugal is my intended destination but in the meantime Ill stop here

Edited November 25, 2014 by loppylugs1

[Phil Conners]

How can it be on it's ass when traffic is worse than ever? Last I checked it was still mostly farangs in the cars. As for empty houses, not many in the well-managed villages.

[Tolley]

It just might be that there are plenty of people but they are collectively spending less.

[i claudius]

How can it be on it's ass when traffic is worse than ever? Last I checked it was still mostly farangs in the cars. As for empty houses, not many in the well-managed villages.

My wife is in the trade ,believe me there are loads , well managed or not

[Flanno]

Tourism is the lifeblood of Pattaya and I'm not sure how empty houses in residential areas determine whether Pattaya is "on the bones of it's arse"

I arrive next week and have been trying to book my favourite accommodation places but most of them are fully booked, especially over the Xmas/New Year period. I think this is more indicative of Pattayas popularity than empty residential housing.

[zierf1]

Are Russians still coming? I just can't believe they aren't feeling the economic pinch by now. They are getting slaughtered by oil prices, sanctions, and now the Ruble has fallen to almost 50 to the USD. http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=RUB&to=THB&view=10Y Wonder how it is on the ground? Not that I'm complaining if they won't be coming any more...

[morrobay]

How can it be on it's ass when traffic is worse than ever? Last I checked it was still mostly farangs in the cars. As for empty houses, not many in the well-managed villages.

When was the last time you checked Phil ? For the last at least 3 years its Thais that live here and visiting ( the largest , domestic, tourist nationality ) that are jamming up the roads driving around in circles all day.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Are Russians still coming? I just can't believe they aren't feeling the economic pinch by now. They are getting slaughtered by oil prices, sanctions, and now the Ruble has fallen to almost 50 to the USD. http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=RUB&to=THB&view=10Y Wonder how it is on the ground? Not that I'm complaining if they won't be coming any more...

Most of the Russian girls that I met have returned or are returning. In fact I just received a message from one telling me that the temperature in her town is -23 Celsius.

So even though the place is a bit of hole, where else can you get a studio apartment for US$500 a month for the Christmas/New Year period and a temperature difference of 53 degrees Celsius?

So for some, it is a relative paradise.

Edited November 28, 2014 by Jiu-Jitsu

[tropo]

Are Russians still coming? I just can't believe they aren't feeling the economic pinch by now. They are getting slaughtered by oil prices, sanctions, and now the Ruble has fallen to almost 50 to the USD. http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=RUB&to=THB&view=10Y Wonder how it is on the ground? Not that I'm complaining if they won't be coming any more...

Most of the Russian girls that I met have returned or are returning. In fact I just received a message from one telling me that the temperature in her town is -23 Celsius.

So even though the place is a bit of hole, where else can you get a studio apartment for US$500 a month for the Christmas/New Year period and a temperature difference of 53 degrees Celsius?

So for some, it is a relative paradise.

Most of the Russian (single) girls are on working holidays and not real tourists.

WeChat and other apps make it easy for them to make money while they bask in the tropical sun.

[Jip99]

How can it be on it's ass when traffic is worse than ever? Last I checked it was still mostly farangs in the cars. As for empty houses, not many in the well-managed villages.

When was the last time you checked Phil ? For the last at least 3 years its Thais that live here and visiting ( the largest , domestic, tourist nationality ) that are jamming up the roads driving around in circles all day.

That has been my observation on my trips to Pattaya, I would venture that at least 80% of motorists are Thai - even higher for just motocy's.

Pattaya's road infrastructure (amongst other things) is woefully inadequate.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Are Russians still coming? I just can't believe they aren't feeling the economic pinch by now. They are getting slaughtered by oil prices, sanctions, and now the Ruble has fallen to almost 50 to the USD. http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=RUB&to=THB&view=10Y Wonder how it is on the ground? Not that I'm complaining if they won't be coming any more...

Most of the Russian girls that I met have returned or are returning. In fact I just received a message from one telling me that the temperature in her town is -23 Celsius.

So even though the place is a bit of hole, where else can you get a studio apartment for US$500 a month for the Christmas/New Year period and a temperature difference of 53 degrees Celsius?

So for some, it is a relative paradise.

Most of the Russian (single) girls are on working holidays and not real tourists.

WeChat and other apps make it easy for them to make money while they bask in the tropical sun.

Erm....no....that is a load of rubbish. All, but one of the girls is a tourist. The one that isn't, has moved to Thailand and is working there as an accountant.

Just because you imagine something to be true, does not make it so. The fact that they may be single does not mean that they are travelling alone. They are with friends and family and they are on holiday.

[Anthony5]

How can it be on it's ass when traffic is worse than ever? Last I checked it was still mostly farangs in the cars. As for empty houses, not many in the well-managed villages.

I just happened to pass by Raro's food heaven tonight, and if I'm not mistaken those shophouses are from Sensri, one of the best managed village builders in Thailand, and at least 70% of the shophouses was dark, as was almost the entire village in the back.

Sensri is also building a new village on Road #36, together with 2 or 3 other companies left and right of their village, and for the past 2 years things just don't move. Many unfinished structures that have no further work done on them standing there for at least 1 year already.

[Phil Conners]

That is not exactly what I call well-managed villages. Have a look for example at Green Field Villas - you won't find any empty houses there.

[NanLaew]

That is not exactly what I call well-managed villages. Have a look for example at Green Field Villas - you won't find any empty houses there.

By the same token Phil, compared with about 2 years ago (the last time I was earnestly searching house listings in Pattaya), there were zero properties from any of the Green Field villages. Now there's at least 4 popping up on realtors listings and I have seen a couple that have 'For Sale or Rent' signs hanging over a back wall so they can be seen from the main road.

Sign of the times maybe but I don't see it as 'the end is nigh' scenario yet. More like the average punter is doing a fiscal downsize, either selling up and leaving the country or moving himself to a cheaper, secondary property and renting out the 'palace' depending on how HIS arse bones are looking. Broke bloke goes home, savvy bloke downsizes and switches to drinking Archa. For every single well-managed village, there must be at least 10 ghettos especially among the older developments either side of Nernplubwan and Khaonoi.

I have no clue what the perpetually moribund but allegedly vibrant condo market is like. I mean there's loads of new shiny towers attracting lots of attention but there's still megaloads of crumbling, mostly empty edifices to remind us of the shoddy construction and zilch city planning that still prevails.