I find Pattaya a very interesting place. For one thing I totally understand the people who move

there for the hookers and alcohol. However, I don't understand why people who seem not into this also go there.

Like single women and families moving to Pattaya, why?

Is it possible to have a normal life there if you're not into hookers and drinking? Or can we make a generalization

that basically all single male farangs are there for that.

Doesn't all the prostitution and tourism bother you after a while ?

In fact I know numerous people who despise Pattaya because of generalizations about the people there. Doesn't it bother you that most people generalize you this way if you live there?

and I'm just curious as to what Pattaya has to offer besides that makes people live there?

Thanks

Hookers and Alcohol, all over Thailand not just pattaya.

its just a bit more in your face here.

Are Hookers just for tourists and expats , don't think so.

I have no care of what any people think about where I live.

why should I. how snobby is that !!!!!!!

Many people marry a hooker from the pattaya bar industry, but forget that a few years latter, up to them. and good luck to them.

Pattaya for ever .

how long will this topic be open for , !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, I am in that category, who has been living in or close to Pattaya for some years.

Who don`t drink alcohol, and you don`t find me anywhere near hookers, or bars for that matter.

The reason I first went here, was just for relaxing and to discover this part of the country, after staying for years in Phuket. I met my wife in Pattaya, and bought a house here, right outside. She wanted to be close to her family, so we decided Pattaya to be a good place to live.

I have actually not regret it for a minute. Pattaya has much to offer me and my wife, not just expats who live their lives in or near a bar.

You have the nice area around Mabprachan Lake, where we reside. You have the very nice beaches south of Pattaya/Jomtien, as Ban Amphur and Bang Saray a short drive away.

Small fishing communities, and you actually have it all. All the places for the daily tours, crocodile farm, zoo etc. are places you are right in the middle of.

You have all the possibilities in the city, cinemas, centers and all the restaurants you ever need. And you will find some nice places from Naklua in the north, to Jomtien in the south, if you just care to look around a little. The Pratamnak area is not so bad either.

People who are bashing Pattaya and its area, don`t have a clue what is really going on around and in Pattaya and Jomtien.

I don`t regret staying here for a minute.

Small minded people have small minded thoughts! Who cares what they think? What is normal to one is not normal to another!

Pattaya isn't just about hookers and drinking. Obviously anyone who thinks that about Pattaya has never experienced Pattaya! Who cares what they think? It just isn't true, The hookers, drinking and tourists are limited to relativily small areas in the city. Just like any major city around the world.

No you can't make a generalization that basically all single male farangs are here for just the hookers and drinking because it just isn't true!

Yes, the the tourism bothers me after a while. I get tired of the tour coaches. I moved to the rural areas after I got tired of it. Just like thehookers and drinking the tourists are easy to avoid. Tourism is what Thailand is about. It's all over Thailand too! Just stay form the relatively small areas where it exist. That is unless you're a people watcher. Unfortunately the masses of tour coaches are much harder to avoid. They go everywhere!

The tourists don't come here for just for hookers and drinking! But if you want to party, you can have a great time!

Yes there are many rural areas of Pattaya that are no different than anywhere up country. The good thing is you don't have to drive very far to experience something that's different.

I have a suggestion for the OP, why don't you try to experience the real Pattaya before making such a rediculous thread?

Range of shopping malls, markets, extensive range of Foreign products in a number of supermarkets.

Close proximity to BKK and the airport with choice of travel links. U Tpao airport also serves Samui, Phuket etc.

Baht bus transport for central Pattaya which is cheap and convenient.

Good selection of both rented and for sale accommodation at affordable prices.

Restaurants galore.

Selection od schools.

Selection of hospitols.

Attractions such as water parks.

The list is endless.........Why NOT live in Pattaya?

Of the many couples we hang out with, few venture into central Pattaya very often. And rarely to walking street. Central Festival, Foodland, Friendship, etc., yes. Beer bars and other places in Central Pattaya...rarely. Especially now with the absolute traffic mess.

We meet on the beach in South Jomtiem....or as mentioned above, at any of the very numerous restaurants on the beach all the way to Bang Saray. Or, on the dark side. Or at each others homes. There is a very vibrant expat community in and around Pattaya. Easy to make friends.

Pattaya is what you make of it. Transport is a necessity if you live outside the central area, especially a car. Otherwise, you're really limited in what you can see. This could be why many have a very narrow view of Pattaya?

Pattaya ain't perfect, but it ain't bad either! LOL Heading out now for a nice bike ride near the beach.

I think you are defining Pattaya as the area bounded by Naklua, Sukhumvit, South Pattaya and the Beach. I don't personally know any expats living in that 'zone'. I live about 10 KM north of Pattaya in a house on an estate and just up the road from an empty beach. My lifestyle does not involve alcohol at all. I play a lot of sport (squash and football), eat food mainly locally or at home and lead a very healthy life. Most of the people I play football with live on the 'Dark Side' and whereas there are bars there with female company available, it is not 'in your face' like in Walking Street and those other areas that are really for the 2 week millionaire tourists. I won't expand on this though, as I expect this thread will be closed down soon!

Range of shopping malls, markets, extensive range of Foreign products in a number of supermarkets.

Close proximity to BKK and the airport with choice of travel links. U Tpao airport also serves Samui, Phuket etc.

Baht bus transport for central Pattaya which is cheap and convenient.

Good selection of both rented and for sale accommodation at affordable prices.

Restaurants galore.

Selection od schools.

Selection of hospitols.

Attractions such as water parks.

The list is endless.........Why NOT live in Pattaya?

The traffic for one. Also the number of tourists is not my cup of tea.

Bangkok outskirts have it all as well.

I like generally quiet place. If I want something more active, I know where to go.

If I wanted either hookers or alcohol I could find both in countries outside Thailand far more cheaply and of far better quality.

So whatever the reason is it must be something else.

Pattaya isn't just about hookers and drinking. Obviously anyone who thinks that about Pattaya has never experienced Pattaya! Who cares what they think? It just isn't true, The hookers, drinking and tourists are limited to relativily small areas in the city. Just like any major city around the world.

I agree.

Unfortunately, Lonely Planet trusted China White to write the section on Pattaya - her writing started with "Pattaya is synonymous with prostitution..." and went downhill from there. From her descriptions, it is clear that she stayed in the Woodlands Resort in Naklua, ate at La Baguette, and on that basis claimed she knew Pattaya. I wrote a furiously critical email to Lonely Planet, but they chose not to respond.

We are in our 4th year living here, and have no intention of living anywhere else - everything we need is right here. We have had many visitors, and while it does get tiresome having to explain that the sleazy side is but a small portion of the Pattaya area, if one avoids those areas and the slovenly folks who frequent them, then this is a delightful place to live.

Nice to see the OP's rather uninformed question so comprehensively answered.

Lol we choose pattaya because of what it is and that is a city not so crowded as bangkok and has everything we need as for the extras we all have a choice take it or leave it,we are all not drunkard sobs looking for a cheap lay,agreed many are but tell me if you please what major town isn't the same anywhere in the world.

For me it a place to enjoy the sun and the friendly people in a laid back way.

I moved to & lived in East Pattaya when I retired for four years as my wife is an original resident of Pattaya with a local large extended family. Her father was a local fisherman. She remembers providing horse rides on the beach for tourists in her early teens, prior to them being banned.

Some posters have over looked that quite a few Western single men based in Pattaya are working as consultants / contractors for industry in the East Coast corridor & at Laem Chabang; usually with high incomes.

Check here: When boredom starts to rule the day and I Love Pattaya.

Range of shopping malls, markets, extensive range of Foreign products in a number of supermarkets.

Close proximity to BKK and the airport with choice of travel links. U Tpao airport also serves Samui, Phuket etc.

Baht bus transport for central Pattaya which is cheap and convenient.

Good selection of both rented and for sale accommodation at affordable prices.

Restaurants galore.

Selection od schools.

Selection of hospitols.

Attractions such as water parks.

The list is endless.........Why NOT live in Pattaya?

Completely agree. Of course, Pattaya IS the world's best known adult playground in FEW LIMITED areas of the city. But as you said, it has all above and

- plenty of golf courses all around

- plenty of quiet moo baans all around from Naklua to East Pattaya / darkside to Jomtien and even further

- plenty of nice quiet places (at least during the week) from Bank Saen to Rayong

- plenty of music bars for the evening (even on walking street)

- art places / parks / zoos etc.

and lot more that I enjoy and am looking forward to start to explore even further in few months when I finally arrive for living in Pattaya. So far, I have always found all that I "need" for living, it is just a matter of looking around and NOT only hang around the playground sites...

The topic title was edited for obvious reasons and that will allow a wider range of replies.

What most people who knock Pattaya forget ,and go on about bars and hookers ,it doesnt suddenly end at 2nd road, we live in Banglamung 5 kms from the centre ,but its still Pattaya , there are good schools close ,easy access to Bangkok and all the other things that have been mentioned

Thanks for the responses guys, I find this very helpful. I will definitely explore more of Pattaya

outside the of the tourist area.

Range of shopping malls, markets, extensive range of Foreign products in a number of supermarkets.

Close proximity to BKK and the airport with choice of travel links. U Tpao airport also serves Samui, Phuket etc.

Baht bus transport for central Pattaya which is cheap and convenient.

Good selection of both rented and for sale accommodation at affordable prices.

Restaurants galore.

Selection od schools.

Selection of hospitols.

Attractions such as water parks.

The list is endless.........Why NOT live in Pattaya?

you forgot selection of imported delicate food stuff.

good q

i ask myself EVERYDAY!

We should have a Patts Vs Bangers thread!

Who's gonna start it?

Pattaya bashing post removed. The topic is about why live here not why not live here.

If only the hookers here had aged as well as the alcohol.

Edit: why live here ? Because Penang bored me witless in less than a week. Why not live here ? Because I promised myself at least 6 months living in Cambodia.

Because..... Costas is coming to live here of course

OP. perhaps a better question might have been 'Why should you have to defend where you've chosen to live ?' Im reminded of the distinction many on another board were happy to draw between 'upper' and 'lower' Sukhumvit, despite the fact that they all went to the latter on a regular basis for their night-time activities. The closer your condo was to Thonglor, the bigger your expat package (allegedly) and the bigger your ego : it was a massive ongoing pissing contest that went nowhere. Live where you want to live - who would want to live in Klong Toey, even if some of the most expensive real estate in Thailand sits cheek-by-jowl with Bangkok's worst slum ? As others have pointed out, you can live in greater Pattaya without ever crossing Third Road.

lived on the 'dark side' for seven years. It's encouraging to see other posters that don't drink or feel the need to visit bars. You can live quite a normal life here without those things - might be boring to some I accept!.

It's interesting that how I came to be here, and three other friends, is that we came on golfing holidays in the 1990's to Pattaya and Hua Hin. It just seemed natural to settle in one or other of these places. That of course was when golf was reasonable cheap and worth travelling half-way across the world.

Although I avoid Pattaya City as much as possible, it does have its good points. Lots of shops/services speak English and you can get things done.

Pattaya isn't just about hookers and drinking. Obviously anyone who thinks that about Pattaya has never experienced Pattaya! Who cares what they think? It just isn't true, The hookers, drinking and tourists are limited to relativily small areas in the city. Just like any major city around the world.

I agree.

Unfortunately, Lonely Planet trusted China White to write the section on Pattaya - her writing started with "Pattaya is synonymous with prostitution..." and went downhill from there. From her descriptions, it is clear that she stayed in the Woodlands Resort in Naklua, ate at La Baguette, and on that basis claimed she knew Pattaya. I wrote a furiously critical email to Lonely Planet, but they chose not to respond.

We are in our 4th year living here, and have no intention of living anywhere else - everything we need is right here. We have had many visitors, and while it does get tiresome having to explain that the sleazy side is but a small portion of the Pattaya area, if one avoids those areas and the slovenly folks who frequent them, then this is a delightful place to live.

I read that Lonely Planet article and jumped on the first bus....i assumed it was an advertisement...

Range of shopping malls, markets, extensive range of Foreign products in a number of supermarkets.

Close proximity to BKK and the airport with choice of travel links. U Tpao airport also serves Samui, Phuket etc.

Baht bus transport for central Pattaya which is cheap and convenient.

Good selection of both rented and for sale accommodation at affordable prices.

Restaurants galore.

Selection od schools.

Selection of hospitols.

Attractions such as water parks.

The list is endless.........Why NOT live in Pattaya?

Completely agree. Of course, Pattaya IS the world's best known adult playground in FEW LIMITED areas of the city. But as you said, it has all above and

- plenty of golf courses all around

- plenty of quiet moo baans all around from Naklua to East Pattaya / darkside to Jomtien and even further

- plenty of nice quiet places (at least during the week) from Bank Saen to Rayong

- plenty of music bars for the evening (even on walking street)

- art places / parks / zoos etc.

and lot more that I enjoy and am looking forward to start to explore even further in few months when I finally arrive for living in Pattaya. So far, I have always found all that I "need" for living, it is just a matter of looking around and NOT only hang around the playground sites...

yep, and let's not forget that Pattaya is on the sea!

This means beaches, boats, fishing and often also a nice breeze that cools Pattaya down by about 3 to 4 degrees compared to Bangkok.

In the night I sometimes plant my mini BBK on Jomtien beach and grill some sausages, chicken wings and steaks to eat with potato salad, cold beers in the ice cooler.

Ease of commute to the airport is a big plus too.

'Cause the Sailing is great !'

'Cause the Sailing is great !'

the opera with famous singers from all over the world. tonight Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata" is on (soprano Lady Gaga) and tomorrow evening the Bolshoi Ballet will perform