The difference between rest in Pattaya and Phuket. Pattaya or Phuket which is better. Types of transport communication

If you dream of a beach holiday on the beach from the Bounty advertisement where there is a clear sea and white sand.

My family loves Thailand very much. At the time of writing this review, we rested there 6 times, of which twice in Pattaya. Do I want to go back there? Highly! Moreover, we are planning the next family trip to Pattaya.

Here are some causes, why Pattaya worth visiting:

• Yes, not Bounty, but still a seaside resort. You can also enjoy the sea here. True, for clear azure water and white sand, you will have to go to the islands or distant beaches.

• Lots of interesting excursions. The most interesting and memorable will write below.

• Are you going on vacation with children? It definitely won't be boring! Pattaya will offer more family entertainment than Phuket, definitely.

• There are a lot of shopping centers in Pattaya for every taste and budget. Our most favorite:

*** Royal Garden Plaza - a shopping center from the roof of which a red plane sticks out.

The cockpit of the plane can be found inside the mall, in the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum.

*** Central festival.

• Food. You can write a lot about Thai food, but it's better to try. The freshest seafood, fruits, fresh juices and smoothies, Tom Yam, Pad Thai, pineapple rice and poppy rolls. Try it for sure! If you don't like spicy Say "Know spicy". Sometimes it helps.

  
  

  
  

  • Massage, spa salons, fish peeling.

    

    
    

    If you compare prices, massage in Pattaya is cheaper than in Phuket. For example, a classic Thai massage is 250 baht per hour, while in Phuket it is 300.

    I really like the procedure, which in Thai salons is called "facial". This is a complex of masks, tonics and facial massage for an hour. The kick is extraordinary! And the skin is then smooth and hydrated like a child's.

    Husband loves foot massage. legs are massaged with special sticks with warming ointments for an hour. My son loves massage with oil very much since about 4 years old he calmly endures an hour of massage.

    • Thai nature, mentality, smiles, exoticism, a kind of peaceful atmosphere, the sun!

      
      

      There are in Pattaya and minuses . Many of them I have already mentioned.

      • Dirty sea;
      • Garbage and dirt on the streets;
      • Sidewalks. They are not everywhere, and if they are, they are narrow and uncomfortable.
      • Crazy and chaotic movement of cars and motorcycles. The road is difficult and scary to cross. Nobody yields;
      • wires;
      • Smells;
      • Prices after the rise of the dollar;
      • If suddenly there was any conflict with the involvement of the police, remember one thing - the Thais are always right, even if they are not. The police are always on the side of the Thais. Avoid any conflicts in Thailand.

      A little about features of Pattaya and its differences from Phuket.

      1. Transport.

      Knock-knock.

      These are not large pickup trucks for transporting people. In Pattaya, tuk-tuks are cheap, they run along their own route, which is very conditional. Drivers can change the route at will.

      Using this transport is simple - catch any tuk-tuk passing by (just give any sign). Then you load and drive, where you need to get off, press the button on the roof, get off and pay off the driver. The cost is usually 10 baht per person, and if you go far, they give 20 baht per person. If you see that the tuk-tuk is not going where you want, press the button, pay the fare and catch another tuk-tuk.

      If the driver of the tuk-tuk is called the destination, he will happily take you where they said, but in this case he becomes a taxi and the price will be charged accordingly. It is better not to communicate with tuk-tuk drivers.

      Many of the same pickups immediately ply in the taxi format, but if you try to catch them, they warn “Taxi, know tuk-tuk”.

      It's like a special colorful attraction, it can be a little shocking at first, but it quickly draws you in and becomes clearer. A little patience and you will figure out who, where and how much will take you.

      Also in Pattaya motorcycle taxi. Thais on motorbikes will take you wherever you ask. Just don't forget to discuss the price in advance.

      In Phuket, tuk-tuks look different and function as taxis. The prices are outrageous. There are already legends about the mafia of taxi drivers in Phuket.

      2. Prices.

      Pattaya is cheaper.

      3. Sea.

      In Pattaya, the sea is dirty, but calmer during the rainy and monsoon season, when Phuket has big waves and dangerous undercurrents. For a clear sea, everyone goes to the nearest islands. During the summer season my choice is Pattaya, not Phuket.

      4 Laundry.

      Pay attention to these labels. This is a laundry. We did not notice them for a long time, but in vain. Laundry plus ironing. Very convenient service. They handed over a mountain of dirty clothes, and received clean, ironed, neatly folded. It is very convenient to immediately pack in a suitcase before flying home.

      In Phuket, the cost of washing depends on the weight of the dirty clothes. Approximately 65-75 Baht per kilogram.

      In Pattaya, they charge for every little thing. For example, a T-shirt -10-15 baht, shorts 5 baht. It turns out more expensive than the Phuket laundry, of course, but quite acceptable.

      5. Distance from the airport.

      From Bangkok's main airport to Pattaya is about 100 km and about two and a half hours by taxi. It's a bit stressful after a long flight. But this is a big plus! Proximity to the capital! If you wish, you can easily set aside a couple of days for Bangkok. Believe me, there is something to see!

      The excursion program is very extensive. Agencies at every turn. Everyone has their own price, but, basically, the difference in prices and assortment is small. We managed to acquire a favorite agency (I’ll talk about it a little later).

      Tours which we visited, starting with the best tour according to all members of my family, and then in descending order of positive emotions:

      1.Excursion on the catamaran "Serenity". The Best! You can read more about her.

      

      2. Khao Kheo Zoo. Simply a must visit. With children it will be especially interesting and informative. More about him.

      
      

      3. Excursion to the river Kwai. Two-day. Long journeys are tiring, but I liked the tour very much.

      
      

      
      

      
      

      4. Dolphinarium - not bad. But the coolest thing about it is not the show! Swimming with dolphins! It is in Pattaya that the most affordable prices to swim with these smart mammals.

      There are still excursions that we are going to visit next time, Mini Siam, for example, a 3D gallery, a farm, a gibbon flight and many, many more.

      What do I advise besides excursions visit in Pattaya:

      • A small water park and amusement park next to the Pattaya Park Hotel. Entry 100 baht per person for the whole day. Budget, modest, but worth going once.

      
      

      
      

      • There is a lot of entertainment in the mall with the plane on the upper floors. There is a museum of Mr. Ripley "Believe it or not", a mirror maze, horror movies, where an uncle with a chainsaw will run after you, a 5D cinema and much more.

      
      

      

      • Fish market in North Pattaya. Even if you don’t want to buy and eat something (and the smell there is such that you hardly want to), you can see a lot of interesting things there. Shrimps, octopuses, sharks, several types of lobsters, all living things, swim in basins. You can see sea reptiles up close. Well, buy all the same fresh seafood that will be cooked for you in a nearby restaurant and scam it all in a nearby park.

      Where else have a bite to eat in Pattaya so that it is not only tasty, but also interesting:

Going on vacation to Thailand, many tourists ask themselves questions: “Where is it better in Pattaya or Phuket?”, “Where is it better to go: to Phuket or Pattaya?”. In order to answer these questions, it is worth learning a little about these two popular destinations in Thailand. Below is a comparison of these two most popular resorts in Thailand. We will look at the sights, beaches, prices, transport and tour costs to decide where it is better to relax: Phuket or Pattaya.

Phuket or Pattaya? general information

Phuket is a wonderful resort in Thailand for connoisseurs of a good holiday, with a large number of luxurious hotels and restaurants. Phuket is more often chosen for a more relaxed family or romantic trip. To get to Phuket, you can choose a direct flight from Russia, and you can also get domestic flights from Thailand. It is distinguished by clean sea and good ecology.

Pattaya is the second most popular resort in Thailand for Russian tourists, located 147 km from Bangkok. The main thing that attracts tourists to this city is a lot of entertainment, active recreation and low prices. This popular coastal city rose to fame in the early 1980s and is still popular today. From morning to night, life in Pattaya is in full swing, during the day - on the beach, in the evening and at night - in the clubs and bars of Pattaya. In addition, Pattaya offers a huge number of hotels, condominiums and apartments at affordable prices. Pattaya is the most visited resort in Thailand by Russian tourists. The main reason is a cheap air ticket compared to other resorts in Thailand, a lot of entertainment and parties, a huge number of bars, clubs and restaurants, low prices for food, hotels and entertainment. Of the minuses, one can single out the dirty sea, crowds of Russian tourists, who are not always adequate and polite, in other words, “Tagiiel”.

Phuket or Pattaya: where is the best weather

In terms of climate, these two resorts in Thailand do not differ much from each other. The average temperature in Phuket and Pattaya differs by only a couple of degrees.

In Phuket, the average temperature is +30°C, the water temperature is +28°C. Phuket has a tropical monsoonal climate. It is warm here all year round, but two seasons: April-May and September-October are the hottest. Phuket is famous for being in the temperate zone. Phuket is never hit by typhoons or tropical storms.

In Pattaya, the average temperature is +32°C, the water temperature is +28°C. In Pattaya, the weather is hot all year round. The rainy season in Pattaya is "easier" than in Phuket. Because Pattaya is located on the mainland and not on an island.

Phuket or Pattaya: where is the best sea and beach

In Phuket, the sea and the beach are definitely better than in Pattaya. It has really clear water, turquoise sea and fine white sand. For lovers of drive, outdoor activities and discos, it is recommended to go to Patong. However, the beach in Patong is considered the dirtiest in Phuket. The beach is regularly cleaned, but a large number of tourists quickly litter it. But if you move further away, the beach will look much more like a Bounty advertisement. Apart from Patong, there are many other beaches in Phuket. If you drive away from the beaten paths, you can find very quiet and secluded beaches in Phuket.

In Pattaya, the beaches are dirty, and you can’t swim in the city itself. The water in the resort is really muddy, and the central embankment is more like the shores of Sochi, and not a Thai resort. Therefore, if the main thing for you is a beach holiday, then it is better to go to Phuket. Tourists in Pattaya can also enjoy a beach holiday, but for this you need to go to the islands. For example, the nearest island, Koh Lan, can be reached in half an hour and 30 baht.

Where are the best attractions, in Phuket or Pattaya

The resort of Pattaya offers tourists a wide range of attractions. If the main thing for you is what to see, then it is better to relax in Pattaya. Here you will find extraordinary museums, majestic Khmer temples, a floating market, spectacular water parks, tropical gardens, elephant shows and a tiger zoo. It is worth noting that the prices for visiting all these attractions in Pattaya are lower than in Phuket. , . In addition, Pattaya has a rich nightlife. In 2 hours from Pattaya you can get to Bangkok, so all the sights of Bangkok are also available to tourists in Pattaya.

Phuket is famous for its sparkling temples, spectacular scenery, viewpoints, idyllic beaches and friendly locals. Phuket has something to see for almost everyone. These are parks and gardens, an aquarium, James Bond Islands, a snake farm, rafting. More affluent people come to Phuket, there are more Europeans here, and sometimes you can also meet stars.

Where is it better to relax, price comparison in Phuket and Pattaya

Phuket, of course, is a more expensive resort, ranging from airfare, lodging, to food and entertainment. The entire industry around Patong is focused exclusively on tourists. To see the real Thailand and reasonable prices, you can go, for example, to Phuket Town.

Pattaya is considered the cheapest place to visit in Thailand. It is in Pattaya that you can try cheap seafood, buy cheap excursions (from 200 baht) and use cheap tuk-tuks for 20 baht to travel around the city.

Phuket or Pattaya: where the transport system is better developed

If you prefer to use transportation, you can catch a taxi or songthaew. There are no tuk tuks in Phuket. It is not very convenient to travel by songteo, because they travel at the rates of the minibus only during the day, and in the evening at the rates of a taxi. And their routes are not very branched. Taxi prices in Phuket are high (from 600 baht). Taxi drivers never agree to cut prices. Therefore, if you have not rented a bike, you will spend a significant part of your budget on transport in Phuket.

In Pattaya, the transport system is well developed. There are several types of tuk-tuks that can easily move around the resort. All tuk-tuks in Pattaya are distinguished by colors, so they are easy to remember. Blue tuk-tuks in Pattaya run along the main streets of the city and cost 10 baht. There are white tuk-tuks in Sukhumvit (for longer distances), they cost 20 baht. Thanks to tuk-tuks, you can drive all over Pattaya literally for a penny. At night in Pattaya you can take a taxi for 200 baht.

After reading the comparison of resorts to the end, you can easily decide for yourself where it is better to relax, in Phuket or Pattaya. If you have never been to Thailand, then I recommend visiting Phuket first. In Phuket, you can enjoy the beautiful nature, sea and sights. Phuket has more sea excursions, beautiful views and clean beaches. After you fall in love with Thailand, you can already go to Pattaya. In Pattaya, you will have to go to the islands for the beautiful sea, but low prices and nightlife will alleviate this inconvenience. As the farangs say, Phuket is better for relaxation, and Pattaya for life.

Thank you for reading to the end. You have a bonus - a map of Pattaya attractions:

Read the latest articles from my blog.

Phuket or Pattaya which is better? Approximately this question is asked by tourists choosing a tour to Thailand. Similar questions are asked by those tourists who have already been to Thailand at one of the resorts, and choose where to go this season.

The main differences in these resorts are their location and origin. So nature turned out that Phuket turned out to be an island, and Pattaya was part of the mainland. A road has been laid on the island of Phuket, which makes it much easier to move around the country on your own. Many products in Phuket are brought from the mainland of Thailand.

Consider the most important aspects of a holiday in Thailand for a tourist. Everyone goes to Thailand for the clear sea, beautiful beaches and exotic, but is it really so, and where are things better with exotic vacations?

Phuket or Pattaya which is better

The short conclusion is: holidays in Pattaya are suitable for young party-goers who love outdoor activities and adventures, holidays in Phuket are chosen by couples with children for whom comfort is more important than entertainment (although there is enough entertainment here). About holidays in Phuket with children, read the link.

Climate, weather and seasons

The climate in Pattaya is much more pleasant in any season. In the dry season (November to April), the probability of precipitation is minimal (it can rain 2-3 times a month, no longer than half an hour), the rest of the time the bright sun shines, in Phuket it can rain every week. During the rainy season (May to October) in Pattaya it will rain no more than once a week, of short duration, while in Phuket it will rain more often and longer.

The climate is better in Pattaya.

Sea

Here a tourist flew from Moscow to Pattaya in anticipation of snow-white beaches, clear water and complete relaxation, but it turns out that he was flying in vain. Indeed, the state of the sea in the city is so-so, the most common yellow sand on a narrow sandy beach, and the water is muddy.

Many tourists go to Koh Lan for swimming, it is located an hour's drive from Pattaya, you can get to Koh Lan by a regular ferry that runs on schedule. Some tourists (including me) swim and sunbathe on the beaches in Pattaya, because the road to the nearest island of Koh Lan takes two hours (an hour there and an hour back), besides, you need to move around on the island (I rent a moped), thus trips to the island are expensive, both in terms of money and time.

The sea around Phuket is much cleaner and more pleasant than the sea in the city of Pattaya, and the sea here is different, in Pattaya it is the Gulf of Thailand, and Phuket is washed by the Andaman Sea. The transparency of the water in Phuket is surprising, the water is warm, and the bottom relief is gentle, which is especially important for tourists traveling with children.

The sea is better in Phuket.

Beaches and beach holidays

You can compare the noisiest and most crowded beach in Phuket - Patong, then even it looks much better than the city beaches in Pattaya. Many tourists speak extremely negatively about Patong, but it is so huge that you can even find your ideal place on it. As a rule, in Patong the most crowded place is near the exit from Bangla Road, but step a little to the side and you will be happy.

Some of the beaches in Phuket are private and belong to hotels (both large and small), so if you want to sunbathe in splendid isolation, you can choose one of these beaches. The choice and variety of beaches on the island is amazing, there are both tourist beaches with an abundance of vacationers, and completely deserted ones, both absolutely free and those for which they charge an entrance fee.

The beaches are better in Phuket.

Attractions

It is difficult to say that there are fewer attractions in Phuket than in Pattaya, most likely they are a little different and will suit those tourists who love the natural beauties of Thailand.

But nevertheless, the number of excursions and attractions in Pattaya rolls over and simply defies any analysis. There is everything here, from an amazing garden of million-year-old stones to trips to neighboring Cambodia, and if this is not enough, then it is only two hours by bus to the capital of Thailand - Bangkok.

For lovers of pristine natural beauty, you should definitely visit the world-famous Similan Reserve, which can be reached from Phuket, and if you are relaxing in Pattaya, be sure to go to the River Kwai.

There are more attractions in Pattaya.

Entertainment

There are many times more entertainment in Pattaya than in Phuket, the famous Pattaya street Volkin Street ripples with advertisements for entertainment venues. Volkin Street is full of restaurants, nightclubs, discos, bars with girls (not all of them are girls, be careful), go-go bars, exotic shows (transvestite show, X show, 69, etc.) .

Phuket also has an analogue of Volkin Street called Bangla Road, the scale is not the same as in Pattaya, but hot lovers will find what they are looking for. In Phuket, you should choose the right place to stay, because all the entertainment is concentrated in the Patong area. While the sun sets in Patong and evening life begins, the rest of the island goes into "sleep" mode.

Entertainment is better in Pattaya

Housing prices

Phuket is considered the most expensive resort in Thailand, but despite this status, you can find housing in it for 300 baht per day (details about the exchange rate of the baht to the ruble), but do not flatter yourself with a low price, it is likely that some feature of such cheapness will be revealed a little later .

Housing prices in Phuket

In general, accommodation prices are about the same, although there are a number of features. If in Pattaya there is a good selection of apartments (apartments), then in Phuket there is a huge selection of villas and small private houses for one family, but otherwise much is very similar. Taking into account the fact that a villa in Phuket can be rented for several families and save a lot, Phuket is more profitable.

Housing prices in Pattaya

In a word, if you are traveling with your family for a relaxing holiday, then it is more profitable to go to Phuket.

Housing prices are better in Phuket (price/quality).

Prices for food and food

As for food prices, Phuket with imported fruits and vegetables is ready to surprise you with practical Moscow fruit prices, and some restaurants may not be visited by all Russian tourists. This is especially noticeable in the Patong area. Sometimes it gets ridiculous, you choose what you want to buy, you go towards Kata Beach and everything is the same there, but much cheaper. There are also very authentic roadside cafes with Thai prices.

The height of surprise for me (in the 2015 season) was the price of my favorite fruit - durian. Durian in Patong is sold already peeled for 1000 baht per kilogram ( approximately $28), while in neighboring Vietnam I bought the same durian no more than 40,000 dong per kilogram ( about 2 dollars).

In Pattaya, food prices are more similar to those in Bangkok and bargaining is possible, as every Asian market requires. However, the prices for everything else: restaurants, bars, massage, food, manufactured goods, entertainment, travel, motorbike rental, etc. in Pattaya are much lower than in Phuket and this is a fact.

However, you can go north from Patong, where you can also find more reasonable prices and more accommodating Thais, only for this you need to rent a bike.

All those who like to drink, eat and have fun are recommended to go on vacation to Pattaya, where everything is cheaper and much more interesting.

Food prices are better in Pattaya.

Where is it easier to get from Bangkok to Pattaya or Phuket

If you are an independent traveler and flew to Bangkok, then getting to the beaches of Pattaya will be much easier for you and, no less important, much cheaper.

Airfare from Russia to Pattaya is cheaper.

Summarize: Pattaya is suitable for noisy, cheerful companies that are not averse to fit into any adventure (sometimes very dubious), here you can also go on excursions and other tourist attractions. Phuket is more suitable for a relaxing family vacation with children; holidays on the island are also often chosen by newlyweds for their honeymoon.

Have a nice holiday in Thailand.

Which is better - Pattaya or Phuket? This question is most often asked by tourists who fly to Thailand for the first time. And although there are no comrades for the taste and color, there are several objective factors that can be compared and thereby ease the torment of choice for beginners. So…

Where is the best place to relax?

One of the most important conditions is, of course, the sea. According to this parameter, the clear leader is Phuket. There is more greenery here, the coastal strip is wider, the sea is much cleaner, and the descent into it is more gentle, which is an additional plus if you come to relax with small children.

Another important circumstance in deciding the issue of Pattaya or Phuket: where is the best place to relax is the climate. This is where Pattaya comes in. From November to April - during the dry season - it rains a maximum of twice a month, and even then, no more than half an hour. During the rainy season, precipitation averages twice a week, although the sky is often overcast. In Phuket, there are often big waves and dangerous undercurrents during the low season, so watch out for warning flags.

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Pattaya or Phuket: which is better?

As for reviews on parameters such as attractions and prices, then it is better to choose Pattaya. Phuket is considered one of the most expensive resorts, and you will pay much more for living here. Budget hotels are also available, but they are rarely found on the Internet, and you will have to walk to the sea for a long time. There are practically no sights in Phuket - just a few old temples and waterfalls. You will have to travel 12-14 hours to Bangkok and Ayutthaya or.

When comparing entertainment, reviews are divided. There are things to do in both resorts, but in Pattaya prices are lower, but there is no snorkeling here,

Pattaya or Phuket - that is the question! These are the two most popular resorts in Thailand. However, Phuket and Pattaya are fundamentally different from each other. In short, go to Phuket for a beach holiday, tropical vegetation and other exotic things, and go to Pattaya for shopping, transvestites and discos.

Pattaya or Phuket - which is better?

No one will give you a definite answer to this question. Because it all depends on the person and his interests. My opinion is that in Pattaya and Phuket you can have a wonderful rest, no matter what anyone says about these destinations. There are also beach holidays in PTT, on the island of Koh Lan, and in Phuket, of course, there are also various excursions, shopping and transvestites in Patong. There is even an analogue of Walking Street.

Phuket is worth a trip if you prefer a relaxing holiday by the sea. So, to get out of the hotel to the beach, swim, sunbathe, and one evening go to the city for a party or watch some show. In Pattaya, on the contrary, the city cannot boast of exotic rough vegetation, and to get to a normal beach, you will have to go through a difficult path. But on the other hand, all shops, daytime and evening entertainment will always be within walking distance.

Also, it is believed that Pattaya is cheaper than Phuket, not only for tours, but also for prices in shops and markets. But actually this is not true. In Phuket, the prices for goods and products are the same as in Pattaya. Well, unless you buy food and fruits in stores near the sea, but move a little deeper into the area, the prices there will already be adequate. Only tickets and air tickets are more expensive. Tickets to Bangkok are cheaper by about 3-5 thousand rubles.

Comparison of Pattaya and Phuket

Ease of access

To get to Pattaya, you must first fly to Bangkok, and then get to the city by bus or taxi. Travel time is an hour and a half. To get to Phuket, you need to fly to the island, and then also get to the desired city. Travel time depends on the chosen city and on average no more than an hour. If you are coming on a tour, the transfer will be included in the price. For independent travelers, the following links will be useful:

Hotels

I will not say 100%, but it seemed to me that Phuket hotels are a little better. My personal opinion. Of course, there are very poor guesthouses on it, and PTT has chic five-star hotels. It seems to me that in terms of the total number of quality hotels, this island is still ahead of Pattaya. Especially hotels with good views, close to the sea where you can swim.

Sea and beach holidays

Pattaya is a city resort, the beach there is not the best. Some tourists swim, but most disdain. During the tourist season, from November to March, the sea and clear water are even more or less clear, but in the off-season, from May to September, the beach and the sea in PTT are very dirty. To swim in clean water you have to go to the neighboring island (Ko Lan).

Phuket is a resort with an excellent beach holiday. Some of the best beaches in Thailand. The sea is clean, the water is clear. Large wide beaches, Karon and Kata, resemble those of the ocean. In the low season, there may be waves, due to which the water becomes more cloudy. Phuket is definitely more suitable for swimming than Pattaya. If you are going to Thailand for a beach holiday, then only to the island of Phuket.

Beach in Pattaya in the Pratumnak area. Photos during the tourist season


And this is how dirty it is on the beaches of Pattaya in the off season. Bathing is canceled

Our beach holiday in Pattaya goes like this


Patong beach, Phuket


Karon Beach, Phuket


Kata-noi beach, Phuket

Entertainment

Pattaya has a lot of entertainment for children and adults. Water parks, museums, exhibitions, attractions, restaurants, a miniature park, various shows, concerts, fashion shows, including among transvestites, and much more. What is Volkin Street worth. Phuket also has all these entertainments, in the same way there are several shows of transvestites (Aphrodite, Sim Niramit), a zoo, a butterfly garden, Buddhist temples, etc. But maybe a little less entertainment for children.

Walking street Pattaya. Bangla road looks the same, only wider

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
Ordered a taxi online, paid by card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You have already talked about your experience in this article

Tours

Travel agencies in PTT offer a variety of excursions, show programs, visits to temples, a zoo, Ayurvedic shops and factories. From PTT you can easily go to Bangkok or Ayutthaya on your own or with a tour. You can also go to Cambodia or even Laos for a two or three day excursion.

In Phuket, tourists are offered not only sightseeing tours of the island with visits to temples and jewelry, latex and other factories, but also trips to the Phi Phi Islands, James Bond, Similan Islands, elephant riding, waterfalls, artificial rafting, ATVs, boat trips, diving and snorkeling, various shows of transvestites, elephants and shows for adults. You can take an excursion for 2-3 days in and.

Pay attention, everyone says that Pattaya is cheaper ... But! In Phuket, attractions are cheaper or completely free (Wat Chalong Temple - free, Zoo 300 baht, Bird Park 300 baht). And in PTT, the entrance costs an average of 500 baht per person everywhere (Temple of Truth 500 baht, Khao Kheo Zoo 500 baht, Nong Nooch Garden 500 baht)!

In terms of entertainment, it is difficult to say which is better, Pattaya or Phuket. Both resorts are rich in a variety of excursions and entertainment events, but Phuket is cheaper. .

Observation deck in Pattaya Big Budda Hill
Bangkok

Phi Phi Islands

Public transport

Pattaya has excellent public transport. Minibuses (songteo), which the locals for some reason call tuk-tuks, go through almost all the streets of the city. The fare is only 10 baht. Most minibuses operate around the clock. It will not be difficult to get to any part of the city.

In Phuket, transport is also in order, but there are some nuances that can cause inconvenience. Firstly, the distances are much greater, because PTT is a city, and Phuket is a huge island. You should be prepared for the fact that the road will take time, especially to remote beaches such as Nai Harn or Mai Khao. Secondly, in connection with this, buses are more expensive - an average of 30-40 baht. Thirdly, they do not go as often as in PTT. And fourthly, buses only run until 5-6 pm, and some finish even earlier. Therefore, you can only move around the island in the evening by taxi if you don’t have your own transport.

Minibuses in Pattaya. Go often, cheap


A commemorative photo in front of a pink people truck in Phuket

Long term rental

Information for those who want to live in Thailand for a month or more. In both resorts, you can easily find a decent apartment in a condominium on the beach. Both there and there are houses for rent, which are often cheaper than apartments. There is a large selection of budget housing, and here and there you can live in a room for 5-6 thousand baht per month. Rental prices are about the same.

However, in Phuket, since the beginning of the high season, the cost of renting housing near the beaches has sharply increased, almost 2 times. In the low season, from May to September, you can rent a good apartment in Patong for 10-15 thousand baht. But already from November to March, it will cost 20-25 thousand, while housing prices in the center of the island, in the areas of Kathu, Town, Chalong, do not change due to the season. Here is such a feature.

Read more about all the nuances of self-renting housing in Thailand at the links:

Product prices

The level of food prices is no different. Yes Yes exactly. Forget already this myth that Phuket is an expensive island. I don’t know who came up with this, but we have been living here for 5 months now, and most of the products in supermarkets, such as Tesco, Big C, 7-Eleven, are exactly the same as everywhere else in Thailand. Down to the penny. Also, there is no significant difference in prices in the markets and in macarons. High prices are always where there are many tourists. But as soon as you move away from the tourist center, you can already see the usual Thai price tags. Do not be guided by the mangoes on the beach, the same mangoes will cost 2 times cheaper in the market on the third street from the sea.

• - an example of an overpriced market for tourists
• - example of prices in the markets for local
• - an overview of Thai food courts where you can eat together 200 baht

Tsunami threat

In Pattaya, due to its geographical location, there are no tsunamis, typhoons, earthquakes and other natural disasters. The most dangerous thing that happened here was a “flood” up to the ankle. Phuket is more dangerous in this respect. In 2004, the Phuket tsunami killed hundreds of people. Now in Thailand, a tsunami warning system is in place, the authorities assure that they will never again allow such victims.

Security

In general, Thailand is pretty safe everywhere. However, according to statistics, Pattaya has the highest concentration of any unscrupulous public. Since people from all over Thailand, Laos, Burma and Cambodia, including from the poorest provinces, come to work in PTT. We recommend avoiding transvestites, they can distract, and at this time quietly get into pockets / bags and pull out all the valuables. For 4 months of our stay in PTT, there was one case when money was pulled out in a minibus.

Cleanliness and comfort

Pattaya is decently inferior in terms of cleanliness of beaches and tourist areas. In the city itself, during the high tourist season, it is even more or less clean, and in the low season, a lot of garbage appears on the embankment, on the beach and in the water.

Pictured is the embankment of Jomtien Beach

Phuket or Pattaya - where is it better to relax and live?

If you want to know our opinion, then Phuket is better ...

But, to each his own, as they say. Both resorts are good in their own way. Until we ourselves lived in PTT, we had a rather negative attitude towards this city and always preferred Phuket.

Public opinion inspired us that in Pattaya there is dirt, garbage, it stinks everywhere, rats and cockroaches are everywhere, and there are more trances and prostitutes on the city streets than tourists. Then life turned out so well that we moved to live in Pattaya and.

Of course, Thailand is not Europe, and there are streets where it can be not very clean or stink from the sewer, but these streets are usually far from tourist places. Every city in Thailand has such streets. Thai women and "men" of easy virtue are also not as numerous as expected, separate streets have been allocated for them, where you can just so rarely get into.

As for the island of Phuket, we used to always think that it was insanely expensive, and there was nothing to see on it except for sea excursions ... A few months ago we came to live in Phuket. Now with all responsibility I declare to you that all this is nonsense! The prices here are exactly the same as elsewhere in Thailand, there is public transport and excursions on land and water are no less diverse.

So, if you have already been to Phuket and do not know where to go, then do not listen to anyone, but rather visit Pattaya yourself. Check for yourself which is better, Pattaya or Phuket. Well, if you always come to rest in PTT, guided by stereotypes about the high cost of Phuket and so on, then “take a chance” to see something new and boldly go to Phuket Island!

What to choose, Pattaya or Phuket, if we are going to Thailand for the first time?

It usually happens that unprepared tourists, having seen enough beach photos from some travel agency, visit Patayka, see the dirty sea and dirty city beaches, and then begin to write bile reviews about the rest in Pattaya, tell friends and colleagues shocking facts, claim that all of Thailand is like that, and in general, they will never go to Asia again ... But you are not like that, since you came to this article.

A beach holiday in Pattaya looks something like this. Locals do not disdain dirty water

Therefore, in order to decide what to choose, Pattaya or Phuket, first of all, decide how you want to relax? I have already mentioned more than once in the article that people do not go to Pattaya for a beach holiday. If you want to swim in the sea every day, then choose Phuket. A holiday in Pattaya means more entertainment, nightclubs and shopping. For vacationers and residents there, a few trips to Koh Lan are enough to swim. You can swim in Pattaya itself, there is nothing dangerous in this, just the sea can be very dirty.

In order not to be disappointed in Pattaya, keep in mind when choosing a trip that this is not a beach resort.

And it is unlikely that you will be disappointed in Phuket, since the island has not only excellent beaches, but also many entertainment venues and attractions. The island has more natural attractions - 30 excellent beaches, mountains, neighboring islands and provinces.

Unless, all sorts of interesting things are further apart, since the island is huge, as I said, it takes time to travel. For example, you can get from Karon to Wat Chalong by bus in about 25 minutes, and the road to distant beaches, such as, can take about 2 hours due to traffic jams and waiting for the bus to change.

I believe that both resorts deserve your attention, and where it is better to go on vacation for the first time, decide for yourself, based on my recommendations.

Have you already been to Thailand? Where do you like the most?