Which is better: Phuket or Pattaya? This question is one of the most popular among those who are going on vacation to Thailand and have not yet decided which of these two most popular resorts in the country is better to go to. The question is really important, but there is no definite answer to it. On the other hand, you can only get the most out of your holiday in Thailand if you make the right choice between Pattaya and Phuket, taking into account your ideas about the rest. The article presents a great comparison of Phuket and Pattaya in terms of the most important parameters that will allow you not to make a mistake and organize your best vacation in Thailand!
For ease of reading and a comprehensive understanding of which resort is best suited for you (Pattaya or Phuket), the most important characteristics are listed in separate paragraphs. With the help of links in the content, you have the opportunity to quickly jump to the most important point for you and find out: Phuket or Pattaya will be better for you in this regard. But I still recommend reading (or at least viewing) other comparative characteristics: many parameters are interrelated, each of them is important for comparison in its own way and can quite unexpectedly become decisive in the process of choosing Pattaya or Phuket as the optimal vacation spot.
THE CONTENT OF THE ARTICLE (for a quick transition, you can click on the link)
Phuket or Pattaya - where the climate and ecology are better
Choosing between Phuket and Pattaya, you need to know about the climate features in these Thai resorts. Both Phuket and Pattaya are located in the tropics, so there is no winter in our usual sense. Thailand is a country of eternal summer, but not everything is so simple. The main thing that distinguishes Pattaya and Phuket is the seasonality to varying degrees. Due to the location of resorts in the waters of different seas and even different oceans (see), there are significant differences in the weather at the resorts at different times of the year.
Surely many have already heard that Thailand (like many other countries located in the tropics) has a rainy season. Often, when this phrase is mentioned, the imagination immediately draws the following picture: for days and nights, streams of rain pour down from the sky, due to which the visibility on the street is only a few meters, and there can be no talk of a beach holiday at this time. If we talk about Thailand, then in reality, a similar picture can be observed in the northern regions of the country (see), but in Phuket and Pattaya everything is much better. But if the weather is of utmost importance to you, you should remember that the rainy season in Pattaya and Phuket are different things.
Stormy, muddy sea and rain are frequent during the rainy season in Phuket
Pattaya can without exaggeration be called a resort with the best climate in Thailand, because in fact it is a year-round resort. During the dry season, which lasts from November to April, it rains very rarely in Pattaya - 2-3 times a month, while the duration of the rain is no more than an hour, and more often - 20-30 minutes. During the rainy season in Pattaya (May to October), there is usually 1-2 times a week. At the same time, such a short-term rain almost does not interfere with rest (although a couple of times a year some areas of Pattaya can be flooded for several hours) and brings freshness. And the only drawback of the weather at this time in Pattaya is the periodic cloudiness in the sky (which will not hurt to get sunburned, if you do not know).
Unlike Pattaya, in Phuket, even during the dry season, it rains periodically (usually no more than 1-2 times a week), but during the rainy season, rainfall can fall daily and last from an hour to several hours. Of course, the weather is unpredictable. Therefore, do not think that someone is deceiving you when they say that they had a great rest in Phuket during the rainy season and during the two weeks of rest there was only a couple of precipitations - an hour a day. Yes, it may not rain every day. Yes, the rain can be after sunset or at night and does not interfere with the rest at all. But there may be a reverse situation, when the rain in Phuket lasts for several days and your vacation at this time will be ruined.
Pattaya Central Beach during intermittent rainfall (low season)
In addition, it is very important to know that during the rainy season, red flags may be displayed on the beaches of Phuket, prohibiting entry into the sea due to high waves. A muddy sea, partial overcast clouds and a high risk of prolonged rains are all clear disadvantages of Phuket over Pattaya, where such a situation is almost completely ruled out. Of course, if a beach holiday in Thailand is the main thing for which you are planning to visit this country. will allow you to see the weather at this resort in the Gulf of Thailand, and you can always see the state of the sea and the weather on the tropical island of Phuket in real time, using the best selection of which is also presented on the site and is constantly updated with new cameras.
If we talk about whether Phuket or Pattaya is better from the point of view of the ecological situation, then the island is somewhat better with this than in Pattaya. And the air in Phuket in the area of beach villages will always be somewhat cleaner than in Pattaya city with more traffic and residents, but with less vegetation. The disadvantage of Pattaya can be attributed to the unpleasant odors from the manholes of the city sewer, which now and then reach your nose while walking along the city streets. In Phuket (in the area of some beaches), small muddy rivers are somewhat upset, which also resemble sewage drains and, during heavy rains, freely reach the sea.
Phuket or Pattaya - where the sea and beaches are better
In this matter, Phuket beats Pattaya, but with some reservations. Firstly, when it comes to the high season on the island. And secondly, if for comparison only the sea and beaches located directly within the city limits of Pattaya are taken. After the end of the rainy season, the sea in Phuket becomes calm and transparent, and its deep blue color is pleasing to the eye and looks great in photographs. Phuket has many more beaches than Pattaya, although only a few are the most popular, mainly in the western part of the island. At the same time, there are many beaches with a gentle entrance to the water and soft white sand, which makes rest with children in Phuket more comfortable. The beaches in Phuket are wider than in Pattaya, so even on the most popular of them you can find areas where no one will bother you.
Karon Beach in Phuket - view of the southern part in sunny weather (high season)
In Pattaya, the beaches are not so good. The central beach is very noisy and dirty. Suffice it to say that for 4 trips to Pattaya, I never dared to swim there. On other beaches of Pattaya (and there are seven of them in the city limits (see) the situation is better, but there is no need to talk about ideal transparency, although the water is cleaner than at many Russian resorts. The sand on Pattaya beaches has a yellowish tint and a larger fraction. C On the other hand, during the rainy season (which I wrote about in the previous section), Pattaya beaches outperform Phuket beaches, or at least not worse.Photos and videos of Pattaya beaches can be seen in a separate article (link above).
And if you take into account the coral island of Koh Lan, which is located just a few kilometers from Pattaya and which is easy to reach by ferry for only 30 TBH ($ 0.85), then during the rainy season Pattaya generally looks preferable in terms of sea and beaches. you can find the link, and also find out which beaches of the island are better not to choose because of the mass recreation of noisy Chinese tourists. During my last trip to Thailand, I rested (and collected information for the site) in several resorts at once, both in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, but most of all I liked the color of the water and transparency on one of the beaches of Ko Lan Island near Pattaya (see photo below).
All this I am writing so that beach lovers are not afraid to go to Pattaya, after hearing enough stories about dirty beaches and muddy water. If you are not afraid of a 45 minute ferry ride to the island and back, a beach holiday in Pattaya will be great. In response to the question: "Pattaya or Phuket - where are the best beaches?" - you can also add that on most of Pattaya's beaches and on Koh Lan there is a sufficient number of sun loungers that can be rented for the whole day for 50-100 THB. But in Phuket in 2015, sun loungers on the beaches were banned and now you can sunbathe either on a towel, or on a mat, or on a rented mattress. On the one hand, this makes the beaches more picturesque. But on the other hand, it does not add convenience to vacationers. Diving, snorkeling and sea fishing are better in Phuket than in Pattaya (again in case of high season on the island). And active water sports are present in both resorts in sufficient quantities.
Pattaya or Phuket - much cheaper flights
According to this indicator, Pattaya almost always wins over Phuket. If we are talking about flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg, air tickets to Bangkok (namely, to the capital's airport it is easier and cheaper to fly on vacation to Pattaya) cost about 2-3 thousand Russian rubles less than air tickets to Phuket. In this case, we are talking about both direct flights and flights with transfers. If the flight is planned to be carried out from other Russian cities (Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg, etc.), air tickets to Bangkok are on average cheaper than to Phuket by 4-6 thousand rubles or 15-20%.
In the case of air tickets to Thailand from Belarus and Ukraine, Pattaya (Bangkok airport) definitely wins over Phuket, because the difference in price is on average 30-40%. And in the case of Kazakhstan (flights from Almaty and Astana), the overpayment for a flight to Phuket can exceed 60% compared to a flight to Bangkok. To be fair, I want to note that we are talking about the average price. During the special offers of airlines flying from many major cities, the difference in the cost of air tickets to Phuket and Bangkok may not be as noticeable (for example, 5-10%).
Let me remind you that it is better to look for the best price for air tickets not on the websites of airlines, but using a metasearch that scans all airlines and leading air ticket agencies at once, so that all experienced travelers can always purchase tickets at the best price at the time of the search. The search form that I always use when planning my travels is below. And in order not to miss the opportunity to buy a ticket at the best price, I advise you to additionally familiarize yourself with the information on the page and apply this information in practice.
I also remind you that if you absolutely want to relax in Phuket, but air tickets from the nearest airport to this island are much more expensive than to Bangkok, you can always fly to the capital of Thailand, and from there get to Phuket in about 12 hours by bus (there is nightly, allowing you to save on the hotel). Bus tickets can be ordered and even paid for in advance using a reputable service for searching of all types (link to the Russian-language version of the service).
Pattaya or Phuket: road to and from the airport
If we compare which is better - Pattaya or Phuket in terms of the road from the airport to the resort and back, then we must take into account two indicators: travel time and cost of travel. When it comes to travel time, Phuket has a slight edge. The international airport is located directly on the island (in the northern part), so the road to the popular beaches on the west coast takes from half an hour to an hour (on average 45 minutes), depending on the transport you choose and the specific beach. When it comes to traveling to Pattaya from Bangkok Airport (which is located only 110 km from the resort) and connected to it by the expressway, the journey takes approximately 1.5-2 hours (also depending on the mode of transport).
Thus, we can conclude that the road from your city to the place of residence in Phuket will be about one hour shorter than when flying to Bangkok and moving to Pattaya. However, in reality this is not entirely true. Phuket is located south of Bangkok, so it is almost certain that the flight time to the island is about one hour longer than to the capital's airport Suvarnabhumi. Those. the road to both resorts from the city of your departure to Thailand will take approximately the same time. You can also add that while searching for flights to Phuket, you will surely find options that include an additional connection in Bangkok. In this case, the travel time to your holiday destination in Phuket will increase even more.
Now let's compare the cost of local transport. When using a taxi from the airport, Phuket has a slight advantage (approximately 25%). But when it comes to inexpensive public transport, Phuket, which has its own airport, loses to Pattaya, even taking into account the fact that in the latter case we are talking about a much greater distance. For example: a small bus ride to Patong Beach will cost 150-180 THB per person, and to Karon and Kata beaches - 180-200 Thai baht (depending on the carrier). The road to Pattaya on a comfortable intercity bus costs from 134 baht(cm. ). And the difference in price is enough for public transport in Pattaya.
Local transport in Phuket and Pattaya - comparison
During a vacation at any resort, the issue of mobility is quite acute. Indeed, very few people spend their entire vacation on the territory of hotels (if we are not talking about Turkey and Egypt with all-inclusive hotels). So where is the best local transport - in Phuket or Pattaya? This is the first item in this big resort comparison where Pattaya is winning an undeniable victory. To get from one end of the resort to the other, for example, from north to south, you will need in most cases only 30 baht (less than $ 1). And to drive a rather impressive part of the resort without a transfer, you need only 10 baht.
Transport in Pattaya - tuk tuk or songthaew for 10 baht
The Patatya transport system is so simple and convenient that in order to use it, you only need to remember a few routes and points where transfers are made. You can read more about this in the article, which will help you to save a lot of time and money during your vacation. Even in the case of additional use of taxis and motorcycle taxis in Pattaya, your expenses for moving from point A to point B in the resort only in rare cases will exceed 100-150 baht. To visit Koh Lan, you just need to get to the pier (in the very center of the resort) and buy a ferry ticket (30 baht) or speedboat (150 baht for a round trip ticket, including a free drink on board).
But the local transport in Phuket is one of the obvious disadvantages of the resort. Thanks to the strong lobby of taxi drivers (who are rumored to be "covered" by the Chinese mafia), public transport between the beaches of Phuket is not provided. For tourists, this means one thing: you must either use the public songteo buses for 30 baht to get from your beach to Phuket Town (the administrative center of the island), and from there, use the same transport to get to another beach. Those. the road to another beach using even the cheapest public transport will cost at least 60 baht one way. But you still need to get back and forth, which requires another 60 baht and a lot of time - the most valuable resource while on holiday in Thailand.
Phuket transport - expensive tuk-tuk taxi
Taxis can of course be used to travel to nearby beaches. But due to the lack of competition from cheap public transport, local taxi drivers have long lost the remnants of conscience and demand 300-400 baht one way for a 5-7 minute trip. And despite the statements of the Thai authorities to finally put things in order in this matter and "rein in" the taxi drivers a little, the situation has not changed for many years. If you want to go to the islands, you will also have to initially get from the beach to Phuket Town, then to the desired pier and buy a tour from a local travel agency there. As a result, it is much more profitable to rent a car for a vacation in Phuket or for a few days, during which you are planning a rich excursion program. It is most profitable to do this right at the airport of the island, but in Phuket Town and on popular beaches, you can also find places with inexpensive rentals. The approximate cost of renting a car per day is $ 25- $ 30 for a small 4-seater car with air conditioning, automatic transmission (which is important when the driver's seat is on the right) and insurance against theft and damage to the car. Those. for the indicated amount, comparable in price to a 20-minute taxi ride, you get a completely different degree of freedom for a whole day. Of course, if you have a driver's license. To rent a car in Phuket, it is best to use the search form below, with which you can choose the best available option for your dates from a dozen reputable rental offices at once.
Hotels in Pattaya and Phuket - where is better and cheaper
During any independent travel, living expenses usually represent about 30% of the vacation budget. And the proportion of these costs grows in proportion to the time spent at the resort. Therefore, it is very important to compare: where are the best hotels - in Phuket or Pattaya, and where accommodation will be less expensive. Phuket is in many ways more expensive than Pattaya and hotels are no exception in this comparison. On average, Phuket hotels are about 15-20% more expensive than similar hotels in Pattaya. But in this situation it cannot be argued that Phuket is definitely losing. Good hotels in a good location (by the sea or near places of entertainment - whoever you like) can be found both there and there. Both resorts offer both hotels from a chain of world hotel chains (Hilton, InterContinental, Marriott, etc.) and independent hotels.
Competent planning of your trip to Thailand, in which you study the cost of living at the selected resort in advance and use it to search, will most likely select a hotel of the right class, with the right set of services and at a price suitable for your budget. This applies to both city hotels and guesthouses located in areas with an active nightlife, and luxurious five-star hotels with their own territory on the first line from the sea (there are more such in Phuket than in Pattaya). Also, a distinctive feature of expensive hotels in Phuket is that many of them involve living in detached bungalows, often located on the slopes of the hills, surrounded by well-groomed bushes and palm trees. These hotels are not cheap, but the view that opens directly from the rooms is worth it.
In Pattaya, however, most of the hotels of even the highest class are classic multi-storey buildings with various sizes of territories or even without them. For lovers of panoramic pools overlooking the sea, I can tell you that you can find these in Phuket and Pattaya. In the latter case - usually on the roof of the hotel, as in - one of the best hotels in the city according to tourists' reviews, where you definitely need to stay for at least a couple of days while relaxing in the city (especially if you want to please your soul mate or just impress her ). By the way, you can see the pool of this hotel using one of Pattaya's webcams overlooking the sea.
Food in hotels is about the same in quality and variety, especially since in Thailand this is far from the most important point that you need to pay attention to when choosing a hotel. Please note: in hotels in Thailand (no matter where: in Pattaya or Phuket) the All Inclusive system and generally multiple meals are not developed. Usually only breakfast is included in the price. Free Wi-Fi in 2016-2017 is no longer a luxury, but a standard service not only in five-star hotels, but also in inexpensive guesthouses. Therefore, it will be more difficult for you to find a hotel without this service than with it. For those who would like to stay in one of the island hotels located directly on the beach (and there are very few of them in reality), I advise you to see the selection by clicking on the link.
Pattaya vs Phuket - price comparison at resorts
Since the prices for accommodation and transport have already been sorted out in the previous paragraphs, it remains to compare the cost of food, drinks, fruits, entertainment and shopping in general in order to understand whether Phuket or Pattaya is better in this regard for recreation. Going on vacation and planning your food expenses, you need to prepare for the fact that the cost of visiting local cafes and even the prices of street food in Phuket is 30% or more higher. For many items, the difference in prices generally exceeds 100%, i.e. there is more than a twofold difference. Let me give you the simplest example. If you eat in Pattaya from mobile street stalls (makashnits), then the cost of a chicken skewer is 10 baht, a slightly larger portion of pork is 20 baht, and a large piece of chicken fillet (in the center of the photo below) is 50 baht.
Street food in Pattaya - kebabs on a skewer. In Phuket, everything is 1.5-2 times more expensive!
In Phuket, similar food is offered for 20-30 baht, 30-40 baht and 80-100 baht, respectively. Of course, in some places you can find street food at the same prices, but this will take a lot of time searching, especially during the high tourist season in Phuket (usually the lowest prices are in the night markets). And there is such a difference in price for almost all goods. Pancakes with banana or mango (pencakes) in Pattaya - almost everywhere 40 baht. In Phuket - from 60 and above. Even on Walking Street in Pattaya- the center of the resort's nightlife - you can easily find many bars where the price of a bottle of beer starts from 50-60 baht. In Phuket, the minimum price in night bars is 80 baht. An even greater difference in prices can be for fruits, not only at street vendors, but also in large stores (Big C and Tesco Lotus).
The service sector does not lag behind merchants. In Phuket, in comparison with Pattaya, you will overpay one and a half to two times for Thai massage (classic, foot massage, oil massage and other types), for hairdresser services, for renting a motorbike (both when renting for a day or for a long-term rental) ), for mototaxi services (the taxi drivers' appetites have already been mentioned above), for going to the cinema, for active water activities on the beach (banana, parasailing, aquabike, etc.) - it will take too long to list everything. The conclusion is this: in terms of the cost of rest in the resort, Phuket outright loses to Pattaya in all respects.
The price of massage in Phuket. Off the beach 100 baht cheaper, but still 1.5 times more expensive than Pattaya
By the way, who is interested: close communication with local (more precisely, with working in Phuket) Thai girls in Phuket will also cost about 1.5 times more. That is why a lot of tourists come to the island with Thais, previously "rented" for a long time in Pattaya. A very popular question is: "Pattaya or Phuket - where is the best shopping?" You can answer this way: about the same level, but in Pattaya, of course, everything is cheaper. In addition, it is easy to get from Pattaya to Bangkok, where shopping is the best in all of Thailand (and possibly in the whole of Southeast Asia).
Pattaya or Phuket - where are the best attractions
Another important point and another clear victory of Pattaya over Phuket. Almost all the sights of Phuket can be enumerated on the fingers of one hand. In addition to natural attractions (observation decks, waterfalls and neighboring islets), in Phuket, only the Old Town can be noted (there are colorful Portuguese and Dutch-style streets left from Europeans), several old temples and the Big Buddha statue (which was built in the 21st century). Of course, there are such facilities on the island as a dolphinarium, an aquarium, a butterfly park, a water park, and an elephant and snake show. But all this is also present in Pattaya, so it can be "taken out of the brackets."
Wat Chalong is one of the few attractions in Phuket
If we compare the excursion attractiveness of Phuket and Pattaya, then Pattaya is far ahead too. Due to the location of Phuket in the southern part of the country, you cannot find any interesting excursions (not counting sea excursions around the islands) here either. Of course, you can visit the province of Krabi, but this trip is not close and consists in most cases in visiting natural attractions (thermal springs, rocks, lakes). The road from Phuket to Bangkok by bus takes about 12 hours, and cheap flights are not always available.
The Temple of Truth in Pattaya is one of the most beautiful buildings in Thailand
But Pattaya is good for both one-day excursions and a little longer. From Pattaya, it is customary to make excursions to the tiger zoo in Sirache, the interesting Khao Kheow Open Zoo, the Safari World safari park in the vicinity of Bangkok. Just a couple of hours by bus - and you are in Bangkok itself, where you can spend your entire vacation exploring the temples and not even visit half of them. But you can still visit the largest in the world, which you can spend a whole day on, the Erawan Museum, the floating market in Bangkok, the Chinese and Indian quarters, observation decks on the tallest skyscrapers in Thailand, etc.
From Pattaya popular 2-3 day excursions to one of the most beautiful provinces in the center of the country - Kanchanaburi, as well as one-day excursions to the ancient capital of the country - Ayutthaya. Finally, the choice of Pattaya as a holiday destination makes it easy to get to the islands of Ko Chang and Ko Samet, as well as make an excursion to the neighboring country - Cambodia with its amazing Angkor Wat temple. To be fair, it can be noted here that it is more convenient and faster to get to Koh Samui and Krabi from Phuket Island, but from Pattaya it is not too difficult to do this if there are cheap night buses and proximity to Bangkok.
Pattaya or Phuket - much cheaper tours
As a rule, the cost of ready-made tours to Pattaya is slightly lower than the cost of similar tours to Phuket Island (when staying in a hotel of the same category, taking a charter flight and the same type of food included in the package price). This, in general, is quite understandable, because the flight to Phuket lasts longer, and everything on the island (hotels and food) is also more expensive not only for independent travelers, but also for tour operators). Such a difference in prices is most noticeable when choosing hotels in Phuket that are located close to the coastal strip.
Pattaya or Phuket - the cost of tours to Phuket (12 nights)
But due to the fact that today everyone who wants to relax in Phuket or Pattaya on a tourist voucher has a chance to do it with minimal costs, it can be argued that tours to Phuket and Pattaya cost about the same. The difference of about $ 50 for a ten-day tour, which can be both in favor of Pattaya and in favor of Phuket - depending on the chosen day of departure - can be excluded from the calculation. For those who do not know yet: it is better to look for the best prices for ready-made tours to Thailand not on the websites of tour operators, but using special services that accumulate all the hot offers in one place. By the way, in this case, the last-minute vouchers mean not only those that involve a departure in the coming days, but with a departure within the next month and even further.
For example, the article contains several screenshots. I took advantage of it, which in 95% of cases finds the lowest prices for tickets with a departure from Moscow. If you are interested in a flight from another city in Russia, you can additionally check the prices in a competing service - sometimes there are better offers). In the first and second screenshots - tours to Thailand (to Phuket and Pattaya) with a rest duration of 10 nights and a departure in two weeks (a good time to prepare for the trip) in the second half of November (the beginning of the high season at both resorts). The screenshots show not the lowest offers in Phuket or Pattaya, but meeting the general conditions of comparison: 3-star hotels with a pool and breakfasts.
Pattaya or Phuket - the cost of tours to Pattaya (12 nights)
As you can see, in both cases, the cost of a 12-night tour is about 70 thousand rubles for two, or about 35 thousand per person (about $ 550 per person at the current rate). At the same time, the price of tours to Phuket is even lower than to Pattaya. The higher price for tours to Pattaya is due to the smaller number of hotels with their own pools in this resort. If the pool is not required, it is easy to find a tour to Pattaya for about 30 thousand rubles per person. The service is convenient in that it allows you to find ready-made tours to a specific resort, and the duration of tours to Thailand can be not only standard 7-15 days, but any number of days up to 30 (29 nights)!
Thus, it is impossible to give a definite answer to the question: "Phuket or Pattaya - which is better in terms of buying a tour?" After all, modern technologies allow you to find tours similar in price, convenience and duration to both Phuket and Pattaya. But here it is important to remember that while vacationing in Phuket, your additional costs will certainly be higher than during a package vacation in Pattaya. Indeed, as has been repeatedly mentioned above in the text, in Phuket, almost everything is 20-50% more expensive than in Pattaya.
Phuket or Pattaya - where is it safer
It is more correct to answer this question in the context of the main potential dangers that can be encountered while vacationing in the Land of Smiles. In the past two years, I regularly read crime stories in resorts in Thailand, so I can say that there is a chance to lose money and valuables in Pattaya and Phuket. As a rule, thefts and robberies come first, and ladyboys (in both resorts) or guest workers from Burma (in Phuket) are most often responsible for such crimes. Typical victims of such crimes are inattentive tourists in crowded places (pickpocketing) or people walking alone in a state of alcoholic intoxication at night (street robbery with possible beatings).
If we talk about general safety during the rest, then in Phuket there is a risk of becoming a victim of a reef current (see), getting injuries and burns from dangerous jellyfish of the Indian Ocean while swimming in the sea (usually beaches are closed for swimming in the presence of such living creatures in the water) ... Also in Phuket, in an unfortunate combination of circumstances, get injured during a fall from a motorbike (annually in Phuket, several hundred tourists due to poor motorbike driving skills and alcohol intoxication become victims of an accident). Finally, Phuket is located in the Indian Ocean, which sometimes experiences devastating tsunamis. The last major tsunami, which claimed the lives of several thousand people, occurred in December 2004 and, among other coastal areas, covered Phuket. You can easily find eerie shots of bodies on the shore at the request "tsunami in Thailand".
Phuket or Pattaya - where it is safer - Tsunami in Thailand 2004
If we talk about Pattaya, then there are no reef currents at all, there is no danger of a tsunami either. Pattaya is not only located in the Gulf of Thailand, where there are no tectonic faults in the earth's crust, but also in a rather narrow part of this gulf, where the wave, in any case, would not have enough distance to gain destructive speed and height. As for motorbikes, there is always a risk of falling off them, but due to the cheapness of public transport in Pattaya, motorbike rentals are far from being as popular here as in Phuket. However, this does not mean that in Pattaya you need to relax in matters of ensuring your own safety. God saves man, who save himself! Remember this always, wherever you are - in Phuket or Pattaya - and everything will be OK! In separate articles on the site you can find out more about some of the common resorts.
Phuket or Pattaya - where is it better?
It's time to take stock of this big comparison and determine which resort is still better: Pattaya or Phuket. If you have carefully read the article, you probably have already identified for yourself the main criteria that meet (or vice versa does not correspond) this or that resort. For those who prefer to immediately familiarize themselves with the conclusions, below are brief recommendations on which resort is more suitable for you based on the goals of your vacation in Thailand, and also highlighted the main advantages and disadvantages of Pattaya and Phuket in comparison with each other.
Phuket's advantages over Pattaya:
+
a large selection of excellent beaches within walking distance from the places of residence,
+
clean beautiful sea right at the resort (during high season),
+
the presence of interesting sea excursions,
+
the possibility of diving and snorkeling,
+
more greenery in the resort and slightly better environmental conditions.
Disadvantages of Phuket:
- weak excursion program;
- the minimum number of interesting sights on the island and in the region in general;
- little sun, strong waves, rain and muddy water during the low season;
- lack of cheap local transport and impudent taxi drivers;
- almost all entertainment - on Patong Beach;
- noticeably higher prices FOR EVERYTHING compared to Pattaya.
Who should choose Phuket
If for you during your holiday in Thailand beach vacation is in the first place, i.e. the main thing for you is the presence of a good beach with clear water within walking distance from the hotel, then Phuket is your choice. True, you should be prepared for the fact that the budget for your vacation due to the high cost of the resort will be noticeably larger than when you are on vacation in Pattaya. And when choosing Phuket, do not forget about the pronounced seasonality on this tropical island, as well as the fact that the cultural program during your holidays in Phuket will be limited. Also Phuket during the low season is perfect for surfers, because it is here that there are many special schools, and in the fall, international competitions in this sport are held.
Advantages of Pattaya over Phuket:
+
the cheapest resort in Thailand (more eventful vacation with a lower budget);
+
year-round resort (no pronounced seasonality);
+
the best place to shop (due to lower prices and proximity to Bangkok);
+
the presence of attractions and interesting excursions in the resort and nearby;
+
cheap local transport
+
cheaper air tickets (when flying to Bangkok).
Disadvantages of Pattaya:
- lack of beaches with crystal clear water in the city;
- more hotels without their own territory;
- in many areas of the city - more noisy than in Phuket (except for Patong beach);
- the presence of unpleasant odors at the sewer manholes (in the first days it can be annoying).
Who is better for Pattaya:
If you want to have a good rest on a modest budget and at the same time the main thing for you during your vacation is parties, acquaintance with the history and culture of Thailand and shopping (in the resort and in Bangkok) - your choice is Pattaya. Also, this resort is more suitable for single men who want to find exotic adventures during their holidays. Beach holidays here can also be great, because the resort has many beaches that are easy and cheap to get to from any part of Pattaya. And if you do not want to put up with not entirely transparent water on the beaches of the city, there is a coral island of Ko Lan with white sand and crystal clear water just 45 minutes from the resort. At the same time, you can go on vacation to Pattaya at any time of the year, without waiting for the right season. Also, a vacation in Pattaya with children will be much more interesting for the latter, when they are suitable in age for excursions to amusement parks, water parks and zoos.
Perhaps someone, after carefully reading the entire article, noticed the lack of comparison of tropical nature in Phuket and Pattaya. Therefore, at the end I would like to add that for real exoticism you need to go to other resorts of the country (for example, to the coconut island of Ko Samui). But if from rest in Thailand you want not only clean sea and white sand, but you certainly plan to rest in Phuket or Pattaya, I advise you to get out at least for a few days to the neighboring resorts, which, in terms of exotic nature and picturesque beaches, are noticeably superior to Pattaya, and Phuket and are better suited for romantic getaways (for example, honeymoon trip). While on vacation in Pattaya, I advise you to visit the Koh Chang island in the Gulf of Thailand, and while on vacation in Phuket - the Phi Phi Islands in the Andaman Sea.
I hope the big comparison of resorts has allowed all those who have not yet been to Thailand, but are going to relax in this wonderful country, to more consciously approach the choice of Phuket or Pattaya as a holiday destination. If we draw the main conclusion that "Phuket or Pattaya - which is better?"- then there can be no single answer. It all depends on the main goals of your vacation, the season and the available budget. In most cases, choosing Pattaya or Phuket, you have to make some kind of compromise. And to finally determine what is best for you: Phuket or Pattaya - you can only visit both resorts on your own. I wish you a great holiday and bright positive emotions, regardless of which resort you choose in the end - Pattaya or Phuket!
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Those people who have never visited Thailand are often interested in the question of which of the two resorts to give preference to.
In this article, we will help you make a choice, because the quality of rest and the received positive emotions from your stay in Thailand depend on this.
Where do you go: Pattaya or Phuket? It is difficult to give an exact answer to this question, because it is important to take into account personal preferences and the purpose of the trip. Perhaps you want to soak up the clear sea or learn about the sights of Thailand, try exotic food, or visit the local modern, oriental hangouts.
So, let's see what the pros and cons are the two main resorts of Thailand - Phuket and Pattaya.
Phuket or Pattaya: where is the best place to relax?
So that you can not be mistaken with the place of rest, we will analyze in detail where the rest will bring positive emotions for you. To do this, let's compare both resorts according to different criteria.
Beaches
If you are interested in a beach holiday, then Phuket island takes precedence.
In Pattaya, you can visit three huge beaches and several smaller beaches. In Phuket, the number of beaches is much larger, and their size is also different. This allows each tourist to choose the corner of the resort where he can completely relax from all worries.
Phuket has noisy beaches where there are constant parties, and there are quiet beaches with few people. In Pattaya, there are a huge number of people on all the beaches, so it will be very difficult to retire.
❗ Phuket beaches are better and more varied than Pattaya beaches.
Rest cost
Phuket is one of the most expensive resorts in Thailand, especially when it comes to accommodation or taxi rides. You can try to find inexpensive housing, but this is more difficult. Most of the guesthouses that are rented to tourists are not represented on the Internet. An even greater disadvantage of inexpensive housing is that it is located too far from the sea. And to go to the beach by taxi you will have to pay a tidy sum.
In Pattaya, prices are much lower for everything - housing, taxis, food, entertainment, restaurants and more. Because of this, tours to Pattaya are more popular among tourists. From Pattaya, you can go to Bangkok, which is 100 km away, and do some cheap shopping. If you want to go shopping, visit restaurants, have fun, then it is better to choose Pattaya.
❗ Holidays in Pattaya are cheaper than holidays in Phuket.
Entertainment
The most common holiday option in Thailand is considered to be diving, snorkeling and fishing. Phuket and the islands that are nearby are the best place for this type of vacation. In Pattaya, you will not be able to fully dive, and the nearby islands do not have a very rich underwater world, especially when compared with Phuket and the Andaman Sea.
Walking Street in Pattaya is home to the main entertainment of the entire resort. Most of the recreation facilities for different categories of tourists are located here. Walking Street is primarily known as the "red light district" where men can find exotic entertainment.
It is important to choose the right beach in Phuket if you want a loud and vibrant holiday. The best option in this case is Patonga. The rest of the beaches are relatively calm. On the southern beaches, after the sun sets, life generally stops.
❗ For noisy entertainment - to Pattaya, for measured rest - to Phuket.
Weather
Weather in Pattaya. If we talk about the weather, then Pattaya takes the lead. This resort has the warmest weather in all of Thailand. From late autumn to mid-spring, precipitation is very rare, about 2 times a month, and their duration does not exceed half an hour. In Pattaya, the sun constantly shines, which is so lacking in the cold season for tourists from Russia. The rainy season lasts from early May to October inclusive. In this case, rainfall occurs several times a week. Sometimes it rains for a week, and then for a week, if not more, it doesn’t come. During this period, clouds can be seen in the sky more often than the sun. When the rainy season comes, then in the rest of Thailand, the conditions are several times worse.
Weather in Phuket. During the "no rain" season in Phuket, it can rain several times a week. In the cold season, rains are almost daily occurrence, and the duration of rain can exceed several hours. Of course, the weather can be slightly different each year and sometimes even during the rainy season, Phuket can have a few dry and sunny days. Another disadvantage is that very high waves are observed in Phuket during the rainy season, and there is also a dangerous current. The ban on swimming in the sea will be signaled by special flags along the entire beach.
❗ If you are traveling during the "rainy season", it is better to choose Pattaya.
Sea
When it comes to choosing a place for a beach holiday, the state of the sea is one of the most important indicators. Indeed, first of all, tourists go to enjoy the warm and clean sea, swim, sunbathe and only after that see the sights or buy souvenirs.
In Pattaya, the sea is very dirty, it can hardly be called a sea. It is the worst in all of Thailand. There are many motorized water sports on the main beach of the resort, which significantly spoils the state of the sea. Tourists and residents themselves throw various garbage into the water. Only 2 beaches in Pattaya can be called relatively clean - these are Jomtien Beach, Wongamat. There are many small islands near Pattaya where the water is crystal clear. You can get there relatively quickly and cheaply by ferry.
In Phuket, the sea is several times cleaner, especially on those beaches where there are not a huge number of tourists. Even on the largest beach of the Patong resort, where there are always a lot of people, the sea condition is much better than in Pattaya. On the southern beaches of Phuket, you can easily see a lot of various fish that swim safely near the coast.
❗ In Phuket, the sea is much cleaner than in Pattaya.
Phuket and Pattaya: comparison
Rest at each of the resorts has its advantages and some disadvantages. It is important to take them into account when choosing a holiday resort. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each resort in the tables.
Pattaya
Phuket
A resort like Pattaya is a great vacation option for people who prefer a budget vacation or for those who like to travel alone. Tourists who visit Pattaya during the rainy season will be able to better understand the historical heritage and culture of Thailand. See the beautiful architecture and get to know the incredible places of this country.
Phuket is a resort for tourists who travel exclusively for a beach holiday and who are willing to pay extra for it. This resort is perfect for couples with children and for those people who are not particularly interested in sights and architecture. Phuket is a beautiful resort where you can visit the islands, visit the jungle, get closer to nature.
Phuket or Pattaya: where to spend your vacation?
If you want to visit Thailand, learn more about Asian culture, get acquainted with the many sights and visit loud parties, then the best option for you is Pattaya. You can go to this resort without children and completely immerse yourself in the life of Thailand. In addition, this option is perfect if you do not want or do not have the opportunity to spend too much money on vacation.
But if you prefer a relaxing holiday alone with nature, clear sea, numerous beaches, then it is better to go to Phuket.
- Phuket beaches are better and more varied than Pattaya beaches;
- Holidays in Pattaya are cheaper than holidays in Phuket;
- For noisy entertainment - to Pattaya, for measured rest - to Phuket;
- It is better to relax in Phuket with children;
- In Phuket, the sea is much cleaner than in Pattaya.
Reviews
“We had a rest in Pattaya for the second time in a row and as it turned out, we didn’t know much.
For example, it is absolutely safe to buy excursions "across the road", and not three expensively from tour operators. Yes, there is definitely a risk in terms of insurance. But transport services, hotels for overnight stays, food are all top notch. And the program is no different. Only here it affects the total cost. Having attended 3 excursions, we managed to save 30% percent.
I will also tell "future" holidaymakers about Thai pharmacies, which bring exclusively tourists. Do not get fooled by Thai medicinal preparations, roots, teas, oils. For example, I will say that having bought an ointment for hemorrhoids at a snake farm, and oil for a bath in a regular pharmacy, I saw absolutely identical bottles with the same liquids both in smell and in color. The only difference is the labels. But that's not all. Tearing off the top label with a snake, I was "smiled" exactly the same as the pharmacy. Only now they paid dearly for the "snake" one. ((
And in principle, if you ask yourself a question more seriously, then it is unlikely that you will be able to find a culture of growing tea in the land of smiles and the sun. Although the local market is pleasing to the eye - for only 100 baht, 3 packs of tea!))
Have a nice rest, and do not forget to bargain !!! "
“We were with my husband in Pattaya for the first time in October-November 2016. Previously, I studied a lot of information about Thailand on the Internet. The question was especially controversial: is it possible to swim on the beaches of Pattaya? Therefore, I will try to express my opinion - maybe it will help someone. 3 times we were on the central beach on Beach Road just south of Central Festival. 3 times went to Ko Lan and 2 days were on an excursion to the island of Samet.
Pattaya Central Beach: the sand is yellow, quite clean, every morning the owners of the sun loungers clean the beach. In the water, basically, the garbage did not float - it could be within the visibility of 1-2 plastic bottles or bags. The color of the water is gray-green in cloudy weather and green-gray in sunny weather. The transparency of the water, I would say, is average, i.e. standing up to your neck in water, you see yourself up to the waist. There are no visible signs of the sewage being drained into the sea here. And the sewerage system is discharged into the sea in most coastal cities, for example, in Odessa. My conclusion is that you can swim if you have an excursion on that day and have half a day free, or on the first / last day, or for another reason. But I would not recommend using this beach as the only permanent beach.
You should definitely go to the islands.
Koh Lan. Were 3 times on different beaches: Tawaen, Tong Leng (walk after Tawaen along a concrete path), Samae. Of these beaches, Samae liked the most, and Tong Leng was the worst. On all beaches, the water is the same - very transparent, turquoise, just lovely. The sand is the best on Tawaen, but on the others it is also not bad - almost white. Infrastructure differences. The cost of sun loungers on Tavaen is 100 Baht (sometimes you can bargain for 75), on Tong Leng 100 (not traded), on Samae - just such soft sun loungers -20 or 30 or more in different places. It is great with food here - a lot and tasty and affordable (the Chinese do not eat everything by 11 o'clock like on the other two beaches). Later I will write a review about Fr. Samet - now there is no time, "
“I was with my brother in Phuket in February and I want to share my impressions. Lived in Patong. Prior to that, I rested in Patay more than ten years ago. Honestly, I was disappointed with the rest. As if this is not the same Thailand, Thais have stopped smiling and sometimes behave aggressively. Everything has become very expensive, especially transport. Moreover, there are no regular bus routes to the beaches of the island. Since the sea in Patong is dirty I had to take the so-called tuk tuk to Karon beach for two if in rubles for 1000 rubles there and back, and this is after bargaining. On the beaches there are no changing rooms, awnings, toilets, sun loungers, in general, there is nothing you can only take an umbrella and a mattress for money for an average of 200 rubles per person. The climate is very humid and hot. The insidious sea carries away imperceptibly, even without waves, once barely raked to the shore, and there are no lifeguards; the beach is very large. Therefore, sailing from the shore is dangerous and it is better to always have the bottom under your feet. Excursions are expensive and tiring because they are mostly sea trips, and departure from the other end of the island and there you have to go by bus for a long time. I do not recommend renting a scooter, it is very easy to make yourself big trouble in the event of even a small accident, which is very easy with the intensity of left-hand traffic and the recklessness of the locals. As I understand it, the local police do business on this after the accidents, they take away the passport for the duration of the proceedings, but try not to give it back and then extort money. And you don’t know the language of local laws, and the plane didn’t come for a long time. In general, they told who was horror-stricken. And if, as a result, you caused some kind of damage to the local, you will not fly away at all. We took it for a couple of days and I fell down and badly skinned my leg. I was walking around the city, so a policeman immediately came up and asked for a bike? Well I was warned in advance. A special topic is the attitude in the hotel and the Chinese are very many and come in large groups. In general, the Chinese are dismissive of Russians, I would even say haughtily, let's say for breakfast in a restaurant they line up with the chef with scrambled eggs and it's just impossible to come up, some will take them right there, others climb without a queue, you stand, you even have to fight, but it seems that you came to rest. Then we just tried not to stop with them. In the hotel, too, not without problems, I will start with the fact that in the room there is an inventory of property down to a teaspoon. And they immediately warn against signature that no one should be brought into the room otherwise a fine as in Soviet times. Well, it's okay, but here's what an illustrative story we had in the fridge - we didn't know the bar, but as it turned out, the can of soda was swollen from the low temperature of the can of soda, we return from the beach in the evening and they don't give us the key at the reception, they turn this can and say pay it your fault. In general, such behavior of the staff is a disgrace for the hotel in general and the fact that the key was not given twice. Therefore, whoever will go immediately upon arrival, say that everything is removed from the refrigerator. In general, the streets are narrow, not very clean, and it is not customary for drivers to give way to pedestrians even at a few pedestrian crossings. And even so, there is nothing particularly interesting there, but going there with children is generally unwise there is nothing for children, neither food nor children's infrastructure. And another very important question is medical insurance, those insurances that travel agencies issue do not actually work there, because in which case they tell you this is not an insured event, it is you who were engaged in an extreme sport or something else, and if you object, they say pay money at a local clinic, take bills come home and go to court. Therefore, you need to take a decent amount of money with you just in case for treatment. And these are not fantasies, but I talked to one woman, she ran along the sea in the morning and her leg was damaged by a crack, so the insurance company did this to her. Moreover, the flight is long and tiring. The climate is humid and hot all the time, as in the bath is not comfortable. Ask what is good there .... but good is fruit and fresh seafood and their prices are tolerable at the level of Moscow. I expounded everything sincerely, I never went there myself. I am very sorry for the money and time spent in general. Say very darkly described ... I think no, just objectively. There may be liked by reckless youth who are everywhere, in general, it is good if only their parents are not around, but I think, taking into account the above, it is dangerous to let them go there. All success and the right choice of a place of rest, because vacation is mainly once a year, and if you look at the years, there are not so many years in a person's life, "
To make the right choice, it is not enough to compare photos on the Internet, you need to understand what you expect from your vacation. Let's consider the details and try to decide which resort is better: Pattaya or Phuket?
Sea
Our compatriots are looking for in Thailand, first of all, a clean warm sea. If this criterion is also the most important for you, you should definitely give preference to Phuket with its crystal water and white sand.
Is a bustling resort town with heavy port congestion, which negatively affects the purity of the water. Garbage flies into the sea: bottles, papers, bags, making bathing impossible. Only the most negligent tourists swim in Pattaya itself.
The rest go to rest on remote beaches, or Wong Amat, and nearby islands. The most popular - .
You can get here from the mainland by regularly running ferries. A one-way ticket costs 30 baht, the journey will take about 45 minutes, but at the end of the journey you will find a clear sea.
Beaches
In search of a beach holiday, relaxation on the soft sand and photos with paradise landscapes, again, it is better to fly to the largest resort in Thailand, Phuket Island. The island has a huge number of beaches for every taste: from busy and long to tiny and secluded.
But even in the most crowded and partying Patong (pictured below), which the locals consider not very suitable for swimming, it is cleaner and more comfortable than on the beaches of Pattaya.
Phuket is inferior to Pattaya in terms of infrastructure, but in recent years all types of beach recreation and water sports, snorkeling and diving have been available on the island. The coastline of the island is sandy, gently sloping, the entrance to the water is long, but there are beaches with depth. The water stays clean and warm throughout the season from October to May. Getting to the beaches of Phutek for the first time, you cannot believe your eyes that you see this beauty live, and not on a postcard, TV screen or photo.
- this is more a place for parties than for relaxation and enjoying the natural scenery. Developed infrastructure: cafes, discos, shops, bars, massage parlors - close to the beaches.
The most popular are the central and southern beaches, with the exception of Jomtien. Calmer and cleaner in the north of the resort. Seekers of a relaxing holiday and families with children should better take a closer look at Naklua Beach, a quiet picturesque fishing bay in the northern part.
Or choose the neighboring Wong Amat, the cleanest in the resort. And Dongtan family tourists are better off bypassing - this is the most popular LGBT beach in all of Thailand.
Climate
There are no fundamental differences here. And there, and there you will have a warm sea and hot sun. Perhaps it will be a little uncomfortable and humid during the rainy season. But it's still better than minus 20 and snow.
sights
This item when choosing "Pattaya or Phuket?" plays in favor of the mainland. A vacation on the island will only reveal to you the traditions and culture of the country. After all, the main ones are natural. To get a complete experience of Thailand, it is better to go to Pattaya.
The list of attractions in Phuket is not great: several temples, a butterfly or crocodile farm, waterfalls. You can spend your entire vacation on seeing the sights of Pattaya, in the photo - the entire flash drive. Temple of Truth, Mini Siam Park, Elephant Village, Big Buddha Hill, Floating Market, Alangkarn Theater, Siracha Zoo and much more. Most of this can be viewed on the bike.
And when everything is studied, the bus will take you to Bangkok in two hours, where the main attractions of the country are concentrated. Three hours on the way - and you will reach Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand, which also has something to see. The choice of organized excursions from Pattaya is much better too.
Prices
Phuket is one of the most expensive resorts in Thailand. Here are concentrated luxury villas and luxury hotels. Of course, you can find a modest room in a guesthouse for the same price as in other resorts in Thailand, but there is less choice of them, because Phuket is not focused on poor tourists. Perhaps Patong offers a good selection of budget-friendly housing.
Double rooms in a guesthouse from $ 20 per day. Two weeks of rest in the same modest conditions for the promotion can be booked for $ 200. In Pattaya, housing prices are more attractive and the choice of democratic guesthouses is great: a room can be rented for $ 10 per day.
Food in Phuket is more expensive, and twice. The prices on the island are not Thai at all. If in Pattaya you can eat a hearty meal in a makashnitsa for 30-40 baht ($ 1.5), then in Phuket for 50-70 baht ($ 1.5-2). If you believe the reviews and photos of tourists, a dinner for two with wine at a restaurant this season costs 650 baht ($ 20) - 850 baht ($ 25).
Fruit prices in resorts vary, especially on popular beaches, but generally within the range: mangoes at 60-80 baht / kg ($ 2-2.5), pineapples at 20-40 baht / piece ($ 0.5-1.2), papaya 40-70 baht ($ 1-2), mangosteen 40-80 baht ($ 1-2.3). In search of cheap fruit, it is better to move away from the busy tourist spots and buy fruit from car dealers or fruit markets.
Shopping opportunities are undeniably better on the mainland. And it is wiser to even buy things not at the resort, but to go to Bangkok.
Taxi spending in an elite resort is also not a joke: short trips between beaches - from 200 baht ($ 6), long distances - from 1,000 baht ($ 29). On the mainland and in Thailand in general, a trip up to 500 meters is 100 baht ($ 3), more - 150-350 baht ($ 4.5-10).
Transport accessibility
The starting point for independent tourists is Bangkok. The easiest way to get to Pattaya is from Bangkok. Travel time from the East Station is 2 hours, the ticket price is 120 baht (3.5 $). In Pattaya, the most accessible transport is tuk-tuk. It will take an average of 30 baht ($ 1) to get from the bus station to the hotel.
There is a bus from the South Station to Phuket from Bangkok. Ticket price - from 600 baht ($ 18). You will have to spend at least 11 hours on the road. There is also an air connection: the most affordable tickets are from Lion Air: about 700 baht ($ 20) one way. Minibuses run from the airport to Potong: 180 baht ($ 5) per ticket. There are also regular buses, which are a little cheaper, but they run once an hour and finish work until 18:00.
conclusions
If you want to visit Thailand to immerse yourself in colorful Asian culture, see national attractions, hang out. If you are not in a fundamentally clear sea outside the doorstep of the villa and idyllic photos, you are ready to take the time to get to the neighboring island. If you want to reduce spending on vacation, and at the same time travel without children - Pattaya is your option!
But if in the first place for you is a quiet vacation surrounded by nature, clear sea and beaches, if you have plans to visit a large number of sea excursions (and so on), if you are going on vacation with children and are ready to pay money for a comfortable stay, your destination is Phuket.
Pattaya or Phuket - it's up to you! Choose the right resort for yourself, and you will surely have the best impressions of Thailand, which will be remembered for a long time, in video and photos.
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, for a beach holiday, tropical vegetation and other exotic things, go to Phuket, and go to Pattaya for shopping, transvestites and discos.
Pattaya or Phuket - which is better?
Nobody will give you a definite answer to this question. Because everything depends on the person and his interests. My opinion is that both in Pattaya and Phuket you can have a wonderful vacation, whoever says anything about these directions. PTT also has a beach holiday, on the island of Ko Lan, and in Phuket, of course, there are also a variety of excursions, shopping and transvestites in Patong. There is even an analogue of Walking Street.
Phuket is worth going to if you prefer a relaxing holiday by the sea. So, to leave the hotel on the beach, swim, sunbathe, and somehow in the evening go to the city for a party or watch some show. In Pattaya, on the contrary, the city cannot boast of exotic lush vegetation, and in order to get to a normal beach, you will have to do the hard way. But all the shops, daytime and evening entertainment will always be within walking distance.
Also, it is believed that Pattaya is cheaper than Phuket, not only in terms of vouchers, but also in terms of prices in shops and markets. But this is actually not true. In Phuket, prices for goods and food are the same as in Pattaya. Well, unless you buy food and fruit in shops near the sea, but move a little deeper into the area, the prices there will already be adequate. Only tickets and tickets are more expensive. Tickets to Bangkok are about 3-5 thousand rubles cheaper.
Comparison of Pattaya and Phuket
Convenience to get there
To get to Pattaya, you first need to fly to Bangkok, and then take a bus or taxi to the city. The journey takes an hour and a half. To get to Phuket, you need to fly to the island, and then also drive to the desired city. Travel time depends on the chosen city and on average no more than an hour. If you are arriving on a voucher, the transfer will be included in the price. For independent travelers, the following links will be helpful:
Hotels
I will not say 100%, but it seemed to me that the Phuket hotels are a little better. Personally, my opinion. Of course, there are very poor guest houses 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 a good view, near the sea, where you can swim.
Sea and beach holidays
Pattaya is an urban resort, the beach is not the best there. Some tourists swim, but most are squeamish. In the tourist season, from November to March, the sea is even more or less clean and clear water, but in the off-season, from May to September, the beach and sea in PTT are very dirty. To swim in pure water, you have to go to a neighboring island (Ko Lan).
Phuket is a resort with a great beach holiday. Some of the best beaches in Thailand. The sea is clean, the water is clear. Large wide beaches, Karon and Kata, resemble the ocean. During the low season, there may be waves, making the water more turbid. Phuket is definitely more suitable for swimming than Pattaya. If you go to Thailand for a beach vacation, then only to the island of Phuket.
Beach in Pattaya in the Pratumnak area. Photo during the tourist season 
But this is how dirty it is on the beaches of Pattaya in the off-season. Bathing is canceled 
We have a beach holiday in Pattaya 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 only Volkin Street. Phuket also has all these entertainments, in the same way there are several transvestite shows (Aphrodite, Sim Niramit), a zoo, a butterfly garden, Buddhist temples, etc. But maybe there is a little less entertainment for children.
Walking street Pattaya. Bangla road looks about the same, only wider
Where can I book a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online, paid with a card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name. Drove to the hotel in a comfortable car. We have already talked about their experience in this article.
Excursions
Travel agencies in PTT offer a variety of excursions, show programs, visits to temples, zoo, Ayurvedic shops and factories. From PTT you can easily go to Bangkok or Ayutthaya on your own or with an excursion. You can also go to Cambodia or even Laos for a two to three day excursion.
In Phuket, tourists are offered not only sightseeing tours around the island with visits to temples and jewelry, latex and other factories, but also trips to the Phi Phi Islands, James Bond, Similans, elephant trekking, waterfalls, artificial rafting, ATVs, boat trips, diving and snorkeling, various transvestite, elephant and adult shows. You can take an excursion for 2-3 days in and.
Pay attention, they say that Pattaya is cheaper ... But! In Phuket, attractions are cheaper or even free (Wat Chalong Temple - free, Zoo 300 baht, Bird Park 300 baht). And in PTT, entrance everywhere costs an average of 500 baht per person (Temple of Truth 500 baht, Khao Kheo Zoo 500 baht, Nong Nooch Garden 500 baht)!
In terms of entertainment, it's hard to say which is better, Pattaya or Phuket. Both resorts are rich in a variety of excursions and entertainment, but cheaper in Phuket. ...
| Pattaya | Phuket |
Observation deck in Pattaya Big Budda Hill 
Bangkok 
Phi Phi Islands 
Public transport
Public transport is well developed in Pattaya. Minibuses (songteo) run along almost all the streets of the city, which locals for some reason call tuk-tuk. The fare is only 10 baht. Most of the minibuses operate around the clock. It will not be difficult to get to any part of the city here.
In Phuket, transport is also fine, but there are 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 this regard, buses are more expensive - an average of 30-40 baht. Thirdly, they do not go as often as in the PTT. And fourthly, buses only run until 5-6 pm, and some finish even earlier. Therefore, you can move around the island in the evening only by taxi, if you don't have your own transport.
Minibuses in Pattaya. They run often, are cheap 
Memorable photo against the background of a pink truck for transporting people 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 by the sea. 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 approximately the same.
However, in Phuket, since the beginning of the high season, the cost of renting housing near the beaches has been sharply increasing, almost 2 times. In low season, from May to September, you can rent a good apartment in Patong for 10-15 thousand baht. But 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.
For more information on all the nuances of self-rental housing in Thailand, follow the links:
Food prices
The food price level is no different. Yes Yes exactly. Forget 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 already, and most of the products in supermarkets, such as Tesco, Big C, 7-Eleven, cost exactly the same as everywhere else in Thailand. Up to kopecks. Also, there is no significant difference in prices in the markets and in the makashnits. High prices are always there where there are a lot of 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, these same mangoes will cost 2 times cheaper in the market on the third street from the sea.
- - an example of an overpriced tourist market
- - example of prices in the markets for local
- - review 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 an ankle-deep "flood". Phuket is more dangerous in this respect. In 2004, the Phuket tsunami claimed the lives of hundreds of people. Now in Thailand there is a tsunami warning system, the authorities assure that they will never allow such victims again.
Safety
In general, Thailand is pretty safe everywhere. However, according to statistics, Pattaya has the greatest concentration of any unscrupulous public. Since in PTT people come from all over Thailand, Laos, Burma and Cambodia to work, including from the poorest provinces. We recommend avoiding transvestites, they can distract, and at this time, unnoticed, get into pockets / bags and pull out all the valuables. During 4 months of living in PTT, we had 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, in 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.
In the photo, the embankment of Jomtien Beach
Phuket or Pattaya - where is the best place 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 treated this city quite negatively and always preferred Phuket.
Public opinion has inspired us that in Pattaya there is dirt, a garbage dump, it stinks everywhere, rats and cockroaches are everywhere, and there are more shemales and prostitutes on the streets of the city than tourists. Then life turned out so that we moved to live in Pattaya and.
Of course, Thailand is not Europe, and there are streets where it may not be very clean or stink from the sewers, but these streets are usually away from tourist spots. Every city in Thailand has such streets. There are not so many Thai women and "men" of easy virtue as expected, separate streets are allocated for them, where it is so rare to get there.
As for the Phuket island, before we always thought that it was insanely expensive, and there was nothing to see, except for sea excursions ... A few months ago we came to live on Phuket. Now I declare with full responsibility that this is all nonsense! Prices here are exactly the same as elsewhere in Thailand, public transport is available and excursions by land and water are no less varied.
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 with your own experience which is better, Pattaya or Phuket. Well, if you always come on vacation to PTT, guided by stereotypes about the high cost of Phuket, etc., then “risk” seeing something new and feel free to go to the island of Phuket!
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 Pattaya, see the dirty sea and dirty city beaches, and then begin to write acrimonious reviews about their holidays in Pattaya, tell friends and colleagues shocking facts, claim that the whole of Thailand is like that, and in general, they will never go to Asia for anything ... But you are not like that, since you have come to this article.
Beach vacation in Pattaya looks 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 in the article more than once that they do not go to Pattaya for a beach holiday. If you want to swim in the sea every day, then choose Phuket. And rest in Pattaya means more entertainment, nightlife and shopping. Several trips to Ko Lan to swim are quite enough for vacationers and residents there. 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 your trip that this is not a beach resort.
And you will hardly 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 farther from each other, since the island is huge, as I said, it takes time to get there. For example, it takes about 25 minutes to get from Karon to Wat Chalong by bus, and the road to distant beaches, such as, can take about 2 hours due to traffic jams and waiting for a 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 best?
Pattaya or Phuket - which is better? Even those tourists who have already been to Thailand sometimes wonder what to choose? Which city to give preference to? Pattaya or Phuket - rest on the island or the Gulf of Thailand?
Where is it cheaper - in Phuket or Pattaya? Where are the best beaches? how much does a ticket to Phuket cost, and how much to Pattaya?
There are many questions when planning a vacation, which I will try to answer today. Let's compare the climate, weather, beaches, prices in Phuket and Pattaya, the cost of rental housing, transport, excursions and other important components of any vacation to make it easier to choose.
Where to go to Phuket or Pattaya?
I am constantly asked about this, and although I live in Pattaya, I will not argue that Phuket is worse than Pattaya, or Pattaya is better than Phuket. Thank God we are all different, we have different preferences and tastes, different expectations from the rest, plans for it, and so on. In today's article I will try to compare as objectively as possible the two main resorts of Thailand, list their pros and cons, so that you can independently decide what is best for you and where to fly, to Pattaya or Phuket.
Weather and climate in Pattaya and Phuket
If we talk about the weather, then Pattaya is confidently ahead of all other resorts in Thailand for this point.
In Pattaya, the weather is stable, the same all year round, with the exception of a short period of rains, which, however, do not interfere with rest even in the rainy season, as they go at night and for a short time.
In Pattaya, the whole year is +30 +35, in winter the temperature in the morning drops to +25.
There is no pronounced rainy season in Pattaya, you can go here to rest in any month. Most precipitation occurs in late October - early November.
The weather in Phuket can bring a lot of surprises to vacationers. Firstly, Phuket has a pronounced seasonality, like other islands in Thailand.
If it waits in Phuket, then it can pour like a bucket and several days in a row. For example, now, in the dry season, the same Koh Samui has been floating all day in the water, but it shouldn't be due to the season.
The most favorable months for a vacation in Phuket are from December to March, in the rest of the months, the weather is unpredictable, you can come on vacation and sit in your room all the time because of the rains.
Danger of earthquakes. Not later than yesterday, an earthquake hit Sumatra in Indonesia, there are injured and dead. It would seem, what does Phuket have to do with it?
Despite the fact that everything is close, in Phuket there were tremors of 3 points, a little, but unpleasant.
Remembering the 2004 tsunami in Phuket, you may or may not want to, but think about how safe it is to go there. I have a familiar family who died there during the tsunami.
Phuket or Pattaya - sea and beaches in Phuket and Pattaya
You don't need to be an expert here to say that the beaches and sea in Phuket will give Pattaya a hundred points ahead.
If you go overseas to Pattaya, then this is a big mistake. The sea in Pattaya is mediocre, the city beaches are yellow sand and the water is often muddy. Not always, of course, and not everywhere, but the azure sea with white sand in Pattaya can only be found on nearby islands like Koh Lan and on military beaches in the suburbs.
For example, now in Pattaya, even in the city limits, the sea is very clean and transparent, the beaches are clean. Because the weather, (no storms, cool), and also because work is constantly being done to improve.
Tons of new sand are brought to Jomtien and Beach Road, which is poured into the sea, to the beach, new palm trees are planted, the coastline is extended, in general, they are trying to at least not worsen what is.
There are more beaches in Phuket, the choice is wider, you can come and swim to any beach in Phuket.
In season, there are crowds of people on the beaches of Phuket, but due to the length of the coastline, everyone will find a secluded place for themselves. Phuket's most popular beach is Patong, not for introverts, of course,
but those who need peace and quiet should just stay in less crowded areas, further from the center.
If you have transport in Phuket, then you will have access to such good beaches as Freedom, Paradise, Three Trang Beach, if not, you can relax and swim in Patong.
Just don't go to Bangla Road, walk a few minutes to the side and get a free beach with clear water, shaded by palm trees and no obsessive vendors trying to sell something every five seconds.
The sea in Phuket is clean, there is almost no garbage in the sea, after all, this is an island that is washed from all sides, and even if they litter from ships and boats, everything floats safely back into the sea. But it happens that the sea begins to bloom algae, which can spoil the joy of swimming.
Both in Pattaya and Phuket, it makes sense to stay in a hotel with its own beach, so as not to waste precious time on trips and hikes to it.
So in terms of beaches, which is better than Phuket or Pattaya? Better Phuket.
In my opinion, the best hotels with a beach in Phuket are:
Kathathani phuket
The best hotels with a private beach in Pattaya are:
Also, for lovers of quiet rest and solitude flying to Pattaya, I would advise, if not for the whole vacation, then at least for a few days to stay on the island of Ko Lan, right on a good beach.
During the day, there are not many people there, and after 15, no one at all. You will be on your own, the sea and the sun.
How to get from the airport to Pattaya and Phuket
From Phuket airport it is cheaper and more convenient to order a transfer to the hotel you need via Kiwi-taxis, who will be met with a sign and will take you to the place for a fixed fee,
than catching local buses or trying to bargain with bombiles who overestimate their services at least twice.
The bus from the airport to Patong runs every two hours, if you arrive in the evening, this option is not available, since the last one leaves at 17 hours.
Early in the morning or in the afternoon, you can try to go by bus to Phuket town for 100 baht, and then with a change on a tuk-tuk. This method is not very suitable for beginners, since you can not wait for the right one,
confuse stops, get lost and stretch the pleasure after the flight for long hours.
It is much easier to get from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya. The distance from Bangkok airport to Pattaya is 120-150 km, (depending on the area where you are going), you can get to the bus station in Pattaya for 120 baht.
The disadvantage of this method is that upon arrival, especially during the season, it turns out that all tickets for the next flights are sold out and the next bus will have to wait for several hours.
This option is not suitable for families with children, those who have had a difficult flight with transfers and the elderly.
I do not recommend ordering a taxi at the airport, it is expensive. The most profitable option Kiwi taxi... We ourselves get from Pattaya to Bangkok airport and back, if necessary.
A simple form of ordering and payment, you do not need to pay anything in advance, discounts are often made, they wait, they are greeted with a sign.
Here is a review about Kiwi Taxi from our reader:
"Good morning! We arrived yesterday. The Kiwi taxi driver was waiting for us with a sign at the exit, which was written to us in advance in the confirmation receipt. The car is comfortable. We got to our destination perfectly)) the driver asked us to take a photo for review, we did not mind)) Katerina, thank you for your work in collecting and writing useful information!) "
Phuket or Pattaya - prices for tours from Russia
And then Phuket loses to Pattaya. In most cases, the price of a tour to Phuket is more expensive than that to Pattaya.
How to save on insurance?
Overseas insurance is needed. Any admission is very expensive and the only way not to pay out of pocket is to choose an insurance policy in advance. For many years we have been making out on the site, which give the best prices for insurance and the selection together with registration takes only a couple of minutes.
High-quality excursions in Phuket and low prices can be found on the websites and
