Which is better to choose Pattaya or Phuket: a comparative review of resorts. Pattaya or Phuket: which is better? Where is better Pattaya or Phuket

Let's figure out which resort in Thailand is better - Pattaya or Phuket. We compare the sea, beaches, excursions, prices and reviews of tourists about Phuket and Pattaya - 2020 to understand where it is good to go on vacation on your own or on a last-minute tour.

Where are these resorts located?

Pattaya and Phuket on the map of Thailand:

Which resort to choose in Thailand:

• Phuket: holidays with children, swimming, beach holidays;
• Pattaya: excursions and attractions, entertainment, fun.

The main argument of Pattaya supporters is “Phuket gets boring after a few days.” But this is an individual opinion: whether it will be boring or fun depends only on your needs.

Below in the article we will compare all aspects of holidays at these resorts in Thailand so that you can decide for yourself where it is better to go - to Phuket or Pattaya.

At the end of the article you will find a comparative table of the advantages of each resort, which will help you make the right choice.

Pattaya or Phuket: where is the weather better?

When choosing Phuket or Pattaya for a holiday in Thailand, it is worth having an idea of ​​the climate in these regions of the country.

Holidays in Phuket

It is better to relax in Phuket from mid-November to April-May - at this time there is no rain, strong winds and waves on the sea, the water is clear, and the beaches are best suited for swimming. It is about vacations during this period that tourists leave the most enthusiastic reviews about Phuket.

The rest of the time (May-October), the rainy season lasts in Phuket: the sky is often cloudy and gray, there are waves on the sea, and the water can be cloudy. It rains often, but mainly in the evenings and at night.

Holidays in Pattaya

In Pattaya good season The period from early November to mid-May is also considered for recreation. But the rainy season in this part of Thailand is weak, so you can relax comfortably in Pattaya both in summer and autumn. Moreover, due to geographical location there are never big waves in Pattaya.

Read more about the climate and holiday seasons here:

Thus, if good weather is important to you, you should go to Phuket or Pattaya in the following months:

• Phuket: early November – mid-May
• Pattaya: all year (but better - from November to the end of May)

Phuket or Pattaya: where is the sea better?

If the purpose of your trip to Thailand is swimming and beach holidays, Phuket will be preferable to Pattaya. If you are going on vacation with small children, you shouldn’t even consider the option of Pattaya - the sea and beaches there are much worse, and you definitely shouldn’t go to those with a child.

Sea in Phuket

During the holiday season, the sea in Phuket is clean, with clear azure and blue water; excellent photographs are taken on the shore. The bottom is clearly visible at great depths, the entry into the water on popular beaches is gentle: you can swim and relax even with small children. The cleanliness of the sea is also indicated by the presence of representatives of the animal world - crabs, lizards, small fish.

Video of the sea at Patong Beach in Phuket (November):

Sea in Pattaya

In Pattaya the sea is much worse than in Phuket. There is often debris in the water; it is cloudy and green in color. Almost no one swims within the city limits; for this, tourists go to the beaches in the vicinity of the city or to neighboring islands - and this will require spending time and money.

The sea in Pattaya is not so terrible that swimming in it is dangerous or prohibited, but such swimming will bring much less pleasure than in Phuket.

Video of sea and water in Pattaya:

Which is better: the beaches of Phuket or Pattaya

In our opinion, the beaches in Phuket are generally better suited for relaxation than the beaches in Pattaya - they are more beautiful and cleaner, but not so rich in clubs, bars and other entertainment.

One of the main advantages of Phuket beaches over Pattaya beaches is also the proximity of the sea: to get to nice beach in Phuket you need to go 200-400 meters from the hotel, and in Pattaya you will have to drive at least an hour.

Beaches of Phuket

Phuket has over 20 beaches, all located on the western side of the island. The beaches are different, you can find the one that suits you.

There is the popular and party Patong - generally similar to Pattaya, but on a smaller scale. There are many bars and discos there, there is even its own equivalent of the depraved Walking Street - here it is called Bangla Road. Patong has many hotels, restaurants and entertainment for those who love fun.

There are quiet and beautiful beaches without tourists and hotels, where you can admire the aquamarine water and natural beauty - these are Tri Trang, Nai Harn, Freedom, Mai Khao.

Finally, there are good beaches Karon, Kata and Kamala - something between the developed Patong and a quiet deserted coast. It is not as noisy and crowded as Patong, but it is beautiful, clean and has all the infrastructure necessary for recreation.

Panorama of Karon Beach in Phuket in low season, September (click on one of the arrows if the picture is not visible):

Pattaya beaches

There are also many beaches in Pattaya, but the best of them are those that are located further from the city center - for example, Jomtien. However, even Jomtien does not suit many tourists - not everyone swims there.

Panorama of the central beach of Pattaya (Pattaya beach) in the season - December (click on the arrow if the photo is not visible):

Other beaches within the city are usually even worse. Judging by the reviews of tourists, many people like to watch sunsets on the beaches of Pattaya, but for swimming and beach holidays, tourists prefer to go out of town or to the nearest islands - for example, Koh Larn or Koh Samet.

On the islands the sea is quite clean, there are beaches with good sand and no garbage. The only negative is that you need to spend at least an hour and 50-100 baht to get to the island.

The best beach in the vicinity of Pattaya is Military Beach. It is located 30 kilometers south of the city; getting there by moped or car is still more convenient than sailing to the island of Koh Larn. Military beach is valued for its cleanliness, good sand, clean sea - all this is quite a rarity for Pattaya. Entrance to the beach is paid (100 baht = 190 rubles), and on weekends many tourists and locals gather there to relax.

There is also a good beach, Nong Ram - it is located a little further, and some tourists like it even better than Military Beach.

Entertainment in Thailand

Which is better in terms of entertainment - Phuket or Pattaya?

Pattaya has more good bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Of course, they are also found in Phuket, but not in such large quantities. In addition, prices for food and entertainment in Pattaya are lower.

Pattaya is known as the "city of depravity" thanks to its Walking Street. At the same time, in Phuket there is a similar street (on Patong Beach) - Bangla Road. There, anyone can find everything the same as on Walking Street in Pattaya.

Sights and excursions

It is believed that Pattaya is better than Phuket in terms of culture: There are more attractions there, and excursions are more varied.

Indeed, in Pattaya itself and its surroundings there are many attractions, and getting to them is easier: after all, Pattaya is a city, and Phuket is an entire island. In addition, from Pattaya it is easy to get to other cultural places in Thailand - for example, to Bangkok or ancient Ayutthaya.

Pattaya's attractions include beautiful park complexes (Nong Nooch Garden is especially worth noting), monasteries, and zoos.

There is also something to see in Phuket, but there are not many attractions, and to get to them you need to rent a moped or take an expensive taxi (prices start from 800 rubles per train). Excursions in Phuket are mainly by sea - to neighboring islands or to the province of Krabi.

Our maps will help you navigate the sights of Thailand:

Shopping centers and shopping

In terms of shopping and shopping, Pattaya beats Phuket: There are many large shopping centers in the city, and if necessary, you can go to Bangkok, which will satisfy the needs of any shopaholic.

Prices for trips to Pattaya are a little more expensive - from 62,000-70,000 rubles for two people (7 nights). For this price you can go, for example, to a popular hotel (breakfast included).

Are you planning to fly on a tour? The material Prices for all-inclusive tours to Thailand - 2020 will be useful to you, where we analyzed the cost of tours to different categories of hotels (3, 4, 5 stars) and to different resorts in the country (Phuket, Pattaya, Samui).

Last minute tours to Thailand: Pattaya or Phuket

In 2020, last-minute tours to both Pattaya and Phuket are often among the trips to Thailand. It is convenient to search for such tours through special search engines that compare the price of tours from all tour operators - for example or.

The cost of last-minute tours to Phuket starts from 34,000-39,000 rubles for two people (7 nights).

Last minute tours to Pattaya can be cheaper - we came across options for 30,000 rubles for two.

Transport at resorts

According to reviews from many travelers, transport in Phuket is more expensive than in Pattaya and not as convenient.

Buses and minibuses

Minibuses (songthaews) run around Pattaya around the clock, the ticket for which costs only 10 baht (19 rubles). You can get to almost any part of the city by songthaew.

In Phuket, minibuses operate only on the “beach – Phuket town” route; a ticket costs 30 baht. That is, to get to the neighboring beach by public transport, you need to go through the center of the island - this is long and inconvenient.

Taxi

Taxis in Phuket are generally the most expensive in Thailand: even for a short trip to a nearby beach, the driver will charge you 400-500 baht (800-1000 rubles). In Pattaya, the price of boarding a taxi is 30-40 baht (60-80 rubles), plus 6 baht (12 rubles) for each kilometer.

Where is it cheaper to travel on your own?

If you are traveling to Phuket or Pattaya on your own, the choice of resort may be affected by the cost of the flight from Russia.

In 2020, the difference in airfare prices is negligible, but you will most likely be able to get to Pattaya cheaper.

Flight to Phuket

Unlike Pattaya, Phuket can be reached by direct flight from Russia. Aeroflot tickets cost from 26,800 rubles in summer and autumn, at other times of the year the price rises to 28,000-30,000 rubles.

To get from the airport to your hotel or beach you need to spend another 120-180 baht for a minibus/bus or 700-800 baht for a taxi.

Read about the cost of flights to Phuket and prices for travel from the airport here:

Calendar with prices for flights to Phuket:

Flight to Pattaya

There is U-Tapao Airport 32 kilometers from Pattaya, but planes neither from Russia nor from Bangkok fly there. So, to get to Pattaya, you need to fly to Bangkok and then take a bus or taxi.

For the car.

Calendar with prices for flights to Bangkok:

Phuket or Pattaya: which is safer?

Experienced travelers claim that Phuket is safer than Pattaya.

In Pattaya, thefts and muggings (for example, bags being cut off and wallets being stolen) are more common, especially in the center. The city has both completely safe areas and those where it can be dangerous in the evening. The darker the place, the higher the risk of running into scammers and pickpockets.

Phuket is quieter and calmer, there are much fewer security problems there: although thefts do occur, they are much less common than in Pattaya.

At the same time, if in Thailand you behave adequately and not provocatively, the likelihood of getting into an unpleasant situation in both Phuket and Pattaya is extremely small. Just watch your bags and belongings more carefully, and don’t conflict with the locals.

Pattaya or Phuket: which is better to choose for a holiday?

So that you can decide where to go on holiday in Thailand, we have made a convenient table with the advantages of each resort.

Which is better in Phuket or Pattaya:

If you are traveling to Thailand with small children, it is definitely better to choose Phuket. In other cases, the decision will depend on your preferences: for parties and excursions you should go to Pattaya, for a beach holiday and clear sea - to Phuket.

Video: what is better to choose from Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui:

Supporters of Pattaya, explaining their choice, claim that in Phuket you can get bored here after just three or four days. However, the concept of “boring” is different for everyone and their needs for entertainment are individual.

• Phuket is a family holiday, swimming with children, a good beach;
• Pattaya has a huge selection of show programs, excursions, interesting places and opportunities for partying.

We offer you to compare all the vacation options at these resorts in the popular Asian country. This information will help you make your own decision about where to go.

Where is the climate better: Phuket or Pattaya?

The weather conditions in these regions have some differences, so tourists who want to choose the perfect vacation should take these features into account. It is recommended to fly to Phuket from the second half of November to May, because given time free from rain, strong winds and strong waves. The beaches are good for swimming. Despite this, tourists who did not listen to these recommendations and flew during the off-season leave rather neutral reviews about their vacation. That is, you can also relax during the rainy season, but you need to be prepared for cloudy skies, muddy water and the rains that fall here in the evening and at night.

Climate in Thailand

The favorable season for a holiday in Pattaya is the period from the beginning of the last autumn month to the end of spring. Rainy season in this region is not so pronounced, so you can get a comfortable stay here both in summer and in autumn period. In addition, due to its geographical location, large waves never come to Pattaya. That is, for those who care comfortable weather, it is better to purchase tours during the following period:

• Phuket: late autumn - mid-May;
• Pattaya: all year round, but the most best time from late autumn to late spring.

Where is the best sea in Thailand: Phuket or Pattaya?

Reviews from tourists claim that for those who go to Thailand to swim and relax on the beach, Phuket will be the best option. Especially if you are going on vacation with the whole family, with children. It is better not to go to Pattaya with small children, since the quality of the sea and beaches there is much worse.

During the period suitable for relaxation, the sea in Phuket is characterized by cleanliness, high transparency of the water and azure sea; you can take magnificent photos on the shore. The bottom is clearly visible to great depths, and it is very convenient to enter the water. You can even swim here with kids. The cleanliness of the sea can also be confirmed by marine life that does not live in polluted water.

Travelers who leave their reviews note that in Pattaya the sea is noticeably worse than in Phuket. Often there is debris in the water, it is disturbed and has a green tint. It is better not to swim within the city at all, so tourists prefer to go to beaches in the city surroundings or to neighboring islands, and such trips require spending money and time. Of course, the Pattaya sea is not dangerous, but there will be little pleasure from swimming.

Which beaches in Thailand should you choose: Phuket or Pattaya?

Numerous reviews from travelers indicate that the beaches in Phuket are better suited for relaxation than the beaches of Pattaya in terms of cleanliness and aesthetics. However, there are not many clubs, bars and other entertainment on the beaches, so even last-minute tours will not attract those who want to have good fun. The key advantage of Phuket beaches is their close location to the sea; to get to a comfortable beach in Phuket, you will have to walk several hundred meters from the hotel, and in Pattaya you need to drive at least an hour.

Phuket offers its guests over 20 beaches, which are located in the western part of the island. The beaches have differences, you can find the option that is best suited for a particular tourist. There are noisy beaches, and there are quiet and cozy places where there are no hotels and practically no tourists. It is on these beaches that typical photos of Thai resorts are obtained, which can be admired on the Internet.

Pattaya is ready to offer many beaches to its tourists, but it is better to choose those that are located away from the central part of the city. For example, Jomtien.

Reviews from tourists claim that there are great photos of sunsets here, but there are also excellent places for swimming and beach holidays. The best place to visit in Thailand is Military Beach, which is located 30 km south of the city.

Where is the best place to have fun in Thailand?

Which is better in terms of entertainment - Pattaya or Phuket? Those who go to have fun in bars, restaurants and nightclubs choose hot tours to Pattaya. These establishments are also available in Phuket, but there are much fewer of them. In addition, prices for entertainment and food are lower in Pattaya. Pattaya has the reputation of a city of debauchery, but Phuket also has similar “entertainment”.

Judging by the cultural program, Pattaya is richer than Phuket. There are more attractions and more varied excursions here. In addition, getting to interesting places in Pattaya is easier because it is a city, and Phuket is an island, so all the key points are located in the distance. In addition, Pattaya has easy access to other cultural sites in Thailand. Pattaya is famous for its beautiful parks, monasteries, and zoos.

To get to the attractions of Phuket, you need to rent a moped or pay for a taxi, the prices of which are very high. Excursions are usually boat trips. If you purchase last-minute tours, analyze how your vacation will be more interesting. And choose a direction according to your goals.

Shopping in Thailand: where is better shopping - Pattaya or Phuket?

Shopping and shopping in Pattaya is better. The city has a huge number of large shopping centers, where there is a huge selection of goods and favorable prices. But if this is not enough, you can go to Bangkok. In general, shopping tours to Thailand are very popular. Last minute trips are often purchased during the sales season. Phuket does not offer such wide shopping opportunities. There are a number of shopping centers on the island, but the range is somewhat narrower than in Pattaya.

Prices in Thailand: where is it cheaper - Pattaya or Phuket?

Prices in Phuket are usually twice as high as in Pattaya. This applies to food in restaurants, products at the market, as well as transport. But the prices of hotel rooms are almost the same. In the off-season, the cost of living is usually reduced. The accommodation receives grateful reviews on RoomGuru and Hotellook. These sites will help you find best options. Food prices in Pattaya are more affordable than on the island. Food sold on the street in Pattaya costs approximately one and a half times less.

We offer some useful tips for those who want to eat inexpensively and tasty at Thai resorts. Inexpensive food is sold in restaurants in shopping complexes, where they sell Eastern and Western cuisine. You can also get a cheap snack at the night markets. Prices for fruits in Thailand depend on the time of year. For some fruits, the season is summer and autumn, while others ripen in spring and winter. Seasonality significantly affects prices. Some fruits ripen here all year round, so prices do not depend on the season.

Tours to Pattaya are more expensive than to the island. You can also relax in Thailand by purchasing last-minute tours, which are convenient to search using special search engines.

Last minute tours to the city of Pattaya will cost less than to Phuket.

When planning a holiday in Thailand, tourists usually choose between Phuket and Pattaya. These two resorts are the most popular and visited, but there is a difference between them, which is expressed in literally everything, from the beaches to the price level and comfort. In this article we will compare which is better – Pattaya or Phuket, based on reviews from tourists who visited both resorts.

Location of Pattaya and Phuket

Conditions for recreation at resorts in different time Years may differ because their geographic locations are different. Phuket is the southern province and the largest island of the same name, subordinate to the Kingdom of Thailand. It is washed by the Andaman Sea of ​​the Indian Ocean, which is why winds and storms often blow here. The island has no land borders and is connected to the mainland by three bridges.

Pattaya is a populous city with developed infrastructure. Located on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 165 km from the multimillion-dollar capital - Bangkok. Beaches occupy most of the coastal strip; tourists are offered over 250 hotels, water parks, a zoo and many attractions.

Location of resorts on the map of Thailand

Video “Which is better: Pattaya or Phuket?”

This video presents comparative analysis resorts one of the tourists.

Comparative review of Pattaya and Phuket

Tourists planning a holiday in exotic country, you’ve probably heard that the island is boring and expensive, and Pattaya is noisy and dirty. Is it so? Let's conduct an objective comparison of resorts according to several main criteria.

Climate and weather

As in any tropical country, there is a rainy season here, lasting from late May to October. On the island it is more pronounced - throughout the entire period the sky is overcast, the waves are raging on the sea, and the water becomes cloudy. Heavy rains occur mainly in the evening and at night.

On the mainland the rainy season is less pronounced, bad weather practically never happens, so you can relax all year. Moreover, due to its location in the bay, there are no big waves or storms in Pattaya.

Another feature of resorts is humidity. In Pattaya it is higher. The climate on the island is drier, the air temperature from November to May stays at +28…+32 °C. On the mainland, the temperature is always a couple of degrees lower; in winter it drops to +20 °C.

Public transport

Transport infrastructure is well developed only in Pattaya. Rickshaws - motorcycle taxis with benches inside the body - run from one area of ​​the city to another. They travel quickly and are inexpensive - only 10 baht, and by paying a little extra you can arrange for the passenger to be taken along the route he needs.

On the island, such “minibuses” only go from the hotel to the beach and cost 30 baht, so the only available transport here is a taxi, which is expensive. Even for a trip to the beach, a taxi driver will require 300-400 baht, whereas in Pattaya such a trip will cost 30-40 baht.

Sea and beach holidays

The sea at the island resort is clean, the water is sky blue, and you can see colorful fish in it. There are picturesque coral reefs around the island, so snorkeling and diving are the main activities here.

The beaches of Phuket, and there are more than 20 of them, are clean and cultivated, with a gentle entry into the water, located close to the hotels. The sand is fine and almost white, which is important for children's recreation.

In Pattaya, the beaches are crowded and dirty. The water is muddy and garbage often floats in it, so visitors here only sunbathe or watch sunsets. It is impossible to be alone; there are tourists and traders everywhere. The central beaches are lined with paid umbrellas and sunbeds, and noise is everywhere.

Prices for housing and food

Price levels for housing, food and street food also differ. Find an inexpensive restaurant or cafe on the island - a big problem, whereas in Pattaya such establishments are within walking distance and lunch for 1 person will cost 70-100 baht. Street food on the beach (meat or fish kebab on a stick) costs 10 baht here, but on the island you need to pay 25-40 baht for it.

Fruit prices differ by 1.5-2 times. In Patong, mangoes are sold for 200 baht, fruit slices for 120 baht, and local fruit shakes for 80 baht. In Pattaya, prices are several times lower, and besides, everything can be bought at large markets or in supermarkets. If we compare housing prices, they are almost the same, but depend on seasonality - they rise in winter, and decline in summer.

Hotels and rentals

When purchasing a tour, travelers usually stay in hotels. The cost of rooms and apartments depends on the level of comfort (star rating) of the hotel. In Pattaya it is 500-800 baht/day, on the island – 400-700 baht/night.

Renting apartments in Pattaya is not widespread due to the distance from the beaches, but their cost is low - $15-18/day. The most convenient option for travelers is guest houses of different price categories. A good room costs $50-75, an average category room costs $22-25, and a cheap room with spartan conditions costs $8-13.

For a family holiday you can rent a villa. Such housing is much more comfortable and inexpensive – $50-60 per day.

Entertainment and excursions

For excursions and entertainment, it is better to go to Pattaya. The city has many temples, national parks, a zoo and interesting tourist attractions: a floating market, an elephant village. From here you can go to Bangkok or the village of Ayutthaya - the ancient capital of the Kingdom.

Nightlife lovers should visit Walking Street. This street is completely filled with nightclubs, bars and restaurants. Here you can buy souvenirs, try local cuisine and watch an exotic show. In Phuket, entertainment includes sea excursions, diving, visits to local temples and observation decks.

Shopping centers and shopping

It is also recommended to go to Pattaya for shopping. The city amazes with the abundance of shops and shopping centers that do not close even at night. Here you can buy everything from souvenirs to expensive clothes from famous brands. The largest centers in Pattaya: Royal Garden Plaza, Central Festival, Mike Shopping Mall. There are fewer large stores on the island, and they are located only in Patong and Phuket-town.

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

Pattaya or Phuket - which is better?

No one will give you a definite answer to this question. Because everything depends on the person and his interests. My opinion is that you can have a wonderful holiday in both Pattaya and Phuket, no matter what anyone says about these destinations. PTT also has a beach holiday on the island of Koh Larn, 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 going to if you prefer a relaxing holiday by the sea. So, to go from 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 lush vegetation, and to get to a normal beach, you will have to go through a difficult journey. But all shops, daytime and evening entertainment will always be within walking distance.

It is also believed that Pattaya is cheaper than Phuket, not only in terms of vouchers, but also in terms of prices in stores and markets. But in reality this is not true. In Phuket, prices for goods and food are the same as in Pattaya. Well, if you don’t buy food and fruit in stores near the sea, but move a little deeper into the area, the prices there will already be adequate. Only tours and air tickets are more expensive. Tickets to Bangkok are cheaper by about 3-5 thousand rubles.

Comparison of Pattaya and Phuket

Convenience of getting there

To get to Pattaya, you must first fly to Bangkok and then take a bus or taxi into the city. Travel time is one and a half hours. 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 come with a package, the transfer will be included in the price. For independent travelers, the following links will be useful:

Hotels

I won’t say 100%, but it seemed to me that Phuket hotels are a little better. My personal opinion. Of course, there are very bad guest houses there, but in PTT there are luxurious 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, 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 are disdainful. During the tourist season, from November to March, the sea is even less clear and clear water, but in the off-season, from May to September, the beach and sea in PTT are very dirty. To swim in clean water you will have to go to the neighboring island (Koh 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 ocean beaches. During the low season there may be waves, causing the water to become more cloudy. Phuket is definitely better 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


But it’s so dirty on the beaches of Pattaya in the off-season. Swimming 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 transvestites, and much more. What is Volkin Street worth? Phuket also has all these entertainments, there are also several transvestite shows (Aphrodite, Sim Niramit), a zoo, a butterfly garden, Buddhist temples and so on. But perhaps there is a little less entertainment for children.

Walking street Pattaya. Bangla Road looks about the same, only wider

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article

Excursions

Travel agencies in PTT offer a variety of excursions, show programs, visits to temples, the zoo, Ayurveda shops and factories. From PTT you can easily travel 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, as well as trips to the Phi Phi Islands, James Bond, Similans, elephant riding, waterfalls, artificial rafting, ATVs, boat trips, diving and snorkeling, various shows of transvestites, elephants and shows for adults. You can take a 2-3 day excursion to and.

Please note that 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 Zoo Kheo 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. There are minibuses (songthaews) running along almost all the streets of the city, which for some reason are called tuk-tuks by locals. The fare is only 10 baht. Most minibuses operate 24 hours a day. It will not be difficult to get to any part of the city.

In Phuket, transport is also fine, 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 journey will take time, especially to remote beaches such as Nai Harn or Mai Khao. Secondly, due to this, buses are more expensive - on average 30-40 baht. Thirdly, they do not go as often as in PTT. And fourthly, buses only operate 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. They go often and are cheap


Commemorative photo in front of a pink people transport truck in Phuket

Long term rental housing

Information for those who want to live in Thailand for a month or more. In both resorts you can easily find a decent condominium apartment on the beach. In both places 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 from the beginning high season The cost of renting housing near the beaches increases sharply, almost doubling. In the 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. This is the peculiarity.

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

Product 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’ve been living here for 5 months now, and most groceries in supermarkets like Tesco, Big C, 7-Eleven cost exactly the same as anywhere else in Thailand. Down to the penny. Also, there is no significant difference in prices in the markets and in makashnitsa. High prices are always where there are a lot of tourists. But as soon as you move a little away from the tourist center, you will already be able to see the usual Thai price tags. Don’t be guided by mangoes on the beach; these same mangoes will cost 2 times cheaper at the market on the third street from the sea.

• - example of a market with inflated prices for tourists
• - example of prices in markets for locals
• - review of Thai food courts where two people can eat for 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 regard. In 2004, a tsunami in Phuket killed hundreds of people. Thailand now has a tsunami warning system in place, and authorities say they will never allow such casualties again.

Safety

In general, everywhere in Thailand is quite safe. However, according to statistics, Pattaya has the greatest concentration of any unscrupulous public. Since people from all over Thailand, Laos, Burma and Cambodia come to PTT to work, including from the poorest provinces. We recommend staying away from transvestites, they can distract you, and at this time they can quietly reach into your pockets/bags and take out all your valuables. During the 4 months of living in PTT, we had one case when money was taken out in a minibus.

Cleanliness and comfort

Pattaya is considerably inferior in terms of cleanliness of beaches and tourist areas. The city itself is even less clean during the high tourist season, but in the low season a lot of garbage appears on the embankment, on the beach and in the water.

The photo shows the promenade 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 gave preference to Phuket.

Public opinion has inspired us that Pattaya is dirty, a garbage dump, it stinks everywhere, there are rats and cockroaches everywhere, and there are more trannies and prostitutes on the streets of the city than tourists. Then life happened in such a way 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 of sewage, but these streets are usually far from tourist places. Every city in Thailand has streets like this. There are also not as many Thai women and “men” of easy virtue as expected; separate streets are allocated for them, where you can rarely get there.

As for the island of Phuket, before we always thought that it was insanely expensive, and there was nothing to see there except for sea excursions... A few months ago we came to live on Phuket. Now, with full responsibility, I declare to you that all this is nonsense! Prices here are exactly the same as anywhere else in Thailand, there is public transport and excursions by land and water are no less varied.

So, if you have already been to Phuket and don’t know where to go, then don’t listen to anyone, but rather visit Pattaya yourself. Check from 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 “take a chance” to see something new and boldly 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 Patayka, see the dirty sea and dirty city beaches, and then begin to write bile reviews about their holiday in Pattaya, tell shocking facts to friends and colleagues, and claim that the whole of Thailand is like this, 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, 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 those living there, several trips to Koh Larn to swim are enough. You can swim in Pattaya itself, there is nothing dangerous about it, just the sea can be very dirty.

To avoid disappointment in Pattaya, keep in mind when choosing a trip that this is not a beach resort.

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

Is that all sorts of interesting things are located further from each other, since the island is huge, as I already said, the journey takes time. For example, you can get from Karon to Wat Chalong by bus in about 25 minutes, but the road to distant beaches, like , can take about 2 hours due to traffic jams and waiting for the bus at the transfer.

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 is your favorite place?

Updated: 09/16/2019

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 clear answer. On the other hand, you can get maximum pleasure from your holiday in Thailand only if you make the right choice between Pattaya and Phuket, taking into account exactly your ideas about holiday. The article presents a large comparison of Phuket and Pattaya according to the most important parameters that will allow you not to make mistakes 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. Using the links in the content, you can 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 in its own way for comparison and can quite unexpectedly become decisive in the process of choosing Pattaya or Phuket as the optimal holiday destination.

THE CONTENT OF THE ARTICLE (you can click on the link for a quick transition)

Phuket or Pattaya – where the climate and ecology are better

When choosing between Phuket and Pattaya, you need to know about the climate in these Thai resorts. Both the island of Phuket and Pattaya are located in the tropics, so there is no winter there in the usual sense. Thailand is a country of eternal summer, but not everything is so simple. The main thing that distinguishes Pattaya and Phuket is their varying degrees of pronounced seasonality. Due to the location of the 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 in Thailand (like many other countries located in the tropics) there is a rainy season. Often, when this phrase is mentioned, the imagination immediately draws the following picture: streams of rain pour from the sky all day and night, due to which visibility on the street is only a few meters, and there is no question 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 weather is of utmost importance to you, you should remember that the rainy season in Pattaya and Phuket are different.

Stormy muddy sea and rain are a common occurrence during the rainy season in Phuket

Without exaggeration, Pattaya can 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, rain in Pattaya is very rare - 2-3 times a month, and the rain lasts no more than an hour, and more often - 20-30 minutes. During the rainy season in Pattaya (May to October) there is usually rainfall 1-2 times a week. At the same time, such 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 periodic cloudiness in the sky (which will not prevent you from getting sunburned, if you don’t know).

Unlike Pattaya, in Phuket it rains periodically even during the dry season (usually no more than 1-2 times a week), but during the rainy season precipitation 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 tell you that they had a wonderful vacation in Phuket during the rainy season and during the two weeks of their vacation there was precipitation only a couple of times - an hour a day. Yes, it may not rain every day. Yes, it can rain after sunset or at night and not interfere with your rest at all. But the opposite situation may also occur, when the rain in Phuket lasts for several days and your vacation at this time will be ruined.

Pattaya Central Beach during short-term precipitation(low season)

In addition, it is very important to know that during the rainy season, red flags may be posted on Phuket beaches prohibiting entry into the sea due to high waves. Muddy seas, partly overcast clouds and a high risk of prolonged rain are all obvious disadvantages of Phuket compared to Pattaya, where such a situation is almost completely excluded. 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 sea conditions and weather on the tropical island of Phuket in real time using. best selection which are also presented on the site and are constantly updated with new cameras.

If we talk about whether Phuket or Pattaya is better in terms of environmental conditions, then the island is somewhat better with this than Pattaya. And the air in Phuket near the beach villages will always be somewhat cleaner than in the city of Pattaya with more transport and residents, but with less vegetation. The disadvantage of Pattaya is the unpleasant odors from the city sewer manholes, which every now and then reach your nose while walking along the city streets. In Phuket (near some beaches), small muddy rivers, which also resemble sewage drains and during heavy rains easily reach the sea, are somewhat frustrating.

Phuket or Pattaya - where the sea and beaches are better

In this matter, Phuket beats Pattaya, but with some reservations. Firstly, if we're talking about about the high season on the island. And secondly, if for comparison we take only the sea and beaches located directly within the city limits of Pattaya. After the end of the rainy season, the sea in Phuket becomes calm and transparent, and its rich blue color is pleasing to the eye and looks great in photographs. Phuket has many more beaches than Pattaya, although the most popular are only a few, 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 a holiday with children in Phuket more comfortable. The beaches in Phuket are wider than in Pattaya, so even on the most popular ones you can find areas where no one will disturb 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 during 4 trips to Pattaya I never dared to swim there. On other Pattaya beaches (and there are seven of them in the city (see) the situation is better, but there is no need to talk about ideal transparency, although the water is cleaner than in many Russian resorts. The sand on the beaches of Pattaya has a yellowish tint and a larger fraction. With 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.You can see photos and videos of Pattaya beaches in a separate article (link above).

And if we take into account coral island Koh Larn, which is located just a few kilometers from Pattaya and can be easily reached by ferry for only 30 TBH ($0.85), during the rainy season Pattaya generally looks preferable in terms of sea and beaches. You can find this link and also find out which beaches on the island are better not to choose due to the mass recreation of noisy Chinese tourists. During my last trip to Thailand, I vacationed (and collected information for the site) at several resorts both in the Gulf of Thailand and on the Andaman Sea, but most of all I liked the color of the water and transparency on one of the beaches of Koh Larn island near Pattaya (see photo below).

I am writing all this so that beach lovers are not afraid to go to Pattaya, having heard enough stories about dirty beaches and muddy water. If you don't mind the 45-minute ferry ride to the island and back, a beach holiday in Pattaya will be great. In answer to the question: “Pattaya or Phuket – where are the better beaches?” — we can also add that on most beaches in Pattaya and on the island of Koh Larn there are 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 prohibited 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 better in Phuket than in Pattaya (again in the case of high season on the island). And active water activities are present in both resorts in sufficient quantities.

Pattaya or Phuket – where air tickets are cheaper

According to this indicator, Pattaya almost always beats Phuket. If we are talking about flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg, air tickets to Bangkok (namely, it is easier and cheaper to fly to the capital’s airport on vacation to Pattaya) cost about 2-3 thousand Russian rubles less than air tickets to Phuket. 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. In fairness, I want to note that we are talking about the average price. During special offers from airlines flying from many major cities, the difference in the cost of air tickets to Phuket and Bangkok may not be so noticeable (for example, 5-10%).

Let me remind you that it is better to look for the best price on air tickets not on airline websites, but using a metasearch that scans all airlines and leading air ticket sales agencies at once, so that all experienced travelers can always purchase air tickets at the best price at the time of search. The search form 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 read 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 your 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 are overnight, allowing you to save on hotel costs). Bus tickets can be ordered and even paid in advance using a reputable service for searching all types (link to the Russian 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 travel cost. When it comes to travel time, Phuket has a slight advantage. The international airport is located directly on the island (in the northern part), so the journey to the popular beaches on the western shore takes from half an hour to an hour (45 minutes on average), depending on the transport you choose and the specific beach. When it comes to traveling to Pattaya from Bangkok Airport (which is located just 110 km from the resort) and connected by an expressway, the travel time takes approximately 1.5-2 hours (also depending on the mode of transport).

Thus, we can conclude that the road from your city to your 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 Suvarnabhumi Airport. 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 when searching for flights to Phuket, you will probably 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 (about 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 trip by small bus 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 price difference is enough for public transport in Pattaya.

Local transport in Phuket and Pattaya - comparison

During a holiday at any resort, the issue of mobility is quite acute. After all, very few people spend their entire vacation on hotel grounds (unless we are talking about Turkey and Egypt with all-inclusive hotels). So where is the best local transport - Phuket or Pattaya? This is the first point in this large comparison of resorts, where Pattaya wins an undeniable victory. To get from one end of the resort to the other, for example from north to south, you will only need 30 baht (less than $1) in most cases. And to travel a fairly impressive part of the resort without a transfer you need only 10 baht.

Transport in Pattaya - tuk tuk or songthaew for 10 baht

Patatya's transport system is so simple and convenient that to use it you only need to remember a few routes and transfer points. You can read more about this in the article, which will help you save a lot of time and money during your vacation. Even with the additional use of taxis and motorcycle taxis in Pattaya, your costs for moving from point A to point B within the resort are only in rare cases will exceed 100-150 baht. To visit Koh Larn, you just need to get to the pier (in the very center of the resort) and buy your own ferry ticket (30 baht) or speedboat ticket (150 baht for a round trip ticket, including a free drink on board).

But 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 protected by Chinese mafia), there is no public transport between the beaches of Phuket. For tourists, this means one thing: you must either use public songthaew buses for 30 baht to get from your beach to Phuket Town ( administrative center islands), and from there use similar 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 there and back, which requires another 60 baht and a lot of time - the most valuable resource during a holiday in Thailand.

Transport in Phuket - expensive tuk-tuk taxi

Of course, you can use a taxi to travel to nearby beaches. But due to the lack of competition from cheap public transport, local taxi drivers have long lost their conscience and demand 300-400 baht one way for a 5-7 minute trip. And despite the statements of the Thai authorities to finally restore order in this matter and a little “rein in” taxi drivers, 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 there from a local travel agency. As a result, it is much more profitable to rent a car for the duration of your holiday in Phuket or for several days during which you are planning a busy excursion program. It is most profitable to do this right at the island’s airport, but in Phuket Town and on popular beaches you can also find places with inexpensive rentals. The estimated cost of renting a car per day is $25-$30 for a small 4-seater car with air conditioning, an automatic transmission (which is important when the driver’s seat is located on the right) and insurance against theft and damage to the car. Those. for the specified amount, comparable in price to a 20-minute taxi ride, you get a completely different degree of freedom for the 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 select the best available option for your dates from a dozen reputable rental offices.

Hotels in Pattaya and Phuket – where are better and cheaper

During any independent travel Living expenses usually make up about 30% of the vacation budget. And the share of these costs increases 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 more expensive than Pattaya in many ways, and hotels in this comparison are no exception. On average, Phuket hotels cost about 15-20% more than similar hotels in Pattaya. But in this situation it cannot be said that Phuket is definitely losing. Nice hotels V good location(near the sea or near places of entertainment - whatever you like) can be found both there and there. Both resorts feature hotels from a chain of global hotel chains (Hilton, InterContinental, Marriott, etc.) and independent hotels.

Proper 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 allow you to choose 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 active nightlife, and luxury five-star hotels with their own territory on the first line from the sea (there are more of these in Phuket than in Pattaya). Also distinctive feature The most expensive hotels in Phuket are that many of them involve accommodation in detached bungalows, often located on hillsides surrounded by manicured bushes and palm trees. Such hotels are not cheap, but the view from the rooms is worth it.

In Pattaya, most hotels, even of the highest class, are classic multi-story buildings with areas of varying sizes or without them at all. For lovers of panoramic pools with sea views, I can tell you that you can find these in both 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 should definitely stay for at least a couple of days during your vacation in the city (especially if you want to please your significant other or just impress her ). By the way, you can see the pool of this hotel using one of the Pattaya webcams overlooking the sea.

Food in hotels is approximately 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 multi-course meals in general are not developed. Typically only breakfast is included in the room rate. 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 in reality there are very few of them), I advise you to look at the selection by clicking on the link.

Pattaya or Phuket - comparison of prices 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 relaxation. When 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 a more than twofold difference. I'll bring you simplest example. If you eat in Pattaya from mobile street stalls (makashnits), then the cost of a chicken skewers on a 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 - skewers. 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 require a lot of searching, especially during the high tourist season in Phuket (usually the lowest prices are at night markets). And there is such a difference in price for almost all goods. Pancakes with bananas or mango (pancakes) 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 fruit, not only from street vendors, but also in large stores (Big C and Tesco Lotus).

The service sector is not lagging behind traders. In Phuket, compared to Pattaya, you will overpay one and a half to two times for Thai massage (classical, foot massage, oil massage and other types), for hairdresser services, for motorbike rental (both for daily rental and long-term rental ), for motorcycle taxi services (the “appetites” of taxi drivers have already been mentioned above), for going to the cinema, for active water activities on the beach (banana, parasailing, jet ski, etc.) – listing everything would take too much time. The conclusion is this: in terms of the cost of a holiday at the resort, Phuket is completely inferior to Pattaya in all respects.

Price of massage in Phuket. Off the beach 100 baht cheaper, but still 1.5 times more expensive than Pattaya

By the way, for those who are interested: close communication with local (more precisely, with those working in Phuket) Thai girls in Phuket will also cost about 1.5 times more. That is why many tourists come to the island with Thai women, previously “rented” for a long time in Pattaya. A very popular question is: “Pattaya or Phuket – where is better shopping?” The answer can be this: approximately the same level, but in Pattaya, of course, everything is cheaper. In addition, from Pattaya it is easy to get to Bangkok, where shopping is the best in all of Thailand (and possibly in all of Southeast Asia).

Pattaya or Phuket – where are the best attractions?

Another important point and another clear victory for Pattaya over Phuket. Almost all the attractions of Phuket can be listed on the fingers of one hand. In addition to natural attractions (observation platforms, waterfalls and neighboring islands), in Phuket you can only note the Old Town (there are colorful streets left over from Europeans in Portuguese and Dutch style), several old temples and a statue of the Big Buddha (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 a show with elephants and snakes. But all this is present in Pattaya, so you can “put it out of the equation.”

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. Due to the location of Phuket in the southern part of the country, there are no 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 in most cases consists of visiting natural attractions (thermal springs, rocks, lakes). The journey from Phuket to Bangkok by bus takes approximately 12 hours, and cheap flights are not always available.

Temple of Truth in Pattaya - one of the most beautiful buildings in Thailand

But Pattaya is good for both one-day excursions and slightly longer ones. From Pattaya it is customary to take excursions to the tiger zoo in Sri Racha, the interesting Khao Kheow Open Zoo, and 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 also visit the largest in the world, which you can spend a whole day on, the Erawan Museum, the floating market in Bangkok, Chinese and Indian quarters, observation decks on the tallest skyscrapers in Thailand, etc.

From Pattaya, 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 are popular. Finally, choosing Pattaya as a holiday destination allows you to easily get to the islands of Koh Chang and Koh Samet, as well as take an excursion to the neighboring country of Cambodia with its amazing Angkor Wat temple. To be fair, it can be noted that from Phuket it is more convenient and faster to get to Samui and Krabi, but from Pattaya it is not too difficult to do this given the availability of 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 tours of similar duration to the island of Phuket (when staying in a hotel of the same category, flying on 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) also costs more not only for independent travelers, but also for tour operators). Such a difference in prices is most clearly noticeable when choosing hotels in Phuket located close to the coastline.

Pattaya or Phuket - 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 package has the chance to do this at minimal cost, it can be argued that tours to Phuket and Pattaya cost approximately the same. The difference of about $50 for a ten-day tour, which can be either in favor of Pattaya or in favor of Phuket - depending on the chosen departure day - can not be included in the calculation. For those who don’t know yet: it’s better to look for the best prices for ready-made tours to Thailand not on the websites of tour operators, but with the help of special services that accumulate all the hot offers in one place. By the way, last-minute trips in this case mean not only those that involve departure in the coming days, but those with departure within the entire next month and even beyond.

For example, the article contains several screenshots. I used it, which in 95% of cases finds the lowest prices for trips departing from Moscow. If you are interested in flying from another city in Russia, you can additionally check the prices in a competing service - sometimes there are better offers). The first and second screenshots show tours to Thailand (Phuket and Pattaya) with a stay of 10 nights and 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 do not show the lowest offers for Phuket or Pattaya, but those that meet the general conditions of comparison: 3-star hotels with a pool and breakfast.

Pattaya or Phuket - 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 approximately 35 thousand per person (about $550 per person at the current exchange rate). Moreover, 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 private pools in this resort. If a pool is not required, it’s 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 the 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, amenities and duration to both Phuket and Pattaya. But here it is important to remember that when vacationing in Phuket, your additional expenses will probably be higher than during a package holiday in Pattaya. After all, as has been repeatedly mentioned above in the text, in Phuket almost everything is 20-50% more expensive than in Pattaya.

Phuket or Pattaya – which is safer?

It is more correct to answer this question in terms of the main potential dangers that you may encounter while vacationing in the Land of Smiles. Over the past two years, I have been regularly reading crime chronicles at Thai resorts, so I can say that there is a chance to lose money and valuables in both Pattaya and Phuket. As a rule, thefts and robberies come first, and those responsible for such crimes are most often ladyboys (in both resorts) or guest workers from Burma (in Phuket). Typical victims of such crimes are inattentive tourists in crowded places (pickpocketing) or people walking alone while intoxicated at night (street robberies with possible beatings).

If we talk about general safety during vacation, then in Phuket there is a risk of becoming a victim of a reef current (see), receiving injuries and burns from dangerous jellyfish Indian Ocean while swimming in the sea (usually beaches are closed for swimming if there are such animals in the water). Also in Phuket, if an unfortunate combination of circumstances occurs, you can get injured when falling from a motorbike (every year in Phuket, several hundred tourists become victims of road accidents due to poor motorbike control skills and alcohol intoxication). Finally, Phuket is located in the Indian Ocean, which sometimes experiences destructive 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 creepy footage of bodies on the shore by searching for “tsunami in Thailand.”

Phuket or Pattaya - which is safer - Tsunami in Thailand 2004

If we talk about Pattaya, then there are no reef currents there at all, and there is also no danger of a tsunami. 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 place in 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, renting motorbikes here is not nearly as popular 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 that are common to all resorts.

Phuket or Pattaya – which is better?

The time has come to sum up this big comparison and determine which resort is better: Pattaya or Phuket. If you carefully read the article, you have probably already determined for yourself the basic criteria that this or that resort meets (or, on the contrary, does not meet). For those who prefer to immediately familiarize themselves with the conclusions, below are given brief recommendations, which resort is best for you based on the goals of your holiday in Thailand, and also highlights the main advantages and disadvantages of Pattaya and Phuket in comparison with each other.

Advantages of Phuket over Pattaya:

+ a large selection of excellent beaches within walking distance from your accommodation,
+ clean beautiful sea right at the resort (during high season),
+ availability of interesting sea excursions,
+ possibility of diving and snorkeling,
+ more greenery in the resort and a slightly better environmental situation.

Disadvantages of Phuket:

— weak excursion program;
— a minimum number of interesting attractions on the island and in the region in general;
- little sun, strong waves, rain and muddy water during low season;
— lack of cheap local transport and arrogant taxi drivers;
- almost all entertainment is on Patong Beach;
— noticeably higher prices for EVERYTHING compared to Pattaya.

Who should choose Phuket?

If beach holidays come first for you during your holiday in Thailand, i.e. the main thing for you is to have a good beach with clean water within walking distance from the hotel, then Phuket is your choice. True, you should be prepared for the fact that the vacation budget, due to the high cost of the resort, will be noticeably higher than when vacationing 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 when holidaying in Phuket will be limited. Also, during the low season, Phuket is perfect for surfing enthusiasts, because there are many special schools here, and in the fall international competitions in this sport are held.

Advantages of Pattaya over Phuket:

+ the cheapest resort in Thailand (a more eventful holiday at a lower budget);
+ year-round resort (no pronounced seasonality);
+ the best place for shopping (due to more low prices and proximity to Bangkok);
+ availability of attractions and interesting excursions at the resort and nearby;
+ cheap local transport
+ cheaper air tickets (when flying to Bangkok).

Disadvantages of Pattaya:

— lack of beaches with crystal clear water within the city limits;
— more hotels without their own territory;
- in many areas of the city - noisier than in Phuket (except for Patong Beach);
— the presence of unpleasant odors near sewer hatches (in the first days it can be annoying).

Who is better suited 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, getting to know the history and culture of Thailand and shopping (at the resort and in Bangkok) - Pattaya is your choice. Also, this resort is more suitable for single men who want to find exotic adventures during their vacation. A beach holiday here can also be excellent, because the resort has many beaches that are easily and cheaply accessible from any part of Pattaya. And if you don’t want to put up with less than clear water on the city’s beaches, just 45 minutes from the resort there is the coral island of Koh Larn with white sand and crystal clear water. 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 holiday in Pattaya with children will be much more interesting for the latter, when they are old enough for excursions to amusement parks, water parks and zoos.

Perhaps someone, after carefully reading the entire article, noticed the lack of comparison of the tropical nature in Phuket and Pattaya. Therefore, in the end I would like to add that for real exoticism you need to go to other resorts in the country (for example, to the coconut island of Koh Samui). But if from your holiday in Thailand you want not only clean sea and white sand, and you are definitely planning to relax in Phuket or Pattaya, I advise you to go to neighboring resorts for at least a few days, which in terms of exotic nature and picturesque beaches are noticeably superior to both Pattaya and Phuket and are better suited for a romantic getaway (for example, for a wedding trips). While on holiday in Pattaya, I advise you to visit the island of Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand, and while on holiday in Phuket – the Phi Phi Islands in the Andaman Sea.

I hope that a large comparison of resorts has allowed all those who have not yet been to Thailand, but are planning 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?”- there can be no clear answer here. It all depends on the main goals of your vacation, the season and the available budget. In most cases, when choosing Pattaya or Phuket, you have to make some kind of compromise. And you can finally determine which is better for you specifically: Phuket or Pattaya - only by visiting both resorts yourself. I wish you a great holiday and bright positive emotions, regardless of which resort you ultimately choose - Pattaya or Phuket!

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