Whether you’re single, a couple, a backpacker, or a luxury traveler, it’s always best to do a little homework before visiting Pattaya for the first time. And that applies especially when you are planning a group vacation in Pattaya. Not that it’s difficult to vacation in Pattaya as a group or family, but being a large group or family can certainly pose more problems than those faced by singles and couples.
A couple of possible problems large families and groups visiting Pattaya might face are the obvious ones of finding suitable accommodation, and an effective and cost-efficient way to commute around Pattaya as a group.
Of course, if you already have your own transport, getting around Pattaya will not be an issue, and to a large extent, having your own transport also gives you easy access to more affordable accommodation in areas of Pattaya which would otherwise be comparatively expensive or impractical to commute to and from using public transport.
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Accommodation for large families and groups in Pattaya
The one thing which makes choosing the best place to stay in Pattaya more difficult than anything else is the huge choice of all types of accommodation. Pattaya has everything from backpacker dorms to luxury 10-bedroom mansions capable of sleeping in excess of 20 people.
Fortunately, if you search for hotels in Pattaya on Agoda you can use filters to help you find the most suitable rooms at the cheapest prices and the best hotels for large families and groups in Pattaya. Review ratings are also helpful, and you can choose to read only the Pattaya hotel reviews by groups and families.
A group is a group, and a family is a family. And when you travel as a family or group that’s the way you like to keep it. Together, as a group. For smaller families with 1 or 2 children, there’s a pretty remarkable choice of family-friendly hotels in Pattaya with family rooms and suites.
Villas and houses for groups and families in Pattaya
You may have to forfeit some of the benefits of a typical hotel, like room service, daily cleaning, and on-site restaurant, and you will also most likely have to pay for the electricity you use. But the perks of hiring a vacation home or villa include total privacy, and in most cases, you’ll have a swimming pool all to yourself. Most importantly, you are together, free to do what you like, when you like.
Rent a Pattaya vacation home or villa close to the baht bus route: Being close to the baht bus route means you don’t have to worry about transport. There’s not a great choice of rental homes and villas in downtown Pattaya, but it is possible to find them.
The best way to get around Pattaya for large families and groups
A Motorcycle taxi (excluding Thais, who often squeeze on 4 or 5) can carry one passenger. A taxi can carry three passengers. A baht bus can comfortably accommodate ten large adults, plus 1 in the front seat next to the driver if that seat is empty. And at just 10 baht per person on most fixed routes, a baht bus is easily the best way to get around Pattaya on a budget.
Pattaya Baht Bus Routes: Pattaya’s baht bus service operates around the clock, although they do become more scarce late at night through to early morning. There is a baht bus route map and more detailed information on how to use them, including how to charter a baht bus in Pattaya, in this article about Getting Around Pattaya.
Pattaya hotels with shuttle services: If you choose a hotel a little outside of the baht bus routes, try and find one which offers a free shuttle service. Hotel shuttle services usually operate on a daily schedule, and drop you off and collect you from a central location in downtown Pattaya, but you may find some hotels also offer a shuttle service as and when required, a little more like a taxi service.
Best areas to stay in Pattaya for groups and large families
This is really a matter of choice and necessity. Your need for convenient transport necessitates that you stay within easy walking distance of the baht bus routes. But your own preference might be to choose a quieter location such as Jomtien, Pratumnak, Naklua, and Wongamat. Those locations are all covered by the baht bus routes but to a lesser extent than central (downtown) Pattaya.
There’s a better choice of vacation homes and villas in Pratumnak: Commonly referred to as “The Hill,” the Pratumnak area between South Pattaya and Jomtien has many more vacation homes and villas than downtown Pattaya. If you can find one close to the Pratumnak or Thappraya roads, you can still easily commute to Pattaya or Jomtien by baht bus.
There are more things to do in central Pattaya: It may be more difficult to find villas or other accommodations capable of sleeping large groups and families in downtown Pattaya, but if you can, you really have the best of everything.
Come rain or shine; you will never be bored in downtown Pattaya. There are some popular attractions like Art in Paradise and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, just a short baht bus ride away. Then there are group and family activities such as Pattaya cinemas, tenpin bowling, and activities for children in Pattaya’s shopping malls.
Family friendly hotels in downtown Pattaya: Even in downtown Pattaya, there are more family-friendly hotels, resorts, guest houses, and residences than I could mention here. For a little more guidance, read this article about family friendly hotels in Pattaya.
Family and group activities in Pattaya
Some things are definitely more fun as a group, whether it’s for team-building exercises, a little friendly competition, trying something new and daring, or just having a fun day out as a group.
Here’s a list of fun activities for groups in Pattaya.
- Visiting islands near Pattaya
- Have a game of football
- Have a paintball war
- Go kart racing
- Lazer tag
- ATV and off-road motorcycle adventures
- Ten-pin bowling
- Play crazy golf
- Go to Ramayana Water Park or Columbia Pictures Aquaverse
When you are a large family or group on vacation in Pattaya is when you benefit most from buying cheap tickets to attractions in Pattaya.
Pattaya group and family vacation tips
- Consider a vacation home or villa
- Try and choose accommodation close to the baht bus routes
- If booking multiple rooms or family suites, request that they are connecting rooms or at least next door to each other
- Choose a hotel with a free shuttle service