Overall, Pattaya is a safe place to visit when you know what might be dangerous and what you should avoid. There are some things that literally can trip you up, bite you in the bum, and catch you unaware.
While this page is dedicated to what’s especially dangerous or hazardous in Pattaya, there are many other hazards and dangers in Thailand that apply equally to Pattaya, including mosquitoes, falling coconuts, slippery tiles, etc.
The Motorcycle Highwaymen
Most of Pattaya’s resident expats are already painfully aware of one of the most notorious local crime trends—the motorcycle highwaymen. But, most first-time visitors to Pattaya are blissfully unaware of this unpleasant occurrence until they become victims themselves.
Pattaya’s motorcycle highwaymen are opportunist thieves who patrol the streets in search of people within reach and wearing or carrying valuables such as gold chains and loosely carried bags that can easily be snatched from the victim before making a speedy getaway, never to be seen again.
Some might say you would be very unlucky if it happened to you and that it’s something that rarely happens.
But hey, my mother was unlucky when her gold necklace was snatched while walking along Soi Nern Plubwan, and so was my wife when her bag was snatched off her shoulder while riding her motorcycle on Soi Khopai.
My wife’s niece was lucky that she wasn’t seriously injured after being kicked off her motorcycle on the Railway Road and having her bag snatched.
And none of them reported the incident to the police.
If you want to stay safe in Pattaya you can help yourself by not wearing gold and keeping yourself out of reach of passing motorcycles.
Mind Your Step
One of the worst things about Pattaya is the lack of footpaths, sidewalks, pavements, whatever you prefer to call them, and the poor condition of those that exist.
Where they exist, they are often cratered, uneven, collapsed, and subsided, and home to many temporary and permanent obstacles.
Soi Buakhao is one of the busiest roads in Pattaya for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, but aside from a few lengths here and there, it’s mainly unpaved.
It’s not only Soi Buakhao. Many streets (sois) in central Pattaya have no sidewalk, including Walking Street and the sois between Pattaya Beach Road and 2nd Road.
All you can do is mind your step and negotiate the sidewalks as best you can. But where there are none, so that you don’t get hit or potentially robbed from behind, you should always walk against the flow of traffic. At least if they don’t see you, you can see them.
Never Stop Looking Left and Right
When you use pedestrian crossings in Pattaya, don’t ever imagine for a single minute that all traffic will obey or see the red stop light.
It’s not that all drivers choose to disregard the stop signs. They are sometimes difficult to see amid the forests of advertisement hoardings, billboards, shop signs, and neon lights, all competing for attention.
Even when all traffic appears to be stopped, you should be wary of motorcyclists weaving through the traffic, as they do, without looking too far ahead and proceeding through the stop light.
Not So Ladylike Ladyboys
Ladyboys in Thailand can be glamorous, ultra-feminine, and charming; on the other hand, they can be desperate opportunist thieves. There have been many reported cases of tourists being mugged by ladyboys in Pattaya.
They usually operate in gangs, often flocking all over their victim in what might be best described as a molestation, touching, grabbing, stroking, and prodding their victims to distract them so that an accomplice can easily pick their pocket or even relieve them of their gold unnoticed.
In the worst-case scenarios, the ladyboys can become forceful and violent when rejected or faced with resistance.
The best way to avoid this kind of confrontation is to first try and avoid gangs of ladyboys late at night in unpopulated areas. When confronted, keep your valuables in your front pocket, keep a hand on them, and keep walking while politely refusing their advances.
Beware The Dogs
There are many soi dogs (street dogs) in Pattaya, including large packs. While they can sometimes be aggressive and territorial, especially late at night, they are mainly harmless.
The problem, when soi dogs in Pattaya are most dangerous, is when you are riding a motorcycle or bicycle and a dog charges out towards you, startling you and causing you to swerve into the center of the road.
They usually only chase you a short distance, probably within their territory. Coming to a quick stop or raising a foot like you are going to kick them will (usually) see them back off. Always try to avoid swerving into the road and possibly into oncoming vehicles.
Of course, there is also always the chance that you might hit a dog that runs into the road, causing you to fall. Nothing you can do about that except stay extra vigilant.
Safer Than Motorcycles
Renting a motorcycle or using motorcycle taxis is a cheap and convenient way to get around Pattaya. But, for not much more than the cost of a motorcycle taxi ride, you can choose the much safer option of using Bolt and Grab taxis.
For more information, read this guide to getting around Pattaya.
Safer Than Guys
What is equally convenient and safer than a taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok and other distant destinations? A taxi with a lady driver.
After a nightmare taxi ride to Pattaya some years ago, I decided that whenever possible, I would only use taxi services that have lady drivers.
I’m not saying you are more likely to have an accident or incident with a male driver, only that you will at least feel much safer with a lady driver.
Do The Safety Walk
One of the top tips for single men in Pattaya for the first time for the nightlife—walk away from trouble.
There are scenarios where a complaint leads to a disagreement, then onto an argument, and ultimately ends violently with the complaining foreign customer getting a beating off overzealous bouncers/security guards—thugs, in other words.
One such scenario is when a customer complains that his bar bill is incorrect. It might be that the bill has been padded, or not.
When your complaint or query is met with a stubborn insistence that you must pay, it’s not going to get much better than that. Just pay, leave, live to drink another day, and in a different bar.