If you’re worried that Pattaya is not a suitable place to take your children on a family vacation—that’s perfectly natural, given its reputation as a playground for adults.
But let me assure you, as an expat living in Pattaya for many years with my own children, Pattaya is perfectly okay for a family vacation.
I won’t tell you Pattaya is the best place in Thailand for a family vacation; that depends on what kind of experiences you’re looking for.
What I can tell you is that my own children were born, schooled, and entertained in Pattaya. So far, they have led perfectly normal lives.
They Say Don’t Visit Pattaya With Children
When you start a thread on a travel forum to ask if Pattaya is suitable for children, some of the more negative answers might be along the lines of “Who in their right mind would take their children to Pattaya!!”
The follow-up answers don’t paint a pretty picture of Pattaya either. They are quick to inform you that Pattaya is full of sex tourists and sex workers, and the only entertainment is the adult variety, consisting mainly of girlie bars where half-naked bar girls entertain lecherous old men.
Is Pattaya Really That Bad?
It’s true that Pattaya is still a playground for adults. There are many streets in Pattaya where most businesses are girlie bars. Naturally, most people worry about what they will see, or rather, what their kids will see.
On the surface, though, they are just bars that employ many girls to serve drinks to predominantly male customers, and apart from some bars with rude names, that’s all you will see.
You can avoid the nightlife zones and popular bar streets if you want to take the long way round, but there’s no need.
Where Not To Go With Kids
The only place you are likely to find embarrassingly underdressed girls on the street in Pattaya, which you should avoid with your children, is Soi 6.
Are Children Safe In Pattaya?
Pattaya is a big, bustling city; the perils and pitfalls are just the same as in any city.
This article on how to stay safe in Pattaya covers some of the hazards and dangers that everyone should be aware of.
Are Children Welcome In Pattaya?
Thai hospitality toward children is legendary. From my experience, If you visit Pattaya with young children, they will be pampered just about everywhere you go.
It’s not unusual for female restaurant staff to whisk them away and entertain them, which is a welcome relief sometimes. You will find that older children are treated respectfully, like they are young adults.
Don’t Take My Word For It
It’s several years ago now, but still relevant. I read some articles by travel bloggers who visited Pattaya for a vacation with their children.
They were apprehensive, not really knowing what to expect. If you’re interested, you can read their version of events and their thoughts on visiting Pattaya with kids by following the links to their articles within this article about travel bloggers vacationing in Pattaya with kids.
In another article, I asked an expat mum about life as an expat family, including why she and her family chose Pattaya and its pros and cons. You might find it especially insightful if you’re considering relocating to Pattaya.
2 Things That Make Pattaya Suitable For a Family Vacation
The two most outstanding things that make Pattaya suitable for a family vacation are the excellent child-friendly hotels and the number of family-friendly things to do.
There are several very popular child-friendly hotels in Pattaya, many of them located right on the beach. They boast children’s swimming pools, kids’ clubs, babysitting facilities, playgrounds, and even mini water amusement parks.
What’s Not Great
Although Pattaya has many beaches, some of which are pretty, except for Koh Lahn—they are not as suitable for children as the soft sandy beaches and shallow pristine water found on the islands near Pattaya and other beach destinations in Thailand.