You might feel a little concerned that Pattaya is not a good place to take your children for a holiday. Let me try and assure you, Pattaya is perfectly okay for children, I’m not going to tell you Pattaya is the best family holiday resort in Thailand, but I do have 12 years experience of family life in Pattaya. My children were born here, they are schooled here and entertained here, and so far they have led perfectly normal lives, as have thousands of other children raised in Pattaya. I wrote this post to address some of your concerns about visiting Pattaya with your children. I also added a handful of photos featuring my own children to highlight various attractions and activities for children in Pattaya.
They Say Don’t Visit Pattaya With Children
Start a thread on a travel forum, asking the question “is Pattaya suitable for children ?”, the first answer will most likely be something like “who in their right mind would take their children to Pattaya !!”. The follow up answers will tell you Pattaya is full of sex tourists and sex workers (aka bar girls), and the only entertainment is the adult variety, consisting of Go Go bars and girlie bars.
Is Pattaya’s Reputation Really That Bad ?
It’s true, Pattaya does have a bad reputation, Pattaya is still a “grownups playground”, but despite all this, Pattaya is quickly gaining a reputation as a family holiday resort. I don’t know how you envisage Pattaya, but believe me, girls are not masquerading naked in the street, Go-Go bars and girlie bars are not compulsory, not everyone you see on the street is a sex tourist, and single male tourists don’t have “sex tourist” tattooed on their forehead.
Are Children Safe In Pattaya ?.
Pattaya is a big bustling city, the perils and pitfalls are just the same as in any city. Don’t worry, there are no nasty men waiting to snatch your child away from you.
Are Children Welcome In Pattaya.
Thai hospitality towards children is legendary, I can tell you from my own experience that if you have children under 3 years old the Thais will adore them. Female restaurant staff love to whisk them away and entertain them. On the beach or even in the shopping mall people will want have their photo taken with your child. You will find that older children are treated respectfully, and are very much considered to be a adult.
Child Friendly Hotels In Pattaya
What about a resort on the beach, with it’s own water park and a kids club, is that child friendly enough for you ?. There really is a good selection of child friendly hotels in Pattaya, many of them located right on the beach, with children’s swimming pools, kids clubs, babysitting facilities and playgrounds.
Numerous tourist attractions in the Pattaya area provide children’s activities.
There are several water slides, a large children’s swimming pool, and an amusement park within the grounds of Pattaya Park. There are also 2 new themed water parks in Pattaya.
There are 3 Go Kart tracks in Pattaya, all of which are suitable for children.
One of several children’s activities in Pattaya Central Festival Beach Shopping Mall.
Mario Land at Pattaya’s Festival Central Beach Mall, an amusement arcade for toddlers through to teenagers.
There are now 3 cinemas featuring 3D and motion effects, one in Central Festival Mall, and 2 in the Royal Garden Plaza.
Pattaya’s bowling alley’s are child friendly and inexpensive.
Don’t forget, Pattaya is a beach resort, you can wine and dine on the beach while the kids have fun.
The Royal Garden Plaza can boast a Ripleys Museum, Louis Tussauds Waxworks and 3D/4D Motion cinemas, and the Ripleys Sky Rider.
It might not be the healthiest food, but how many don’t like ice cream, McDonalds, Burger King or KFC.
A cheap day out at a children’s playground, like this one at Naklua.
More and more hotels and resorts in Pattaya are catering for children by providing children’s swimming pools, playgrounds and kids clubs, one hotel even has it’s own “water theme park”.
Pattaya Is Not Suitable For Children If..
- You want to sit on the beach all day: there are much nicer beach holiday destinations in Thailand.
- You are not prepared to travel between activities and attractions: Pattaya covers a large area, meaning you will need to get around by Baht Bus, taxi, motorcycle taxi or hire car to visit local attractions.
Click on the “Children” tag at the bottom of the page to see more attractions and activities suitable for children in Pattaya