With hotels to suit any budget, inexpensive transport, loads of cheap shopping and dining options, and free and low-cost activities, you can make your money go a long way in Pattaya.
That’s only true, though, if you know things like how to find the best hotel deals, where to get the best exchange rates, and where to eat cheaply.
If you’re looking for how to get more baht for your money and make your baht go further in Pattaya, here (below) are some tips to help you. You might also find this first-time visitor guide to Pattaya useful if you’re planning your first trip.
- Go to Pattaya by bus: From Bangkok City or the airports, getting to Pattaya by bus costs as much as 1000 baht less than by taxi.
- Use Bolt: Ride-booking apps, especially Bolt, are much cheaper than meter taxis to, from, and around Pattaya.
- Get around by baht bus: At 10 baht per ride, the only way to get around Pattaya cheaper is on foot.
- Compare exchange rates: TT currency booths generally offer the best exchange rates in Pattaya, but that’s not guaranteed. If you save the TT website to your phone, you can compare their rates against other exchange services.
- Change high denomination notes: Many exchange booths in Pattaya give you a better rate for large notes, such as 100 USD, 50 GBP, etc.
- Decline currency conversion: When you use a foreign bank card to withdraw money from ATMs in Pattaya, the ATM usually offers you its currency conversion rate. You should decline and continue without conversion so that your bank does the conversion at a better rate.
- Avoid ATM fees: ATMs charge 220 baht per withdrawal when you use a foreign card to withdraw money in Pattaya. You can minimize the cost by withdrawing large amounts rather than multiple small amounts.
- Use dating apps: For whatever reason you want to connect with singles in Pattaya, using dating apps is a cheap and convenient way to find them.
- Stay at cheap apartments: If you’re staying for a month or more, you can find apartments for rent for less than 10,000 baht per month. It’s best to search in the side streets around Soi Buakhao and 3rd Road, where you can walk just a few meters from one to the next.
- Don’t use agents: Using agents is handy, sometimes essential, but if you qualify and can apply for your visa/extension, get a Thai driving license, open a Thai bank account, etc, yourself, it’s much cheaper.
- Get discounts at restaurants: Eatigo and similar sites offer discounts of up to 50 percent at selected restaurants in Pattaya.
- Eat Thai food: Whether it’s from roadside vendors, in restaurants and food courts, or at the increasingly popular street food markets, sampling Thai food is a must and costs a fraction of the price of Western food.
- Get cheap entry tickets: Using sites like Klook and Get Your Guide you buy tickets to attractions in Pattaya cheaper than the price you pay on entry.
- Get a Thai SIM card: Buying a Thai SIM card works out much cheaper than using roaming.
- Don’t leave tips: Although it’s nice to tip for good service, you don’t have to. Also, watch out for restaurants and other establishments that include a service charge.
- Haggle the price: At markets and some malls such as Thepprasit Night Market, Soi Buakhao Market, the Night Bazaar, and Mike’s Mall, where they sell things other than food, you can haggle the price and get substantial discounts. Just beware though, that much of the stuff is not original.
- Don’t buy from hawkers: It’s up to you, of course, but be aware that whatever they’re selling you can probably get for a third of the price at local markets and bric-a-brac stores.
- Stay at a guest friendly hotel: If you would like to invite someone to your hotel room without having to pay joiner fees, stay at guest friendly hotels in Pattaya.