How is Pattaya right now?
Pleasantly busy at the Lovely bar on Beach road and alcohol on the table
What is it like in Pattaya right now? That depends on where exactly and through which glasses you look. For example, if you walk or drive through Soi Buakhao, you will notice little change.
Okay, it's a bit quieter than average, but that's hardly noticeable. However, walking into Soi New Plaza, a well-known bar street, will make you sad at the sight; desolate and everything is closed. In short, you see big differences, depending on where you stay.
Last Friday evening it was pleasantly busy on Beach Road. It was the last weekend of the Pattaya music festival. A number of bars were open and, despite the ban, plenty of alcohol was served. Live music was even played in a side street, keeping a distance of 1,5 meters.
It was noticed earlier that the expats in Soi Buakhao were already drinking beer in the afternoon. Anyone who reads the local news will see that occasionally some police enter a bar and summon everyone to go outside. Probably the owner has no connections or has not paid his tea money?
Chonburi Blue zone
Today it was announced that Chonburi province is going from a Red zone to a Blue zone. The number of blue tourist zones will then increase from seven to eight: Chonburi, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phangnga and Phuket.
Alcohol may also be served throughout Thailand during the New Year celebrations. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day can be celebrated in style, also in Pattaya. For example with a delicious glass of champagne at midnight.
Hustle and bustle
Malls in Pattaya are busy. On the street too, try crossing the street on Second Road or Pattaya Klang Road. Okay, no hordes, Chinese, Indians and Russians, but are you really going to miss that?
Actually, Pattaya belongs to the Thai again. At the weekend, Pattaya fills up with Thai from Bangkok, who go away for a weekend. So many Thai and few tourists, but yes, you are in Thailand so what do you want?
And let's be honest Pattaya already had a surplus of bars before corona. Most had hardly any patronage. If two-thirds stay closed, there's still plenty left to keep you entertained. And they will be more fun.
As Johan already noted: 'Every disadvantage has its advantage!'
The Thai choose Bangsean and not Pattaya on weekends,
Our son's thriving tourist company in Pattaya is crying out for business, but the people are not there.
The tour drill costs a lot of port dues, maintenance and security.
There is no income. The crew and the girls from the office are deeply in the pit at home. Without income.
What a misery!
There was no longer a surplus of bars. The number of bars has sunk considerably over the years. Those who have known earlier times know better. If another two-thirds of it remains closed, it will be very poor. Whether or not that's more fun I'll leave for everyone's opinion. I still prefer some choice in bars and the possibility to sit somewhere comfortable.
yes it is,
Life before 3 to 4 years will never come back in Pattaya.
There was really a surplus of bars but they managed to survive.
As you yourself note, soi new plaza closed, strange but that is a real loss.
It was cozy and beer at 50 bath, will now go everywhere to 70 and 80 bath so are we so spoiled now ???
In the early 90s, there were fewer bars than just before the corona crisis. The big difference was that the visitors mainly consisted of pub tigers from Western countries. In recent years, especially people from China and India, and these people walked on the walking street, but did not sit at the bars. At that time the bars were mainly in The Strip (now walking street) and soi 2. And a few in soi 8. Soi 7 you did not enter when it got dark because that was dangerous. Only at the end of Beach road and at the end of second road there were some bars ( Polleke etc. ). Later, bars were added at the place where Central Festival now stands. Simon 1 in walking street was then Simon, a transvestite tent instead of bars. When I look at videos on youtube now, I don't recognize Pattaya anymore. Only at Tree Town there is still something to experience. Perhaps it would be wiser to go to Phuket.
Nice story above , but I am now in Pattaya and can tell you that you can cross the second road and beach road with your eyes closed , it is that quiet ! And the whole walking street area is dark, everything closed including the beer garden. Soi 6 also completely closed. Beach is open but quiet. Old Pattaya goers who cherished the nightlife have nothing to do in Pattaya at the moment. Incidentally, patpong, soi cowboy and nana plaza are also closed in Bangkok.
Let's meet somewhere and then you cross Second road with a blindfold. Tomorrow at 14.00:XNUMX PM?
Haha Peter I like that.
Let's meet at big c. Today I crossed it with closed eyes as a test ... without haste !
This is in the introduction:That depends on where exactly and through which glasses you look.
Indeed, if your glasses are a vibrant nightlife as before, then it will be a big disappointment. Especially when you consider that 80% of the companions have returned to the Isaan or other parts of Thailand.
But if you have the glasses of quietly drinking a beer and chatting with other expats, that is still fine.
Today I went to the cinema at Central Pattaya beach rd. When passing, the bars around were already quite filled with the well-known people present and apparently they were having fun as usual, although this was not visible on most faces. The beach chairs were also reasonably occupied. Traffic in the afternoon was also almost as it used to be during the week, with the exception of the lack of buses with tourists. Pattaya Gaang road was full of parked cars and motorbikes and parking is already a problem. The garage of Central mall was also well stocked. As the editors have already stated, in my opinion it is not recommended to cross the through roads with a blindfold on your eyes. Perhaps a chance of success deep into the night or early morning, but that's it.
Nana Plaza is partially open again. I was there four days ago. The gogos are closed, but the bars in the middle of the ground floor are open again.
I've been back for a few weeks from my holiday to Thailand, where I also visited Pattaya.
Unfortunately it was a bit too quiet for me and I soon left for elsewhere in Thailand, although it was still possible to drink a beer, the real fun was hard to find.
In itself there are plenty of opportunities in Thailand and there are certainly also places where I think it's better now than before, but the real old-fashioned nightlife is in the fridge for a while.
What struck me most was the attitude of the officials/police/customs, where they used to have a bad reputation, it is now the opposite and they work quickly and cooperatively. If there is a control somewhere, they look more for a reason to let you through instead of being difficult and difficult.
They may all have friends or family that depend on tourism, but I found this very enjoyable.