If you are looking for your next family vacation, why not give Pattaya, Thailand a try. Odds are, you won’t regret it, especially if you aren’t looking for a beach getaway.
Pattaya is not known for its beaches, but there are so many other unique attractions that you can indulge in as a family and have tons of fun.
How suitable is Pattaya for families? Pattaya is extremely suitable for families. It has lots of fun touristy places and things you can do to make it not only fun for the adults but the kids as well. Some of the things that you can do are visit the Walking Street, Bottle Art Museum, Nong Nooch Gardens, Cartoon Network Amazone Water and Amusement Park, etc.
These are just some of the sightseeing places that Pattaya is known for. Apart from these, they have some wonderful resorts, extraordinary temples and museums, and even a floating market.
Sights not only you but your kids will enjoy seeing as well.
How Suitable is Pattaya For Families?
While it is true that Pattaya has a bit of a bad reputation for being an “adult-friendly” location, it is also very suitable for families with kids.
You just have to make sure that you take your kids to the right places. And Pattaya has an abundance of those.
I will suggest that you do plenty of research before you go so that there aren’t any surprises. Here’s a head start.
Accommodations in Pattaya
There are many reasonably priced resorts for you to choose from where you can spend your days with your family. Some resorts have family rooms that you can choose to stay at. These come with a room specifically for kids, equipped with toys and games the kids to enjoy.
Other accommodations have a mini waterpark within the resort; that way, you and your family can enjoy time together without even having to leave the resort.
Since Pattaya is not known for its beaches, having fantastic kid-friendly hotels is an attraction on its own.
Transportation in Pattaya
Getting around Pattaya is not too hard. There are plenty of ways to get from place-to-place; just choose what works best for you.
Walking
Depending on your location and the time of day you are going out, it may be easier to just walk to the nearby places as opposed to taking a taxi.
Pattaya’s streets start to get more crowded during the evening, and it gets harder to walk around with a stroller at that time. So, if you are planning a night out for dinner or movies, then you might want to opt for a taxi.
Shuttle
This is similar to public transportation. It’s a bus service that you can use to travel around Pattaya.
Most of the shuttles go to the major attraction, and it is a cheap way to get around, so if you have older kids that don’t need a stroller then this might be a good way to get around.
Taxis
This is possibly the best way to get around. Taxies are reasonably priced and readily available at every corner.
NOTE: These taxis are metered, so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re not getting into a cab without a meter.
Private Cars
These are similar to taxis and can be found outside nears your hotels. These cars are not metered, but they act as taxis.
The best use for this car is to hire them for long-distance sightseeing. You can negotiate a rate where they can take you, wait for you and bring you back.
This is the most convenient way to get a lot of sightseeing done with kids. Also, it is flexible, and you don’t have to wait for anyone. If you want to go somewhere else or if you want to make a stop in the middle for food or anything else, you can do so freely.
IMPORTANT TIP: Make sure that when you negotiate the rate, you tell the driver beforehand everything that you expect from the ride so that there are no surprises.
Eateries in and Around Pattaya
There are plenty of restaurants (and street food if you’re feeling adventurous) to choose from both Thai and other cuisines.
Depending on where and what you decide to eat, it can either be a little expensive, like around $10 per dish or about $5 per dish.
The choice is yours. Either way, you will get some delicious food.
In addition to the many places to eat, your hotel might have a restaurant or even room service that you can eat at if you’re looking to stay in.
ON A BUDGET TIP: You can find an array of yummy and fresh produce in the markets. You can always cook for yourself if your room has a kitchenette.
Things to Do
There are so many family-friendly things to do that will not only entertain you, but kids of any age will love these too.
Some of the must-see places in and around Pattaya are:
The Walking Street
This is a popular place to visit in the evenings. You can shop there, eat there and – you guessed it- walk around.
The only thing is that this place is hustling and bustling during the evening hours into the wee hours of the morning. Give the kids a late nap before you go!
TIP: If you go to the street during the daytime, there is hardly anything open, so this is more for the nighttime.
Bottle Art Museum
This marvelous museum takes “ship in a bottle” art to a whole new level. This museum displays 300+ miniature pieces of architecture from around the world.
This is a must-see not only for the kids who will be amazed at how they got these structures into the bottle in the first place but it also something that you as an adult will enjoy.
Nong Nooch Gardens
I want to say that this is like a Central Park in Pattaya, but it would not do it justice. This is a park that has a world of entertainment within it.
It has an elephant show and elephant rides. There are cultural shows, a petting zoo where you can feed the animals, a butterfly garden, pedal boats, gardens, restaurants, and more.
It is about 600 acres of land that you need at least 4 to 5 hours to cover. Fear not, there is a free bus service inside the gardens to take you where you want to go this way you don’t get tired walking around.
Cartoon Network Amazone Water and Amusement Park
Pattaya also has a water park that is themed after the cartoon characters on the Cartoon Network.
There are 10 themed zones that, together, host about 150 water slides. There is also a small area for toddlers and babies with a wave pool, a lazy river, and a playground.
The Sanctuary of Truth
Another amazing work of art is this temple in Pattaya. The temple is made up of wood carvings that were started some 35 years ago and are still being carved to this day.
It is just an amazing sight to see all the intricate details. So, a must-see if you have the time.
Underwater World
Another fun place for the kids to enjoy is this aquarium, which contains about 3000 fish.
It is like you are walking underwater. The glass tunnels give you a clear view of all the different sea life they have in the aquarium.
They also have a different area where the kids can touch different fish and also feed fish. So, that might be something fun for them to do as well.
Floating Market
If you haven’t seen one of these before, it might be something fun to see. The kids will definitely get a kick out of it since all of the vendors are selling from their boats!
PERSONAL NOTE: To be honest, the items for sale can be a little expensive since the vendors know they are selling items to tourists. But, nonetheless a fun thing for your kids to see.
In Conclusion
Pattaya is a great place to visit as a family. There are so many things you can do as a family, and there are things that can cater to kids of all ages.
Above are just some of the things I have listed, but truly there is so much more in Pattaya that each of you will find something that you love.
Of course, if you love the beach, then Pattaya might not be the right place for you, but don’t knock it just yet.
There are other places to the north of Pattaya, about 40 minutes away from central Pattaya, where you can go spend the day at the beach if you so choose.
Check out this post about Thailand to get more information on this amazing country.
So, make sure to give Pattaya a try when planning your next family visit, and I assure you, you won’t be sorry.
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