Know Pattaya before you arrive.

The islands near Pattaya, honestly compared

Koh Larn, Koh Si Chang, Koh Samet, Koh Chang and Koh Kood, honestly compared. Which island suits a half-day trip, which needs a weekend, and how to actually get to each one.

Pattaya with kids: what actually works

Pattaya has a reputation that puts families off and a genuinely good set of things to do with children. Here is which is which.

Live music and a night out that isn't Walking Street

Pattaya has a genuinely good live music scene, several rooftops, and a set of bars where the point is the room rather than the reputation.

How Pattaya became Pattaya

A fishing village, an American war, and sixty years of unplanned growth. The story explains almost everything about the city you see today.

Getting around Pattaya

Baht buses, ride-hailing, scooters and when to just walk. What each one is actually for, and the pricing trap that catches almost everyone.

Driving in Pattaya: scooters, cars and what can go wrong

Renting is easy, cheap and the single most common way visitors get into serious trouble here. What to check, what to refuse, and what to do after an accident.

What things cost in Pattaya, and the scams to know about

How the pricing actually works, where the real value is, and the handful of long-running scams that catch visitors every year.

Eating and drinking around Lake Mabprachan

Ten minutes inland from the beach, Pattaya's east side has quietly become the best place in the city to eat if you are not chasing a sea view.

Sponsored by Thai Business Help

Thai visas: what you need to know before and after you arrive

Entry rules are changing right now. Here is how the system actually works, what the categories are, and how to check the current position rather than trusting a number online.