Where is better in Thailand: Pattaya or Phuket. Pattaya or Phuket? Which is better to choose? Phuket or Pattaya: which is safer?

Which is better - Pattaya or Phuket? This question is most often asked by tourists who fly to Thailand for the first time. And although there are no comrades according to taste, there are several objective factors that can be compared and thereby ease the pain of choice for beginners. So…

Where is the best place to relax?

One of the most important conditions is, of course, the sea. According to this parameter, the clear leader is Phuket. There is more greenery here, the coastal strip is wider, the sea is much cleaner, and the descent into it is gentler, which is an additional advantage if you come on vacation with small children.

In Pattaya, it’s more pleasant to just sunbathe on the beach, and it’s better to go into the sea to swim on a boat or boat. If you want to swim, it is advisable to go to nearby islands, for example, . The journey will take you 45 minutes and you will pay about 30 baht one way per passenger ( ). There are much more beaches in Phuket; you can choose secluded places. In Pattaya, everywhere is crowded.

Another important factor when deciding the question of Pattaya or Phuket: where is the best place to relax is the climate. Here Pattaya takes the lead. From November to April - during the dry season - it rains a maximum of twice a month, and even then, no more than half an hour. During the rainy season, precipitation occurs on average twice a week, although the sky is often overcast. In low season, Phuket often has large waves and dangerous undercurrents, so you need to keep an eye out for warning flags.

In terms of ecology, Phuket is better. Almost half of the resort here is occupied by forests, which improves air quality. There aren't even parks in Pattaya.

Pattaya or Phuket: which is better?

As for reviews on such parameters as attractions and prices, then it is better to choose Pattaya. Phuket is considered one of the most expensive resorts, and you will pay much more for accommodation here. There are also budget hotels, but you can rarely find them on the Internet, and you will have to walk a long way to the sea. There are practically no attractions in Phuket - just a few old temples and waterfalls. You will have to travel 12-14 hours or so to Bangkok and Ayutthaya.

When comparing entertainment, reviews are divided. At both resorts you can find something to do, but in Pattaya the prices are lower, but there is no snorkeling or fishing here. To do this, you will have to go to the islands, although even there the underwater world is much poorer than in the Andaman Sea.

Need to choose between Pattaya and Phuket? We will help you!

Inexperienced tourists traveling to Thailand for the first time are most often tormented by one problem: Pattaya or Phuket? What's better? Where will your vacation be spent as richly and interestingly as possible? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these popular resorts? In terms of popularity, they are real rivals, and in order to determine where it is better to go on vacation, it is worth comparing both places in three positions. Firstly, by the availability of convenient conditions for a beach holiday, secondly, by the financial costs of food, thirdly, by the availability and accessibility of various entertainment.

Where are the best beaches?

On the first point, Phuket can be called a real leader - this island, where summer reigns all year round, consists almost entirely of beaches, so a resort holiday here is ideal. In Pattaya there are fewer beaches and places for swimming and sunbathing, but there are a lot of tourists (mainly our compatriots). The only thing that this Thai resort can contrast with Phuket is the neighboring island of Koh Larn, connected to Pattaya by ferry, where there are several very cozy corners.

Estimating Potential Food Costs

If you plan a trip to Phuket or Pattaya, evaluating both resorts in terms of cost, then the latter is more profitable for tourists. Phuket forces its guests to fork out a fair amount, and this is not only because the number of tourists coming here every year is constantly growing, but also because many products are brought to the island, which is the resort, from the mainland. In general, food here will be about 10-25% more expensive than in Pattaya.

Availability of entertainment in Pattaya and Phuket

Which resort is better in terms of entertainment available to guests is quite easy to determine. Lovers of beautiful landscapes, untouched nature and relaxing beach time can go to Phuket - it’s both interesting and inexpensive. For those who appreciate vibrant nightlife and modern entertainment infrastructure, Pattaya is the place to be, offering everything from extensive shopping opportunities to adults-only pleasures. A variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs are also here.

Advantages of Pattaya resort

Comparing both resorts, one cannot help but say that there are no general evaluation standards, and each tourist makes a decision solely based on his own preferences. Pattaya has a number of advantages that are worth paying attention to. Firstly, it has an excellent climate, allowing swimming, sunbathing and water sports all year round, as well as excellent natural conditions. Secondly, these are affordable prices for accommodation, food, and entertainment, and everything is of the highest quality. Thirdly, the local population, accustomed to tourists and giving them the warmest welcome.

• good climate
• reasonable prices in hotels
• any entertainment
• the population is more familiar with Russians

What is remarkable about a holiday in Phuket?

The most important advantage of the Phuket resort is that it gives its guests a huge amount of impressions and positive emotions. Generous sun, gentle sea, inviting beaches, an abundance of fresh fruits - this is very close to what is called the heavenly pleasure of a vacation.

• opportunity to admire natural scenery
• more adapted to beach holidays
• relatively high cost of accommodation and food

To decide on a resort, let’s summarize

Pattaya. Its advantages are affordability, proximity to the old and new capitals of the kingdom and their attractions, a milder climate and lack of precipitation. And also - in an active nightlife and an abundance of shopping centers. Disadvantages are poor ecology, dirty sea and coast, crowded conditions, small number of beaches. Therefore, Pattaya is more suitable for young travelers, friendly groups, party people, strawberry lovers, as well as for people on a limited budget.

What awaits tourists on an island with picturesque landscapes? Cleaner coast and air, clear waters, forests, exciting underwater walks, fishing, snorkeling. There are more beaches in Phuket, they are cleaner and more diverse, and there are also much fewer vacationers here. Among the disadvantages of the resort are higher prices, a small number of attractions, and a lot of rain during the wet season. Therefore, a vacation here is recommended for family travelers with children, couples in love, lovers of a peaceful beach holiday and almost untouched nature. For those who do not crave a rich excursion program.

Which is better: Phuket or Pattaya? This question is one of the most popular among those who are going on vacation to Thailand and have not yet decided which of these two most popular resorts in the country is better to go to. The question is really important, but there is no clear answer. On the other hand, you can get maximum pleasure from your holiday in Thailand only if you make the right choice between Pattaya and Phuket, taking into account exactly your ideas about holiday. The article presents a large comparison of Phuket and Pattaya according to the most important parameters, which will allow you not to make mistakes and organize your best vacation in Thailand!

For ease of reading and a comprehensive understanding of which resort is best suited for you (Pattaya or Phuket), the most important characteristics are listed in separate paragraphs. Using the links in the content, you can quickly jump to the most important point for you and find out: Phuket or Pattaya will be better for you in this regard. But I still recommend reading (or at least viewing) other comparative characteristics: many parameters are interrelated, each of them is important in its own way for comparison and can quite unexpectedly become decisive in the process of choosing Pattaya or Phuket as the optimal holiday destination.

THE CONTENT OF THE ARTICLE (you can click on the link for a quick transition)

Phuket or Pattaya – where the climate and ecology are better

When choosing between Phuket and Pattaya, you need to know about the climate in these Thai resorts. Both the island of Phuket and Pattaya are located in the tropics, so there is no winter there in the usual sense. Thailand is a country of eternal summer, but not everything is so simple. The main thing that distinguishes Pattaya and Phuket is their varying degrees of pronounced seasonality. Due to the location of the resorts in the waters of different seas and even different oceans (see), there are significant differences in the weather at the resorts at different times of the year.

Surely many have already heard that in Thailand (like many other countries located in the tropics) there is a rainy season. Often, when this phrase is mentioned, the imagination immediately draws the following picture: streams of rain pour from the sky all day and night, due to which visibility on the street is only a few meters, and there is no question of a beach holiday at this time. If we talk about Thailand, then in reality, a similar picture can be observed in the northern regions of the country (see), but in Phuket and Pattaya everything is much better. But if weather is of utmost importance to you, you should remember that the rainy season in Pattaya and Phuket are different.

Stormy muddy sea and rain are a common occurrence during the rainy season in Phuket

Without exaggeration, Pattaya can be called a resort with the best climate in Thailand, because in fact it is a year-round resort. During the dry season, which lasts from November to April, rain in Pattaya is very rare - 2-3 times a month, and the rain lasts no more than an hour, and more often - 20-30 minutes. During the rainy season in Pattaya (May to October) there is usually rainfall 1-2 times a week. At the same time, such short-term rain almost does not interfere with rest (although a couple of times a year some areas of Pattaya can be flooded for several hours) and brings freshness. And the only drawback of the weather at this time in Pattaya is periodic cloudiness in the sky (which will not prevent you from getting sunburned, if you don’t know).

Unlike Pattaya, in Phuket it rains periodically even during the dry season (usually no more than 1-2 times a week), but during the rainy season precipitation can fall daily and last from an hour to several hours. Of course, the weather is unpredictable. Therefore, do not think that someone is deceiving you when they tell you that they had a wonderful vacation in Phuket during the rainy season and during the two weeks of their vacation there was precipitation only a couple of times - an hour a day. Yes, it may not rain every day. Yes, it can rain after sunset or at night and not interfere with your rest at all. But the opposite situation may also occur, when the rain in Phuket lasts for several days and your vacation at this time will be ruined.

Pattaya Central Beach during short periods of rain (low season)

In addition, it is very important to know that during the rainy season, red flags may be posted on Phuket beaches prohibiting entry into the sea due to high waves. Muddy seas, partly overcast clouds and a high risk of prolonged rain are all obvious disadvantages of Phuket compared to Pattaya, where such a situation is almost completely excluded. Of course, if a beach holiday in Thailand is the main thing for which you are planning to visit this country. will allow you to see the weather at this resort in the Gulf of Thailand, and you can always see the state of the sea and the weather on the tropical island of Phuket in real time using, the best selection of which is also presented on the site and is constantly updated with new cameras.

If we talk about whether Phuket or Pattaya is better in terms of environmental conditions, then the island is somewhat better with this than Pattaya. And the air in Phuket near the beach villages will always be somewhat cleaner than in the city of Pattaya with more transport and residents, but with less vegetation. The disadvantage of Pattaya is the unpleasant odors from the city sewer manholes, which every now and then reach your nose while walking along the city streets. In Phuket (in the area of ​​some beaches), small muddy rivers, which also resemble sewage drains and during heavy rains easily reach the sea, are somewhat frustrating.

Phuket or Pattaya - where the sea and beaches are better

In this matter, Phuket beats Pattaya, but with some reservations. Firstly, if we are talking about the high season on the island. And secondly, if for comparison we take only the sea and beaches located directly within the city limits of Pattaya. After the end of the rainy season, the sea in Phuket becomes calm and transparent, and its rich blue color is pleasing to the eye and looks great in photographs. Phuket has many more beaches than Pattaya, although the most popular are only a few, mainly in the western part of the island. At the same time, there are many beaches with a gentle entrance to the water and soft white sand, which makes a holiday with children in Phuket more comfortable. The beaches in Phuket are wider than in Pattaya, so even on the most popular ones you can find areas where no one will disturb you.

Karon Beach in Phuket - view of the southern part in sunny weather (high season)

In Pattaya, the beaches are not so good. The central beach is very noisy and dirty. Suffice it to say that during 4 trips to Pattaya I never dared to swim there. On other Pattaya beaches (and there are seven of them in the city (see) the situation is better, but there is no need to talk about ideal transparency, although the water is cleaner than in many Russian resorts. The sand on the beaches of Pattaya has a yellowish tint and a larger fraction. With on the other hand, during the rainy season (which I wrote about in the previous section), Pattaya beaches outperform Phuket beaches, or at least not worse.You can see photos and videos of Pattaya beaches in a separate article (link above).

And if we take into account the coral island of Koh Larn, which is located just a few kilometers from Pattaya and can be easily reached by ferry for only 30 TBH ($0.85), then during the rainy season Pattaya generally looks preferable in terms of the sea and beaches. You can find this link and also find out which beaches on the island are better not to choose due to the mass recreation of noisy Chinese tourists. During my last trip to Thailand, I vacationed (and collected information for the site) at several resorts both in the Gulf of Thailand and on the Andaman Sea, but most of all I liked the color of the water and transparency on one of the beaches of Koh Larn island near Pattaya (see photo below).

I am writing all this so that beach lovers are not afraid to go to Pattaya, having heard enough stories about dirty beaches and muddy water. If you don't mind the 45-minute ferry ride to the island and back, a beach holiday in Pattaya will be great. In answer to the question: “Pattaya or Phuket – where are the better beaches?” — we can also add that on most beaches in Pattaya and on the island of Koh Larn there are a sufficient number of sun loungers that can be rented for the whole day for 50-100 THB. But in Phuket in 2015, sun loungers on the beaches were prohibited and now you can sunbathe either on a towel, or on a mat, or on a rented mattress. On the one hand, this makes the beaches more picturesque. But on the other hand, it does not add convenience to vacationers. Diving, snorkeling and sea fishing are better in Phuket than in Pattaya (again in the case of the high season on the island). And active water activities are present in both resorts in sufficient quantities.

Pattaya or Phuket – where air tickets are cheaper

According to this indicator, Pattaya almost always beats Phuket. If we are talking about flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg, air tickets to Bangkok (namely, it is easier and cheaper to fly to the capital’s airport on vacation to Pattaya) cost about 2-3 thousand Russian rubles less than air tickets to Phuket. We are talking about both direct flights and flights with transfers. If the flight is planned to be carried out from other Russian cities (Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg, etc.), air tickets to Bangkok are on average cheaper than to Phuket by 4-6 thousand rubles or 15-20%.

In the case of air tickets to Thailand from Belarus and Ukraine, Pattaya (Bangkok airport) definitely wins over Phuket, because the difference in price is on average 30-40%. And in the case of Kazakhstan (flights from Almaty and Astana), the overpayment for a flight to Phuket can exceed 60% compared to a flight to Bangkok. In fairness, I want to note that we are talking about the average price. During special offers from airlines flying from many major cities, the difference in the cost of air tickets to Phuket and Bangkok may not be so noticeable (for example, 5-10%).

Let me remind you that it is better to look for the best price on air tickets not on airline websites, but using a metasearch that scans all airlines and leading air ticket sales agencies at once, so that all experienced travelers can always purchase air tickets at the best price at the time of search. The search form I always use when planning my trips is below. And in order not to miss the opportunity to buy a ticket at the best price, I advise you to additionally read the information on the page and apply this information in practice.

I also remind you that if you absolutely want to relax in Phuket, but air tickets from your nearest airport to this island are much more expensive than to Bangkok, you can always fly to the capital of Thailand, and from there get to Phuket in about 12 hours by bus (there are overnight, allowing you to save on hotel costs). Bus tickets can be ordered and even paid in advance using a reputable service for searching all types (link to the Russian version of the service).

Pattaya or Phuket: road to and from the airport

If we compare which is better - Pattaya or Phuket in terms of the road from the airport to the resort and back, then we must take into account two indicators: travel time and travel cost. When it comes to travel time, Phuket has a slight advantage. The international airport is located directly on the island (in the northern part), so the journey to the popular beaches on the western shore takes from half an hour to an hour (45 minutes on average), depending on the transport you choose and the specific beach. When it comes to traveling to Pattaya from Bangkok Airport (which is located just 110 km from the resort) and connected by an expressway, the travel time takes approximately 1.5-2 hours (also depending on the mode of transport).

Thus, we can conclude that the road from your city to your place of residence in Phuket will be about one hour shorter than when flying to Bangkok and moving to Pattaya. However, in reality this is not entirely true. Phuket is located south of Bangkok, so it is almost certain that the flight time to the island is about one hour longer than to the capital's Suvarnabhumi Airport. Those. the road to both resorts from the city of your departure to Thailand will take approximately the same time. You can also add that when searching for flights to Phuket, you will probably find options that include an additional connection in Bangkok. In this case, the travel time to your holiday destination in Phuket will increase even more.

Now let's compare the cost of local transport. When using a taxi from the airport, Phuket has a slight advantage (about 25%). But when it comes to inexpensive public transport, Phuket, which has its own airport, loses to Pattaya, even taking into account the fact that in the latter case we are talking about a much greater distance. For example: a trip by small bus to Patong Beach will cost 150-180 THB per person, and to Karon and Kata beaches - 180-200 Thai baht (depending on the carrier). The road to Pattaya on a comfortable intercity bus costs from 134 baht(cm. ). And the price difference is enough for public transport in Pattaya.

Local transport in Phuket and Pattaya - comparison

During a holiday at any resort, the issue of mobility is quite acute. After all, very few people spend their entire vacation on hotel grounds (unless we are talking about Turkey and Egypt with all-inclusive hotels). So where is the best local transport - Phuket or Pattaya? This is the first point in this large comparison of resorts, where Pattaya wins an undeniable victory. To get from one end of the resort to the other, for example from north to south, you will only need 30 baht (less than $1) in most cases. And to travel a fairly impressive part of the resort without a transfer you need only 10 baht.

Transport in Pattaya - tuk tuk or songthaew for 10 baht

Patatya's transport system is so simple and convenient that to use it you only need to remember a few routes and transfer points. You can read more about this in the article, which will help you save a lot of time and money during your vacation. Even if you additionally use taxis and motorcycle taxis in Pattaya, your costs for moving from point A to point B within the resort will only rarely exceed 100-150 baht. To visit Koh Larn, you just need to get to the pier (in the very center of the resort) and buy your own ferry ticket (30 baht) or speedboat ticket (150 baht for a round trip ticket, including a free drink on board).

But local transport in Phuket is one of the obvious disadvantages of the resort. Thanks to the strong lobby of taxi drivers (who are rumored to be protected by the Chinese mafia), public transport between the beaches of Phuket is not provided. For tourists, this means one thing: you must either use public songthaew buses for 30 baht to get from your beach to Phuket Town (the administrative center of the island), and from there use similar transport to get to another beach. Those. the road to another beach using even the cheapest public transport will cost at least 60 baht one way. But you still need to get there and back, which requires another 60 baht and a lot of time - the most valuable resource during a holiday in Thailand.

Transport in Phuket - expensive tuk-tuk taxi

Of course, you can use a taxi to travel to nearby beaches. But due to the lack of competition from cheap public transport, local taxi drivers have long lost their conscience and demand 300-400 baht one way for a 5-7 minute trip. And despite the statements of the Thai authorities to finally restore order in this matter and a little “rein in” taxi drivers, the situation has not changed for many years. If you want to go to the islands, you will also have to initially get from the beach to Phuket Town, then to the desired pier and buy a tour there from a local travel agency. As a result, it is much more profitable to rent a car for the duration of your holiday in Phuket or for several days during which you are planning a busy excursion program. It is most profitable to do this right at the island’s airport, but in Phuket Town and on popular beaches you can also find places with inexpensive rentals. The estimated cost of renting a car per day is $25-$30 for a small 4-seater car with air conditioning, an automatic transmission (which is important when the driver’s seat is located on the right) and insurance against theft and damage to the car. Those. for the specified amount, comparable in price to a 20-minute taxi ride, you get a completely different degree of freedom for the whole day. Of course, if you have a driver's license. To rent a car in Phuket, it is best to use the search form below, with which you can select the best available option for your dates from a dozen reputable rental offices.

Hotels in Pattaya and Phuket – where are better and cheaper

During any independent travel, accommodation costs usually account for about 30% of the vacation budget. And the share of these costs increases in proportion to the time spent at the resort. Therefore, it is very important to compare: where are the best hotels - in Phuket or Pattaya and where accommodation will be less expensive. Phuket is more expensive than Pattaya in many ways, and hotels in this comparison are no exception. On average, Phuket hotels cost about 15-20% more than similar hotels in Pattaya. But in this situation it cannot be said that Phuket is definitely losing. Good hotels in a good location (by the sea or near places of entertainment - whatever you like) can be found both there and there. Both resorts feature hotels from a chain of global hotel chains (Hilton, InterContinental, Marriott, etc.) and independent hotels.

Proper planning of your trip to Thailand, in which you study the cost of living at the selected resort in advance and use it to search, will most likely allow you to choose a hotel of the right class, with the right set of services and at a price suitable for your budget. This applies to both city hotels and guesthouses located in areas with active nightlife, and luxury five-star hotels with their own territory on the first line from the sea (there are more of these in Phuket than in Pattaya). Another distinctive feature of expensive hotels in Phuket is that many of them involve accommodation in separate bungalows, often located on hillsides surrounded by well-groomed bushes and palm trees. Such hotels are not cheap, but the view directly from the rooms is worth it.

In Pattaya, most hotels, even of the highest class, are classic multi-storey buildings with areas of varying sizes or without them at all. For lovers of panoramic pools with sea views, I can tell you that you can find these in both Phuket and Pattaya. In the latter case - usually on the roof of the hotel, as in - one of the best hotels in the city according to reviews from tourists, where you definitely need to stay for at least a couple of days while vacationing in the city (especially if you want to please your significant other or just impress her ). By the way, you can see the pool of this hotel using one of the Pattaya webcams overlooking the sea.

Food in hotels is approximately the same in quality and variety, especially since in Thailand this is far from the most important point that you need to pay attention to when choosing a hotel. Please note: in hotels in Thailand (no matter where: in Pattaya or Phuket) the All Inclusive system and multi-course meals in general are not developed. Typically only breakfast is included in the room rate. Free Wi-Fi in 2016-2017 is no longer a luxury, but a standard service not only in five-star hotels, but also in inexpensive guesthouses. Therefore, it will be more difficult for you to find a hotel without this service than with it. For those who would like to stay in one of the island hotels located directly on the beach (and in reality there are very few of them), I advise you to look at the selection by clicking on the link.

Pattaya or Phuket - comparison of prices at resorts

Since the prices for accommodation and transport have already been sorted out in the previous paragraphs, it remains to compare the cost of food, drinks, fruits, entertainment and shopping in general in order to understand whether Phuket or Pattaya is better in this regard for relaxation. When going on vacation and planning your food expenses, you need to prepare for the fact that the cost of visiting local cafes and even the prices of street food in Phuket is 30% or more higher. For many items, the difference in prices generally exceeds 100%, i.e. there is a more than twofold difference. Let me give you a simple example. If you eat in Pattaya from mobile street stalls (makashnits), then the cost of a chicken skewers on a skewer is 10 baht, a slightly larger portion of pork is 20 baht, and a large piece of chicken fillet (in the center of the photo below) is 50 baht.

Street food in Pattaya - skewers. In Phuket, everything is 1.5-2 times more expensive!

In Phuket, similar food is offered for 20-30 baht, 30-40 baht and 80-100 baht, respectively. Of course, in some places you can find street food at the same prices, but this will require a lot of searching, especially during the high tourist season in Phuket (usually the lowest prices are at night markets). And there is such a difference in price for almost all goods. Pancakes with bananas or mango (pancakes) in Pattaya - almost everywhere 40 baht. In Phuket – from 60 and above. Even on Walking Street in Pattaya- the center of the resort's nightlife - you can easily find many bars where the price of a bottle of beer starts from 50-60 baht. In Phuket, the minimum price in night bars is 80 baht. An even greater difference in prices can be for fruit, not only from street vendors, but also in large stores (Big C and Tesco Lotus).

The service sector is not lagging behind traders. In Phuket, compared to Pattaya, you will overpay one and a half to two times for Thai massage (classical, foot massage, oil massage and other types), for hairdresser services, for motorbike rental (both for daily rental and long-term rental ), for motorcycle taxi services (the “appetites” of taxi drivers have already been mentioned above), for going to the cinema, for active water activities on the beach (banana, parasailing, jet ski, etc.) – listing everything would take too much time. The conclusion is this: in terms of the cost of a holiday at the resort, Phuket is completely inferior to Pattaya in all respects.

Price of massage in Phuket. Off the beach 100 baht cheaper, but still 1.5 times more expensive than Pattaya

By the way, for those who are interested: close communication with local (more precisely, with those working in Phuket) Thai girls in Phuket will also cost about 1.5 times more. That is why many tourists come to the island with Thai women, previously “rented” for a long time in Pattaya. A very popular question is: “Pattaya or Phuket – where is better shopping?” The answer can be this: approximately the same level, but in Pattaya, of course, everything is cheaper. In addition, from Pattaya it is easy to get to Bangkok, where shopping is the best in all of Thailand (and possibly in all of Southeast Asia).

Pattaya or Phuket – where are the best attractions?

Another important point and another clear victory for Pattaya over Phuket. Almost all the attractions of Phuket can be listed on the fingers of one hand. In addition to natural attractions (observation platforms, waterfalls and neighboring islands), in Phuket you can only note the Old Town (there are colorful streets left over from Europeans in Portuguese and Dutch style), several old temples and a statue of the Big Buddha (which was built in the 21st century). Of course, there are such facilities on the island as a dolphinarium, an aquarium, a butterfly park, a water park, and a show with elephants and snakes. But all this is present in Pattaya, so you can “put it out of the equation.”

Wat Chalong is one of the few attractions in Phuket

If we compare the excursion attractiveness of Phuket and Pattaya, then Pattaya is far ahead. Due to the location of Phuket in the southern part of the country, there are no interesting excursions (not counting sea excursions around the islands) here either. Of course, you can visit the province of Krabi, but this trip is not close and in most cases consists of visiting natural attractions (thermal springs, rocks, lakes). The journey from Phuket to Bangkok by bus takes approximately 12 hours, and cheap flights are not always available.

Temple of Truth in Pattaya - one of the most beautiful buildings in Thailand

But Pattaya is good for both one-day excursions and slightly longer ones. From Pattaya it is customary to take excursions to the tiger zoo in Sri Racha, the interesting Khao Kheow Open Zoo, and the Safari World safari park in the vicinity of Bangkok. Just a couple of hours by bus - and you are in Bangkok itself, where you can spend your entire vacation exploring the temples and not even visit half of them. But you can also visit the largest in the world, which you can spend a whole day on, the Erawan Museum, the floating market in Bangkok, Chinese and Indian quarters, observation decks on the tallest skyscrapers in Thailand, etc.

From Pattaya, 2-3 day excursions to one of the most beautiful provinces in the center of the country - Kanchanaburi, as well as one-day excursions to the ancient capital of the country - Ayutthaya are popular. Finally, choosing Pattaya as a holiday destination allows you to easily get to the islands of Koh Chang and Koh Samet, as well as take an excursion to the neighboring country of Cambodia with its amazing Angkor Wat temple. To be fair, it can be noted that from Phuket it is more convenient and faster to get to Samui and Krabi, but from Pattaya it is not too difficult to do this given the availability of cheap night buses and proximity to Bangkok.

Pattaya or Phuket - much cheaper tours

As a rule, the cost of ready-made tours to Pattaya is slightly lower than the cost of tours of similar duration to the island of Phuket (when staying in a hotel of the same category, flying on a charter flight and the same type of food included in the package price). This, in general, is quite understandable, because the flight to Phuket lasts longer, and everything on the island (hotels and food) also costs more not only for independent travelers, but also for tour operators). Such a difference in prices is most clearly noticeable when choosing hotels in Phuket located close to the coastline.

Pattaya or Phuket - cost of tours to Phuket (12 nights)

But due to the fact that today everyone who wants to relax in Phuket or Pattaya on a tourist package has the chance to do this at minimal cost, it can be argued that tours to Phuket and Pattaya cost approximately the same. The difference of about $50 for a ten-day tour, which can be either in favor of Pattaya or in favor of Phuket - depending on the chosen departure day - can not be included in the calculation. For those who don’t know yet: it’s better to look for the best prices for ready-made tours to Thailand not on the websites of tour operators, but with the help of special services that accumulate all the hot offers in one place. By the way, last-minute trips in this case mean not only those that involve departure in the coming days, but those with departure within the entire next month and even beyond.

For example, the article contains several screenshots. I used it, which in 95% of cases finds the lowest prices for trips departing from Moscow. If you are interested in flying from another city in Russia, you can additionally check the prices in a competing service - sometimes there are better offers). The first and second screenshots show tours to Thailand (Phuket and Pattaya) with a stay of 10 nights and departure in two weeks (a good time to prepare for the trip) in the second half of November (the beginning of the high season at both resorts). The screenshots do not show the lowest offers for Phuket or Pattaya, but those that meet the general conditions of comparison: 3-star hotels with a pool and breakfast.

Pattaya or Phuket - cost of tours to Pattaya (12 nights)

As you can see, in both cases the cost of a 12-night tour is about 70 thousand rubles for two or approximately 35 thousand per person (about $550 per person at the current exchange rate). Moreover, the price of tours to Phuket is even lower than to Pattaya. The higher price for tours to Pattaya is due to the smaller number of hotels with private pools in this resort. If a pool is not required, it’s easy to find a tour to Pattaya for about 30 thousand rubles per person. The service is convenient in that it allows you to find ready-made tours to a specific resort, and the duration of tours to Thailand can be not only the standard 7-15 days, but any number of days up to 30 (29 nights)!

Thus, it is impossible to give a definite answer to the question: “Phuket or Pattaya - which is better in terms of buying a tour?” After all, modern technologies make it possible to find tours similar in price, amenities and duration to both Phuket and Pattaya. But here it is important to remember that when vacationing in Phuket, your additional expenses will probably be higher than during a package holiday in Pattaya. After all, as has been repeatedly mentioned above in the text, in Phuket almost everything is 20-50% more expensive than in Pattaya.

Phuket or Pattaya – which is safer?

It is more correct to answer this question in terms of the main potential dangers that you may encounter while vacationing in the Land of Smiles. Over the past two years, I have been regularly reading crime chronicles at Thai resorts, so I can say that there is a chance to lose money and valuables in both Pattaya and Phuket. As a rule, thefts and robberies come first, and those responsible for such crimes are most often ladyboys (in both resorts) or guest workers from Burma (in Phuket). Typical victims of such crimes are inattentive tourists in crowded places (pickpocketing) or people walking alone while intoxicated at night (street robberies with possible beatings).

If we talk about general safety during vacation, then in Phuket there is a risk of becoming a victim of a reef current (see), getting injured and burns from dangerous jellyfish of the Indian Ocean while swimming in the sea (usually beaches are closed for swimming if there are such creatures in the water) . Also in Phuket, if an unfortunate combination of circumstances occurs, you can get injured when falling from a motorbike (every year in Phuket, several hundred tourists become victims of road accidents due to poor motorbike control skills and alcohol intoxication). Finally, Phuket is located in the Indian Ocean, which sometimes experiences destructive tsunamis. The last major tsunami, which claimed the lives of several thousand people, occurred in December 2004 and, among other coastal areas, covered Phuket. You can easily find creepy footage of bodies on the shore by searching for “tsunami in Thailand.”

Phuket or Pattaya - which is safer - Tsunami in Thailand 2004

If we talk about Pattaya, then there are no reef currents there at all, and there is also no danger of a tsunami. Pattaya is not only located in the Gulf of Thailand, where there are no tectonic faults in the earth's crust, but also in a rather narrow place in this gulf, where the wave in any case would not have enough distance to gain destructive speed and height. As for motorbikes, there is always a risk of falling off them, but due to the cheapness of public transport in Pattaya, renting motorbikes here is not nearly as popular as in Phuket. However, this does not mean that in Pattaya you need to relax in matters of ensuring your own safety. God saves man, who save himself! Remember this always, wherever you are - in Phuket or Pattaya - and everything will be OK! In separate articles on the site you can find out more about some that are common to all resorts.

Phuket or Pattaya – which is better?

The time has come to sum up this big comparison and determine which resort is better: Pattaya or Phuket. If you carefully read the article, you have probably already determined for yourself the basic criteria that this or that resort meets (or, on the contrary, does not meet). For those who prefer to immediately familiarize themselves with the conclusions, below are brief recommendations on which resort is best for you based on the goals of your holiday in Thailand, and also highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of Pattaya and Phuket in comparison with each other.

Advantages of Phuket over Pattaya:

+ a large selection of excellent beaches within walking distance from your accommodation,
+ clean beautiful sea right at the resort (during high season),
+ availability of interesting sea excursions,
+ possibility of diving and snorkeling,
+ more greenery in the resort and a slightly better environmental situation.

Disadvantages of Phuket:

— weak excursion program;
— a minimum number of interesting attractions on the island and in the region in general;
— little sun, strong waves, rain and muddy water during the low season;
— lack of cheap local transport and arrogant taxi drivers;
- almost all entertainment is on Patong Beach;
— noticeably higher prices for EVERYTHING compared to Pattaya.

Who should choose Phuket?

If beach holidays come first for you during your holiday in Thailand, i.e. The main thing for you is to have a good beach with clean water within walking distance from the hotel, then Phuket is your choice. True, you should be prepared for the fact that the vacation budget, due to the high cost of the resort, will be noticeably higher than when vacationing in Pattaya. And, when choosing Phuket, do not forget about the pronounced seasonality on this tropical island, as well as the fact that the cultural program when holidaying in Phuket will be limited. Also, during the low season, Phuket is perfect for surfing enthusiasts, because there are many special schools here, and in the fall international competitions in this sport are held.

Advantages of Pattaya over Phuket:

+ the cheapest resort in Thailand (a more eventful holiday at a lower budget);
+ year-round resort (no pronounced seasonality);
+ best place for shopping (due to lower prices and proximity to Bangkok);
+ availability of attractions and interesting excursions at the resort and nearby;
+ cheap local transport
+ cheaper air tickets (when flying to Bangkok).

Disadvantages of Pattaya:

— lack of beaches with crystal clear water within the city limits;
— more hotels without their own territory;
- in many areas of the city - noisier than in Phuket (except for Patong Beach);
— the presence of unpleasant odors near sewer hatches (in the first days it can be annoying).

Who is better suited for Pattaya:

If you want to have a good rest on a modest budget and at the same time the main thing for you during your vacation is parties, getting to know the history and culture of Thailand and shopping (at the resort and in Bangkok) - Pattaya is your choice. Also, this resort is more suitable for single men who want to find exotic adventures during their vacation. A beach holiday here can also be excellent, because the resort has many beaches that are easily and cheaply accessible from any part of Pattaya. And if you don’t want to put up with less than clear water on the city’s beaches, just 45 minutes from the resort there is the coral island of Koh Larn with white sand and crystal clear water. At the same time, you can go on vacation to Pattaya at any time of the year, without waiting for the right season. Also, a holiday in Pattaya with children will be much more interesting for the latter, when they are old enough for excursions to amusement parks, water parks and zoos.

Perhaps someone, after carefully reading the entire article, noticed the lack of comparison of the tropical nature in Phuket and Pattaya. Therefore, in the end I would like to add that for real exoticism you need to go to other resorts in the country (for example, to the coconut island of Koh Samui). But if you want not only clean sea and white sand from your holiday in Thailand, but definitely plan to relax in Phuket or Pattaya, I advise you to go to neighboring resorts for at least a few days, which are noticeably superior to both Pattaya and the picturesque beaches in terms of exotic nature and picturesque beaches. Phuket is also better suited for a romantic getaway (for example, for a honeymoon). While on holiday in Pattaya, I advise you to visit the island of Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand, and while on holiday in Phuket – the Phi Phi Islands in the Andaman Sea.

I hope that a large comparison of resorts has allowed all those who have not yet been to Thailand, but are planning to relax in this wonderful country, to more consciously approach the choice of Phuket or Pattaya as a holiday destination. If we draw the main conclusion that “Phuket or Pattaya – which is better?”- there can be no clear answer here. It all depends on the main goals of your vacation, the season and the available budget. In most cases, when choosing Pattaya or Phuket, you have to make some kind of compromise. And you can finally determine which is better for you specifically: Phuket or Pattaya - only by visiting both resorts yourself. I wish you a great holiday and bright positive emotions, regardless of which resort you ultimately choose - Pattaya or Phuket!

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When going to Thailand for the first time, many people wonder - which is better: Phuket or Pattaya? No wonder, because these are the two most popular resorts in this Asian country. We will try to help you understand this issue.

It is impossible to say unequivocally which is better. Firstly, a lot depends on the time of year your trip falls on. And secondly, on the goal you are pursuing. If you are interested in riotous discos and adult entertainment, this is one thing. But if you intend to relax with your child or prefer a beach holiday, then this is different.

Let's talk more about this.

Season and weather

Which is better in terms of weather, Pattaya or Phuket? The correct answer is that they are the same. But keep in mind that the so-called rainy season in Pattaya is winter and autumn, and in Phuket it is spring and summer. If you are planning a beach holiday, keep this in mind. However, possible rains almost always occur in the afternoon or at night and do little to interfere with rest.

Rest

• Pattaya– a noisy resort city with appropriate city entertainment. At your service also: cafes, restaurants, discos, massage parlors, strip bars and ample shopping opportunities. That is, it’s not worth going here for a beach holiday.
• Phuket– a classic beach resort, and it’s also an island. Here you will find hotels with all the infrastructure, beaches, clear sea and appropriate sea activities. There are, of course, discos with bars, as well as shops, but compared to Pattaya they are much more modest.

Beaches

Let's move on to the beaches of these two places. If you are primarily interested in them, then, undoubtedly, you should prefer Phuket. It’s not even worth comparing these two places according to these parameters - Pattaya definitely loses and very much.

• Beaches of Phuket- clean, beautiful, offering a variety of services. The sand on them is coral, which means snow-white and delicate. The sea is calm and clean, and the shores are surrounded by greenery of palm trees and tropical vegetation. The coastal reefs are an excellent place for snorkeling and diving. But know that it’s not for nothing that surfers love to come to Phuket during the rainy season. During this period there are quite strong waves. For fishing enthusiasts, a regular fishing championship is held in Phuket in November.
• Pattaya beaches– these are rather classic city beaches, with all the ensuing consequences, and they are not suitable for a relaxing holiday. True, many small islands, not far from Pattaya, can offer a lot of interesting things for those who like to lie in the sun, but you need to go there, spending time, money and effort.

Entertainment, excursions and prices

Where is the cheapest holiday in Pattaya or Phuket? But here Pattaya, as a city, will be in the black - there are more opportunities for a budget holiday, prices for both housing and food compare favorably with the resort Phuket. The nightlife in Pattaya cannot be compared, it is undoubtedly much more fun here, the famous entertainment of Patong is just a pale shadow of what Pattaya has to offer in this regard. It also leads in excursion opportunities, because it is located close to

Let's figure out which resort in Thailand is better - Pattaya or Phuket. We compare the sea, beaches, excursions, prices and reviews of tourists about Phuket and Pattaya - 2019 to understand where it is good to go on vacation on your own or on a last-minute tour.

Where are these resorts located?

Pattaya and Phuket on the map of Thailand:

Which resort to choose in Thailand:

• Phuket: holidays with children, swimming, beach holidays;
• Pattaya: excursions and attractions, entertainment, fun.

The main argument of Pattaya supporters is “Phuket gets boring after a few days.” But this is an individual opinion: whether it will be boring or fun depends only on your needs.

Below in the article we will compare all aspects of holidays at these resorts in Thailand so that you can decide for yourself where it is better to go - to Phuket or Pattaya.

At the end of the article you will find a comparative table of the advantages of each resort, which will help you make the right choice.

Pattaya or Phuket: where is the weather better?

When choosing Phuket or Pattaya for a holiday in Thailand, it is worth having an idea of ​​the climate in these regions of the country.

Holidays in Phuket

It is better to relax in Phuket from mid-November to April-May - at this time there is no rain, strong winds and waves on the sea, the water is clear, and the beaches are best suited for swimming. It is about vacations during this period that tourists leave the most enthusiastic reviews about Phuket.

The rest of the time (May-October), the rainy season lasts in Phuket: the sky is often cloudy and gray, there are waves on the sea, and the water can be cloudy. It rains often, but mainly in the evenings and at night.

Holidays in Pattaya

In Pattaya, the period from early November to mid-May is also considered a good holiday season. But the rainy season in this part of Thailand is weak, so you can relax comfortably in Pattaya both in summer and autumn. Moreover, due to the geographical location there are never big waves in Pattaya.

Read more about the climate and holiday seasons here:

Thus, if good weather is important to you, you should go to Phuket or Pattaya in the following months:

• Phuket: early November – mid-May
• Pattaya: all year (but better - from November to the end of May)

Phuket or Pattaya: where is the sea better?

If the purpose of your trip to Thailand is swimming and beach holidays, Phuket will be preferable to Pattaya. If you are going on vacation with small children, you shouldn’t even consider the option of Pattaya - the sea and beaches there are much worse, and you definitely shouldn’t go to those with a child.

Sea in Phuket

During the holiday season, the sea in Phuket is clean, with clear azure and blue water; excellent photographs are taken on the shore. The bottom is clearly visible at great depths, the entry into the water on popular beaches is gentle: you can swim and relax even with small children. The cleanliness of the sea is also indicated by the presence of representatives of the animal world - crabs, lizards, small fish.

Video of the sea at Patong Beach in Phuket (November):

Sea in Pattaya

In Pattaya the sea is much worse than in Phuket. There is often debris in the water; it is cloudy and green in color. Almost no one swims within the city limits; for this, tourists go to the beaches in the vicinity of the city or to neighboring islands - and this will require spending time and money.

The sea in Pattaya is not so terrible that swimming in it is dangerous or prohibited, but such swimming will bring much less pleasure than in Phuket.

Video of sea and water in Pattaya:

Which is better: the beaches of Phuket or Pattaya

In our opinion, the beaches in Phuket are generally better suited for relaxation than the beaches in Pattaya - they are more beautiful and cleaner, but not so rich in clubs, bars and other entertainment.

One of the main advantages of Phuket beaches over Pattaya beaches is also the proximity of the sea: to get to a good beach in Phuket you need to walk 200-400 meters from the hotel, and in Pattaya you will have to drive at least an hour.

Beaches of Phuket

Phuket has over 20 beaches, all located on the western side of the island. The beaches are different, you can find the one that suits you.

There is the popular and party Patong - generally similar to Pattaya, but on a smaller scale. There are many bars and discos there, there is even its own equivalent of the depraved Walking Street - here it is called Bangla Road. Patong has many hotels, restaurants and entertainment for those who love fun.

There are quiet and beautiful beaches without tourists and hotels, where you can admire the aquamarine water and natural beauty - these are Tri Trang, Nai Harn, Freedom, Mai Khao.

Finally, there are good beaches Karon, Kata and Kamala - something between the developed Patong and a quiet deserted coast. It is not as noisy and crowded as Patong, but it is beautiful, clean and has all the infrastructure necessary for recreation.

Panorama of Karon Beach in Phuket in low season, September (click on one of the arrows if the picture is not visible):

Pattaya beaches

There are also many beaches in Pattaya, but the best of them are those that are located further from the city center - for example, Jomtien. However, even Jomtien does not suit many tourists - not everyone swims there.

Panorama of the central beach of Pattaya (Pattaya beach) in the season - December (click on the arrow if the photo is not visible):

Other beaches within the city are usually even worse. Judging by the reviews of tourists, many people like to watch sunsets on the beaches of Pattaya, but for swimming and beach holidays, tourists prefer to go out of town or to the nearest islands - for example, Koh Larn or Koh Samet.

On the islands the sea is quite clean, there are beaches with good sand and no garbage. The only negative is that you need to spend at least an hour and 50-100 baht to get to the island.

The best beach in the vicinity of Pattaya is Military Beach. It is located 30 kilometers south of the city; getting there by moped or car is still more convenient than sailing to the island of Koh Larn. Military Beach is valued for its cleanliness, good sand, clear sea - all this is quite a rarity for Pattaya. Entrance to the beach is paid (100 baht = 190 rubles), and on weekends many tourists and locals gather there to relax.

There is also a good beach, Nong Ram - it is located a little further, and some tourists like it even better than Military Beach.

Entertainment in Thailand

Which is better in terms of entertainment - Phuket or Pattaya?

Pattaya has more good bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Of course, they are also found in Phuket, but not in such large quantities. In addition, prices for food and entertainment in Pattaya are lower.

Pattaya is known as the "city of depravity" thanks to its Walking Street. At the same time, in Phuket there is a similar street (on Patong Beach) - Bangla Road. There, anyone can find everything the same as on Walking Street in Pattaya.

Sights and excursions

It is believed that Pattaya is better than Phuket in terms of culture: There are more attractions there, and excursions are more varied.

Indeed, in Pattaya itself and its surroundings there are many attractions, and getting to them is easier: after all, Pattaya is a city, and Phuket is an entire island. In addition, from Pattaya it is easy to get to other cultural places in Thailand - for example, to Bangkok or ancient Ayutthaya.

Pattaya's attractions include beautiful park complexes (Nong Nooch Garden is especially worth noting), monasteries, and zoos.

There is also something to see in Phuket, but there are not many attractions, and to get to them you need to rent a moped or take an expensive taxi (prices start from 800 rubles per train). Excursions in Phuket are mainly by sea - to neighboring islands or to the province of Krabi.

Our maps will help you navigate the sights of Thailand:

Photo: Temple of Truth in Pattaya

Shopping centers and shopping

In terms of shopping and shopping, Pattaya beats Phuket: There are many large shopping centers in the city, and if necessary, you can go to Bangkok, which will satisfy the needs of any shopaholic.

Prices for trips to Pattaya are a little more expensive - from 62,000-70,000 rubles for two people (7 nights). For this price you can go, for example, to a popular hotel (breakfast included).

Are you planning to fly on a tour? The material Prices for all-inclusive tours to Thailand - 2019 will be useful to you, where we analyzed the cost of tours to different categories of hotels (3, 4, 5 stars) and to different resorts in the country (Phuket, Pattaya, Samui).

Last minute tours to Thailand: Pattaya or Phuket

In 2019, last-minute tours to both Pattaya and Phuket are often among the trips to Thailand. It is convenient to search for such tours through special search engines that compare the price of tours from all tour operators - for example or.

The cost of last-minute tours to Phuket starts from 34,000-39,000 rubles for two people (7 nights).

Last minute tours to Pattaya can be cheaper - we came across options for 30,000 rubles for two.

Transport at resorts

According to reviews from many travelers, transport in Phuket is more expensive than in Pattaya and not as convenient.

Buses and minibuses

Minibuses (songthaews) run around Pattaya around the clock, the ticket for which costs only 10 baht (19 rubles). You can get to almost any part of the city by songthaew.

In Phuket, minibuses operate only on the “beach – Phuket town” route; a ticket costs 30 baht. That is, to get to the neighboring beach by public transport, you need to go through the center of the island - this is long and inconvenient.

Taxi

Taxis in Phuket are generally the most expensive in Thailand: even for a short trip to a nearby beach, the driver will charge you 400-500 baht (800-1000 rubles). In Pattaya, the price of boarding a taxi is 30-40 baht (60-80 rubles), plus 6 baht (12 rubles) for each kilometer.

Where is it cheaper to travel on your own?

If you are traveling to Phuket or Pattaya on your own, the choice of resort may be affected by the cost of the flight from Russia.

In 2019, the difference in airfare prices is insignificant, but you will most likely be able to get to Pattaya cheaper.

Flight to Phuket

Unlike Pattaya, Phuket can be reached by direct flight from Russia. Aeroflot tickets cost from 26,800 rubles in summer and autumn, at other times of the year the price rises to 28,000-30,000 rubles.

To get from the airport to your hotel or beach you need to spend another 120-180 baht for a minibus/bus or 700-800 baht for a taxi.

Read about the cost of flights to Phuket and prices for travel from the airport here:

Calendar with prices for flights to Phuket:

Flight to Pattaya

There is U-Tapao Airport 32 kilometers from Pattaya, but planes neither from Russia nor from Bangkok fly there. So, to get to Pattaya, you need to fly to Bangkok and then take a bus or taxi.

For the car.

Calendar with prices for flights to Bangkok:

Phuket or Pattaya: which is safer?

Experienced travelers claim that Phuket is safer than Pattaya.

In Pattaya, thefts and muggings (for example, bags being cut off and wallets being stolen) are more common, especially in the center. The city has both completely safe areas and those where it can be dangerous in the evening. The darker the place, the higher the risk of running into scammers and pickpockets.

Phuket is quieter and calmer, there are much fewer security problems there: although thefts do occur, they are much less common than in Pattaya.

At the same time, if in Thailand you behave adequately and not provocatively, the likelihood of getting into an unpleasant situation in both Phuket and Pattaya is extremely low. Just watch your bags and belongings more carefully, and don’t conflict with the locals.

Pattaya or Phuket: which is better to choose for a holiday?

So that you can decide where to go on holiday in Thailand, we have made a convenient table with the advantages of each resort.

Which is better in Phuket or Pattaya:

If you are traveling to Thailand with small children, it is definitely better to choose Phuket. In other cases, the decision will depend on your preferences: for parties and excursions you should go to Pattaya, for a beach holiday and clear sea - to Phuket.

Video: what is better to choose from Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui: