Pattaya, Thailand: Why I Keep Going Back on My Trips to Bangkok

Pattaya, Thailand, I’m back again. 

This was my third time visiting Pattaya, and honestly, I already know I’m going to keep coming back. I never stay for very long because Pattaya is usually more of a stop through for me when I’m traveling to Bangkok. It’s about a two hour drive from Bangkok, so when I’m already in the area, I’m like, why not?

Especially when you have beaches, cute restaurants, fun experiences, and plenty of opportunities to eat your way through the city.

Pattaya is also noticeably smaller and less hectic than Bangkok and in my opinion, less chaotic than Phuket. That makes it an easy addition to a Thailand itinerary when you want a change of scenery without completely changing your travel plans.

And on this particular trip, I had one more reason to stop in Pattaya: I heard they had a floating beach club.

Chile, you already know I had to investigate.

Things to Do in Pattaya: Visit a Floating Beach Club

The floating beach club I visited was Sina Beach Club, and if you know me, you already know the phrase floating beach club was enough to get me there.

Because when exactly am I going to turn down the opportunity to say, “Yeah, I went to a floating beach club in Thailand”? 

The experience starts at the dock, where you check in and receive your wristband. Once you’re greeted, you’re given a drink while you wait for the speedboat that takes you out to the beach club.

There is an entrance fee, but here’s the part I appreciated: a large portion of the entrance fee can be applied toward food and beverages.

Now that is the kind of math I like.

Once we arrived, the entire place was aesthetically pleasing and had that tropical, vacation in Thailand feel. Unfortunately, the weather was a little gloomy during my visit, so I didn’t get the full sunny day effect. But even with the clouds, the atmosphere was still a vibe.

And y’all know I was going to eat.

The Food at Sina Beach Club Was Actually GOOD

One thing about me, I am going to find the food. We ordered a little bit of everything, and honestly, everything we tried was delicious. There wasn’t a dish where I was sitting there thinking, “Well, at least the view is cute.”

No ma’am. The food held its own. We also had a few drinks while hanging out and enjoying the atmosphere. It was definitely a fun way to spend part of the day in Pattaya.

Is Sina Beach Club for Everyone?

Here’s where I’ll keep it real.

If you don’t like house music, the music might not be your favorite part of the experience. I’m not really a house music girl myself, so I wouldn’t necessarily choose a destination solely based on the soundtrack.

When am I going to be at a floating beach club in Thailand again? So even if house music isn’t your thing, I would still recommend experiencing it at least once. Sometimes travel isn’t about finding a place that perfectly matches every single one of your preferences. Sometimes it’s about doing something you’ve never done before just because you’re there. And that’s exactly what this was for me.

Pattaya Floating Market

Another popular thing to do in Pattaya is visit the Pattaya Floating Market.

If you’ve been to the famous floating markets around Bangkok, you’ll notice that Pattaya’s version has a different feel.

I’ve visited both, and personally, I prefer the floating markets inBangkok. But that doesn’t mean you should skip Pattaya’s.

Actually, if you don’t love massive crowds and being surrounded by a million people at once, the Pattaya Floating Market might be more your speed.

You can walk around, check out the different sections, shop, grab food, and experience another side of Thai culture without feeling quite as overwhelmed.

And let’s be honest: sometimes on vacation, I want the experience without having to fight 47 people for a picture. 

Don’t Forget About Pattaya’s Other Experiences

One of the reasons I keep returning to Pattaya is that there’s a nice mix of beach experiences, restaurants, attractions, and activities packed into a relatively manageable destination.

And when I’m traveling with people who have never been to Thailand, Pattaya is also one of the places I suggest for certain experiences.

For example, if someone in my group wants to do a tiger interaction, I tend to recommend the Pattaya option because I’ve found it to be much less hectic than similar experiences in Bangkok or Phuket. On my visits, I’ve rarely experienced a long wait there.

Of course, experiences involving wildlife should always be researched carefully, including how the animals are treated and what type of interaction is being offered. But for travelers who are looking to build a Thailand itinerary beyond Bangkok, Pattaya gives you another option without requiring a completely separate trip.

Why I Keep Coming Back to Pattaya

Pattaya isn’t necessarily the place where I would tell you to spend an entire two week vacation.

For me, that’s not really the point. I like Pattaya because it’s an easy addition to a Bangkok trip. You can spend a short amount of time there, get some beach time, eat at aesthetically pleasing restaurants, try something different, and then keep it moving.

And after visiting for the third time, I still managed to find something new to experience. That’s what I love about traveling.

You can visit the same destination multiple times and still find a new restaurant, attraction, beach club, market, or experience that gives you another reason to come back.

My Pattaya Takeaway

If you’re planning a trip to Thailand and you’re already visiting Bangkok, don’t automatically overlook Pattaya.

It’s an easy stop for travelers who want to add beaches and a more laid back atmosphere to their itinerary without going all the way to Phuket.

For me, Pattaya is the perfect short and fun Thailand escape. Give me a couple of days, some good food, a cute beach situation, and something I’ve never experienced before, and I’m good.

And apparently, after three visits, I’m still not done with Pattaya.

Pattaya, baby… I’ll  see you again. 

Pic Credit:Alex Jackson