I’m still not entirely sure what made us decide to visit Pattaya. I think it had something to do with the unspoken dare present when people claim that something is “the biggest” or “the most” of anything. Since coming to Thailand, we’ve been repeatedly told that Pattaya is the unofficial sex tourism capital of the world. Yes, the world. I was driven by a twisted sense of curiosity to find out what kind of a town this made Pattaya, if there really were that many prostitutes, and if Pattaya really was that sleazy.
With loud club music filling streets lined with grimy bars and guesthouses, the areas around Pattaya Beach reminded me a little of Khao San Road in Bangkok. But instead of the wide-eyed and intoxicated backpackers of Khao San, Pattaya was overflowing with men over 50 skulking around the streets wearing Hawaiian shirts, and eyeing up every girl that passed.
I like to think that I can usually find my orientation relatively quickly in a new city, but Pattaya was a literal maze in which I couldn’t tell one massage parlor or go-go bar from the next. It all blurred together and we found ourselves getting lost in the shuffle. Instead of Thai food, the street stalls sold Cornish pasties and sour cabbage. Other stall owners rushed around selling skintight dresses and bedazzled shoes, as though an emergency requiring these items could occur at any moment.
The culture of prostitution in Pattaya is the source of many jokes in Thailand, and I could understand why from the moment we arrived. It was easy to see the dark humor in the excessiveness of it all: The blatant, neon signage for sex services, the giggling girls wearing revealing outfits, and the crowds of stereotypically gruff and lecherous-looking patrons.
Part of me didn’t want to spoil the party by reflecting on the moral implications of this oversexed city, but they were difficult to ignore. I would never presume that I understand the lives of sex workers in Pattaya, but from the little I do know, most come from poor, rural areas of Thailand, hoping to support themselves and their families. I can’t imagine it’s an ideal life.
Similarly, I can’t really know the motivations of the thousands of foreigners who regularly flock to Pattaya, but I couldn’t help but feel a strange sympathy for them too. During our 2 days in Pattaya, Brent and I were ludicrously overcharged for drinks, transport, and even for a spot on the beach. It’s safe to say that sex businesses in Pattaya are making a substantial profit from naïve, lonely old men.
Pattaya has recently been trying to clean up its reputation, yet the whole city seemed almost devoid of real Thai culture. The Westerners come for the warm weather and easy access to sex, but afterwards they seem to expect to be able to retire to an air-conditioned room, watch the Australia Network and eat a Shepard’s Pie. And Pattaya provides.
To be honest, there’s really nothing all that pretty about Pattaya. It does have two beaches: Pattaya and Jomtien. We spent the day at Jomtien, which was supposed to be the nicer of the two. It wasn’t unpleasant (because really how bad can a sunny day at the beach be?), but Jomtien Beach reminded me more of the ”beaches” we have back home in Ontario. The scenery was boring, and the sand was course and dull. It didn’t come even close to measuring up to the average Thai beach.
The sex workers hanging around the entrances to massage parlors and bars called out to the other men who passed by, but they didn’t try to lure Brent in because they recognized that we were together. Then, at one point, Brent and I were walking down the middle of a road, and saw a car approaching from behind us. We crossed to opposite sides of the street to let the car pass, and for less than 10 seconds, Brent was alone and out of my sight. When the car cleared the road, I looked across the street and saw in the instant that we had been separated, 2 massage parlor girls had latched their arms onto Brent and were cooing in his ear. So, if you’re still trying to get a sense of how many sex workers there are in Pattaya, that story pretty much sums it up. Yes, it really is that sleazy.
Have you ever visited Pattaya or another place where sex tourism is prominent? What did you think?
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I had heard it was pretty bad, but geeez! Now you have me convinced it has nothing going for it after comparing it to Ontario beaches!
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Yeah, describing a place as Ontario-beach-like is pretty much the ultimate insult, isn't it? It really was the most disappointing beach I've been to in Thailand, though.
Ick! I've been to Thailand a few times, and have always avoided Pattaya for this reason – it's reputation precedes it. We were in Amsterdam over the holidays, which obviously has a pretty substantial red light district as well. I think you summed it up nicely: it can't be an ideal life.
My school here in Korea sponsored a tour-guided trip (half-paid) to Pattaya for all the teachers last spring… Now I'm definitely glad I didn't go! Nothing like being dragged on a tour of the red-light district (and shows) with all your co-workers… and husband. Awkward!! haha. Thanks for making me feel better for not going!
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Haha – oh man, Pattaya would be the last place I would want to spend time with coworkers. I can't imagine a more uncomfortable situation. I wonder why your school chose Pattaya? It's not the first city that comes to mind when most people think of Thailand. You're right though, you definitely didn't miss out by not going!
Yeah, the red light district in Amsterdam was kind of a shocker for me too. I couldn't believe that all the women were lined up in those weird glass cubicle-looking rooms. Somehow I had always imagined it would be more subtle – how wrong I was!
I would imagine rural Thailand would be quite conservative, so its interesting that a lot of these "workers" are from there.
I find Thailand can be kind of contradictory when it comes to sex . Thai people are extremely conservative in many ways, yet "ladyboys", for example, are relatively accepted by society. Although in the case of sex workers, I think it's more about making money by any means necessary than it is an occupation that fits with their values.
Great post, Jess! I totally understand your curiosity and why you would want see a city with a reputation like that, but after reading this I really don't feel like I need to see it for myself. Your description made me super uncomfortable already!
Haha, I don't blame you. Curiosity definitely didn't pay off in this case. I usually don't like to write places off based on what other people say about them, but Pattaya certainly lives up to its reputation.
I thought Bangkok is a sex city. It's all about party and ping-pong shows
. I've heard of Pattaya as well, but I guess it's up to you where you wanna go and what you wanna see. As long as you avoid touristy spots and enjoy the beaches or temples you will be fine. Lovely post 
Haha yeah, I guess I kind of knew up front what I was getting myself into.
Eew, I was sort of considering going to Pattaya, just so see for myself. But maybe I'll just skip it.
I was in Phnom Penh not too long ago and seeing all the old men with the young Cambodian girls and all the sex bars really got to me.
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Yeah, I'd recommend giving it a pass. Creepy men aside, it was just a very old crowd in general. I didn't see any other backpackers, so that also reduced the fun.
Glad I read this! We were in Bangkok in March and also Phuket and stayed in Patong. We loved Bangkok, but will not return to Patong ever again. We are going to Thailand on our RTW trip and will be there in December 2013 for Christmas, and my parents are joining us for 3 weeks. We are starting off in BKK for 3 nights and then heading off to some islands, they love the beaches, and aren't 100% sure which Thai beaches to bring them to. Crossing off Pattaya, thanks for the heads up! Any suggestions? We have a week was thinking for Phi Phi for 3-4 nights and then we have another 3-4 nights open before we head to Cambodia with them. Thanks for any tips!
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Yeah – I would stay well away from Pattaya- having your parents there would make the whole experience twice as uncomfortable. Definitely go to Phi Phi – it's the most beautiful island by far. I really loved Koh Chang – it's close to the border with Cambodia, so it could be a convenient stop for your last 3-4 nights in Thailand. The beaches are gorgeous, and there's plenty to see and do, but the party scene isn't quite as intense as some of the islands in the south, so it's a good place to bring the rents. Or I haven't been to Koh Lanta personally, but I've heard from a lot of other travelers that it's comfortable for tourists, yet not too overdeveloped.
Sorry to read all these negative comments guys.I took a post divorce holiday in pattaya six months ago and have stayed since. Many of the men here arrived under similar circumstances and like me most meet and settle with one girl. Sleasy maybe but always vibrant and truly exciting, great eating places, suitable for every taste and culture. As for the girls who do work the bars, this is very much a survival strategy.
There is no financial parachute for them, if they dont earn they starve and so do their kids back in the village, most of their earnings pays for food and schooling for their kids and siblings
Hi Jessica, Bill already mentioned that there is more to Pattaya than the sex industry, there is a very large ex-pat community living in Pattaya. Mostly living a normal life, married with children, for the majority of ex-pats it wouldn't make a difference if there was no sex scene in Pattaya. Apart from the sex scene, the lures for westerners are, good shopping, good choice of food, many of the Thais working in Pattaya have a good grasp of English.
I can understand your reaction, but Pattaya is not an exception, just about every tourist destination in Thailand caters for sex tourists, in fact it's not only tourist destinations, karaoke bars and massage parlous, even in the most remote villages of Thailand offer sex services.
Bar Girls are often misunderstood, it's easy to assume they forgot their morals, they all have their own reasons for working in the sex trade, for some it's strictly business, a pension plan, or husband hunting. http://www.pattayaunlimited.com/2009/06/bar-girls…
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We traveled relatively extensively around Thailand, and I agree, sex services are available pretty much everywhere – it's not unique to Pattaya. That said, the focus on sex services in Pattaya was incredibly extreme compared to what we saw in other places in Thailand. I only spent a few days in Pattaya, so I recognize that there's a limit to the scope of my observations, yet, it seemed like the expats and tourists in Pattaya were expecting the city to adapt to their tastes. But really, shouldn't the expats be the ones to adapt to Thai foods and traditions instead of the other way around? And I don't think I've expressed any kind of judgement against the sex workers in Pattaya – my intention was to examine the culture of sex in this city, and the moral implications that it raises.
I’d say 99% places in the world guys hit on girls. the reason I like Pattaya and I keep coming back it’s nice being treated like “brad Pitt” with “lebron James” status because I’m a foreigner with some cash.. I like 5-10 dollar massages thai, oil, foot. It’s nice being able to really enjoy myself drink, have sex, and eat Thai food. Im younger but old guys seem much happier here. Leave your other half alone in Pattaya (not recommended) then I want his opinion.
There's no doubt that men are having a good time in Pattaya. But are the locals? Particularly the women?
Local Women…Yes Foreign Woman…No
It is quite sad to see the "honeymoon" couple or "clueless couples" who did not know what they were in for when visiting Pattaya. I feel sometimes it doesn't always happen by accident and the men plan it that way and the women have to suffer. Either way the Thai news will have you believe Pattaya is a family friendly destination. Jomtien…ok sure I buy that! Pattaya/Walking street being dubbed family friendly that is a…..s t r e t c h
I think it would be presumptuous for you or I to claim that we know how the sex workers feel about their lifestyle, or how the locals feel about the impact of this type of tourism on Pattaya.
Eastern Europe has plenty of this, with hostels on first floors and brothels on second floors, and quite a few stag partiers who are looking to indulge. Sigh…
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Yeah – "sigh" kind of sums it up.
I like the put-down 'Lonely Old Men' as if being shy or alone is a crime. If you are young and gotgrous it seems you are morally above those sleeze bags.
I'm sorry that you read it that way. I was actually trying to express sympathy because it seemed like, in many cases, being old and lonely made these men easier targets for inflated pricing and scams. My point is that both the sex workers and their clients are victims in this whole set-up.
you're lonely, old and a man. its not a put down, its the truth