Being a popular holiday destination, many accommodation options are available for your stay. In past years accommodation has been difficult to obtain in the high season but for covid related reasons, visitor numbers have decreased. However, it is best to book before you travel. High season starts in mid-December and ends in the middle of February.

It is best to book for visits in December through to March. Outside these months, it is possible to arrive in Pattaya and find accommodation. This is a good option as you can see what you will get. However, this may not be a viable option for first-time visitors as how do you know where to go? You may well be at the mercy of your taxi driver. A better option is to book somewhere for a few days and look around.

It is possible to find accommodation in Pattaya starting at about 300 Baht a night. Unless you are on a backpacking budget, you should avoid this type of accommodation. Prices from there go up to as much as you want to pay.

The most basic type of accommodation is guesthouse-type establishments. These places start at about 600 Baht a night and are excellent value. However, I recommend avoiding them due to the reason you will be travelling to Pattaya.

The next step up is three to four-star hotels. These range in price from about 1500 Baht to around 2500 Baht. Again these are excellent value especially compared to the prices we pay at home.

The next step up is the four to five-star hotels and luxury resort type of accommodation. Like anywhere, these can be expensive, and they tend to charge world-class prices. There are many options for this type of accommodation in Pattaya.

The management and staff of hotels in Pattaya are fully aware that you will be inviting guests to your room. This is accepted as usual, and you should feel comfortable doing so.

The area in which you stay in Pattaya should be dictated by what you expect to do. For a first visit, it is advisable to stay in central Pattaya. This allows quick and easy access to the best that Pattaya has to offer.

Warning: Some hotels (especially high-end hotels) will charge you if you take a lady (who didn’t book in with you) to your room. This is called a joiner fee in the range of 300 to 500 Baht per night. Most places will charge you if you also take a second lady to your room. If this concerns you can, and should, ask before booking.

Safety

You will also want to consider security when deciding where to stay. Many hotels and guesthouses have safes in their rooms, but not all. These are not your bomb-proof safes, but they are sufficient. For your first visit, it is a good idea to get a room with a safe to keep your important documents, expensive items and cash in. These safes are usually electronic user-set combination lock-type safes.

The level of the general security of the hotels is variable too. Many hotels will check and record the lady’s details from her ID card. Some will keep her ID card until she leaves. The most secure hotels will call your room before allowing the ladies to leave if you are not with them. If you want a certain level of security, make sure you ask before booking.

Incidentally, guesthouse-type accommodation generally provides the lowest level of security. If you want to increase it, and they have a bar open 24 hours, you may be able to pre-arrange for them to take the lady’s ID cards that go to your room.

Tip: If your hotel requires the ladies you take back to leave their ID cards before going to your room, it is a good idea to ask them if they have an ID card before paying bar.