Joanna James
Pattaya is one of those seaside towns that have developed leaps and bounds as more and more tourists descended on the east coast of Thailand. Thanks to its tropical climate and beautiful beaches, Pattaya was snapped up by tourists as the place to go. Here's how to travel safely when there.
Located 150km from Bangkok, Pattaya's sudden growth has resulted in a rather notorious sex tourism industry. This does mean that there is a lot of money going around the city. The overall risk in Pattaya is relatively low. While there can be some petty thieves as long as you are careful with your belongings and leave them locked in your hotel the likes of Avani Pattaya Resort, you should be okay.
What you should be more aware of is the local transport when it comes to safety. There are plenty of reckless drivers in Pattaya. The risk of motorbike accidents is high, especially upon the hills where the roads are narrow and full of hairpin bends. If you are hiring a motorbike to explore outside your Pattaya resort, keep in mind that you need to be very vigilant and drive responsibly.
While there are some level of pickpockets on the beach as mentioned above, if you keep your valuables secure there is less chance that you will be susceptible to these kinds of people. Often they aren't the type to go completely out of their way to steal something.
While there is the chance of an occasional flood and maybe tsunamis, the system for disaster management has come a long way from where it was when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck Thailand. So there is no chance of being caught in the middle of something as devastating.
Neither muggings nor kidnappings are frequent in Pattaya. You will be almost completely safe walking around the beach and the city streets. However, when you are in the more remote areas it is highly advised that you be cautious on principle. This is the same for any city you are out in, including your own.
Thailand like most cases has had its fair share of terrorist attacks, however, it is an anomaly and not a frequent happening. However, places with small populations and beach resorts such as Pattaya are often not on the list for terrorists so you should be fine.
There is a bit of a risk of getting caught to scams that is quite predominant in beach resorts and tropical locations where the locals are trying to maximise however much they can earn from tourists. There can be many scams in terms of tuk-tuk drivers, street vendors and often, fake police officers. Always be aware.
If you follow basic precautions and have a little common sense, Pattaya is a very safe city for women. Just make sure you don't travel at night alone and always carry a weapon of some kind with you.
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