Phuket

fzbkk · #1 08-01-2006, 10:37

PHUKET vs PATTAYA the age old question. I’m at a disadvantage giving you my opinion on this particular topic, as I have yet to visit Pattaya myself. I opted to spend just shy of 2 months in Phuket last year visiting all the other major touristy places except Pattaya. Now as I plan to spend around 6 months of this year in LOS, originally there was no question where I would set up my base of operations, that being Phuket. But I may of been to hasty in my decision. I did feel towards the end of my stay in Phuket last year that patong beach was a bit too small. Sure I would travel to Karon and Kata and into Phuket town occasionally, but after a while everything was just the norm. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love the beaches and spent allot of time swimming and going for walks up and down them. I have begun to think that yes Phuket is a beautiful place but maybe it’s more suited for a few weeks stay, whereas Pattaya on the other hand would offer me more variety and excitement, as well as cheaper prices.

I would love to hear peoples opinion on the topic, I know that you will get a strong for or against, and certain people will be set in there ways on one or the other. Again if I were to just spend a few weeks in LOS Phuket would be the place, but im thinking 6 months here and that changes allot of things. That being said this board is geared towards Phuket so there may be quite a bit of bias and if this thread was posted on a Pattaya board the replies may be totally different, so I will also post this on Pattyatalk.

Upon arriving in LOS I will spend a few weeks in Pattaya before deciding on where I plan to live. Never the less, im still interested in other peoples opinion on the subject.

LivinLOS · #2 08-01-2006, 10:41

I dont really think Pattaya has more veriety.. If anything its less..

Sure theres more bars, more gogo's, more women but thats all in one nightlife theme.. I find that gets old fairly fast without other diversions.

fzbkk · #3 08-01-2006, 10:54

Thanks for the reply LivinLOS. The other diversions are more important to me than the nightlife theme.

visa2003 · #4 08-01-2006, 12:35

Personally, I would suggest you try 3 months in each (or a variation of that). The reason being that each place has a completely differnt feel about them and you do different things in each place. I only go to LOS for a month at a time but split my time between both places. Pattaya for cutting sick and having a ball tearer of a time, and Phuket to chill out and still have all the amenities one comes to LOS for. I think that next time I may even stop in at Samui on the way thru for a few days.
That's what I really like abut LOS, you can do nearly anything without it costing a King's ransom

river · #5 08-01-2006, 12:41

There was a hefty debate on this a while back I think the conclusion was If you want to screw as many girls as possible then Pats was your spot alternately if you were into a bit more than that then Patong had the upper edge.

I guess you could always do 3 months in each or just move on when you get bored.

butterflyblonde · #6 08-01-2006, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by visa2003

Personally, I would suggest you try 3 months in each (or a variation of that). The reason being that each place has a completely differnt feel about them and you do different things in each place. I only go to LOS for a month at a time but split my time between both places. Pattaya for cutting sick and having a ball tearer of a time, and Phuket to chill out and still have all the amenities one comes to LOS for. I think that next time I may even stop in at Samui on the way thru for a few days.
That's what I really like abut LOS, you can do nearly anything without it costing a King's ransom

Although I am a fan of Pattaya,

I would say 3 months there could drive any man round the twist, 1 or 2 weeks is enough before moving on to somewhere less crazy.

Pattaya is great for those wanting to sample adult nightlife, also has some fairly decent discos, but really lacks something to do daytime.

I doubt he would last 3 months there

tintin · #7 08-01-2006, 20:03

I think that 3 months is a lot! Even in phuket.

The advantage of Pattaya is that you can tavel to more places by boat or by car. I have been there once, but did not like the scene. Phuket is not like 10 years ago, and the island gets very crowded, sometimes difficult to move.

koh Samui is an altenative, but less girls then in Phuket. Although I never felt happy there, I liked the faxt that there was more life ON the beach at night. Except a few restaurants in Kata, the beaches are less interesting in Phuket, once the squn goes down. And isn't that fun to have the tropical feeling?

dogblower · #8 08-01-2006, 20:03

I used to spend a lot of time in Pattaya and always had an absolute blast - but then I would come home to Phuket.

Pattaya was (and is) always a great place for a holiday - there's lots of bars, gogos, restaurants, golf (if you're that sort of pervert), water parks etc, etc and even some decent scuba diving. Everything was way cheaper, including hotel rooms, which is a big bonus when you have to keep 2 at a time so you have somewhere for STs. Best of all, none of the BGs up there knew me (at first anyway).

But I have to say, that for quality of life, Phuket won hands down for me. The air is better, the sea is cleaner, and if you only go to Patong when you're in party mode (only 6 nights a week), the lifestyle is slower and more relaxed.

Just my opinion.

S1MON · #9 08-01-2006, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterflyblonde

Pattaya is great for those wanting to sample adult nightlife, also has some fairly decent discos, but really lacks something to do daytime.

Is there really less to do in pattaya than in patong during the day, i am asking seriously as after my 5th trip i am beginning to wonder if patong is the place for me, i really struggle for things to do in the afternoon and find myself sitting in a bar on bangla watching the passing people, and inevitably getting hammered for the first time that day, perhaps i just dont put enough effort into finding things to do.
Simon

butterflyblonde · #10 08-01-2006, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by S1MON

Is there really less to do in pattaya than in patong during the day, i am asking seriously as after my 5th trip i am beginning to wonder if patong is the place for me, i really struggle for things to do in the afternoon and find myself sitting in a bar on bangla watching the passing people, and inevitably getting hammered for the first time that day, perhaps i just dont put enough effort into finding things to do.
Simon

Well..to tell you the truth there is actually loads you can do in the day, plenty of places of interest for those bothered to do it or go and see it.

All the usual watersports activities, especially Jomtien Beach. They have decent shopping centres with things to see and do inside. I usually take girls ten pin bowling as plenty of them seem to like that...dare I say it ..they have a good cinema too, also zoos and other attractions like that. The list goes on and Davethailand - bm on this board could fill you in with more info as he lives there.

But my point is that pattaya tends to suck you in, drinking all night, mongering almost 24/7, so you tend to find yourself either sitting by the hotel pool (drinking) or out to a few beer bars (drinking)

Daytime activities for me usually involve shortme bars like soi 6, or a soapy massage etc..and of course drinking, it is a case of waiting for the night to come alive and when it does..it really does.

The young can die fast there ..hehe

Talbotman · #11 08-01-2006, 21:03

I recently returned from los during which i made my 20th visit to pattaya and basically there will never be a 21st visit. I used to absolutely love this place but gradually during my last 3 or 4 visits i have become less and less impressed by the place and coming to Patong for my first time in november has sounded the death bell for me as regards Pattaya . There are various reasons i.e too much traffic, too many vendors at the beach and bars selling crap that i dont want, TOO MANY RUSSIANS, the bars closing at 1am (the ones i want to be in anyway) i am sure someone will come on and say there are bars open after 1am and i am sure there are but none with any life or atmosphere. Whereas in patong you can lie around on the beach or pool all day and then have a snooze in the late afternoon before going out around 10pm as the bars are all open until 3am -4am . i would say one thing pattaya still has the upper hand in Daytime bars in patong there is absolutely no daytime action. When is someone going to open up a go go in the afternoons. because in pattaya i found myself enjoying the afternoon sessions more than the evenings when i would have better things to do with my girl or girls than get pissed 555555555.
But iff i had to point to 1 major reason i now dislike pattaya it would be the Russians they are quite simply obnoxious ba-tar-s and i want to give them as wide a bearth as possible as i cant trust them .

visa2003 · #12 09-01-2006, 15:04

I think Butterflyblonde makes a good point about the drinking in Pattaya. It is just so easy to get caught up in the party/ drinking atmosphere the it does not seem to leave any time for anything else. Also the estimated 1000 beer bars and 40,000 girls to try, does not leave one much time or energy.

Lord_Farquard · #13 09-01-2006, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by visa2003

. Also the estimated 1000 beer bars and 40,000 girls to try, does not leave one much time or energy.

Your numbers don't add up. Using those numbers that means that ther are 40 girls for each beer bar, that seems a little high.
I wonder what the number would be if you included the go-go's. I wonder if there is any way to really tell. Plus you don't include the FL's.
So it seems that there are more than the average guy could handle, plus after you get half way through there will be a whole flock load of new ones.

The Real Sledge · #14 09-01-2006, 17:59

Did Phuket last year and going to do Pattya this. Will let you know

visa2003 · #15 10-01-2006, 04:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord_Farquard

Your numbers don't add up. Using those numbers that means that ther are 40 girls for each beer bar, that seems a little high.
I wonder what the number would be if you included the go-go's. I wonder if there is any way to really tell. Plus you don't include the FL's.
So it seems that there are more than the average guy could handle, plus after you get half way through there will be a whole flock load of new ones.

Sorry about that. These numbers did come up in a conversation at about 3.30am and yes, the go-gos, massage shops and discos etc are not included in the number of establishments but the number of girls is an educated(?) guess.

fzbkk · #16 10-01-2006, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by tintin

I think that 3 months is a lot! Even in phuket.

The advantage of Pattaya is that you can tavel to more places by boat or by car. I have been there once, but did not like the scene. Phuket is not like 10 years ago, and the island gets very crowded, sometimes difficult to move.

koh Samui is an altenative, but less girls then in Phuket. Although I never felt happy there, I liked the faxt that there was more life ON the beach at night. Except a few restaurants in Kata, the beaches are less interesting in Phuket, once the squn goes down. And isn't that fun to have the tropical feeling?

I have visited Samui and for some reason it just didn't do it for me. Maybe the best option will be to mover around every 2 months. But That will add to the cost of my trip. Yea One thing i noticed too was the fact that at night the beaches were empty at Phuket. But that being said As far as swimming went Kata beach shit all over Samui in my opinion.