Where is Phuket or Pattaya cheaper. We list the most interesting points of the excursion program in Phuket. Phuket or Pattaya which is better

Phuket or Pattaya which is better? Approximately this question is asked by tourists choosing a tour to Thailand. Similar questions are asked by those tourists who have already been to Thailand at one of the resorts, and choose where to go this season.

The main differences in these resorts are their location and origin. So nature turned out that Phuket turned out to be an island, and Pattaya was part of the mainland. On the island of Phuket laid highway, which greatly facilitates independent movement around the country. Many products in Phuket are brought from the mainland of Thailand.

Consider the most important aspects of a holiday in Thailand for a tourist. Everyone goes to Thailand clear sea, beautiful beaches and exotic, but is it really so, and where are things better with exotic vacations?

Phuket or Pattaya which is better

The short conclusion is: rest in Pattaya is suitable for young party-goers who love leisure and adventure, holidays in Phuket are chosen by couples with children, for whom comfort is more important than entertainment (although there is enough entertainment here).

Climate, weather and seasons

The climate in Pattaya is much more pleasant in any season. In the dry season (November to April), the probability of precipitation is minimal (it can rain 2-3 times a month, no longer than half an hour), the rest of the time the bright sun shines, in Phuket it can rain every week. During the rainy season (May to October) in Pattaya it will rain no more than once a week, of short duration, while in Phuket it will rain more often and longer.

The climate is better in Pattaya.

Sea

Here a tourist flew from Moscow to Pattaya waiting white sandy beaches, clear water and complete relaxation, but it turns out that he flew in vain. And indeed, the state of the sea in the city is so-so, the most common yellow sand on a narrow sandy beach and the water is cloudy.

Many tourists go to Koh Lan for swimming, it is located an hour's drive from Pattaya, you can get to Koh Lan on a regular ferry that runs on schedule. Some tourists (and me too) swim and sunbathe on the beaches in Pattaya, because the road to nearest island Koh Lan takes two hours (an hour there and an hour back), besides, you need to move around the island on something (I rent a moped), so trips to the island are expensive, both in terms of money and time.

The sea around Phuket is much cleaner and more pleasant than the sea in the city of Pattaya, and the sea here is different, in Pattaya it is the Gulf of Thailand, and Phuket is washed by the Andaman Sea. The transparency of the water in Phuket is surprising, the water is warm, and the bottom relief is gentle, which is especially important for tourists traveling with children.

The sea is better in Phuket.

Beaches and beach holidays

You can compare the noisiest and most crowded beach in Phuket - Patong, then even it looks much better than the city beaches in Pattaya. Many tourists speak extremely negatively about Patong, but it is so huge that you can find your own perfect place maybe even on it. As a rule, in Patong the most crowded place is near the exit from Bangla Road, but step a little to the side and you will be happy.

Some of the beaches in Phuket are private and belong to hotels (both large and small), so if you want to sunbathe in splendid isolation, you can choose one of these beaches. The choice and variety of beaches on the island is amazing, there are both tourist beaches with an abundance of vacationers, and completely deserted ones, both absolutely free and those for which they charge an entrance fee.

The beaches are better in Phuket.

Attractions

It is difficult to say that there are fewer attractions in Phuket than in Pattaya, most likely they are a little different and will suit those tourists who love the natural beauties of Thailand.

But nevertheless, the number of excursions and attractions in Pattaya rolls over and simply defies any analysis. There is everything from an amazing garden of million-year-old stones to trips to neighboring Cambodia, and if this is not enough, then it is only two hours by bus to the capital of Thailand - Bangkok.

For lovers of the original natural beauty, you should definitely visit the world-famous Similan Nature Reserve, which can be reached from Phuket, and if you are relaxing in Pattaya, be sure to go to the River Kwai.

There are more attractions in Pattaya.

Entertainment

There are many times more entertainment in Pattaya than in Phuket, the famous Pattaya street Volkin Street ripples from advertising entertainment venues. Volkin Street is full of restaurants, nightclubs, discos, bars with girls (not all of them are girls, be careful), go-go bars, exotic shows (transvestite show, X show, 69, etc.) .

Phuket also has an analogue of Volkin Street called Bangla Road, the scale is not the same as in Pattaya, but hot lovers will find what they are looking for. In Phuket, you should choose the right place to stay, because all the entertainment is concentrated in the Patong area. While the sun sets in Patong and evening life begins, the rest of the island goes into "sleep" mode.

Entertainment is better in Pattaya

Housing prices

Phuket is considered the most expensive resort in Thailand, but despite this status, you can find housing in it for 300 baht per day (details about the exchange rate of the baht to the ruble), but do not flatter yourself with a low price, it is likely that some feature of such cheapness will be revealed a little later .

Housing prices in Phuket

In general, accommodation prices are about the same, although there are a number of features. If Pattaya has a good choice apartments (apartments), then in Phuket huge selection villas and small private single-family houses, but otherwise much is very similar. Taking into account the fact that a villa in Phuket can be rented for several families and save a lot, Phuket is more profitable.

Housing prices in Pattaya

In a word, if you are traveling with your family for a relaxing holiday, then it is more profitable to go to Phuket.

Housing prices are better in Phuket (price/quality).

Prices for food and food

As for food prices, Phuket with imported fruits and vegetables is ready to surprise you with practical Moscow fruit prices, and some restaurants may not be visited by everyone Russian tourists. This is especially noticeable in the Patong area. Sometimes it gets ridiculous, you choose what you want to buy, you go towards Kata Beach and everything is the same there, but much cheaper. There are also very authentic roadside cafes with Thai prices.

The height of surprise for me (in the 2015 season) was the price of my favorite fruit - durian. Durian in Patong is sold already peeled for 1000 baht per kilogram ( approximately $28), while in neighboring Vietnam I bought the same durian no more than 40,000 dong per kilogram ( about 2 dollars).

IN Pattaya prices the food is more similar to Bangkok and bargaining is possible, as every Asian market requires. However, the prices for everything else: restaurants, bars, massage, food, manufactured goods, entertainment, travel, motorbike rental, etc. in Pattaya are much lower than in Phuket and this is a fact.

However, you can go north from Patong, where you can also find more acceptable prices and more accommodating Thais, only for this you need to rent a bike.

All those who like to drink, eat and have fun are recommended to go on vacation to Pattaya, where everything is cheaper and much more interesting.

Food prices are better in Pattaya.

Where is it easier to get from Bangkok to Pattaya or Phuket

If you independent traveler and flew to Bangkok, then getting to the beaches of Pattaya will be much easier for you and, no less important, much cheaper.

Airfare from Russia to Pattaya is cheaper.

Summarize: Pattaya is suitable for noisy, cheerful companies that are not averse to fit into any adventure (sometimes very dubious), here you can also go on excursions and other tourist attractions. Phuket is more suitable for a relaxing family vacation with children; holidays on the island are also often chosen by newlyweds for their honeymoon.

Have a nice holiday in Thailand.

Or Phuket? Let's try to understand this dilemma... Very often I hear from my friends who fly to Phuket an offer to meet. I am always for meeting friends, but the distance of more than 1000 km stops.

Any problem becomes easier if it is broken into several parts, we will try to do the same.

Climate and nature

Thailand has a length from North to South of 1860 kilometers and a climate in extreme points differs strikingly. The terrible combination of the words "The rainy season in Thailand" stops many and dissuades from resting in Thailand. But, for example, the rainy season in Pattaya is not terrible at all, you can relax here all year round. But Phuket is clearly playing in this regard, here the rainy season is terrible not so much with rain as with a high wave, so many excursions to the islands are canceled, you won’t do much snorkeling. During the rainy season in Phuket, it is good for windsurfers to relax when the wave is high.

But Pattaya clearly loses in the beauty of nature, or rather, "nature" is absent here at all. Almost everything is cultivated, plowed up and processed. Phuket, as a resort, with its islands, beaches, clearly wins in this parameter.

Beaches and sea

If you are only interested in a beach holiday, then the beaches of Pattaya will disappoint you, in the city itself the sea is quite dirty, a large number of tourists. In Pattaya, a good alternative to the city beach are the beaches of the nearest island Koh Lan or Military beach. In this position, Phuket definitely wins! The beaches here are cleaner and more beautiful, there are much more islands around. The most popular beach in Phuket is Patong Beach. It should be mentioned that in Pattaya you have to swim in Gulf of Thailand, South China Sea, and this is the water area Pacific Ocean. In Phuket, you will swim in the Andaman Sea, the Indian Ocean.

Entertainment and excursions

There is a lot of entertainment in Phuket and Pattaya, and in 10 days of vacation you can’t try all this on yourself. Pattaya is famous for its entertainment for men, an excursion to the River Kwai, a crocodile farm, Nong Nooch Park, the proximity of Bangkok with its shopping and entertainment centers, also makes Pattaya a big plus. In Phuket, excursions have a marine bias, numerous boat trips, trips to the islands, diving. In terms of the variety of excursions, according to the general opinion of the people living here, Phuket loses to Pattaya. But this statement is very controversial, since to each his own.

Pattaya has much more nightlife for men and women, Walking Street, Beach and Second Street and many more places in Pattaya you can see institutions only for adults. In other words, there is more debauchery in Pattaya, but this cannot be attributed to a disadvantage, everyone is looking for what he needs.

Prices

Phuket is one of the most expensive provinces in Thailand and prices are slightly higher than in Pattaya. In Phuket, get ready to pay more for a taxi, food, even a sunbed on the beach will cost more. Phuket taxi is a separate article, an article about the emergence of the mafia, which does not allow the market to develop freely. Be prepared for the fact that your transportation costs will be comparable to living in a good condo. If you do not drive a motorbike, then lay fare minimum 500-1000 baht per day.

How to get from Pattaya to Phuket and back?

Direct bus from Pattaya to Phuket departs from north street in Pattaya. If you stand with your back to Sukhkumvit, then from Northern bus station about 100 meters straight on the left side of the office of the transport company.

• The office is open from 08:00 to 18:00
• Ticket price: 848 regular and 1131 bais VIP class.
• Departure: at 18:00 from the office. You will be in Phuket by 08:00.
• The return journey is not much different. On bus station where you were brought buy a ticket for the same money and at 18:00 you leave for Pattaya.

You can buy a bus ticket online through the Thai ticket booking system. It is now also in Russian.

Those people who have never visited Thailand are often interested in the question of which of the two resorts to prefer.

In this article we will help you make a choice, because the quality of rest and the received positive emotions from a stay in Thailand.

Where to go after all: to Pattaya or Phuket? It is difficult to give an exact answer to this question, because it is important to take into account personal preferences and the purpose of the trip. Perhaps you want to soak up the clear sea or learn about the sights of Thailand, try exotic dishes or visit local modern oriental-style hangouts.

So, let's see what are the pros and cons of the two main resorts in Thailand - Phuket and Pattaya.

Phuket or Pattaya: where is it better to relax?

So that you can not make a mistake with the place of rest, we will analyze in detail where the rest will bring positive emotions for you. To do this, we compare both resorts according to different criteria.

Beaches

If you are interested in a beach holiday, then Phuket takes the lead.

In Pattaya, you can visit three huge beaches and several small beaches. In Phuket, the number of beaches is much larger, and their size also differs. This allows each tourist to choose that corner of the resort where he can completely relax from all worries.

In Phuket, there are noisy beaches where constant parties take place, and there are quiet ones with a small number of people. In Pattaya, there are a lot of people on all the beaches, so it will be very difficult to retire.

❗ The beaches of Phuket are better and more diverse than the beaches of Pattaya.

Holiday cost

Phuket is one of the most expensive resorts Thailand, especially when it comes to accommodation or taxi rides. You can try to find affordable housing, but it is more difficult to do so. Most of the guesthouses that are rented to tourists are not represented on the Internet. Another big disadvantage of inexpensive housing is that it is too far from the sea. And to go to the beach by taxi you will have to pay a tidy sum.

In Pattaya, prices are much lower for everything - accommodation, taxis, food, entertainment, restaurants and more. Because of this, tours to Pattaya are more popular among tourists. From Pattaya, you can go to Bangkok, which is 100 km away, and do cheap shopping. If you want to go shopping, visit restaurants, have fun, then it is better to choose Pattaya.

❗ Holidays in Pattaya are cheaper than holidays in Phuket.

Entertainment

The most common holiday option in Thailand is considered to be diving, as well as snorkeling and fishing. Phuket and the nearby islands are the best place for this type of holiday. In Pattaya, you will not be able to fully engage in diving, and on the nearby islands, not too rich undersea world, especially when compared with Phuket and the Andaman Sea.

Walking Street in Pattaya is the place where the main entertainments of the entire resort are collected. Most of the recreation facilities for different categories of tourists are located here. First of all, Walking Street is known as the "red light district" where men can find exotic entertainment.

In Phuket, it is important to choose the right beach if you want loud and bright holiday. The best option in this case is Patong. The rest of the beaches are relatively calm. On the southern beaches, after the sun sets, life generally stops.

❗ For noisy entertainment - to Pattaya, for measured rest- to Phuket.

Weather

Weather in Pattaya. If we talk about the weather, Pattaya takes the lead here. At this resort, the weather is the warmest in all of Thailand. From late autumn to mid-spring, precipitation is very rare, about 2 times a month, and their duration does not exceed half an hour. In Pattaya, the sun constantly shines, which is so lacking in the cold season for tourists from Russia. From early May to October inclusive, the rainy season continues. In this case, precipitation occurs several times a week. Sometimes it can rain for a week, and then not go for a week, if not more. During this period, you can see clouds in the sky more often than the sun. When the rainy season comes, then in the rest of Thailand, conditions are several times worse.

Weather in Phuket. During the "no rain" season in Phuket, it can rain several times a week. In the cold season, rains are an almost daily occurrence, and the duration of rain can exceed several hours. Of course, the weather can be a little different every year and sometimes even during the rainy season in Phuket there can be a few dry and sunny days. Another disadvantage is that during the rainy season in Phuket there are very high waves, there is also a dangerous current. A ban on swimming in the sea will be signaled by special flags along the entire beach.

❗ If you are traveling during the “rainy season”, it is better to choose Pattaya.

Sea

When it comes to choosing a location for beach holiday, then the state of the sea is one of the most important indicators. After all, first of all, tourists go to enjoy the warm and clear sea, swim, sunbathe, and only after that see the sights or buy souvenirs.

In Pattaya, the sea is very dirty, it is even difficult to call it a sea. It is the worst in all of Thailand. On the main beach of the resort there are many motor water activities, which significantly spoils the state of the sea. Tourists and residents themselves throw various garbage into the water. Only 2 beaches in Pattaya can be called relatively clean - these are Jomtien, Wongamat. Near Pattaya there are many small islands where the water is crystal clear. You can get there relatively quickly and cheaply by ferry.

In Phuket, the sea is several times cleaner, especially on those beaches where there are not a huge number of tourists. Even on the big beach resort of Patong, where there are always a lot of people, the state of the sea is much better than in Pattaya. On the southern beaches of Phuket, you can easily see a wide variety of fish that swim near the shore without fear.

❗ In Phuket, the sea is much cleaner than in Pattaya.

Phuket and Pattaya: Comparison

Rest in each of the resorts has its pros and some disadvantages. They are important to consider when choosing a resort for recreation. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each resort in the tables.

Pattaya

Phuket

A resort like Pattaya is a great vacation option for people who prefer a budget option leisure or for those who like to travel alone. Tourists who visit Pattaya during the rainy season will be able to know better historical heritage and culture of Thailand. See beautiful architecture and familiarize yourself with incredible places of this country.

Phuket is a resort for tourists who travel exclusively for a beach holiday and who are willing to pay extra for it. Excellent given the resort is suitable for couples with children and for those people who are not particularly interested in sights and architecture. Phuket is beautiful resort where you can visit the islands, visit the jungle, get close to nature.

Phuket or Pattaya: where is the best place to spend your vacation?

If you want to visit Thailand, learn more about Asian culture, get acquainted with numerous sights and visit loud parties, then the best option for you - this is Pattaya. You can go to this resort without children and completely immerse yourself in the life of Thailand. In addition, this option is perfect if you do not want or do not have the opportunity to spend too much money on vacation.

But if you prefer relaxing holiday alone with nature, clear sea, numerous beaches, it is better to go to Phuket.

• The beaches of Phuket are better and more varied than the beaches of Pattaya;
• Holidays in Pattaya are cheaper than holidays in Phuket;
• For noisy entertainment - to Pattaya, for a measured rest - to Phuket;
• With children it is better to relax in Phuket;
• In Phuket, the sea is much cleaner than in Pattaya.

Reviews

“We rested in Pattaya for the second time in a row and, as it turned out, did not know much.
For example, you can absolutely safely buy excursions "across the road", and not three expensive from tour operators. Yes, of course, there is a risk regarding insurance. But transport services, hotels for overnight stays, food - it's all at the highest level. And the program is no different. It just affects the overall cost. Having visited 3 excursions, we managed to save 30% percent.
I will also tell the "future" vacationers about Thai pharmacies, which only bring tourists. Do not get fooled by Thai medicinal preparations, roots, teas, oils. For example, I will say that having bought on snake farm ointment for hemorrhoids, and in a regular pharmacy bath oil, I saw absolutely identical bottles with the same liquids both in smell and color. The only difference is the labels. But that's not all. Tearing off the top label with a snake, I “smiled” exactly the same as the pharmacy. Only now they paid dearly for the "snake" one. ((
And in principle, if you ask yourself a question more seriously, then it is unlikely that you will be able to find a culture of growing tea in the country of smiles and sun. Although the local market pleases the eye - for only 100 baht 3 packs of tea!))
Have a good rest, and don't forget to bargain!!!"

“My husband and I were in Pattaya for the first time in October-November 2016. Previously, I studied a lot of information about Thailand on the Internet. Particularly controversial was the question: is it possible to swim on the beaches of Pattaya? Therefore, I will try to express my opinion - maybe it will help someone. 3 times we have been central beach on Beach Road just south of Festival Central. 3 times went to Koh Lan and 2 days were on excursions to the island of Samet.
Central pattaya beach: the sand is yellow, quite clean, every morning the owners of the sun loungers clean the beach. In the water, basically, the garbage did not float - it could be in the visibility range of 1-2 plastic bottles or package. The color of the water is gray-green in cloudy weather and green-gray in sunny weather. The transparency of the water, I would say, is average, i.e. standing up to your neck in water, you see yourself up to your waist. As for the fact that the sewerage is merging into the sea, there are no visible signs. And sewerage is drained into the sea in most coastal cities, for example, in Odessa. My conclusion is that you can swim if you have an excursion that day and have half a day free, or on the first / last day, or some other reason. But I would not recommend using this beach as the only permanent beach.
You should definitely visit the islands.
Ko Lan. There were 3 times on different beaches: Tawaen, Tong Leng (on foot after Tawaen on a concrete path), Samae. Of these beaches, I liked Samae the most, and Thong Leng was the worst. On all beaches, the water is the same - very clear, turquoise, just lovely. The sand is the best on Tawaen, but the rest is also not bad - almost white. Differences in infrastructure. The cost of sunbeds on Tawaene is 100 Baht (sometimes you can bargain for 75), on Tong Leng 100 (not traded), on Samae - exactly the same soft sunbeds -20 or 30 or more in different places. It's great with food - a lot of tasty and affordable (the Chinese do not eat everything by 11 o'clock as on the other two beaches). I'll write a review about Fr. Samet - now there is no time, "

“I was with my brother in Phuket in February and I want to share my impressions. Lived in Patong. Prior to that, rested more than ten years ago in Pattaya. To be honest, I am disappointed with the holiday. As if this is not the same Thailand, the Thais have stopped smiling and sometimes behave aggressively. Everything has gone up in price, especially transportation. Moreover, there are no regular bus routes to the beaches of the island. Since the sea in Patong is dirty, I had to take the so-called tuk tuk to Karon Beach for two if in rubles for 1000 rubles round trip and this is after bargaining. On the beaches there are no changing rooms, awnings, toilets, sunbeds, in general, there is nothing, you can only take an umbrella and a mattress for money, on average, for 200 rubles per person. The climate is very humid and hot. The insidious sea carries away imperceptibly even without waves, once it was barely raked to the shore, and there are no lifeguards, the beach is very large. Therefore, it is dangerous to sail away from the shore and it is better to always have the bottom under your feet. Excursions are expensive and tiring, as they are mostly by sea, and departure from the other end of the island and there you have to take a long bus ride. I don’t recommend renting a scooter, it’s very easy to get into big trouble in the event of even a small accident, which is very easy given the intensity of left-hand traffic and the recklessness of the locals. As I understand it, the local police do business on this after the accident, they take away the passport, sort of like for the duration of the trial, but try not to give it back and then they extort money. And you don’t know the language of the local laws and the plane didn’t wait for a short time, and in general they told me who got into this horror. And if as a result you caused some kind of damage to the local, you won’t fly away at all. We took a couple of days and I collapsed and badly skinned my leg walking around the city so the police immediately came up and asked for a bike? Well, I was warned in advance. A special topic is the attitude in the hotel and the Chinese of which there are a lot and come large groups. In general, the Chinese treat Russians with disdain, I would even say condescendingly, let’s say for breakfast in a restaurant they line up with a cook with scrambled eggs and it’s simply impossible to come up, some will take it right there, others climb without a queue, you stand, you even fight, but it seems like you’ve come to rest. Then they just tried not to stop them. In the hotel, too, not without problems, I will start with the fact that in the room there is an inventory of property up to a teaspoon. And they immediately warn against signature that no one should be brought into the room otherwise a fine as in Soviet times. Well, yes, that’s okay, but we didn’t know what kind of story we had in the fridge-bar, but as it turned out, the soda can swelled from the low temperature, we return from the beach in the evening and they don’t give us the key at the reception, they turn this can and say pay it’s your fault. In general, such behavior of the staff is a disgrace to the hotel in general and the fact that the key was not given twice. Therefore, who will go immediately upon check-in, say that everything is removed from the refrigerator. In general, the streets are narrow, not very clean, it is not customary for drivers to give way to pedestrians even at a few pedestrian crossings. Moreover, there is nothing particularly interesting there, but going there with children is generally stupid. There is nothing for children, neither food nor children's infrastructure. And another very important issue is medicine, those insurances that are issued by travel agencies do not actually work there, because in which case they tell you it’s not an insured event, you were engaged in an extreme sport or something else, and if you object, they say pay money at a local clinic, take bills come home and go to court. Therefore, you need to take a decent amount of money with you just in case for treatment. And these are not fantasies, but I talked to one woman, she ran along the sea in the morning and a crack injured her leg, and this is how the insurance company acted with her. Moreover, the flight is long and tiring. The climate is humid and hot all the time as in the bath is not comfortable. Ask, well, what's good there .... but the good is fruits and fresh seafood and their prices are tolerable at the level of Moscow. He stated everything sincerely, he did not go there with his foot. I really regret the wasted time and money. Tell me very gloomy described ... I think not just objectively. Reckless youth may like it there, which is generally good everywhere, as long as their parents are not around, but I think, in view of the foregoing, it is dangerous to let them go there. All success and right choice places of rest, after all, vacation is basically once a year, and if you look at the years, there are not so many years in a person’s life, ”

To make the right choice, it is not enough to compare photos on the Internet, you need to understand what you expect from your vacation. Consider the details, and try to decide which resort is better: Pattaya or Phuket?

Sea

Our compatriots are looking for in Thailand, first of all, a clean warm sea. If this criterion is also the most important for you, you should definitely give preference to Phuket with its crystal water and white sand.

is a lively resort city with a high port load, which negatively affects the purity of the water. Garbage flies into the sea: bottles, papers, bags, making swimming impossible. Only the most casual tourists bathe in Pattaya itself.

The rest go to rest on remote beaches, or Wong Amat, and nearby islands. The most popular - .

You can get here from the mainland on regular ferries. A one-way ticket costs 30 baht, the journey will take about 45 minutes, but at the end of the journey you will find the clearest sea.

Beaches

In search of a beach holiday, relaxation on the soft sand and a photo with heavenly landscapes, again, it is better to fly to the most major resort in Thailand, Phuket island. The island has a huge number of beaches for every taste: from busy and long to tiny and secluded.

But even on the most crowded and party Patong (pictured below), which the locals consider not very suitable for swimming, it is cleaner and more comfortable than on the beaches of Pattaya.

Phuket is inferior to Pattaya in terms of infrastructure, but in last years all types of beach holidays are available on the island and aquatic species sports, snorkeling and diving. Coastline the islands are sandy, gently sloping, the entrance to the water is long, but there are beaches with depth. The water remains clear and warm throughout the season from October to May. Getting to the beaches of Phutek for the first time, you can’t believe your eyes that you see this beauty live, and not on a postcard, TV screen or photo.

- it is more a place for parties than for relaxation and enjoyment natural scenery. Developed infrastructure: cafes, discos, shops, bars, massage parlors - close to the beaches.

The most party-like are the central and southern beaches, the exception is Jomtien. Quieter and cleaner in the north of the resort. Seekers of a relaxing holiday and families with children should take a closer look at Naklua Beach - a quiet, picturesque fishing bay in the northern part.

Or choose neighboring Wong Amat, the cleanest in the resort. And Dongtan is better for family tourists to bypass - this is the most popular LGBT beach in all of Thailand.

Climate

There are no fundamental differences here. Both there and there you will be waited by the warm sea and the hot sun. Perhaps a little uncomfortable and it will be humid during the rainy season. But it's still better than minus 20 and snow.

Attractions

This item when choosing "Pattaya or Phuket?" plays in favor of the mainland. A vacation spent on the island will only reveal the traditions and culture of the country for you. After all, the main ones are natural. To obtain full impression about Thailand, it is better to go to Pattaya.

The list of attractions in Phuket is not long: several temples, a butterfly or crocodile farm, waterfalls. You can spend your entire vacation on sightseeing in Pattaya, in the photo - the entire flash drive. Temple of Truth, Mini Siam Park, elephant village, hill big buddha, floating market, Alangkarn Theatre, Si Racha Zoo and much more. Most from this can be viewed on the bike.

And when everything is studied, the bus will take you to Bangkok in two hours, where the main attractions of the country are concentrated. Three hours on the road - and you get to Ayutthaya, ancient capital Thailand, where there is also something to see. Choice organized excursions from Pattaya is also much better.

Prices

Phuket is one of the most expensive resorts in Thailand. Luxurious villas and luxurious hotels are concentrated here. Of course, you can find a modest room in a guesthouse for the same price as in other resorts in Thailand, but there are fewer of them, because Phuket is not focused on poor tourists. Unless Patong offers a good selection of economical housing.

Double rooms in a guesthouse from $20 per night. Two weeks of rest in the same modest conditions can be booked for $200. In Pattaya, housing prices are more attractive and the choice of affordable guesthouses is great: a room can be rented for $10 per day.

Food in Phuket is more expensive, and twice as expensive. The prices on the island are not “Thai” at all. If in Pattaya you can have a hearty meal in a macaroon for 30-40 baht ($1.5), then in Phuket for 50-70 baht ($1.5-2). If you believe the reviews and photos of tourists, a dinner for two with wine in a restaurant costs 650 baht ($ 20) - 850 baht ($ 25) this season.

Prices for fruits in the resorts vary, especially on popular beaches, but in general within: mango 60-80 baht / kg ($ 2-2.5), pineapple 20-40 baht / piece ($ 0.5-1.2), papaya 40-70 baht ($ 1-2), mangosteen 40-80 baht ($1-2.3). In search of cheap fruits, it is better to move away from busy tourist places and buy fruit from car dealers or fruit markets.

Shopping opportunities are undeniably better on the mainland. And it’s even wiser to buy things not at the resort, but to go to Bangkok.

Taxi costs for luxury resort also come out seriously: short trips between beaches - from 200 baht ($ 6), for long distance- from 1000 baht ($ 29). On the mainland and in Thailand as a whole, a trip up to 500 meters is 100 baht ($ 3), more - 150-350 baht ($ 4.5-10).

Transport accessibility

Starting point for independent tourists serving Bangkok. From Bangkok to get to Pattaya is the easiest. Travel time from Eastern Station- 2 hours, ticket price - 120 baht ($ 3.5). In Pattaya, the most affordable transport is tuk-tuk. It will be possible to get from the bus station to the hotel for an average of 30 baht ($ 1).

There is a bus to Phuket from Bangkok from the South Station. Ticket price - from 600 baht ($ 18). You will have to spend at least 11 hours on the road. There is also air service: the most affordable tickets are from Lion Air: about 700 baht ($ 20) one way. Minibuses run from the airport to Potong: 180 baht ($5) per ticket. Is there some more Shuttle Buses, the movement of which is slightly cheaper, but they go once an hour and finish work before 18:00.

conclusions

If you want to visit Thailand to immerse yourself in the colorful Asian culture, see national sights, hang out. If you are not fundamentally clear sea beyond the threshold of the villa and idyllic photos, you are ready to take the time to get to neighboring island. If you want to cut down on vacation expenses and still travel without children, Pattaya is your option!

But if in the first place for you is a relaxing holiday surrounded by nature, clear sea and beaches, if you have plans to visit a large number of sea ​​excursions(, and so on), if you are going on vacation with children and are ready to pay money for comfortable rest, your destination is Phuket.

Pattaya or Phuket - it's up to you! Choose right resort for yourself, and you will definitely have best experience about Thailand, which will be remembered for a long time, on video and photo.

Search for cheap flights

Phuket or Pattaya which is better? This question is most often asked by tourists who fly to Thailand for the first time. And although there are no comrades for the taste and color, there are several objective factors that can be compared and thereby ease the torment of choice for beginners. So…

Where is the best place to relax?

One of the most important conditions is, of course, the sea. According to this parameter, the clear leader is Phuket. There is more greenery here, the coastal strip is wider, the sea is much cleaner, and the descent into it is more gentle, which is an additional plus if you come to relax with small children.

In Pattaya, it’s more pleasant to just sunbathe on the beach, and it’s better to go into the sea to swim on a boat or a boat. If you want to swim, it is advisable to go to nearby islands, for example,. On the way, you will be 45 minutes and pay about 30 baht one way per passenger (). There are much more beaches in Phuket, you can choose secluded places. In Pattaya, everywhere is crowded.

Another important circumstance in deciding the issue of Phuket or Pattaya: where is the best place to relax is the climate. This is where Pattaya comes in. From November to April - during the dry season - it rains a maximum of twice a month, and even then, no more than half an hour. During the rainy season, precipitation averages twice a week, although the sky is often overcast. in Phuket at low season are often big waves and dangerous undercurrents, so watch out for warning flags.

In terms of ecology best Phuket. Almost half of the resort here is occupied by forests, which improves air quality. In Pattaya, there are not even parks.

Pattaya or Phuket: which is better?

As for reviews on parameters such as attractions and prices, then it is better to choose Pattaya. Phuket is considered one of the most expensive resorts, and you will pay much more for living here. Budget hotels are also available, but they are rarely seen on the Internet, and you will have to walk a long time to the sea. There are practically no sights in Phuket - just a few old temples and waterfalls. You will have to travel 12-14 hours to Bangkok and Ayutthaya or.

When comparing entertainment, reviews are divided. In both resorts you can find something to do, but in Pattaya prices are lower, but there is no snorkeling and fishing. To do this, you will have to go to the islands, although even there the underwater world is much poorer than in the Andaman Sea.

Search for cheap hotels

Summing up, we can say that Phuket is more suitable for a beach holiday with children and for those who are not particularly interested in the architecture of the country. Pattaya is a more "party" place that is suitable for active tourists.