Thailand is a country that draws people from all over the world for its lively night life, beaches, food, shopping and massages. And Pattaya, the bustling coastal city on the Gulf of Thailand is the most popular among adult tourists for its pulsating nightlife. However, this is exactly the reason why family travelers shy away from it. While planning our Thailand holiday with our kid, we too were skeptical about adding Pattaya to our Itinerary but we decided to take the plunge and Boy! what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be! So, here is the post that tries to reinvent Pattaya as a family friendly / kid friendly travel destination.
Pattaya with Kids? No Worries!
Best Time To Visit
Thailand experiences a typical tropical climate all year round. However, November to February are the best months to visit as these months provide some respite from the heat. However this is also the peak tourist season so make sure you do all your bookings well in advance as attractions may get sold out. Also expect crowded beaches and attractions and inflated rates everywhere so do check our Klook to get discounted prices.
March to May is when it gets really hot and humid but still there are a fair number of tourists this time around. June to October is when the rain Gods are smiling over Thailand and then the tourist inflow reduces considerably. This is when its not too hot, the beaches and attractions are not crowded and hotels are cheap.
Places To Visit
Sanctuary Of Truth
Still under construction, Sanctuary of Truth is termed to be the largest wooden structure in the world. The construction of this whopping 105 meters tall museum started in 1980 and is expected to complete by 2050. The intricate wooden carvings are hand carved by artisans and the pieces are joined using traditional Thai craftmanship. The aesthetics and carvings are inspired by Hindu and Buddhist sculptures.
The carvings and sculptures denote the philosophy of life and the world of wisdom and ideals that can be adopted in our everyday lives. Apart from the Sanctuary, there are also many activities available like carriage ride, elephant ride, ATV rides, mini zoo etc. It is one of the most visited places in Pattaya and always a good idea to skip the queue and book your entry tickets online at Klook that too at a discounted rate.
Dolphinarium
This is one of the best dolphin parks to get up, close and personal with these amazing lovable creatures. Apart the hugely popular dolphin and seal show, you can also opt for once in a lifetime experience of swimming with dolphins. The dolphin and seal show is much better than other shows we witnessed in SE Asia. Its advisable to reach the venue at least 30 mins before the show timing to get the best seats. The tickets can be bought at the venue however, we recommend to book them on Klook to get the best rates that too hassle-free.
Noong Nooch Park
Noong Nooch is a 2.5sq km botanical garden with varied themes and elevated pathways. Dinosaur Valley and Cactus garden are a must visit. Life-size statues of different animals are located all over the park that make it a must visit with kids. Elephant feeding and elephant ride along with deer feeding station are more fun activities for kids and adults alike. The viewing gallery gives a 360 degree view of the entire park and is vision for sore eyes. The park is huge and we suggest to take a tour bus if you are not too comfortable walking in Thailand’s heat. The tickets can be bought prior on Klook along with lunch and elephant ride options.
Pattaya Tiger Park
This is another popular attraction in Pattaya. We recommend you prior book the tickets on Klook to avoid the huge ticketing line here. Tiger park is once in a lifetime experience to touch and feel these magnificent animals. Tigers of varying ages are kept in separate enclosures where you can enter and take a photo with them. Trainers will be present all the time to guide you and keep you safe. Individuals with height less than 160 cm, or less than 15 years old, elderly and disabled people can choose photo-op with smallest tiger only (interestingly they also appear bigger than an adult size Rottweiler).
Pattaya Floating Market
Visit one of the largest floating markets here in Pattaya. Choose a long tail boat or a speed boat and sail through 10,000 sq meters of this man made floating market. You can shop various hand made souvenirs, bags, clothes also fresh fruits. Do not miss to indulge in local Thai delicacies like pad Thai and sticky rice with mango. We booked our tour from Klook and got transfers included in the price. The inclusions were clearly mentioned with well maintained cabs and well informed tour guide.
Mini Siam
This is a must visit for kids. Enjoy over 100 miniature replicas of the world not in 80 days but in 80 mins here. The park is divided inti parts: Mini Siam and Mini Europe. Mini Siam houses replicas of Emerald Buddha, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya among others. Mini Europe houses Eiffel Tower London Bridge and L’arc de Triomphe and many more. Klook offers discounted tickets for Mini Siam so do not forget to check it out.
Things To Do
Coral Island (Koh Larn) Tour
Situated just 7kms off the mainland, into the Gulf of Thailand lies the scenic Coral Island. A day trip to this island is a perfect opportunity for water activities as well as some relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of Pattaya. The radiant coral reef here can be experienced by scuba diving, underwater sea walk and snorkeling. There is also a platform built for parasailing on the way to this island. The island is blessed with pristine golden sands and clear turquoise waters lined with thick green foliage making it one of the top things to do when in Pattaya. These trips can be booked from your hotel or any other travel agents scattered around the city, however, reliability is an issue here so we booked ours from Klook. The terms and conditions, inclusions and exclusions are clearly mentioned which saved us from getting scammed which is very common in this country.
Bathe and Feed the Elephants
Unlike others, The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is an ethical and sustainable eco-tourism project developed by the Thailand Government. Located at four places in Thailand in Pattaya, Chang Mai, Phuket and Koh Samui. The main objective of this project to make sure the elephants are not abused, poached or ill-treated. The sanctuary offers full day and half day programs where you can bathe the gigantic creatures, feed them and know all about them. This is one of the must do activities with kids. You can choose whatever program that suits you on Klook. Additionally, you can also learn to make some handmade paper out of elephant poop! and take them home as a souvenir.
Tiffany Show
Tiffany or Alcazar Shows are very popular and have a worldwide appeal. These shows are known for their extravagant costumes as well as light and sound effects. Both of these have no age restrictions. However, since the shows are performed by lady-boys, parental control is advisable. Pro Tip: do not buy the tickets on the spot, skip the long queues and buy them online on Klook.
Beach Hopping
Pattaya is home to many picture perfect beaches making it a popular destination for beach hopping.
Pattaya Beach
Pattaya Beach is the most popular one as its right in the city. Its a good beach to satisfy your adventurous self with some jet skiing and parasailing.
Jomtien Beach
This is the cooler and happening beach in Pattaya. The rows of Hotels and restaurants lining the sea face makes it a perfect place for relaxation.
Bang Sein Beach
This is the most peaceful beaches in Pattaya. Its perfect for some meditation by the beach.
Wong Amat Beach
One of the more instagrammable beach in Pattaya. The crescent bay surrounding the beach offers spectacular views of the ocean making it a popular choice among beach hoppers.
Where to Stay
Pattaya has many staying options to choose from. The options can be proximity to the beach, walking street, hotel or a villa and of course the budget. When travelling with kids we suggest to find a place away from the walking street and other similar areas. We stayed on Pattaya Beach road which had an easy access to Pattaya beach and was bang opposite the Pattaya Night Market. It was kid friendly area with many kid friendly eating joints too.
Klook.com
Where to Eat
Thai cuisine hits all the right notes. It is delicious and easy on the stomach too. Pattaya has an abundance of eating options ranging from street food to fine dining. We recommend you try out both on your culinary journey. Apart from local food options Pattaya also offers lots of international cuisine with vegan and Indian options too. Here are some of our recommendations. Caprise Restaurant and Bar, Indian By Nature, The Bistro.
Where to Shop
Malls, floating markets, stalls, night bazaars! Shopping in Pattaya is fun and quirky. Depending on your budget you can choose your retail therapy. We loved shopping in Night Market for cheap bags, clothes and other trinkets and treasures. Malls like Malls like Central Pattaya and Terminal 21 are must visit for some quality shopping.
