Located on the eastern coast of Thailand, Pattaya is a popular destination for tourists and expats alike. However, when many people hear the word ‘Pattaya,’ they immediately think of its infamous red-light district and rampant sex tourism but in reality, that’s only a tiny part of what the city has to offer as it’s mostly a city known for its safe, family-friendly communities, beaches and low cost of living.
Its proximity to Bangkok, ease of access and cost of living, make it potentially a good place to holiday with family and kids but is it a good place to actually LIVE for families? The answer of course is yes, with a few caveats so let’s take a look at the pros and cons about what Pattaya has to offer as a family-friendly destination.
The Pros Of Living In Pattaya
The weather in Pattaya is amazing as the year-round average temperatures hover around 28 degrees Celsius with the summer months reaching well into the 30’s and the winter months rarely dropping below 25 degrees. The weather unlike Bangkok, is not too humid or dry, making it ideal for most types of people even those from colder Northern European countries who are not used to high temperatures.
It’s also ideal for expatriates with allergies, skin conditions or general aches and pains as the year round warm weather is said to ease many of these ailments.
Pattaya is an ideal place to raise kids as the beaches are considered by many to be some of the best in South East Thailand especially around the Jomtien and Pratumnak areas. There are also plenty of activities for children to enjoy, like water parks, theme parks and children’s beaches and a much lower cost of living than most other major cities in this part of the world.
With a huge expat community living in Pattaya mostly from Europe and North America, there’s also a massive range of employment options for those willing to invest in the country or for those eligible to work in Thailand. There are also several schools for those with young children, some of which use western curriculums to cater for the English speaking expats.
The Cons Of Living In Pattaya
Safety is one of the biggest concerns for families in Pattaya but while most of the city is safe and very family-friendly, there are also parts of the city that can be dangerous. Every city in the world has it’s element of danger in certain areas but those danger levels are massively reduced in most Thai cities compared to the likes of the US, as crime is low and serious crime very low making Pattaya and Thailand in general, a much safer place to be.
Obviously avoid back streets or the red light district at night and don’t be walking around the town alone in the middle of the night after a few drinks. By just being sensible and aware of your surroundings you should virtually never encounter any problems, however take extra care on the roads as the traffic can be chaotic, just like it is in most major Asian cities.
Central Pattaya is a party town and it can become a bit of a grind over time but there are dozens of nice quiet areas within a short trip of the centre of town so do some proper research, check out all of the areas and accommodation options and decide what it is you really want.
A downside can be that there are just so many options that it can become information overload, so take your time, plan each step out of exactly what you’re looking for, for yourself and any children you may have and i guarantee, you’ll find something that’s a perfect fit for a very reasonable price.
So, Is Pattaya A Good Place To Live For Families?
In short and in my opinion, it’s a resounding YES! The weather, the beaches, low cost of living and overall safety are all good points, as is the availability of jobs and schools. There are also many expat-friendly areas and activities for families to enjoy but what you have to keep in mind, is that while Central ‘Party Town’ Pattaya is not the ideal place for families, there are plenty of areas that are, you just have to find them.
If you’re looking for a place where your kids can run around outdoors all day with few risks, you’d definitely be better off looking at one of the gated communities or apartment complexes that have activities and children’s areas. If you have access to your own transport, everything in Pattaya is within a short drive including supermarkets, schools, beaches, shops, bars, restaurants and parks, so you should never be bored.
If you are looking for a change in life and like the outdoor beach lifestyle, Pattaya is certainly an option worth considering!