Pattaya Thailand, MISTAKES to AVOID 

NUMBER 1 MISTAKE BRINGING THE MISSUS WITH YOU

The best advice I ever got was when I first arrived in Thailand. He said, "Always Be Cool And Off The Radar" don't be a clown or loud drunk, yell at 7-11 staff cause they don't understand English. There are so many ways to get angry, as compared to your home Country. You will find yourself fighting 5 Thai men, and they bring knives, 2x4 wood or anything nearby to assist in attack. It never hurts to ask for discount. The answer will always be no if you don't ask. Street food vendors are at reduced margins, so Be polite always.

The lack of rules for the road and deaths associated with bikes is the same here in the Philippines. Add to that that the cars will pass on uphill blind curves causes me to say that the most dangerous thing in the Philippines isn’t terrorism or crime, but driving. Plan to visit Pattaya soon. Thanks for your vlog

Daz, Great insight. I have a few more: 1. Reveaingl anything about money (how much you have in room, how much you planning on spending, how much you make) 2. Saying how long your staying or when you are leaving (always exagerate) 3. If you are a newbie, don't reveal this!!! 4. Trusting ANYBODY that you've met in Pattaya, Thai or Farang 5. Not using a condom, you might get lucky once or twice or many times, but you only have to catch something nasty once 6. Giving girls your contact information so they can contact you when you go home

I couldn't agree more on the motorbike driving issue. About 10 years ago I took a motorbike course here in the USA (to learn to drive one specifically to drive in Pattaya next trip.). Passed and got a motorcycle endorsement on my license. Get to Pattaya find out that driving on the opposite side of the road is much more difficult than expected, particularly in a vehicle I'm not used to driving with crazy Thai, drunk Falang drivers, and sleepy truck drivers. I took my rented motorbike out exactly 1 time, and it stayed locked up in the hotel parking lot the rest of the week till I returned it.

So glad you touched the most basic but most important points for those thinking about visiting Thailand. Thanks Daz. This is highly beneficial for your new subscribers.

This information is gold, thank you. I was thinking of renting a scooter but you have convinced me not to. I had a Thai ladyfriend, she was a passenger on her boyfriends scooter. They got hit by a car, she died. I was once on a back of a scooter and we passed a dead Thai gentleman who was on the road, who just had an accident. Only once I raised my voice in anger when in Thailand. I was totally exhausted and the hotel staff gave me a dump of a room for a high price, I demanded my money back for I did not use it, they refused, so I raised my voice in anger and frustration, they upgraded my room. Later I came down and apologized to them.

Will be back in Pattaya in February again. I come frequently and know many things about Pattaya, but Daz, you always tell me something new. Thanks Daz🙏

Loving your work sir. Excellent advice, insight and guidance.❤

Hello from Berlin , Germany Sir Daddy Daz is the best !!! Thanks for your great work and wisdom !!!

Very informative video Daz. I do dissent with you on the amount of clothes to bring. I bring day clothes and night clothes. Night clothes is usually some designer jeans or pants , button down shirts and fitted v-neck tee shirts. This certainly helps with pulling ladies from clubs and Go-Gos, especially since they are now more selective since the reopening. I do sweat but I just take a shower back at the room and find the nearest non-hotel laundry service which are very reasonable in terms of price.

I love your narration … and the quality of information is spot on. I’ll be back in Thailand in a few days. It would be great to finally put a face to the voice I’ve followed for more than a year … Great content … you’re the best.

I’ve been going to Thailand for more than 20 years, but I still learn new things from this channel. Appreciate it!

I wonder if Daz remembers the story of two young Russian men being beaten up by Thai bouncers in Walking Street, Pattaya, a few years ago. Their cries for help carried to nearby bars where more than 50 hard drinking young Russians decided to rush to the aid of their struggling compatriots. As a result 10 Thai bouncers were taken to hospital. Clearly the Russian thugs don't accept local Thai rules. And also they hang about in very large groups sometimes.

Currently here now. I have a full UK motorcycle licence and am an experienced rider (Wet/snow/winter 4 seasons not just summer madness!). I make sure I have both my licence and international driving permit on me at ALL TIMES! I was speaking to a local a couple of days ago who was telling me how they had checkpoints up along 2nd road targeting falangs. You have been warned! The way they ride in Thailand is just silly (Although it is nowhere near as bad as Dhaka, Bangladesh!). There are no shoulder checks, no lane discipline, no rules of the road followed. Infact, I was stopped at a red light behind a BIB (Police) and several locals, not wearing helmets, just zoomed past us both. I then witnessed a car straight up driving into another car at a junction. That was my FIRST ever ride here too. If you give an inch, there will be a rider who zips in front of you. Take a second to check both ways - local just pulls out on you. You have to be very aggressive, yet aware of everything and understand that people in front of you will move without checking behind them to do so, yet people behind you will blast up the inside of you if you're not within a foot of the curb! The thing is you need to keep up and keep aware of everything because the locals don't care and if there is an accident - IT WILL BE YOUR FAULT!! So unless you're a competent rider I would recommend AGAINST hiring a scooter because you'll leave your indicators on, be all wobbly, not have any clue of safety/preservation, and be in a foreign road using environment. Plus, the temptation to drive with a couple of bevvies under you will be large... If you are a competent rider (Not just one of these muppets who says they've been riding 20+ years, but only do 100 miles a year in the blazing sun/afternoon to get a coffee), then hiring a scooter is a one of the best things you can do here IMHO as it opens up the entirety of the area at your leisure :) Having said all that, you're grown adults - do whatever you want :) Good luck!

Your right about the motorbikes. Kids in my village are on bikes at 9yrs old.

Never get involved in a fight is pretty good rule regardless where you are. Never anything good can come out of it.

I watched this video a 2nd time. This is a must-see video for first timers or young Westerners who come to Thailand. Four or five key points that are more than just helpful, but can save you from getting into some serious trouble.

My first 7 trips to Thailand, I never considered renting a motorcycle. On my last trip I finally got brave enough, after lots of mental experience. I have very little motorcycle experience, basically none in the last 25 years. It actually turned out to be a good experience, but I had to be very focused and alert. Driving on the l/h side can be confusing too. 50 years of bicycling, including mountain biking, saved my bacon I think…LOL. After my trip, I realized that my travel insurance did not cover being a rider or a passenger on a motorcycle.

Probably the best tip in this vid is not to get angry under any circumstances, not matter what. It can get you killed. If you come up against a disagreeable situation, make a joke of it, making sure the Thai can get out of the situation without loss of face. You can always say no with a smile on your face.

Agree totally about not getting into a argument with Thais. One of my worst memories was seeing two Northern Meatheads thinking they were back home and gobbing off in a nightclub at some Thai service guys. In the blink of an eye these Thais came from nowhere like a pack of Soi dogs and the two foreigners were beaten to a pulp and dragged outside left unconscious on the road. It was a sobering occasion and one I will never forget. I actually thought they were dead at one point but I heard later that they both spent weeks in hospital recovering.

100% agree. Great with " like children's driving bicycle at the playground". Never tired listening you. Thanks Daz

Great tips. Always take cash, because the exchange rates out of the ATM's are crap and they charge a ridiculous local withdrawal fee in Thailand (as well as one in your home country). Most rooms have a safe you can leave your cash in EXCEPT you should always make sure the battery in the safe is fresh. If it goes flat while closed, you won't be able to open it. I got stuck in my condo once with a decent amount of cash which I wanted to get out just before leaving for the airport and I had to get a locksmith, who destroyed the safe to open it. I had to buy a new safe 😞 Good tip about the marks on the bills: if there are any markings or writing on the bills the exchange booths will reject them. Get fresh notes from your bank.

Great advise once again.

I pretty much like your advices. I learnt at my own expenses when it comes to renting motorbiles as I got fined by the police during my first week in Pattaya back in 2007. Then the week after, I got into an accident on my second day in Pukhet and got stuck in my hotel for the whole week because I was struggling to walk. As for ladyboys, I came up with exactly the same strategy as you when I met a couple of girls that I wasn't sure they were real girls and I got the strong denial. As for not barfining another girl from the same bar as a previous barfined unless I told them the very first time I was a butterfly, I agree that's a sound advice if one is afraid of confrontation but I won't practice that. I've barfined girls from the same bar in the past without telling them I was a buttetfly. They found out on their own that I was one. Some would even say "You, you're not a butterfly, you're an AIRPLANE". I don't want to put myself in a situation where I start to care about I'm saving their face or not. They're free to reject my barfine offers and when they do so, they don't care about saving my face. Likewise, I'm free to use my money as I wish and shouldn't feel the need to use some strategy to allow them to save face.This is their stupidity and I'm not concerned about that. If they dare to come to argue with me, I'll tell them I don't owe them anything as I didn't sign any contract with them giving them exclusivity to my custom and my money. Simple !

BRING YOUR OWN SHAVING FOAM/GEL ITS SO EXPENSIVE HERE IN THAILAND

Wow. The south side of Wongamat beach is lovely.... You offer some very sage advice Daz. I wouldn't hire a scooter. I have seen enough in Thailand over the years to understand that 'anything' can happen on the road. In fact, even crossing the road is dangerous, because I have seen scooters riding in the gutter the wrong way.... They are crazy, and often don't even realise they are!

Bolt is fantastic, you see the price and thats it , cheap as chips also cannot recommend it enough

If you are a size large in clothes, or shoe size larger than a 10, you might want to bring your own. If you are with a friend or two, consider hiring a car with a driver. Try to use the same taxi or moto over again, as they will more likely see you as a repeat customer and look after you. If you are spending time in Bangkok, you will want to wear nice looking casual clothes and not beach wear. If you are taking a moto taxi fare, write it down on a slip of paper and point to the amount and make sure that the drive nods agreement. For some reason when I have done this, I have never had a problem, I just point to the paper when I get off to pay.

Your an ambassador with best advise I've ever heard. I intend coming to Pattaya shortly my 1st visit.Thanks for your vids sound advice again.

Regarding clothing i always put on long pants and some proper shoes when going out for the night. I find this kind of clothing more suitable when let's say visiting in a gogo bar or a night club in LK or Walking.

Love the dogs everywere !

Hey ED, thanks for your tips, as a larger Farang, walking through markets and seeing cheap priced clothes that fit me, is as unattainable as a Showgirl coming home with me for free. I need to BYO

I enjoyed the video, lots to remember about the area. Thanks for your help.

Another good job sir. Thank you for looking out for everyone and explaining the local customs. Will be looking forward to the next video. 👍🏿

Great advice as usual, Daz. I am in the USA and will making my first visit to Pattaya in April for Songkran. Your videos have helped me immensely. For my bar visits, I have purchased a 6cm x 4cm enamel pin of a butterfly with the American flag on it to identify myself as a butterfly! I can easily change it from shirt to shirt each day. Keep up the good work!

Hi Daz, thank-you for your videos and the information you share with us! I find this channel quite entertaining and informative and always look forward to sitting down at my PC and calling up your channel. I'm happily married to a Filipino and have been for years but this makes for a nice dream!

Great video! I’m preparing for my 1st visit to Thailand. Excellent information!!

Good advice but after 10 pints it all goes out the window, all part of Coming to Thailand Enjoy

Very interesting.....keep up the good work!!👍🏼

Great video. What I have done is get a colour photocopy of your photo page of your passport and get it laminated. Carry that around in Thailand rather than your passport. Much smarter than carrying your passport.

Really nice beach.

Great info and the way you present it is a very natural way

FYI: I'd now add setting a PIN on your home SIM. Else it can be used in another mobile phone - and will get any security code texts from your bank...

Great video Daz, keep them coming ,

Thanks for a wonderful video🥰🇩🇰💪 a lot of good information 🥰 And you have a great story voice 🇩🇰🤘🥰

Great video! A lot of those early rules apply to Mexico and most major US cities....I think people get a bit too relaxed on vacation and let their guard down...

Sage advice and excellent as always. See you in March Daz!

I love this video. Great advice on things I did not know.

Thanks for sharing your experience to others and helping them to enjoy and have a safe happy vacation 🙂 love all your videos.

The clothing part is funny... I never bring any long shirts or pants in my laugage only the ones I'm travelling in and those I change as soon as I land 😂 And have tried using the jeans on a night out and so on... But it's soooo sweaty then 🤣

Whenever you make a video like this, I save it in a special Pattaya folder 😁

Wow!…that beach is gorgeous. I wish I knew about it in 2010. Great posting.👍🏾

You have the most informative Chanel for mongers wanting to visit Thailand 🇹🇭 😅

Very good video. As I live Thailand I say everything you say accurate. If you come pattaya cheaper stay jomtien than in city. When I visit I use grab app for taxi. Like uber here. Prices stated ahead of time and pay automatically after you arrive. There no hidden fees.

Very helpful especially with the ID good point 🙏

Thanks for that little walk. Very beautiful beach.

You've just revealed my favourite place in Pattaya wongamat beach! Hope I can get a sunbed when I come next month !!👍

Cost in California to get a motorcycle license is $350 for the class. The class is easier than going direct to DMV. International driving license is $20 and good for one year.

Great vid. I love driving in Thailand, it keeps you on your toes. The best description I heard is "Thai people drive like fish swim."

Hi Daz, I always wear jeans when going out in the evening. 1 my legs are skinny 😅 . 2 protection from mosquitoes.

Hope to travel to Pattaya later this year. Thanks for the nice tour and helpful info. Greetings from Minnesota! 😍😍👍

Informative and very popular video you should revisit it again with additional content.

I have just come home from Pattaya yesterday. I would recommend taking one pair of light trousers. The one night I forgot to change out of shorts my legs got bitten to pieces by mosquitos. Yes the nights are lovely and warm but not too hot to wear a pair of light trousers. Btw, very cheap to buy antihistamine insect bite cream in any of the local pharmacies!

Excellent video again! Can’t wait for part 2.

Buy a small travel kit for shavers and stuff. I do it and when get to Pattaya I go to the store and buy what I need after I have arrived .

Excellent video, Daz! Thank you for preparing it - much appreciated.

Fantastic info, very much appreciated, love your work 👍keep the good advice vids coming

When i visited Koh lan a motorbike was included in the room price, i told them i don't have the proper license and she just smiled and said no one cares here. I would never drive in Pattaya or Bangkok though.

Thx Daz…great advice as always…👍🏻

Another excellent video and great advice

Yes, my partner used to ride a real motorbike back 30 years ago 35 klms from her home town into Buriram to go to high school from the age of 12. She survived thankfully for me. On the point of medication, some of them are more expensive than here in Australia, because they are subsidised my the Government here. I learnt by experience.

You give good advise too the not yet learned ! Enjoy and stay safe ...

Excellent vid for beginners!

Great, thanks!

Nice beach!

I still remember when it got so cold in Pattaya in the 90s that I and many locals wore a cardigan or a coat of some kind. The traffic is terrible. More people die in road accidents in Thailand in five days than do in Finland in a year.

Yes some great tips in there Daz, Not taking too much is a good idea . I took too much on my trip and ended up going to soi 13 post office sending uneeded items back home in a box for a fee, I cannot recall how much .

Sage advice as always Daz - thank you

Again a great informative video :) Im going to Pattaya on january 31 for three weeks and i am so exited. Hope its still lots of tourism. I can see from the hotel booking that its lots of tourism now. And thats a good thing. Then it will be more girls working arund in the bars and go-go bars :)

I’ve eaten in some very high end restaurants in Bangkok were most people were quite formally dressed and they don’t me coming in a polo and shorts with sandals, so you don’t need to bring you whole wardrobe there pretty easy going

Good stuff ! Appreciate you👍

I always enjoy your videos in the Land Of Smiles 😊

You are the Mister Rogers of Pataya.....thank you for all this wisdom :0)

Thanks for the walk along and information.

Thanks for the video and also for the tips, Daz.

Nice scenes. Good advice Daz, tks.

These are good rules that everyone should follow. One thing I noticed is that the forex rates are a bit better in Bangkok. Guys who stop in Bangkok first might want to take the opportunity to get enough baht there first. The place I usually go to is 19 Exchange near Pratunam Pier. Another good tip I heard when I rented a bike in Chiangmai is to take a video of the bike as a record of the condition you received it in.

Yet another excellent video !

Love the view… So awesome!

Thank you!

Good information, thank you!

I have a policy just to never drive in a foreign land. But you can hire a driver all day for a small amount if you want to explore. Even if it's more than a small amount, compare it to the possible drama you will avoid.

I've been to Wong Amat beach and I've turned right instead of left I ended up into all these private 5 stars condos and hotels at the end I've seen the beautiful sight of the sanctuary of Truth museum next time I'll definitely turn left.😃

"It's never a fair fight." Truer words have never been spoken. Accurate for both Thailand and Vietnam. It's never one on one, or even two on one. It's usually 5-6 on 1. If they pick on you or your girl, you can stand your ground and not flinch. But don't start scrapping with them, it's a no win situation.

I suggest bringing 1 jumper or jacket if you go to the movies. Its always cold in there. Also I get cold on the plane

Great video…enjoyed your conversation!

Biggest mistake is coming in the first place! I am in Pattaya now and have been for 9 days for the first time since 2020, but it is my 7th trip. My personal observation, apart from the complete lunacy of the roads, is I don't like it anymore. As Daz has already reported, there is a serious shortage of attractive girls, which frankly is the main reason you come. I have been fruitlessly stiffed for lady drinks several times, because the girls guzzle them back like never before, they cost more than ever before, and then the only time the girl would offer short time, she wanted 3000THB, plus bar fine plus room. So having been stiffed for 1000THB for 3 swift lady drinks and mine, I walked. Last night I got stiffed again, and arranged to meet the lady tonight. She didn't arrive. Why? According to another girl, she 'go with other man'. Forget it. I hate this bloody place now. Remember this is my 7th trip. The whole dynamic has changed, the girls are frequently grim, the pretty ones just want to charge prices beyond Europe. I am seriously thinking of abandoning Pattaya and going to Chiang Mai, because I have seen and had enough. Pattaya as I knew it is over. It's crap. That is how I really feel. Very disillusioned. A personal opinion obviously. Not a fact. Just an opinion comparing it with 6 prior trips when I enjoyed it a great deal. So what do I know? I know I will not be coming again. Waste of time and money. Stuff it. No offence to Daz who puts a good video on. If you don't want pretty girls, it's great..

Thanks. Great info. Concerning motorbikes

Appreciate your information! Very helpful. :)