Is Pattaya Safe? A Local Business Owner's Honest Answer

Day to day, I feel extremely safe in Pattaya. I'm raising a family here, and I've never worried about their safety the way I might in other countries. The biggest danger here isn't crime. It's the roads.

Is there much crime or petty theft in Pattaya?

Not much. Petty theft has never happened to me, and off the top of my head I can't think of anyone I know it's happened to. In my experience, crime here just doesn't happen often enough to be worth worrying about.

Are there many scams aimed at foreigners?

Not really, in my experience. If anything, scams are mostly aimed at Thais, simply because there are so many more of them. If I were Thai, I'd be more on guard than I am as a foreigner.

When do foreigners get into trouble?

When they've been drinking. Every issue I had over the years happened when I'd been drinking, back when I was a younger man. I haven't had a drink in over 10 years now. And when I think about the stories friends have told me about altercations, nearly all of them were fuelled by alcohol.

What's the real danger in Pattaya?

The roads, whether you're in a car, a truck or on a motorbike.

A lot of people on Thai roads shouldn't be there. Some don't have licences, some don't have the experience, and some aren't even old enough to drive. It's a bit of a Wild West.

If you drive here for long enough, you will have an accident. It will most likely be minor, and it probably won't be your fault, but somebody will run into you. It's just inevitable, so bear that in mind.

My safety tips for first-time visitors

Only rent a motorbike if you're very experienced and ride confidently. If you're not both, rent a car instead.

Drive defensively, assume other drivers might do something unexpected, and read what I tell every Pattaya Rent a Car customer about driving here.

If you're bringing children, see is Pattaya good for families?, and for how the city has changed, read why Pattaya's old reputation is out of date.