Pattaya and Chonburi Hotels

Really cheap hotels are almost impossible to find in Pattaya, and a depressing number of the lowest priced options suffer from poor maintenance, musty rooms and unfriendly staff.

Only a few of the “inexpensive’’ hotels listed below has rooms for 150 Baht, but there are a number of places offering fan rooms for Baht 250 and air-con rooms for 330 Baht. Rooms that cost 400 Baht and up usually offer reasonable facilities, including air-conditioning, TV and use of a swimming pool as well. Advance reservations are advisable to stay in the best value hotels. Prices in all categories plummet by up to fifty percent when demand is slack, so it’s often worth asking around two or three places before checking in.

If your budget can’t stretch to 250 Baht, you may have to resort to one of the less pricey ‘‘rooms for rent’’ advertised in the shops along Pattaya 2 Road between Soi 11 and Soi 13/2 (Soi Post Office), along Soi 13/2 itself, on Soi 13/I (Yamato) and in Soi Buakaow These tend to be dingy back rooms, and usually operate only until the owner finds something more lucrative to do with the premises.

Bear in mind that the sex industry ensures that all rooms have beds large enough for at least two people; rates quoted here are for “single” mousy with one big double bed (a “double’’ room will have two big double beds and cost more). Another effect of the sex industry is that hotel guests are often assumed to be untrustworthy, so when checking in you’re likely’ to be asked for a deposit against the loss of your room key and against the use of your mini bar and phone. Though all hotels are easy-going about gay couples.

Some people prefer to stay on Jomtien Beach, which is quieter and has a bit more of’ a beach scene, but lacks the shops and restaurants of Pattaya - as well as the go-go bars. Prices here are about the same as on Pattaya Beach.