Pattaya has a number of high energy discos or dance clubs that party till the wee hours of the morning.  They are fun places to go with your girl or a few friends and dance the night away and pick up on members of the opposite sex.  These places open earlier in the evening around 11pm, but don’t really get going till later in the night.  By 1am and the crowds start to flow in.

You can find some really popular discos on Pattaya’s Walking Street.  Here you will find Lucifer’s, Marine, Tony’s, and Insomnia.  They are all easy to find with their bright neon signs set out over walking street.

The music ranges from hip-hop and club music to Thai pop. Most will have a stage with a live musical performance including singers and dancers.  There are also dancers stationed around the club shaking it to the music. They put on quite a show.  In addition to the live performances, they’ll have a D.J. on staff spinning tunes in between sets.

One of the newer and more popular discos is X-Zyte.  Located on 3rd road near the Buffalo Bar, it has become a well like dance club in the years it has been open.  Their performers are top notch, large screens, lots of room, and a laid back fun vibe to the place.  It’s a great place to bring your girl and your friends for a night out.  Definitely worth checking out.

The drink prices are going to be slightly more expensive than the Pattaya beer bars and GoGo Bars, but that is to be expected.  Most discos in Pattaya will also charge a cover charge.  Somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 baht is pretty common.  But you will have a good time here.

If you are looking at meeting a girl, there are plenty of single Thai girls that go to the discos and dance clubs.  A lot of them are freelancers, so just be aware of what to expect.

If you are looking for a fun night out after hitting the other bars and venues, these Pattaya dance clubs are a great alternative.

A staple of Pattaya nightlife are the many GoGo Bars that dot the city.  Here you will find scantily clad Thai Girls dancing to the latest music.  If your looking for the best place to find go go bars in Pattaya, head to Walking Street.  Here you will find dozens of bars lining the neon drenched street.  Plenty of cute girls will be outside trying to entice you into their club, some even grabbing and pulling you towards the door.

The options on Walking Street may seem endless.  You will find many of the infamous names in the Pattaya Gogo bar scene, including Angelwitch, Peppermint Agogo, Living Dolls Show Case, Heaven Above, as well as many, many, more.

Now some of these venues are not all about having half naked or even fully nude Thai Girls gyrating in front of you – though that is the main purpose.  Some of the better known bars also go to great length to put on some pretty fine choreographed shows in between the go go girls.  Angelwitch for one, puts on a number of great sets, with costumes and traditional Thai Music to entertain the crowds.

At some point you will probably find yourself asked if you would like to buy some ping pong balls as part of the show.  This isn’t what a lot of you might think it is for.  At some point during the evening, they will announce it is time and customers will begin tossing their ping pong balls at the dancing girls they like.  The girls scramble to collect them, and at the end of the ping pong show, the girls get to turn them in for a few extra baht.  It is a fun way to tip the girls some extra money.

The prices of drinks in the gogo bars are slightly more expensive than those in the more laid back Pattaya beer bars.  This also holds true for ladydrink prices and barfines.  The operate in a similar fashion with check bins placed in front of the customer, however you will be located in seats around the main stage and not mingling around.  Some of the larger venues even have stadium seating to accommodate the larger number of customers.

If you fancy one of the Thai go go girls, you just need to make eye contact, give her a nod and a smile, and she will usually come over and sit with you after her set.  Unless she is previously engaged with another customer.  If you’ve been talking for a while, bought here a couple of ladydrinks, and get along well, you may want to take her from the bar for the evening. A quick side note, the girls make a slight amount of baht for each drink you buy them so it is good form to buy them a drink if you’ve asked them to sit and talk with you.  If you decide to take her from the bar, arrange to pay her bar fine.  Pricing on anything that happens the club is additional and between you and her.

Though Walking Street is the main area to find Pattaya gogo bars, there are many others located throughout the entertainment areas.  You won’t have any trouble finding one should you go looking.  There are also a few Thai Ladyboy gogo bars, so if that is not your thing just be aware they are out there.  If your a first time visitor, Walking Street is the place to go.

The beer bars of Pattaya are an important, if not legendary part of the nightlife in this resort city.  It has been rumored that there are several thousands of bars in Pattaya, while I’m not sure that is true, one could get that impression from the shear numbers you see around the city.  Every street seems to lined with them.

What is a Beer Bar?
A beer bar is typically an open air bar, in other words one that is open from the street.  They are typically small size and many of them will populate a soi (street).  They usually have a single bar, some bar stools and some other seating, perhaps a pool table, television, and loud music.

You may also find a larger beer bar complex such as the Simon Beer Bars on Walking Street.  These are large open air venues with many small bars under one roof.  You may find 20 plus of these small bars here.  Each one is packed with the girls behind the bar instead of out mingling with the customers.  You can sit, drink, and play games such as connect-four and Jackpot with the girls.  It is less intimate than the other venues you will find, but still quite fun.

Where are Beer Bars Found?
Well, just about everywhere.  And that isn’t far from the truth.  Between Beach Road and Second Road, from Walking Street to The Dolphin Round About, there are beer bars lining the streets.  You won’t have any trouble finding one.  And if one doesn’t quite suite you, you can easily pick up stakes and move to one next door.

How Do Beer Bars Work?

Beer Bars typically have a staff of hostesses as well as working girls.  Some of them will be on staff with the bar, but often times they will be freelancers.  Once you order a beer a check bin will be placed in front of you with your tab.  For each drink you have a new chit will be placed in the bin.  If you move locations you need to bring your bin with you.  You can close out at the end of the night with a hostess or the bar.

Make sure you check your slips before you close out to ensure you only have drinks you ordered.  It has happened more than once where someone elses slips have been placed in your bin and you are overcharged.

If you fancy a girl and would like her to go with you, you need to pay the bar what is called a ‘bar fine’.  This is the fee paid to the bar in order to take her away from the bar from the night.  It does not include anything else.  If you and the girl wish to make arrangements for later, that is additional and should be discussed with her.

It is always better to agree to terms before paying the bar fine and taking her from the bar.  At that point you are free to do as you wish.  Whether that is dinner, drinks, discos, or other night time activites, you now have a date for the evening.

One of my favorite places to visit is Pattaya Thailand.  It is known for it’s crazy nightlife, bars, and debauchery.   I have to say it deserves its reputation.  It is located about an hour and a half drive southeast of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand.  The drive is quite pleasant by taxi or by hired car, my preferred method of transport.

I first started coming to Pattaya Thailand back in November of 2007.  Since then I have made many trips and had more than a few crazy adventures.  Getting to Thailand from the states takes a full days worth of travel.  It is 18+ hours of flying, plus you cross over the international dateline where you lose a full day.  Luckily you get it back on your return.  My first few trips Thai Air had a nonstop from LA to Bangkok.  However they have since canceled that route, and you will have to connect through one of the many Asian gateways.

Finding a hotel in Pattaya is not a problem, the city is packed with them.   During the high season of November through February, you will need to plan ahead and reserve a room.  If you go during low season, most hotels will have some room available.  I prefer to book online, directly with the hotel if possible.  There are also a few reputable sites that specialize in southeast asia where you might be able to find a pretty good deal.  One site to look into is Agoda dot com.

Once you check into your hotel, there are more than enough things to keep you entertained both day and night.  If you’re like me, you enjoy getting out and seeing some of the tourist sites during the day.  There are many different options to go and see.  You can check out the Sanctuary of Truth, Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, Crocodile Farm, or Nong Noch Tropical Gardens.  If you want a super touristy thing to do,  head over to the Royal Garden Mall and check out the Ripley’s Believe it or Not tour.  It is not that exciting, but it is a fun way to kill a couple of hours.

If your muscles are tense, you can find a massage parlor on almost every corner.  Massage is a revered art in Thailand, and you will feel very relaxed after your session.  Make sure you make the correct choice when choosing your shop.  This is Pattaya, so you can either find a place that gives a traditional Thai massage, or one that offers up a happy finish.  A Pattaya soapy massage is an erotic massage, so only choose that if you are looking for a little something extra on the menu.

The dining in Pattaya is as international as the clientele.  You can find English and Australian pubs, American sports bars, fine French dining, and of course traditional Thai fare.  I have found a British style pub and an American Sportsbar that I like to come back to again and again.  If you want a place that gives you a mix of western and Thai cusine and a cheap price, check out The Diners at the Avenue Shopping mall.   It is quite good and the price is right.

As the sun goes down, the Pattaya nightlife starts to come alive.  Pattaya Thailand is known to have some wild and crazy nightlife.  From beer bars to Go Go bars to Disco clubs, Pattaya at night is something to experience.  I heard a figure that there is around 17,000 bars in Pattaya.  Now I don’t know if this is true, but it sure seems believable once you start walking around.  Whole Soi’s (streets) are just lined with them.  Walking Street alone is one giant mad house of adult fun.

For the newbie or tourist, Walking Street can be a little overwhelming at first.   Loud booming music, bright neon lights, and scantily clad ladies calling you a handsome man while trying to get you in their beer bar for a drink.  There are some areas, like the Simon Bar Complex that have 14 bars under one roof.  Each beer bar is tiny, and packed with 20 or so women each.  When you walk in the complex they all start screaming and waving trying to get you to stop and have a drink with them.  You can’t help buy have a smile on your face.

Pattaya Thailand is a relatively safe place, but it is always best to use good judgement to not make yourself a target.   Don’t flash a lot of cash or jewelery.  Have a good time but don’t get so drunk you can’t take care of yourself.  Be careful walking Beach Road alone in the wee hours of the morning.  Don’t pickup a freelancer from Beach Road early in the morning.  Be on your guard for pick pockets.  Just use some common sense and all will be fine.

This is still one of my favorite places to visit to blow off some steam.  I week or two in Pattaya Thailand will be a fun and crazy time that you will not forget.  Just remember to be safe, enjoy the tourist sites and the nightlife.  And take plenty of photos to share when you get back home.