We spent our long weekend trip to Pattaya during the early rainy season in Thailand. For a Thai person living in Bangkok, which is around 2 hours away by car from Pattaya, the city is a prime location for weekend trips. We will share with you how we travel to Pattaya, even if there is a high chance of it raining most of the time in this beach paradise.
Introduction
Dear travellers,
Typically, we have around half a year of what we call the rainy season here in Thailand, lasting from around May to October. During this time, we do see more rain than usual; sometimes it rains every day for a week, other times, it feels like a typical summer. Although there is no certainty when exactly it will or will not rain where you are travelling to, there is always a way to plan a trip around just in case it does pour down. The Pattaya trip we went on is an example of what Pattaya feels like when it does rain, and how we plan it.
While going to the beach when it rains is not the most ideal time, there are benefits to it, as well as a way to make it work.
The benefits of travelling to Pattaya during the rainy season
Hotels are cheaper; rain likely means lower seasons, with the exception of national holidays, with hotel prices dropping quite substantially during most of the season, saving you a bit of money. For those with a set budget, it also means getting to stay at a good hotel for less, paying the same price but getting a more elevated vacation experience.
Cloudy makes it easier to walk around. Even though we call it the rainy season, in reality, it is as hot as always. On a day with a clear sky, it feels like summer, and the sun is still radiating enough heat that a few minutes of walking can make you sweat profusely. Also, for those who like the sun, it does mean that you can still get the sunny summer vibe on the beach (just like in the picture above).
Especially for asians, it might also be the ideal weather, when it gets cloudy most of the day but does not rain. Many times, playing in the sun is not the most pleasant thing, knowing how easily one’s skin can get tanned, even with sunscreen.
What you should consider
The key aspect that is evermore important is the location, more specifically, beach access hotels or being close to where you want to go.
It normally does not rain for the whole day; even during this season, there is usually either heavy rain that comes and goes quite quickly, or one of those lighter drizzles that lingers for an extended period of time.
It is also worth mentioning that the humidity will be very high, especially if it gets sunny after raining, which will turn the whole place into a steaming hot and humid environment, personally not ideal for walking around, but does make for a more satisfying cafe hopping and water activities.
Where to stay
The First Consideration
The first and perhaps most important consideration when choosing a place to stay is the availability of indoor activities. Put simply, ask yourself: what is there to do if it is raining outside?
For us, Hilton Pattaya was our choice, and it is a prime example of a hotel well-suited to such a situation.
Directly connected to Central Pattaya—the largest shopping mall in the city—the hotel offers something to do without ever having to venture far. Being situated above the mall means that even when the rain sets in, there are still countless ways to pass the time, whether it be shopping, dining, catching a movie, or enjoying a few rounds at the arcade.
Sometimes, having a comfortable place to stroll, grab a meal, catch a movie, or simply wait out the weather can make all the difference, helping you feel like you have made the most of your trip, and the rain has never been a setback.
Another place we stayed at is Centara Grand Mirage Pattaya, a hotel with a waterpark, a perfect choice for those travelling with family, and with the water park being directly below the guest building, it is possible to enjoy it even if it rains occasionally, as you can always come back to the room.
The key is that there is enough to see and do to keep you occupied for an hour or two, which is usually long enough for the rain to pass. Of course, spending time in places like a shopping mall in Pattaya may not sound like a bucket-list experience in a beach city, but it is certainly preferable to being confined to your hotel room if the rain decides to linger for a few hours. Alternatively, choose a hotel with good facilities, massages, or nearby cafes and restaurants.
If you love spending time in a good hotel and on a nice beach, we recommend Koh Samui as a relaxing destination you’ll love!
The Second Consideration
Staying at a place that is close to or has direct access to the beach. Although this may sound like an obvious choice regardless of the weather, there are many hotels in Pattaya in the inner city or even a few minutes’ walk away, a time you may not want to spend running in the rain.
For those on a tighter budget for the trip, we do recommend allocating the budget for a better stay near the beach, as it can be a noticeable improvement experience-wise.
Staying somewhere you can instantly go down to enjoy the beach when the rain stops makes the trip a lot better.
For Pattaya, many areas do not offer direct beach access or private beach properties; however, many hotels, especially those along Beach Rd (ถนนเรียบชายหาด), on Pattaya Beach, are only a cross of the road away.
Being on the public beach does mean a more crowded overall feeling, but it also means more activities around; whether it is good or bad depends entirely on every individual’s own preferences. Personally, we do not mind either.
What we do when it rains in Pattaya
Cafes, Malls, and massages are our best companions during Pattaya’s rainy season
Getting a massage
Getting a massage is probably one of the best ways to pass the time on a rainy afternoon. More often than not, by the time your treatment is over, the rain will have stopped, making it feel as though the weather never interrupted your trip at all.
For first-time visitors to Thailand, or those less familiar with the local spa, we would recommend established brands such as Let’s Relax or Makkha Health & Spa. While prices tend to be higher than at independent massage shops around the city, these chains generally offer a more consistent standard of service and a carefully curated experience.
That said, the quality of a massage still depends largely on the individual therapist, so there is always an element of luck involved. Even so, choosing a reputable chain can provide a greater sense of confidence, particularly for those seeking a comfortable and reliable introduction to Thai massage.
With that said, feel free to try different places of your liking; many of them will be able to provide you with a quality massage at a better price.
The options for Food
For food, if you are afraid of missing out on the local delicacies and being stuck with hotel food for some meals, we recommend ordering a food delivery service. Grab, for instance, is available in Pattaya and offers food delivery from the local favourite places at a price significantly lower than hotel dining.
The food may not taste as good as it would if served hot at the restaurant, but the taste profile should be as it is intended to be.
A meal like one in the photo below is able to be delivered to you.
Note: Make sure to order well before your meal time, as it can take up to an hour during the rain
Example trip timeline when it rains
8-9 am: waking up
9-10 am: went out for food (hotel’s breakfast or nearby cafe). Pattaya has a lot of great cafes to choose from.
10-11 am: enjoyed the pool when the sun was still out
11-12 pm: sat on the beach for a while and spent some time in the room as it started to rain. Normally, 12 pm would be the worst time period for us, who don’t like the sun, to be out on the beach, but it was cloudy, so we were able to.
12-1 pm: ordered grab food (still raining)
1-3 pm: walk around the mall and went for a massage nearby (light rain when we went out)
3-5 pm: walking along the beach road (rain stopped)
5-7 pm: went out to eat
8 pm onwards: back in the hotel (otherwise it is the time to start enjoying the city’s nightlife)
The places we always stop by (Recommendation)
Gian's Italian Restaurant
One of our favourite Italian places to dine at, it has become a must-stop for us over the past few years. The owner of the restaurant is Italian, and overall, we find the quality and taste of the food to match our preferences, not too bold and not too light.
Moom Aroi Na Kluea
Saying it is the staple of seafood restaurants in the province is probably not much of an exaggeration. This location is probably one of the most mentioned and reviewed online, and for those who may be sceptical, what impressed us the most is how they are able to keep things consistent at such a scale.
With hundreds of tables in the restaurant, they were able to consistently keep both the quality and the taste as they should be, and the flavour we would describe as one that hit the mark for many Thai people. It is a good place to start to set the standard for Thai-style seafood dishes before you go on to try other places.
Note: Make sure to book in advance to be seated at a better table.
La Baguette Phra Tamnak Hill
A place we always stop by. Honestly, it was the place we had grown accustomed to; other cafes around the city are also a good pick, even the more popular places like Sunset Coffee Roasters or a small place like Jimmy’s Coffee and Brew.
Generally, for a casual visit, we would say open the map and choose the one nearby with good reviews, as we do find that going to a good one near your stay or the places you are already visiting feels more rewarding than specifically travelling further for a specific place.
If you are interested in cafe hopping and are coming to Bangkok next, check out our 5 cafes in Bangkok recommended by a local.
With love for travelling,
Travel Tegami