Pattaya or Kachanaburi

If you could only choose one to spent atleast two nights, what would you choose???

lets just say you are tired of Bangkok and you want something different for atleast two days.

But you also want to go cheap, but you don't mind paying for some luxuries, if its really worth the price.

If you are tired of the hectic pace of BKK, I vote you head up to Kanchanaburi. Get outdoors, get on the river for a raft trip, ride an elephant. Just a nice change from another big city. My 2 cents.

I've never actually been to Pattaya, but I've heard so little good about it, so i've always avoided it. Kanchanaburi on the other hand is one of my favorite towns in Thailand. I tend to go there for my last few days of my vacation in thailand to sit on the patio of a floating hotel on the river and just relax and watch the world go by . It's really a great place.

I haven't been to Pattaya but I would choose Kanchanaburi too as I spent a couple of days there and thought it was a worthwhile place to go. I stayed in some bungalows right by the river and it was lovely.

Kachanaburi.

Sawadee Khrap!

I had the chance to live in Bkk for almost 4 years and visited the country several times. I had the opportunity to visit Pattaya - alternative coastal town near Bkk. Unfortunately, I havent been to Kanchanaburi - a historical province. Well, if you like history (museums) then Kanchanaburi is ok, but if you want to a day tour to other islands, then Pattaya is ok.

Sharing some of my memorable trips to Thailand: Koh Chang and Bangkok

Khap kun khrap!

[ Edit: Edited on Oct 4, 2008, at 2:11 AM by eTRAVEL ]

Kanchanaburi defo. never went to pattaya but only heard bad things. i too stayed on a floating bungalow...think the place was called bamboo house or something like that. kanchanaburi is worth a visit!

Kanchanaburi - stay clear of the tiger temple.......

http://www.careforthewild.com/files/TigerTemplereport08_final_v11.pdf

Pattaya...

Pattaya is a cheap and, in general, cheerful town On the Eastern seaboard of Thailand,

The image most people have of a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah is really a result of careless and sensationalist reporting by various media around the world. It is true that there are many middle-aged men who have found they can afford to retire there ...but it is also a fun holiday resort and great value for money.
There is also a lot to do if you are a family on holiday.
The beaches in Pattaya are not up to much; it’s a very urban environment...rows of umbrellas and deck-chairs. The sea is rather polluted…how much is unclear…. Jomtien beach about a 15 min “bus” ride away looks to be more swimmer-friendly but there is the occasional bout of untreated sewerage there from time to time. (This IS Thailand!). Cosy beach and Sugar beachoffer less crowded or urban alternatives. Bear in mind that what is done to monitor pollution on any of the beaches throughout Thailand is not clear.
At both Pattaya and Jomtien beaches you can hire all sorts of water sports stuff, and it’s all pretty cheap. All beaches have plenty of people selling drinks and snacks etc....

Off shore there are one or two islands with much nicer beaches, they are easily accessible for a day trip. If you go to Koh Laan, the main beach is really just a row of restaurants etc., but, hire a moped and go over to the other side of the island.....great views from the top and some very quiet beaches there.

Down the coast towards Sattahip are some reasonable beaches, Ban Sare or Ban Amphoe for example.

Pattaya also offers a range of amusement parks, gardens, and theme parks and various sports.
There are numerous good quality golf courses, horse riding and motor sports, There are some small airfields nearby for light aircraft too.

Nong Nooch Gardens recently scandalised by the Beeb for their treatment of Elephants is worth a visit, just don’t support the Elephant rides. Pattaya Park is a Water World amusement park that offers all the usual water rides plus a revolving restaurant and some hair-rising ways of getting up there and back.. Mini Siam is a miniature tour of Thailand - full of bus-loads of tourists with a MacDonald’s’ at the entrance. Million year old stone park has beautiful gardens - feed the 5ft long catfish! And cringe at the abysmal treatment of tigers and crocodiles. Further a field is Sri Racha tiger Zoo...to be avoided at all costs, and Kao Keow Open Zoo, a change from the usual callous way animals are treated in Thailand. “Water World” Aquarium on Sukumvit For kids and the easily pleased, there’s also Ripley’s Believe It Or Not and Toys R us!

The Sanctuary of Truth is a rather unexpected attraction given the nature and reputation of Pattaya as a holiday destination. Built to celebrate the religions of the world, it is a hand-carved wooden building built on a small promontory at Naklua, North of Pattaya.
Take a Sawngthaew or Motorcycle taxi to get there .Building seems to be continually in progress, and provides employment for many artisans and craftsmen. A walk around the site you’ll see carvers at work, and just marvel at the wonderful if rather crude carving.There are also some peripheral attractions that don’t seem so wonderful. - The dolphin show. ... Dolphins (they are replaced from time to time!) -are put through there paces in a muddy pond, balancing balls and splashing the audience....it’s all rather embarrassing.

Pattaya offers some of the best shopping outside Bangkok, and it is more accessible being sited in a much smaller area. Along the beach stalls shops and arcades offer all the usual souvenir stuff Lots of ersatz stuff and big brand copies, CDs and DVDs etc.
The malls.... Check out the older “MIKE’S” & “ROYAL GARDEN PLAZA” - accessible from Beach Rd or Second Rd) offer more quality goods still at great prices. Royal garden has an eatery with good views of the bay on the top floor and Mikes has a public swimming pool on the roof! - around town there's “Big C” on 2nd road, Tesco’s on Pattaya North (Nua), and Carrefour on Pattaya Central (Klang), and the Avenue Complex on Pattaya Second Road, All these have a range of other shops and restaurants all under one air-conditioned roof.

Range of foods in Pattaya & Jomtien is vast! Everything fromm every country. US, French, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Full English Breakfast, Italian, Belgian, Dutch, German....... etc etc.

THAI food.....everything you'd expect from all regions. .....if you want to spend a bit of Money try Ruen Thai on 2nd road or Sugar Hut or Birds and Bees (Cabbages & Condoms)
There are the small Thai restaurants and street stalls dotted all over town.... $5 for 2 you can’t go wrong. A bowl of street noodles can be as little as 15 baht.

And for the mindless, bootless and unhorsed, the culturally stagnant and the grossly obese, there is the usual plethora of fast food outlets....McD’s, KFC, and Burger King....

The night life in Pattaya is legendary.... some places fwil turn lights and music down and carry on till the early hours of daylight. There are discos, clubs bars of sorts including the girlie places....

Sex trade ripples through Pattaya like veins through a stilton, and in a similar way gives the place its distinctive character. Aimed at both Thais and tourists it is quite unlike the red-light areas of Europe and America, it isn’t nearly as sleazy; mainly small open bars where (middle-aged) men sit drinking beer and talking to the “bar-girls”. There is very little open display of lewdness. The “Go-go Bars” are behind closed doors and have naked or semi naked girls pole dancing or rather holding a pole and swaying to music. You and your (young) family would not be admitted to a Go-go bar – (couples would). If you went to an open beer bar you would be treated as a perfectly ordinary customer and the girls would dote on your children. (They are mostly mothers themselves). .............

On 2nd road spend an hour or so at the newly relocated Malibu Bar....it’s a girl and lady-man show....a low budget affair, they make their own elaborate costumes and mime to well-known western songs. Every night they tread the boards from 8 till about 12.00 midnight...sometimes poor and amateurish but always entertaining...DO NOT miss Tina Turner! This guy (now the owner?) is actually quite professional and very good indeed. All -in- all a great friendly atmosphere, lots of couples and even kids - and no smut!!!!....no admission charge, and they do food.

There are plenty of enclosed air-conditioned bars with a western theme, be they Irish, English, Belgian or whatever. Here you can eat “comfort food” and watch replays of your favourite old TV shows and live football.

Massages - There are plenty of small boutiques you can go in and get a 1or 2 hour leg rub for about 150 to 400 baht and some beautiful Spas that will pamper you for the best part of a day for a few grand. (Thai baht that is!)

Pattaya remains one of the few seaside towns where anyone can do what they’ve always dreamed of.... But at half the price!

PS - unlike some who have voiced an opinion, I have been to both places several times.

They are like chalk and cheese. Kanch offers quite a rural experience whereas Pattaya offers great VFM for accommodation and food.
Pattaya is also only 2 hours from Bkk

Quoting wildfk

PS - unlike some who have voiced an opinion, I have been to both places several times.

They are like chalk and cheese. Kanch offers quite a rural experience whereas Pattaya offers great VFM for accommodation and food.
Pattaya is also only 2 hours from Bkk

Its hard... I always planned Kachanaburi, back then when I was thinking about doing a research paper on war memorials. So its like an achievement to go there...

But Pattaya is VFM? 2 hours a way... that sounds very tempting. cheaper than going to Khao phangan and Samui...
I can only choose one. If I find a travelmate to share a room, I'm off to that city.

A few years back in 2002,
I found a 70 baht hostels in KACHABURI... This will make me go there. It sounds crazy, but I'm paying 100 baht for both Bangkok and Chiangmai. Are there still 70-100 baht hostels in kachaburi. Its near the river.

IMPORTANT QUESTION:

We are allowed to stay for only 90 days, but what if they made a mistake of counting the days and gave you 4 more extra days... they gave me 30 days on my nth entry. They stamp the date on my passport, but I counted this morning, I should leave atleast 4 days earlier. Is that like a trap, you'll be overstaying if the computer and the date on your passport is different. I'm just surprised they gave me 30, its ussually 28 days or 27... but not the whole 30. I thought maybe its becoz I dont come back too soon everytime I make an exit.