Be Safe in Pattaya

As Thailand is still a developing country, its potential to present problems to the health and safety of visitors is greater than that of developed countries. Visitors need not worry themselves overly, but they are advised to exercise caution with regard to eating, drinking, sporting and social activities.

It’s fair to say that most visitors enjoy their Pattaya vacation and return home without negative experiences; this can be facilitated by a little careful consideration and by bearing the essential differences between Thailand and developed countries in mind.

Safety

Pattaya has something of a bad reputation with regards to crime, with the international media reporting elements of organised crime from Eastern Europe and the Middle East in operation in the city as well as enough local vice to keep all the prisons in the country filled.

As a visitor, you can keep your exposure to corruption and vice to a minimum through sensible behaviour, hence limiting your chances of falling foul of any criminal behaviour. The Pattayaland area, where much of the sex industry is based, is commonly known to harbour drug dealers, and tourists choosing to visit these places should at all costs avoid any association with anyone they suspect might be selling or using narcotics. Possession of drugs or even association with someone possessing drugs carries severe penalties in Thailand.

Other things to watch out for include risks of injury from motorbike accidents or from outdoor sports such as diving, jet-skiing and white water rafting.

Police:  191

Health

There are a number of considerations for visitors with regards to health on a trip to Pattaya; however, provided sensible behaviour is observed, the risk of illness or injury can be kept to a minimum.

Tap water is not considered safe to drink and visitors should instead opt for bottled water, which is available at all convenience shops, bars and restaurants. If you have a sensitive digestive system, it’s wise to choose either a natural spring water such as Minéré or a brand of water that’s been purified by reverse osmosis (often printed on the bottle itself).

Standards of hygiene in some restaurants and at street-side food vendors may not be especially high, and again, those with temperamental stomachs are advised to steer clear. The sun is perhaps the most significant health risk for many tourists, as Pattaya experiences high temperatures throughout the year and many underestimate its impact on their bodies. Wearing a sun screen with an SPF appropriate to your skin type is essential if you are out and about, while drinking sufficient liquids to avoid dehydration is also paramount, whether you are indoors or out.

All visitors to Thailand are advised to have vaccinations against typhoid and hepatitis A, and while malaria is of minimum risk, wearing anti-mosquito spray, especially at night, is also advisable.

Pattaya Memorial Hospital: +66 38 429 422