Thailand
In short
- Pattaya is a beach city on the Gulf of Thailand, reached by road from Bangkok.
- Pai is a small town in a mountain valley in the north, reached by road from Chiang Mai.
- Every foreign visitor fills in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before arrival.
- Each hotel guide here lists hotels chosen from public, checkable data, with a price check link for every one.
This guide covers 2 places in Thailand, and every foreign visitor must file the online arrival card within the 3 days before arrival. Pattaya and Pai are about as different as two Thai trips can be.
Pattaya is a seaside city south-east of Bangkok, with long beaches, nightlife and island day trips. Pai is a small, slow town in the mountains of the north, with hot springs, viewpoints and walking routes.
Where to go in Thailand
Where to go in Thailand, for these guides, comes down to sea or mountains. The table sets out the 2 places covered here, with the two cities most visitors pass through on the way.
| Place | Region | Best for | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattaya | east coast of the Gulf of Thailand | beaches, nightlife, island day trips | by road from Bangkok |
| Pai | Mae Hong Son province, north | mountain scenery, hot springs, a slow pace | by road from Chiang Mai |
| Bangkok (gateway) | central Thailand | temples, markets, flights onward | Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang |
| Chiang Mai (gateway) | north | old city temples, the start of the road to Pai | flight or train from Bangkok |
Pattaya: a beach city close to Bangkok
Pattaya is a beach city close to Bangkok, which is why many visitors add it to the start or end of a trip. The city sits on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, in Chon Buri province, and grew from a fishing village into one of the country’s best-known resorts.
Pattaya Beach, in the centre, has the hotels, restaurants and the nightlife of Walking Street. Jomtien, to the south, is longer and calmer, and Naklua, to the north, is quieter again. Ferries cross to Koh Larn, a small island with clearer water, and the Sanctuary of Truth is a carved wooden temple by the sea.
Where to stay in Pattaya depends on the trip: the centre for nightlife, Jomtien or Naklua for a quieter beach stay. The Pattaya hotel guide compares hotels across these areas.
Pai: a mountain valley in the north
Pai is a mountain valley town in the north, in Mae Hong Son province, and the trip there is part of the experience. The road from Chiang Mai climbs through forested hills with many tight bends, so travellers prone to car sickness should plan for it.
The town itself is small, with a walking street and evening market in the centre. Around it are Pai Canyon, hot springs, waterfalls, rice fields and viewpoints, most of them reached by scooter, taxi or a local tour. Many hotels are small guesthouses and bungalows outside the centre, so the location matters more than in a city.
Getting into and around Thailand
Getting into and around Thailand usually starts in Bangkok, with road and air links on to the coast and the north.
- Arrival card: all passengers must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online. The official site says no fee is required and asks foreigners to submit it within the 3 days before arrival.
- Visa: whether a tourist stay needs a visa depends on nationality and planned length of stay. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ e-Visa site has a check for this.
- Bangkok has two international airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang; Pattaya is reached from both by road.
- Chiang Mai has an international airport and a rail link from Bangkok; Pai is reached from Chiang Mai by minibus, car or motorbike.
How the hotel guides are made
How the hotel guides are made matters, because we have not stayed at these hotels. Each list is chosen from public, checkable data: the hotel’s own website, its location, the facilities it lists and its guest score on booking sites, with the date checked.
We show a star category only where an official register lets us check it; otherwise the facilities and the guest score do that job. Every hotel has its own price check link, and no hotel pays to be listed. Read the editorial policy for the full method and the disclosure for how the site earns money.
When Thailand is not the right trip
Thailand is not the right trip for every plan, and these two places are not for every traveller. Pattaya’s centre is busy and loud at night; travellers after quiet sand often prefer Jomtien, Naklua or an island.
Pai needs time: the road alone takes a good part of a day, so it does not fit a short city break. For a long island trip, the Indonesia guide covers Bali and its neighbours; for Europe, start with Spain or Portugal. Read more about the site.
Hotel guides for Thailand
Each list compares hotels by area, price level and guest score, and explains how they were chosen.
Common questions
Do I need to fill in an arrival card for Thailand?
Yes. The Thai Immigration Bureau says all passengers must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, and asks foreigners to submit it within the 3 days before their arrival date. The official site states that no fee is required, so ignore websites that charge for it.
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
It depends on your passport and how long you plan to stay. The official Thai e-Visa site, run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has a check: enter your nationality and the number of days you plan to stay. Do it before booking, and apply there if a visa is needed.
How do you get from Bangkok to Pattaya?
Pattaya is reached from Bangkok by road, by bus, minibus, taxi or hired car, from the city or from either airport. There is no need to fly. Allow extra time at weekends and on public holidays, when the road from Bangkok to the coast is busier.
How do you get to Pai?
Most travellers reach Pai by road from Chiang Mai, by minibus, car or motorbike. The road crosses the mountains with many tight bends, so take motion sickness tablets if you need them and avoid riding it in the dark. Chiang Mai has flights and trains from Bangkok.