Have you noticed that some popular destinations have been excluded from the Lonely Planet guides you read? If so, which locations were excluded? Why do you think they were excluded?
For some reason Pattaya is not included in my Lonely Planet book. Anyone know why this is? I have never been to Pattaya so cant recommend accomodation there.
Arent all hotels short time places Sir Halberd?
Mel
Reply to this I have the 13th Edition. Maybe the editors left it out by mistake?
Reply to this "......For some reason Pattaya is not included in my Lonely Planet book. Anyone know why this is? I have never been to Pattaya so cant recommend accomodation there."
Perhaps the people who currently write for LP read "other" travel advice written by people who have never been to Pattaya or are passing on something they only "heard" from someone else and ignore that city! Pattaya does have a lot of bars and a lively nightlife but it still remains a top destination for couples and family groups. Many of these families return year after year. Part of the appeal of Pattaya, compared to Phuket for instance, is that it Pattaya is cheaper to get to - around 120 baht for the 2 hour bus ride. Plus the hotels are cheaper in Pattaya than Phuket and Bangkok. Transportation is also cheaper in Pattaya - 10 baht for a "baht bus" ride! (Think the older versions of LP may have info on Pattaya.)
http://pattaya.sawadee.com/attractions_pattaya.htm
"Arent all hotels short time places Sir Halberd?"
Why would you say that? Since a very high percentage of the tourists that come to Pattaya are married or couples - unless they are doing "threesomes" their rooms would not be for short times! Where would some of the tourists hide the kids anyway?
There are some cheaper hotels that are used for "transient" customers, I suppose a married woman or guy would use one of those places for a "rendezvous!" For women "sex tourists" Pattaya is second to Phuket, by the way! Phuket is still the number one destination for females looking for dates they pay for! Maybe LP should also ignore Phuket too!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_sex_tourism#Destinations
OK
Reply to this ....a top destination for couples and family groups.....
I heard that Pattaya is a destination mainly for sex tourism.
Maybe LP should also ignore Phuket too!
Phuket is in my Lonely Planet book.
Reply to this "....a top destination for couples and family groups...."
Some things you do have to see for yourself! Next trip take a few "cheap" days in Pattaya.
http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php/2006/06/30/top_5_destinations_in_thailand?blog=5
Sure there are a lot of bars but there are also lots of malls, three movie theaters, a Ripley's Believe it or Not exhibit and museum and lots of other things kids like to see. You often see family groups walking around Pattaya. The kids will see and experience more themes of 'sexual nature' in their own high schools than on the streets of Pattaya! Kids can't get into go-go bars.
"I heard that Pattaya is a destination mainly for sex tourism."
Sure there will be men and women seeking companionship and those who want to party every night and perhaps some swingers, but that is not the only type of tourist that shows up. You always see bus loads and big groups of Chinese, Japanese and Korean tourists in Pattaya. They seem to prefer to travel in groups and are very easy to notice. Lots of European tourists with families travel to Pattaya - year after year! Some tourists stay in the Jomtien area and never venture into the Pattaya City area.
I guess tourists should also stay away from Patong (Phuket,) Sukhumvit Road (Nana area,) Pat Pong, Soi Cowboy (Asok area) too!
Best thing about Pattaya if you don't like it you can hop on a bus and for around 120 baht and a couple hours you are back in Bangkok!
Give it a try and decide for yourself!
Reply to this Felix
I forgot to say that it is the 'South East Asia on a Shoestring by Lonely Planet' that I have and not the book that only covers Thailand.
Reply to this o...they should include it, it was really cheap place (excuse the pun) I only had 24 hours there and it was great...will definately go back for longer next year. The diving was incredible, did a wreck adventure dive (my 1st) and it was awsome. The dive school Mermaids were brilliant the instructors had good ratio of professionalism and being nutters. Pattaya was definately sin city tho....but, well if you're on holiday then......
Reply to this Maybe Lonely Planet has banned Pattaya from their travel guides because of its seedy character - read s*x tourism - conveniently forgetting the many farang couples who return every year and YES Phuket - that is, Phatong Beach - is the nr. one s*x destination in Thailand but has not been excluded from the Loney Planet guides...might make you wonder why???
For those loney farang males out there who would love to meet local thai women but do not like to pay for s*x, I suggest you visit Pattaya on a friday and/or saturday night when lots of middle class young women from Bangkok go to Pattaya for its rowdy nightlife after a whole week of working hard at one of the many foreign companies based in Bangkok.
Reply to this If the Lonely Planet are being moral about sex for sale destinations, then there wouldnt be a Lonely Planet guide for Thailand at all. 😉 Pattaya was probably excluded by accident.
Reply to this Lonely planet has not "banned" Pattaya from their guidebooks---my (pirated :-)) Thailand, marked 12th edition 2009, has several pages on Pattaya.
Multi-country guidebooks, of course, can't cover everywhere, and the editors have to pick and choose where to include.
Reply to this never been there, but it makes me think that if they're cutting out all the fun, then maybe we need to start our own guide to the world...
"Round the World with Sex Drugs & Rock n Roll"
"The Loony Planet"
any publishers out there?
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