Thailand over Xmas and New year-pattaya

[beanfarmer05]

Good evening gents,

Just a query, what's it like in Thailand and pattaya over Xmas and New year? I imagine the flights will be more expensive, but what about hotels, are they reasonable, and is the weather mostly dry?

I've only ever been in March April time, but this year I have two weeks off over Xmas, and if I take a few days holiday I can stretch it to three. I'm not particularly fancying another cold grey and miserable Xmas in the UK, the idea of sunbathing by a pool on Xmas day appeals.

What's the best hotels in pattaya near all the action, walking street, but reasonably decent hotels with pool and ideally gym? Cheers for any help

[berto_33]

I've spent a couple of Xmas in Thailand with great weather in Pattaya and Koh Chang but no so great in Ko Samui and surrounding islands. I am thinking about SE Asia myself for the upcoming Xmas.

Flights are more expensive and hotels are busier. Better than rainy Europe though, if you can afford it I think it's worth it.

I stayed at The Base in my last trip via AIrbnb, great views, roof top pool and Gym.
...and goes without saying... girl friendly!

[webpunter]

Thanks for the intel.  Now have this thread for future reference 

[Stickitin]

If you can afford the flight, which will be expensive, then go for it. There is a massive oversupply of accomodation in Thailand so you never really have a problem finding rooms at a reasonable rate unless you are fussy.....

[Dulmenite]

Watch out for the hotels that charge for a " compulsory Christmas Buffet meal ". A complete rip off !

[baseball_99]

Hello mate, so after spending prob around 5 - 6 years on my own on NYE in the UK I decided a change was in order and I spent the last NYE in Bangkok, my flight landed late morning in BKK on the 31/12 and yes it was approx £150 more expensive than if I decided to fly out on 02/01, however departing on 30/12 meant I could save 3 days holiday at work. If I 'bought' 3 additional days holiday at work this would cost me considerably more. Maybe spending a little more on your flight isn't a bad if it means you book fewer holidays at work.

in BKK, I was staying in Sukhumvit and with it being NYE it was really busy with tourists, same as the UK some of the bigger known nightclubs were charging double or triple the entrance fee and nearly everyone I come across wanted a tip as it was 'New Year'.

Have you got any thoughts on where you plan to visit especially if you're out there for 3 weeks?

[yodeling]

i used to do xmas for many years but then airline fares shot up at xmas as its a good time to go  for the sun ,but then a far more worrying factor was many gals go home at this time so pickup joints in BKK became depleted of women.. i recall bars in karon phuket emptied out of females ..this was confirmed by other women who said their mates had gone home to see the folks outside BKK for several weeks. also bars suffer less female workers and bar fines soar to stop them being taken out of the bars as they want to sell more beer all night..gals start drifting back around mid january .
i no longer do thailand at this time

[yodeling]

Watch out for the hotels that charge for a " compulsory Christmas Buffet meal ". A complete rip off !

the thai xmas meal is a big scam ..you pay a large price for a crumby meal .which may not be like what you are used too..if your lucky you may find a genuine meal but many ingredients have to be imported specially 

[Cactus]

I spent Christmas in Koh Samui a few years ago, went to Koh Phangan for a full moon party on Christmas night, which was awesome (even if I didn't think it was my scene at the time).  Had Christmas dinner in an Irish pub on KS, which was reasonably priced and a good feed of the usual fare, couple of beers, then speedboat over to KP for the party and then back again in the early hours.

I flew over at the start of December, then home on the 31st, which was pretty reasonable prices.  Trecked around Thailand with a week or so in Cambodia too, great times.

[billybob69]

i used to do xmas for many years but then airline fares shot up at xmas as its a good time to go  for the sun ,but then a far more worrying factor was many gals go home at this time so pickup joints in BKK became depleted of women.. i recall bars in karon phuket emptied out of females ..this was confirmed by other women who said their mates had gone home to see the folks outside BKK for several weeks. also bars suffer less female workers and bar fines soar to stop them being taken out of the bars as they want to sell more beer all night..gals start drifting back around mid january .
i no longer do thailand at this time

Just wondering why Buddhist bar girls would go 'home' during a Christian festival??? And why would bar owners allow their income generators (i.e. their girls) take weeks off during peak season??? Also been to Karon Beach, Phuket. I don't remember there being many bars to speak and that was in high season.
The only part of your post that I recognise is the increase in price of airline fares (and even if you book far enough ahead you can book flights for a reasonable price).

[Stickitin]

Just wondering why Buddhist bar girls would go 'home' during a Christian festival??? And why would bar owners allow their income generators (i.e. their girls) take weeks off during peak season??? Also been to Karon Beach, Phuket. I don't remember there being many bars to speak and that was in high season.
The only part of your post that I recognise is the increase in price of airline fares (and even if you book far enough ahead you can book flights for a reasonable price).

They celebrate our new year as well as theirs. They cant stop the girls going, if they try to they will just leave and get a job in a different place when they come back, its super easy for them to get a job as the bars are akways screaming out for more girls.

[baseball_99]

Just wondering why Buddhist bar girls would go 'home' during a Christian festival???

Surprisingly a number of girls do go home around NYE when you think it would be peak time. As I mentioned a few girls I had lined up on TF had gone home. Maybe the reason they go home is that the second Saturday in January is known as Children’s day.

[Stickitin]

Surprisingly a number of girls do go home around NYE when you think it would be peak time. As I mentioned a few girls I had lined up on TF had gone home. Maybe the reason they go home is that the second Saturday in January is known as Children’s day.

They celebrate our new year aswell....

[Jimmyredcab]

I have always avoided Christmas in Thailand, expensive flights, packed bars, hotels dearer ----------- I like to fly out around 3rd January when things return to normal. 

[yodeling]

Just wondering why Buddhist bar girls would go 'home' during a Christian festival??? And why would bar owners allow their income generators (i.e. their girls) take weeks off during peak season??? Also been to Karon Beach, Phuket. I don't remember there being many bars to speak and that was in high season.
The only part of your post that I recognise is the increase in price of airline fares (and even if you book far enough ahead you can book flights for a reasonable price).

its the time of the year when gals change jobs as theyre getting jaded and use this time to make the change and go home for the xmas new year break..bar keeps can do nothing if they want to leave the jobs..i have been visiting thailand since 1987 and own a property there so have the experience of what happens ..  i got stranded in phuket one xmas as all buses and flights were booked out so had to  take a long distance taxi to surat thani and catch the train to bangkok .no seats just standing only .. the public transport system is generally overloaded as large numbers of people both tourists and thais are on the move at this time..bars are at kata  and karon beach when i was there

ekamai bus station is usually packed out due to thais going home for the xmas  new years period .so not  good time to be  travelling on buses or anywhere for that matter.. things get back to normal bout mid jan

[yodeling]

I've spent a couple of Xmas in Thailand with great weather in Pattaya and Koh Chang but no so great in Ko Samui and surrounding islands. I am thinking about SE Asia myself for the upcoming Xmas.

Flights are more expensive and hotels are busier. Better than rainy Europe though, if you can afford it I think it's worth it.

I stayed at The Base in my last trip via AIrbnb, great views, roof top pool and Gym.
...and goes without saying... girl friendly!

i was going to ko samui one xmas but the weather was so bad the ferries could not sail from surat thani so had to take a long distance taxi to phuket where the weather was fine ..if one coast is bad the other is usually ok

[baseball_99]

They celebrate our new year aswell....

Yes, of course, the cheek of it! Aswell as their own Thai new year in April they also celebrate Chinese new year 

[webpunter]

IMO a good excuse to have a party
And if you happen to be there 

Yes, of course, the cheek of it! Aswell as their own Thai new year in April they also celebrate Chinese new year 

[beanfarmer05]

Thanks for the replies, I could swallow the higher air fare, but I don't like the sound of the bars being empty of girls due to the holidays.may have to reconsider and go in January when things are back to normal..

Cheers

BF

[Fkinloser]

I used to go every Xmas but haven't missed it since I ditched it for other times in the year.  It's probably the best time of year weather-wise but the place is rammed with Chinese tourists especially in Walking St all gawking at the neon lights and getting in the way.  Bar fines skyrocket to silly levels in many bars for the Xmas week to cash-in and/or keep the girls in the bar.   As others have said many girls disappear after NYE to go home.  Used to be awesome but not for me anymore.

[webpunter]

Good call
Coz there'll be less variety & the fit ones will be busy
When do the NYE holidays end & the burds return ?

Thanks for the replies, I could swallow the higher air fare, but I don't like the sound of the bars being empty of girls due to the holidays.may have to reconsider and go in January when things are back to normal..

Cheers

BF

[Stickitin]

I used to go every Xmas but haven't missed it since I ditched it for other times in the year.  It's probably the best time of year weather-wise but the place is rammed with Chinese tourists especially in Walking St all gawking at the neon lights and getting in the way.  Bar fines skyrocket to silly levels in many bars for the Xmas week to cash-in and/or keep the girls in the bar.   As others have said many girls disappear after NYE to go home.  Used to be awesome but not for me anymore.

The weather is the main reason I go at xmas, hate sweating my arse off. Never had a problem finding girls at any time of thr year tbh, althiugh you do have more to choose from away from peak periods.

[billybob69]

They celebrate our new year as well as theirs. They cant stop the girls going, if they try to they will just leave and get a job in a different place when they come back, its super easy for them to get a job as the bars are akways screaming out for more girls.

I stand corrected. I have been in Pattaya around NYE and didn't find any shortage of girlies available in the bars :-)
I was led to believe that the girls just rolling up at a bar and getting a job was quite unusual? I was told that they only tended to go to bars where they had 'connections' such as a friend already working there?

[berto_33]

I stand corrected. I have been in Pattaya around NYE and didn't find any shortage of girlies available in the bars :-)
I was led to believe that the girls just rolling up at a bar and getting a job was quite unusual? I was told that they only tended to go to bars where they had 'connections' such as a friend already working there?

+1 no shortage of girls in Pattaya around Xmas time

[Rossi]

IMO just go, you will enjoy it.

Only book a hotel for a night or so, and then go where you want to - you will enjoy it for sure if you have money in your pocket 

[Jimmybigballs]

It's a good laugh out there at xmas and new year but it's so much more expensive.
Flights are silly money, hotels charge more even a lot of the gogos up the bar fine to take the girls out.
If your just going to get your end away I'd steer clear of the xmas period you'll still have a cracking time and you'll save yourself hundreds of pounds.

[yodeling]

i would head down to hat yai at xmas as hotels offer a room service delivery of choice of women and avoid the tourist traps