i have not been for some years now, so it sounds like OP's observation is validated.

The worst thing to happen to Pattaya in the last couple of years in my humble opinion as a long term resident is the influx of Chinese tour coaches, but I guess we won't be the only place in the region to suffer from the same negative impact. When the entire thrust of a country's tourist strategy is to increase volume at any price, to apparently show everything is hunky dory and wonderful to the outside world, without improving the basic infrastructure to cope with the demand it doesn't usually result in a better product. The Pattaya demographic is changing and I'm cynical in saying that it's towards countries whose populace are used to a less than attractive environment, but throw in a couple of glitzy shopping malls to bedazzle the families and satisfy the consumer consumption aspirations they can't get back home and bob's your uncle.

^ Yep first and arguably most sensible bit of window dressing the military dictatorship did from their own viewpoint, look look the numbers are up. And we all now how the Chinese spend feeds down to the average Thai On the bright side plenty of money to reinvest in Chinese made military hardware and Chinese built and staffed train lines and no accountability for the backshish from the deals. Article 44, you've got to love it.

the entire region is already a defacto province of China.
GF has some stories of what the Khmer in SV think about it.
will report what i have heard about his soon on another thread.

frank lee bent wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:01 am the entire region is already a defacto province of China.
GF has some stories of what the Khmer in SV think about it.
will report what i have heard about his soon on another thread.

That will be an interesting read Frank as they are the ones materially affected, it's an inconvenience to me here but not economic. Kind of shocked to read here about the current property changes happening in SHV on another thread.

Bitte_Kein_Lexus wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2017 8:54 am I think if you're over 50 it can be alright, but if you're 35 and younger you really shouldn't be there as most girls will be older than you, and not in a good way. I'm no adonis, but I can get way hotter chicks with less attitude than the ones in that hell hole without paying so... What's the point? I had more fun shopping at Uniclo and checking out the malls during the day, lol.

im 30 and always have a great time in Pattaya, really dont understand the gripers, and plenty of decent girls
you know the Bars are not the only way to meet girls in Pattaya...
Apps like Tinder and Badoo are full of available hot girls

I went once before that alone around 8-9 years ago. Is was "OK" back then, but a little overwhelming for a young, fresh-faced guy who had no clue. Something has happened and the socio-economic opportunities for Thai women are much better. There's no reason for them to work there anymore. I've seen really hot girls in Bangkok malls and all that, so it's not like Thailand has a shortage of good looking girls. Many other opportunities now. So Pattaya has had the same girls working there for 10 years now. I swear that's what it is. No new fresh arrivals, just old school players. It's like one big Golden Sorya Mall, or Walkabout what I assume Walkabout looked like inside right before it closed. Same chicks from ten years ago plying their trade, only older, uglier and probably more disease ridden. I saw guys my age and sometimes much younger with girls I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. I felt sad for them tbh, maybe they didn't realise that with a bit of of practice they could pick up those hot Bangkok mall girls instead?

I seriously think Pattaya is just running on fumes. People go there from Europe and all over because they've heard stories from the heydays (early 80s- mid 90s I'd guess) so keep flocking assuming it's the same. I guess it's still better than England? As mentioned : Chinese tour groups with the little fanions on walking street. Christ... Get me out of here!

Bitte_Kein_Lexus wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2017 8:54 am . I'm no adonis, but I can get way hotter chicks with less attitude than the ones in that hell hole without paying so... What's the point? I had more fun shopping at Uniclo and checking out the malls during the day, lol.

Funny you should say that, cos i think the best 'fun' in Pattaya is the shopping malls, and eating 'dunking donuts'. Seriously i just love to pig out on cheesy American outlets, after eating cheap Thai food.

Regarding the Women, well i didn't bother, but there were some nice ones i saw on Coconut, and in the bars. I guess BKL just had a crummy time like i did when i went at a similar time one year. It's probably too busy and awful in December, yet late may it was pretty quiet and chilled. And there was a surprising few good sights.

Yes, i guess you're right, probably easier to pull girls from a Mall. Has anyone done that, have a story to tell ?

frank lee bent wrote:
I think if you're over 50 it can be alright, but if you're 35 and younger you really shouldn't be there as most girls will be older than you, and not in a good way. I'm no adonis, but I can get way hotter chicks with less attitude than the ones in that hell hole without paying so... What's the point? I had more fun shopping at Uniclo and checking out the malls during the day, lol.

i see what you did there lambknuckle. i did not write that!
i would never say i was not an adonis. no need to state the sad fact.
it would be like saying fire burns or water is wet.
back OT i was in Pattaya about 3 years ago and it was overrun with cute girls in droves, hanging around with 6 or 7 similarly unoccupied girls.
i did not try to meet any being otherwise engaged.
but maybe i am a half full glass kinda guy.