Welcome to Pattaya: Where the prices went up, but the charm checked out. From rising lady drinks to falling service standards, longtime visitors say the magic isn’t what it used to be. PATTAYA, Thailand – After decades of projection and denial, it seems Pattaya has finally run out of rug space. The city long known for its seductive chaos is now facing something far more sobering — the judgment of its own loyal visitors. Across forums, comments, and digital soapboxes, one sentiment echoes loud and unfiltered: Pattaya is no longer worth it. And for once, nobody’s pretending otherwise. “Drop the bar fine to half, drop long time to 1,500 baht — maybe more tourists come back.” “Two chances of that happening: zilch and zero.” “Vietnam — half the price!” “Thailand’s new tourists don’t spend money. Most of them will only buy from 7-Eleven.” “All too greedy.” “Stop the lady drink rip-off.” The litany of complaints cuts across price hikes, falling service standards, and a scene that some say has simply outlived its era. “It’s not great, but we have it!” used to be Pattaya’s unspoken motto — a strange, honest magic that made the city thrive despite itself. But the illusion is crumbling. Social media has dragged the city into the daylight, and with it, an avalanche of reckoning. “Hotels, landlords, bars — super greedy.” “Not cheap anymore. Dual pricing. GREED.” “Gogos are now the biggest scam.” “Inflation’s one thing, but Pattaya raised prices far beyond demand. Suicide business model.” “I used to drink in Las Vegas complex — 80 baht for a beer. Went back this year, 95 baht. ‘Because it’s high season,’ they said. RIP-OFF B’s.” It’s not just about money. Longtime visitors complain the experience itself has soured. “These days 50% of the girls are overweight and glued to their phones.” “Half the bars feel like TikTok filming studios.” “Violence, weed, wannabe tough guys — the atmosphere’s ruined.” “No longer a relaxing place.” “Russian areas, Arab areas, Indian areas — intimidation, corruption, gangs.” “Even Thai police seem more focused on bribes than public safety.” “There’s no confidence in fair treatment anymore.” Perhaps most damning of all? The feeling that nothing is hidden anymore. “What used to be discreet is now live streamed.” “Every fight, scam, rip-off — caught on video.” “Even beach sleepers and tuk-tuk brawls make the feed.” Despite the noise, a quieter consensus emerges — the decline started long before 2020. The pandemic didn’t create the problem, it just exposed it. And yet, there’s still affection. In-between the hard truths, some users hold onto what Pattaya meant — or still could mean — if it took itself seriously. “Pattaya is still the best! You just need to know the good places.” “Thailand is still cheaper than the UK — if you live like a local.” “Yes, it’s changed. But I’m still here. I’ve lived in Pattaya 11 years.” That affection, however, doesn’t mean blind loyalty. “Everyone gets their moment. Yours has passed. Next please.” “Cambodia, here I come. Bye bye, Thailand.” “Thailand is no longer worth my time and money. Sorry.” In the end, there is no single villain. The falling pound, the strong baht, changing tourist demographics, and post-pandemic disillusionment all play a role. But one comment might summarize the tragedy best: “Thailand’s biggest problem is greed.” The rest of the world changed. Pattaya didn’t. And now, perhaps, the curtain is closing on an era when what happened in Pattaya stayed in Pattaya. Because today, it’s online — in full, unfiltered detail — and nothing is under the carpet anymore.