Pattaya Still Wins: Loyal UK visitors return for the fifth time despite baht blues, saying even 99-baht beers beat London prices. PATTAYA, Thailand – While many are quick to complain that Thailand has become too expensive, numerous holidaymakers from the UK beg to differ—and they aren’t just visiting once. They’re returning trip after trip, armed with strong opinions and bold reassurances. One self-professed regular told us with a laugh: “It makes me laugh how people are saying Thailand is too expensive now. Try living in the UK! It’s not gonna stop me going back for my fifth trip.” Another Brit looking to escape the cost-of-living madness back home explained that the soaring prices in the UK are a major motivator in their decision to move to Southeast Asia. “Half the reason I’m leaving the UK for SEA,” they shared, “prices are stupid here compared to over there.” Alongside this, another couple hinted at a permanent shakeup: they’re planning to “be off in next few years with my wife. Split our time between UK & Isan where we have farmland & house. I’ll give you a wave, I’m sure I’ll be up there—good luck to you too.” Their optimism stood out, even as some frowned at naysayers perplexed by the local exchange rate. One traveler dismissed complaints, retorting, “I’m not sure who’s swallowing what.” A few praised the current Baht-GBP exchange, noting, “GBP is 44 baht. With a low of 38 and a high of 47 in the last 5 years so not doing that bad.” Yet amid the debate, another Nato-shocked voice cut in: “The baht has weakened this year against the SEK so I am happy. Not all of the world is paying with USD. They want the USD to fall so don’t complain. Nobody wants that.” The conversation shifted to everyday costs, where some travelers shared that low-season pints of Heineken run around 99 baht and that airfare spikes of 20–30 percent still leave Pattaya more affordable than most Western destinations. One calculated flight deals: “I can make it from LA to Bangkok round trip for $1200 coach or cheaper most days. Been around this rate for a while.” Another defensively claimed, “Prices are hardly inflated at all if you compare with most of the world. Many prices are unchanged for a decade.” Of course, not everyone is poetic about the city’s transformation. Comments rang out about shifts in crowd profiles—“lots of broke Indian and Russian youths”—and standard quips about currency, like, “As long as it’s above 30 to 1 USD, I think most of us are still doing ok.” One pragmatist conceded, “It’s not only about the baht rate; it’s the way prices have gone up for tourists—bats, hotels, etc.” Despite gloom and doom narratives, the UK contingent remained undeterred. One summed it up this way: “No signs of Thai baht weakening—foreign tourists swallow the pain if they want to visit Pattaya.” So while some insist Pattaya is spiraling, the UK visitors returning again and again paint a different picture: Yes, costs are up—airfares, rentals, bar tabs—but value, community, and familiarity still outweigh the complaints. After all, compared to the UK, this slice of Southeast Asia still feels like a bargain.