Thailand · budget cars
Cheap car rental in Pattaya
The lowest daily rates on car rentals in Pattaya, Thailand. Expedia Cars compares budget brands against the majors — economy cars and the majors side by side.
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What things cost in Pattaya
Sanctuary of Truth costs 500 baht; Nong Nooch is 600 baht for the garden or 800 with the elephant and cultural shows. A songthaew hop along the beach loop is 10 baht. Street pad thai or moo ping runs 50 to 80 baht. Walking Street beer costs 150 to 250 baht and cocktails 250 to 400, against roughly 60 to 80 baht at a Soi Buakhao bar.
What first-timers get wrong in Pattaya
Songthaew baht buses run fixed loops for 10 baht; press the buzzer and pay on exit, and refuse any driver who offers to take you somewhere directly, which silently converts the ride into a private charter at ten times the price. Jet-ski damage claims on the beach are a long-running shakedown. Several attractions post separate Thai and foreigner prices. Carry a passport copy for nightlife-zone ID checks.
What's actually worth your time in Pattaya
The Sanctuary of Truth, an all-teak carved hall on the Naklua headland built without nails and still unfinished after four decades, is the one unmissable ticket at 500 baht. Nong Nooch Tropical Garden justifies the drive south for its cycad collection and topiary. Pattaya Beach itself is grey and churned by boat traffic, while Jomtien has better sand. Big Buddha Hill is a fifteen-minute stop.
What to eat in Pattaya
Avoid Walking Street's laminated tourist menus and eat instead at Naklua Market in the morning or Thepprasit Night Market, which trades Friday to Sunday. Chonburi is a seafood province: grilled prawns, hoy tod oyster omelette and pu pad pong karee crab curry at the Lan Pho stalls in Naklua. Soi Buakhao carries cheap som tam and moo ping carts that residents actually queue at.
Pattaya after dark
This is why most visitors come, and it is far more explicit than Bangkok. Walking Street closes to vehicles from around 18:00 and runs to roughly 02:00 or 03:00, all neon and touts. Soi Buakhao and LK Metro are cheaper and less aggressive; Tree Town sits in the middle. Bar fines and lady-drink pricing are standard, and haggling over them is expected.
When to go to Pattaya
| Best months for cheap-cars | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| December | 30°C / 86°F | 5 days |
| January | 31°C / 88°F | 6 days |
| February | 31°C / 88°F | 9 days |
The month to avoid is May — around 32°C (90°F) with roughly 19 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: December is the sweet spot, May the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Light, breathable clothing — linen and technical fabrics earn their keep, High-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a refillable water bottle, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Pattaya
- Pattaya Beach — Main strip — hotels, restaurants, the Walking Street nightlife district.
- Jomtien — Quieter beach south of Pattaya — family hotels, calmer water, beach umbrellas.
- Wong Amat — Upmarket beach north — resort hotels, more relaxed pace, fewer crowds.