PATTAYA, Thailand – For one long-time visitor, memories of Pattaya in the 1990s aren’t just wistful — they’re a glaring reminder of how much the city’s nightlife has changed.
“The bars were so welcoming back in the 90s,” he said. “You’d walk down the street and girls would drape garlands over your head with a laugh. Every bar had cold, wet flannels ready for you, and more often than not, one of the girls would gently wipe your neck or forehead with them — just to help you cool down. It was simple, sincere hospitality.”
What stood out most, he recalls, was the absence of pressure.
“Nobody asked for drinks. If you offered one, it was appreciated. And they never — not once — asked you to buy drinks for their friends too. It was relaxed. The girls were smiling, respectful, and genuinely warm. You didn’t feel like a mark.”
Today, he says, it’s a different story. And for many other long-term visitors, the charm has worn thin.
“Now it’s constant pestering. You’re barely through the door before the hard sell starts. The smiles feel forced. The respect? Gone. It’s become a transaction — not a welcome.”
The result? Regulars have begun avoiding certain bars entirely.
“You can see it. They’re empty. No atmosphere. People walk past. It’s not that the tourists are gone — it’s that they’re choosing where not to go. That never used to happen.”
For this veteran traveler and many like him, Pattaya was never just about sun and nightlife — it was about feeling like you belonged. And for now, that feeling is harder to find.
“Back then, we were treated like guests,” he said. “Now, we’re treated like walking wallets. That’s the difference. And it shows.”
