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For souvenirs, beach essentials and tack, hit the beachfront stalls which line the southern stretch of Beach Road (south of Central Pattaya Road). Open all day and late into the night, goods here reflect a diverse array of enthusiasms: fake football shirts, surf shorts, bikinis, flick-knives, ethnic crafts, Buddha statues, rude T-shirts, hardcore porn DVDs, stun guns, and even samurai swords.
Here and along nearby Sois, the space not taken up by beer bars, restaurants, banks and convenience stores, is filled by travel shops, tattoo parlours and tailors. Usually loitering with let-me-sell-you-a-cheap-suit intent is a savvy Thai or Indian male vendor with a cannygift for guessing where you hail from and greeting you in your native idiom: “Alright mate!', “G'day!'etc, etc. If you decide to get measured up, go for at least two fittings and don't confuse good price with a good quality end-product.
Pattaya Shopping Malls
Air-conditioned malls, superstores and supermarkets are thriving in Pattaya, making it simple for most tourists to find products like those they would encounter back home. Top of the list is Royal Garden Plaza (Beach Road, between Soi Post Office and Soi Pattayaland 1): a gleaming upscale mall with three floors of trendy boutique clothes shops, chain stores alongside chemists and fast food outlets.
Nearby, Mike's Shopping Mall (Beach Road between Sois 11 and 12) is a rather run-down retail labyrinth, featuring shops, a department store, and lots of bazaar stalls selling fabrics, cheap shirts, shoes, belts and souvenirs. Coming soon to an area opposite is 'The Avenue'(Second Road, opposite Soi 11), a swanky street currently being constructed and that's destined to be lined with upmarket boutiques. See 'Malls, Superstore and Supermarkets'for a comprehensive rundown of Pattaya's big league shopping, and where to find it.
Thai-style Markets
Thailand is famous for its open-air markets with small stalls selling a myriad of products, mostly locally made, and often what one would consider a handicraft. Pattaya has less of this type shopping than most of Thailand's major tourist destinations, but Thai-style markets do exist. Thepprasit Market on Thepprasit Road near the junction with Sukhumvit Road is Pattaya's version of a weekend market. It has over 500 stalls offering food and a variety of goods. On Tuesdays and Fridays, Soi Buakhao Market, sometimes called the Tuesday/Friday Market, sets up on the corner of South Pattaya Road and Soi Buakhao. In the evenings a small market appears further along South Pattaya Road. The Made in Thailand Night Plaza found on Second Road near Soi 10 is a warren of small shops offering a variety of locally made products each day from 08:00-23:00. The Market Pattaya on Second Road near Soi 5 opened with high expectations and visions of becoming another Chatuchak, but the vision has never been realized. It is very quiet most evenings.
Specialty Shop.
Art Galleries
Many local artists have original paintings to sell. In addition, they will often turn a precious photograph into a painting for you at a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere. The galleries tend to cluster together. Several can be found on Pattaya Second Road and on Pattaya Naklua Road. What they have to sell usually represents good value for money.
Gems and Jewellery
Thailand is noted for its gems and hand-made jewellery. Care must be taken when shopping to avoid a scam. Never buy gems from someone on the street or allow a tout take you to a store offering 'bargains'. At best what you purchase will be over-priced; and in extreme cases, gems on offer will be fake. If you are shopping for expensive items, shop only at established and reputable shop, preferably those that are members of the 'Jewel Fest Club', an organization sponsored by the Tourist Authority of Thailand and the Thai Gem and Jewellery Traders Association . In addition to gems, probably the best bargains to be found in Thailand are the costume jewellery items sold by vendors on the street. Earrings, in particular, represent good value for money.
Handicrafts
Every visitor to Thailand wants to return home with some of the country's wonderful handicrafts. Baskets, jewellery, handbags, wall-hangings and more are sold on almost every street corner and virtually all malls, shopping centres and Thai markets. There are also numerous boutique shops in Pattaya that specialize in handicrafts and antiques.
Tailors
Pattaya, like every tourist centre, in Thailand is loaded with tailors. Most are capable of good, but not spectacular work. The result, however, is often slipshod because it is done so quickly. If you insist on at least two fittings and don't expect to get your clothing back in 24 hours you will get a better result. Also, it is best to avoid tailors who offer incredibly cheap deals. It can't be done without cutting corners. Here are some tailors that have been recommended by Pattaya residents.
Thai Fabrics
Hand woven silk is one of Thailand's great bargains. If you are interested in buying silk to take home, it is best to do a little research before making the plunge. Although Pattaya is not the best place in the Kingdom to purchase silk, there are several shops with a wide selection at reasonable prices. Also don't forget Thailand's hand woven cotton: unique and colourful, it adds class to any garment. |
