Pattaya with kids, for our family, means an overnight stay, plenty of hotel time and knowing where we are going for dinner before anyone gets hungry. Although Pattaya is close enough to Bangkok for a day trip, we stay overnight to make the most of it. We stay in both Pattaya and Jomtien, but often prefer Jomtien because we have found better accommodation prices and a less hectic atmosphere. We can still go into Pattaya for a meal or an outing.
I have been coming to some of the restaurants here since childhood. Poo Pen goes back another generation in our family: my grandmother used to bring my mum and her siblings. Those familiar meals are as much a part of our holidays as the attractions.
If you are choosing between beach destinations, our Hua Hin and Pattaya family comparison explains the different journeys, accommodation choices and pace of each stay.
Our usual family day in Pattaya
- Breakfast: eat before getting everyone ready for the pool.
- Morning: enjoy pool time while the day is still cooler.
- Lunch and an outing: when the sun gets too hot, go out for lunch and an activity. A mall or indoor attraction works well for a break from the sun.
- Afternoon: return for more pool or beach time, depending on the weather and how everyone feels.
- Dinner: go to the restaurant we have already chosen.
That is our normal rhythm, rather than a timetable we follow every day. A water park or Koh Larn needs its own plan. We stay overnight so we can enjoy this pace without watching the clock for the drive back to Bangkok.
1. Compare Jomtien with Pattaya before booking your stay
Jomtien is usually our starting point for a calmer overnight stay. In our experience, we have found better prices there and a less hectic setting than central Pattaya.
Our drive from Jomtien into Pattaya can be around 15 minutes, depending on the start and finish points. Allow longer at weekends and during major events.
| Base | Why consider it? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Jomtien | Our usual preference when we want a less hectic base and are happy to travel for selected outings. | The exact property, nearby meals and transport to your chosen activities. |
| Pattaya | Worth comparing when your main plans are meals and activities in the city. | The actual street, evening noise and route to the places you want to use. |
We spend a lot of time at the hotel, so the accommodation is part of the holiday. Look at the pool, room arrangement, shade and food options you will actually use. The city name alone tells you less than the exact location.
Getting to Pattaya and getting around with children
For our family, having transport arranged is part of making the holiday work. Songthaews, the shared pickup trucks used locally, are an option around Pattaya and Jomtien, but I do not find them the easiest choice with children. Getting everyone on and off together, carrying bags and organising the return journey adds more to think about.
Shared minivans are another option for the journey from Bangkok, but they would not be my choice with the children. I prefer having room for our bags, travelling together and being able to discuss toilet breaks. A busy shared service with several stops does not suit the way we travel; the actual vehicle and service will vary.
If you would like SPNJ to arrange your transfer, send us your Bangkok pickup point, Pattaya or Jomtien accommodation, dates, passenger numbers, luggage and any child-seat needs. Let us know about likely toilet breaks and any planned stops so we can agree the journey before you travel.
2. Make a dinner plan before leaving the hotel
My most useful family tip is to research restaurants and have an idea of what you want to eat before going out. We do not spend the evening wandering until we find somewhere. With children, I prefer knowing the destination and having a few dishes in mind.
Pattaya has adult nightlife areas as well as places we enjoy as a family. I plan more carefully when the children are with us, choosing the restaurant, route and evening activity in advance. That lets us focus on the parts of Pattaya we came for.
| Restaurant | Area | What we go for |
|---|---|---|
| Poo Pen Seafood | Jomtien | A Thai seafood meal with a family connection across generations. |
| Joomlay | Jomtien | Som tam and Thai-style hot pot. |
| Hard Rock Cafe | Pattaya | My favourite nachos. |
| Hops Brewhouse | Pattaya | The pork knuckle I have returned for since my teens. |
Poo Pen Seafood, Jomtien: a family connection across generations
Poo Pen, also written Pupen Seafood or ปูเป็น, is a longstanding favourite in our family. My grandmother used to take my mum and her siblings there. For me, that history makes it more than another seafood restaurant to try on holiday.
It is in the Jomtien beach area and is a choice for a Thai seafood meal. Check how seafood is priced when ordering, particularly items charged by weight.
Joomlay, Jomtien: som tam and Thai-style hot pot
จุ่มเล, or Joomlay, is another of our Jomtien choices for local Thai food. Think som tam and Thai-style hot pot. It suits the sort of meal where you choose several things for the table, rather than everyone ordering the same dish.
If your children prefer milder food, make that clear when ordering. Keep the hot-pot cooking setup out of young children’s reach and leave time for a relaxed meal.
Hard Rock Cafe Pattaya: my favourite nachos
I have been going to Hard Rock Cafe Pattaya since I was about ten. Its nachos are my personal pick for the best in Thailand.
The café is on Pattaya Beach and serves American-style food alongside other menu choices. Music is part of the setting, so it suits an evening when your family wants a lively meal.
Hops Brewhouse, Pattaya: order the pork knuckle
I have been visiting Hops Brewhouse with my parents since I was about thirteen. The pork knuckle is the dish I would not miss. It is another place where I already know what I am looking forward to eating before we arrive.
3. Pick an outing your children will enjoy
Art in Paradise was fun for us; the aquarium visit I remember was more so-so. I would not give every attraction equal space on the itinerary simply because it appears on a list.
| Outing | Our experience | How I would use it |
|---|---|---|
| Art in Paradise | We enjoyed it. | A playful photo outing if your family likes posing and joining in. |
| Go-karting | Something our children enjoy. | Choose a venue around the actual age, height and driving rules for your children. |
| Water parks | Covered in our separate guide. | Give the park its own time instead of adding several attractions afterwards. |
Art in Paradise is an illusion-art attraction where the photographs and poses are part of the visit. Go with a charged phone and people who want to take turns in the pictures.
For go-karting, check the current track rules, equipment and suitability for your children before booking.
For water parks, see our Thailand water park guide for families. Compare ride restrictions there before choosing a park.
Shopping malls for lunch, rain or a break from the heat
Central Pattaya mall gives us plenty of restaurant choices in one place. It is useful when we want to leave the pool for lunch and spend some time indoors during the hottest part of the day.
Royal Garden Plaza is the mall with Ripley’s Believe It or Not! I used to take the children there and we had fun. It is another indoor outing to consider when the weather changes or everyone has had enough sun. Check which individual attractions suit your children before buying tickets, especially if they dislike dark or startling experiences.
4. Treat Koh Larn as its own beach outing
We liked Koh Larn, but the beach we visited had plenty of rocks and coral. I cannot remember which beach it was, so that observation should not be read as a description of every beach on the island.
Koh Larn, also written Ko Lan, is an island outing from Pattaya. Before choosing it for a family beach day, confirm the arrival point, onward beach transport, return crossing and current sea conditions. Do not assume arriving on the island means you are already at your chosen beach.
Ask about the actual beach you intend to use and where to enter the water. Avoid standing on coral and follow local advice on swimming and boat activity. Leave room for the boat journey and a meal, rather than trying to add an island visit between two city attractions.
5. Visit Dog’C Blog Felicita’ if your family enjoys animals
We remember big dogs, small dogs, cats and even a goat at Dog’C Blog Felicita’. The range of animals made this a different sort of outing from our pool and beach days.
My understanding from our visits is that some animals have been rescued or rehomed: for example, pets whose owners could no longer care for them, including large breeds, or whose owners were leaving Thailand.
Ask the staff how visits and animal interaction currently work. With children, follow their instructions, let animals approach and give them space when they move away.
6. Plan the fireworks festival as a special trip
The Pattaya fireworks festival is my favourite reason to visit, and we try to go every year. The traffic can be horrible, so we treat it as a special trip.
We watch the fireworks from the beach and arrive early. Bring a cloth, sarong or beach mat to sit on the sand, just as you would for sunbathing. Having somewhere to sit makes the wait more comfortable. Plan food and toilet visits before settling in, keep the children close in the crowd and leave flexibility for the journey back.
Confirm that year’s event dates and road arrangements before booking. Agree your return journey before heading to the beach.
If booking an SPNJ vehicle and driver, tell us you are travelling for the festival when you enquire. Collection points and access need to be agreed around the event arrangements. Do not expect a normal drive between Jomtien and Pattaya on a major fireworks evening.
7. Keep the holiday flexible
We stay overnight and spend a lot of the holiday at the hotel. We use the daily routine above as a starting point, then choose an outing around how everyone feels. A full water-park or island day replaces that routine; it does not need extra attractions squeezed around it.
For Pattaya with kids, our priority is a base we enjoy and plans we actually want to follow. Send SPNJ your pickup point, accommodation address, dates, passenger count and luggage details if you would like a private transfer quoted. Add children’s ages and any child-seat requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Can we book an overnight trip with separate outward and return transfers?
Yes, subject to availability. Send both dates and accommodation details so SPNJ can quote for each journey.
Does booking a transfer mean the driver stays with us for outings?
No. A transfer covers the agreed journey. Tell us separately if you want a driver for planned outings during your stay.
Are meals, attraction tickets and Koh Larn boats included with transport?
No, unless expressly included in your quotation. Your written quote sets out what is included.
Can we request a child seat?
Yes. Send your children’s ages and seat requirements with the enquiry so we can confirm availability before booking.
Can we book transport for the fireworks festival?
Yes, subject to availability and event access. Mention the festival when enquiring so collection points and timings can be agreed around road restrictions.
For pickup options and booking details, see our Bangkok to Pattaya and Jomtien private transfer service. Confirm sightseeing transport separately if you need outings during your stay.
Related reading
- Planning your arrival from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya.
- Choosing a vehicle for your family and luggage.
- Our Bang Saen family beach day for another mainland seaside option.
About this guide
By Natalie for SPNJ Travel, based on our overnight family stays in Pattaya and Jomtien, restaurant visits dating back to my childhood, selected outings and repeated fireworks-festival visits. Opinions about food and attractions reflect our family’s experience. Destination details were researched using official tourism information; current venue arrangements should be confirmed before visiting. Reviewed 20 October 2026.
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