First time Pattaya, I need your thoughts and recommendations

[traveltom]

Hello everyone, 

I'm glad to have found this awesome forum of like-minded fellow gays and after spending a few hours reading through posts, I decided it's best to just sign up. I'm Tom from Germany, by the way, and I love traveling. 

Currently I'm planning a trip to Thailand in February/March 2026 and would like to include Pattaya in my plans. I'm thinking about a stay of about 7 nights and from what I've read, Jomtien sounds the best. I'm unsure about the accommodation options though, and ask for your advice. 

I definitely want to have some sexy guests over, so it is an important criteria that this is easily possible. Usually I prefer apartments over hotels for the increased privacy, and no scolding reception looks. I've found a good Airbnb at the Talay 7 Condominium, but then I learned of the TM30 regulations and that makes me question this option. 

Another option could be the Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel & Resort but I'm always a bit fearful of the reception being a hurdle to any hookups in my room. I like the proximity to the beach that both options offer, so that is also a factor. 

I do like a central location, but don't exactly want to stay right next to a loud bar, as I value my sleep too. 

What are thoughts and recommendations? 

Cheers, Tom

[Olddaddy]

The Jomtien beach Condos  down from Rompho markets have no reception if that's what your looking for

They are advertised on Airbnb 

I have stayed mostly in Airbnb and have no idea what a TM30 is ...isn't that only for 30 days or more?

In fact most times I don't even see the owner ,they just leave the key out in a safe lock 

As I said The Jomtien beach condos are down on the same side as Rompho markets , no reception, they have pool ,gym etc 

10 minutes walk to Jomtien Complex 

 

 

[12is12]

NONE of the receptionists at ANY of the jometien complex hotels will give u a scolding look.

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, traveltom said:

 

I definitely want to have some sexy guests over, so it is an important criteria that this is easily possible. Usually I prefer apartments over hotels for the increased privacy, and no scolding reception looks.

Welcome to the forum

all hotels in Pattaya are very used to their guests bringing over their own guests so  don't expect any problems  there

[Olddaddy]

4 hours ago, 12is12 said:

NONE of the receptionists at ANY of the jometien complex hotels will give u a scolding look.

Ah very true☺️ 

The OP could also try view talay 2B although it's difficult to sometimes cross the busy  road and long walk through carpark🚗🚘🚘

As you don't want to be in a hotels🏩 near the bar area we can rule out Zing,  the Agate ,the Venue ,  Dorothy's guesthouse ( a lovely owner and much respect to him🙏🏿

You could try the Sansuk sauna hotel but is a 5 minutes baht bus ride away 🚌up on the hill followed by a 5 minutes walk 🚶🏿‍♂️🚶🏿‍♂️

 

[floridarob]

4 hours ago, 12is12 said:

NONE of the receptionists at ANY of the jometien complex hotels will give u a scolding look.

Unless you’ve already slept with them and they’re watching you bring someone else back.

Or they want to sleep with you.

Or they messaged you on Grindr.

Or they know someone you’ve been with.

Pattaya runs on sex, gay and straight. That doesn’t eliminate jealousy, whether real or feigned. It just makes it more passive-aggressive. 🤷‍♂️

[Travellerdave]

You mention the Jomtien Palm Beach Resort. I stayed there last January for 4 nights when my preferred hotel in the Complex, the Agate was full when I arrived with no reservation, but could offer me a room for the rest of my trip. The Palm Beach is a huge place with impressive facilities , including indoor bowling. I checked on arrival and was told that there would be no problem with me having  boy joiners in my room, but it seemed to have mainly Chinese tour party guests, so I would not recommend it for gay single men like you and me. I transferred to the Agate after the 4 nights.

[BjornAgain]

6 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

...I have stayed mostly in Airbnb and have no idea what a TM30 is ...isn't that only for 30 days or more...

 

TM30 refers to the document that should be processed by law by any hotelier, Accommodation host / owner / manger notifying Immigration of any staying foreign national. The action should be processed with 24 hours of their arrival. A courtesy confirmation should be given to the foreign national. 

In the old days this was a manual process, ie physically attending the local Immigration office, nowadays this is carried out on line. It's the reason why hotels and law abiding guest houses / establishments ask for your passport at check-in.

Failure to comply is a fine to the establishment. However, it's not unheard of for Immigration to fine the farang as well.

The 30 refers to 30 days, which links into the Hotel Act (2004), covering short stays. For those staying longer we have to adhear to the TM90, ie update Immigration every 90 days.

TM stands for "Tor Mor", the Thai abbreviation for Immigration Bureau.

[Zipper]

11 hours ago, traveltom said:

Hello everyone, 

I'm glad to have found this awesome forum of like-minded fellow gays and after spending a few hours reading through posts, I decided it's best to just sign up. I'm Tom from Germany, by the way, and I love traveling. 

Currently I'm planning a trip to Thailand in February/March 2026 and would like to include Pattaya in my plans. I'm thinking about a stay of about 7 nights and from what I've read, Jomtien sounds the best. I'm unsure about the accommodation options though, and ask for your advice. 

I definitely want to have some sexy guests over, so it is an important criteria that this is easily possible. Usually I prefer apartments over hotels for the increased privacy, and no scolding reception looks. I've found a good Airbnb at the Talay 7 Condominium, but then I learned of the TM30 regulations and that makes me question this option. 

Another option could be the Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel & Resort but I'm always a bit fearful of the reception being a hurdle to any hookups in my room. I like the proximity to the beach that both options offer, so that is also a factor. 

I do like a central location, but don't exactly want to stay right next to a loud bar, as I value my sleep too. 

What are thoughts and recommendations? 

Cheers, Tom

Don’t worry about the TM-30. When you stay in a hotel they have to file it. When you stay in apartment the landlord has to file it. I have an apartment in Jomtien under a 6 month lease. My landlord filed the initial TM-30, however they charge a few to do additional filings. Last week I travelled to Vietnam and then back to Thailand. The landlord gave me a the documents I needed from him and I went to immigration myself and filed a new TM-30. A little confusing since the first time I did it but the people there were really helpful. If I leave and come back again the filing will be easy. My apartment has good security and there are people coming and going all the time. Some people have regular boyfriends, others are boys from the complex. Either way, there is never a problem. 

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, floridarob said:

Unless you’ve already slept with them and they’re watching you bring someone else back.

Or they want to sleep with you.

Or they messaged you on Grindr.

Or they know someone you’ve been with.

 

very good point.

I remember how surprised I was when few years ago I saw profile of my hotel receptionist on Grindr 

[mauRICE]

9 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

As you don't want to be in a hotels🏩 near the bar area we can rule out Zing,  the Agate ,the Venue ,  Dorothy's guesthouse ( a lovely owner and much respect to him🙏🏿

So it'd be fair to say you're a friend of Dorothy? 😏

[traveltom]

Thank you very much for your feedback! That helps me to make a decision and I'm looking forward to the time in Jomtien ❤️

[floridarob]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

I remember how surprised I was when few years ago I saw profile of my hotel receptionist on Grindr 

I'm surprised when they're not!

[hank75]

6 hours ago, vinapu said:

I remember how surprised I was when few years ago I saw profile of my hotel receptionist on Grindr 

was he offering free access to short time rooms and breakfast after? convenient in so many ways! 

[vinapu]

56 minutes ago, hank75 said:

was he offering free access to short time rooms and breakfast after? convenient in so many ways! 

I don't know, he was kind of girly twink, definitely  not my type 

[jimmie50]

10 hours ago, vinapu said:

I remember how surprised I was when few years ago I saw profile of my hotel receptionist on Grindr 

Wish I had seen the bar tender from Ibis Styles Silom on Grinder when I was there in October.  Would have been all over that in a heartbeat!!!  

[mauRICE]

On 1/5/2026 at 12:00 PM, vinapu said:

all hotels in Pattaya are very used to their guests bringing over their own guests so  don't expect any problems  there

Is bringing back a guest to your hotel room still an issue anywhere in Thailand? 

[Olddaddy]

54 minutes ago, mauRICE said:

Is bringing back a guest to your hotel room still an issue anywhere in Thailand? 

There used to be a small old fashioned type Hotel in Bangkok🏨

I have no idea if it's still around ❓

maybe others can think of the name ,it's was an old style hotel 

But they had policies that guests could not bring back their "guests" ,and I believe policies relating to other behaviours eg making sure you are well dressed whilst in the hotel 

[Enchanted_Elixir]

2 hours ago, mauRICE said:

Is bringing back a guest to your hotel room still an issue anywhere in Thailand? 

Montien Hotel in Surawong has a reputation for not allowing anyone but registered guests into the rooms. 🤷‍♂️

[mauRICE]

9 minutes ago, Enchanted_Elixir said:

Montien Hotel in Surawong has a reputation for not allowing anyone but registered guests into the rooms. 🤷‍♂️

A lovely hotel popular with polite and proper Thai guests. I heard this about the Montien but never had any issues there as I was either alone or with my partner. Not to be confused with the Montien Riverside which is a Bonvoy hotel.