What we rank
We rank Pattaya areas, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, condos, schools, gyms, golf courses, and other services to help readers make decisions quickly. We do not rank businesses purely on advertising payment.
Area ranking
Each Pattaya area is scored 1-5 on nine dimensions: noise level, walkability, beach access, family friendliness, expat density, transport access, nightlife level, traffic risk, and flood risk. See any area page for the full scorecard.
Hospital ranking
Hospitals are evaluated on: JCI accreditation, English-speaking staff, range of specialties, ER capability, insurance acceptance, transparency of pricing, and patient experience reports.
Restaurant ranking
We require at least three independent visits over time before a restaurant qualifies for "Best" lists. We check: food quality (consistent across visits), value for money, service, hygiene, and accessibility.
What disqualifies a business
- Known scam practices (bait-and-switch pricing, padded bills).
- Refusal to publish prices when asked.
- Documented harassment of customers.
- Operating without required licenses.
Conflict of interest
Editorial rankings are independent of advertising. Sponsored listings are labelled. Where any reviewer has a personal relationship with a business, they are recused from that ranking.