Pattaya vs Angeles City (Pampanga)
I am going to be an honest critic here. Let me drop my credentials first. I have been a Pattaya-goer for almost a decade and I absolutely love it! As a result, I have witnessed a lot of changes over the years. No doubt some parts have improved a lot. You will see a lot of roadworks and construction going on frequently. But there are things that have worsened, THE PRICES!
I remember bar fines and price of lady drinks used to be a lot lower. You would see a lot of young, energetic and pretty girls outside the massage shops. Prices for freelancers used to be so much lower and of better service quality. Now, you will only see older or obese girls working at these joints asking for outrageous prices, as high as 3,000–5,000 THB sometimes.
If there are attractive girls, they are usually reserved for certain demographics, as they are perceived to be high spenders in the area.
Angeles, on the other hand, is less developed when it comes to infrastructure. It is generally considered a smaller playground, however, I sincerely believe it has potential. I have been there a couple of times in recent years and absolutely love it.
Drink prices are a lot cheaper. Sure, there is not much of a party scene going on, but hey, there are nice hotels, and you can also take all the action indoors. Bar girls there are attractive and provide services at a much lower cost.
Overall, with recent prices, Pattaya is slowly transforming into a middle-class holiday destination, while Angeles serves the budget crowd. It depends on what you prefer, personally I go to Pattaya for the bar scene, and Angeles for the cost effectiveness, just my two cents here.