Rolling Loud is one, if not the biggest hip-hop festival in the world. It debuted sometime in 2015 and has since been throwing some of the best hip-hop and rap concerts across North America and Europe.

It has featured big-name artists like Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Cardi B, and more. But they also provide a stage for smaller, up-and-coming local artists.

For rap and hip-hop fans, Rolling Loud is the ultimate music festival to attend.

First ever in Asia – in Thailand!

After much anticipation and a surprise to many, Rolling Loud is making its very first debut in Asia, starting in Thailand. For now.

Over 3 days, Rolling Loud will host the biggest hip-hop festival we have ever seen in Thailand at the Legend Siam Pattaya.

The festival also coincides with Songkran, a Thai New Year and national holiday that involves merit-making, family gatherings, and visiting temples. It’s also known for country-wide water fights, parties, and festivals.

To say the least, it is going to be EPIC.

What to expect at Rolling Loud Thailand

General info

Ticket price: Currently, the General Access pass is 13,000 Baht plus fees and VIP is 25,000 Baht plus fees.

Location: Rolling Loud Thailand will be held at the Legend Siam Pattaya

Dates: April 13-15 2023

Festival Lineup

After RL announced that they were coming to Thailand, we all couldn’t wait to see the lineup. Tickets were being sold but we had no idea who is coming. After a few months, we finally have it.

The lineup features 3 headliners – Cardi B, Chris Brown, and Travis Scott who will be supported by over 50 international rap and hip-hop artists.

Rolling Loud Thailand Lineup

While there are plenty who aren’t really happy with this lineup, most of us feel blessed just to have an opportunity to have this in the first place. Thailand has never seen so many international hip-hop artists in a decade as it will in just 3 days.

To do & Not to do

Things like banned and allowed items as well as their bag policy can be viewed from their policy page.

More information will be shared as we get closer to the date. There are still lots of unknowns such as the venue layout, artist schedule (which usually gets announced a day before), and other event specifics.

Will water be splashed at RL?

Yes, Rolling Loud has announced that there will be water cannons and splashes around the venue. To what extent, we don’t really know but do expect to get wet.

Wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting wet.

While sandals and flip-flops are ideal for a water festival, I would recommend wearing cheap sneakers instead. You wouldn’t want someone stepping on your toes or stubbing your feet against something sharp.

Where to stay in Pattaya during Rolling Loud

This is a bit tricky and really depends on what your goal is. There are 3 main districts of areas to consider, each offering its own pros and cons for your stay.

Pattaya Beach

If you want to stay near the parties and clubs of Pattaya, then stay near Pattaya Beach Road or Walking street. That is where all the action is. There are plenty of accommodation options for villas in Pattaya.

However, the downside is that it is quite far from the festival venue – about 20km, which can take you 40 minutes to an hour, or maybe more.

Bear in mind that it is also the Songkran period so traffic is going to be quite bad. Also taking any form of taxi or Grab from the festival back into the city will be quite expensive. More on this later.

Jomtien

Jomtien is the halfway point between Pattaya and the festival venue. There are decent resorts, villas, serviced apartments, and hostels in this area.

Jomtien also has quite a few beach clubs and bars but they don’t stay open till late unlike downtown Pattaya.

It has a good balance of price and location in relation to the festival venue.

Bang Sare

If you are like me and just want to stay as close to the festival as possible without much hassle, then Bang Sare is where you want to be. There is not much to do here after the festival but it is perfect for close proximity and getting well-deserved rest for this 3-day festival.

I will be staying at the Sea Hill Boutique Residence.

While hotels are limited and more expensive in this area, you save on travel time and transportation costs.

Tip: Use the map search function on your booking platform and see what hotels are available in the area you want to stay. Note some landmarks, parks or points of interest to navigate the map. It takes a bit of work and skill but it is worth the effort.

Getting to and from Rolling Loud Thailand

Grab/Bolt app

You can take Grab or Bolt from your hotel to the festival. Depending on how far you stay, it will cost anywhere between 100-300 THB to get there.

Coming back is a bit more complicated and can be quite a hassle, not to mention, very expensive.

From my experience last year, when I went to Creamfields music festival (which is near Legend Siam), motorbike taxis were charging 500-800 Baht to get to my hotel in Jomtien, which was just 14km away. Grab/bolt taxis were charging 1000+ Baht.

For Pattaya beach road, it would cost even more.

And don’t forget, it is during Songkran so prices are going to jack up even more with even fewer available drivers as most of them go back to their families.

This should also be a reason why you should plan to stay near the venue.

Rent a bike/car

You could rent a car or motorbike but be very careful. There will be many police checkpoints and it is never a good idea to drive while intoxicated or high.

Van Service

If you do end up staying in Pattaya or Jomtien, perhaps hiring a van service with a driver among 10 friends would be the best option. There are many operators in Pattaya you can search for or come across while walking down the streets.

For about 2500 baht (that’s just 250 Baht per person), you can have the driver wait somewhere for half a day or so and ask him to pick you up at a designated time.

Things to know about Thailand

Traveling to Thailand

Visa requirements – depending on your nationality. 64 Countries are allowed to enter Thailand without a visa. Some can get on arrival while others require visas in advance. Check with the Thai embassy in your country to see the exact requirements.

COVID entry requirements – none. Thailand no longer requires you to present any COVID-19-related documents such as the certificate of vaccination or COVID-19 test result upon arrival.

SIM Card – you can get a tourist sim card from any outlet of the following carriers: AIS, DTAC, or True.

Traveling to Pattaya

There are several ways to get to Pattaya from Bangkok. It is just 2-2.5 hours away depending on which area you are going to stay.

Bus – The cheapest way is to take a bus from one of three locations in Bangkok. However, be careful, tickets might run out as many people will be traveling during this period for the holidays.

Bolt / Grab / InDrive – you can download one of these apps and hire a vehicle for your trip. InDrive lets you set the price while Grab and Bolt rates vary on a number of factors.

Rent a car/van – You can also rent a car or a luxury van with a driver. Renting a personal car varies in price and depends on your goals. It is a good idea if you share the cost with friends and gives you a lot of freedom to travel and explore as you wish. Just don’t drink and drive!

If you have more questions about Rolling Loud Thailand festival, transportation or accommodation, leave a comment below and I will try my best to answer as well as update the post.

Payment methods in Thailand

What mode of payment can we use in Thailand?

In Thailand, the main mode of payment is cash in Thai Baht. Mastercard and visa cards are also accepted at most establishments.

What about digital payments?

Thailand’s most popular digital wallets are TrueMoney, Rabbit Line Pay, and PromptPay.

GooglePay, ApplePay, Revolut, and other digital wallets are not common and not available to locals with Thai banks but if you already have an account, you can use them in certain establishments.

As a friend said to me “anything with AC accepts cards and digital payments. No AC – cash” or bank transfers (available for only people with Thai bank accounts).

Check out the most popular payments in Thailand.

What mode of payments will be accepted at Rolling Loud?

I presume cash and credit/debit cards. Bank transfers might be allowed as well. It is uncertain at the moment. I recommend bringing about 3000-5000 Baht in cash to the event daily to be safe. You will need to pay for taxis.