Is it bad manners to be a balloon chaser?

For those that don’t know, a balloon chaser is somebody that goes to a party in a bar, normally uninvited, with the intention of a free feed and hopefully a free drink or two if lucky! As there are thousands of bars in and around Pattaya it’s not hard to find a party happening every single night.

Whether you find this behavior acceptable or simply tacky remains the subject of much debate among the local expat community. While some argue that the more people at a party, the merrier it is, others feel that these "chasers" are purely looking to take advantage of a host's generosity without contributing to the atmosphere.

Ultimately, it comes down to understanding the social etiquette of the venue. If it’s an open-invite celebration, common courtesy goes a long way. If you find yourself frequently "chasing," perhaps it’s time to host your own, or at least bring a bottle of something to share!