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Pattaya
Travel Guide
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| Pattaya
Introduction |
| Pattaya
is 147 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, and faces the Thai
Gulf. Pattaya is Asia's premier beach resort, and caters with
equal appeal to families, couples and single visitors. Pattaya's
relaxing tropical ambient is synonymous with every ingredient
for memorable holidays.Accommodation ranges from luxuriously
appointed beachside hotels with superb convention facilities
to simple guesthouses.
Sporting opportunities abound both on land and water, and
include some of the finest golfing, gamefishing and scuba-diving
anywhere in Asia. Theme and amusement parks, offbeat museums
and lush botanical gardens offer numerous forms of leisure
activities and cultural entertainment for all family members.
And, after dark, Pattaya offers all the allure and magic of
a truly vibrant nightlife with a spectacular variety of restaurants,
nightclubs, bars, discotheques, cocktail lounges and cabarets.
Pattaya can be brash, bold, beautiful and bucolic, and offers
everything an authentic international beach resort can. |
| Local
Culture in Pattaya |
Within
twenty years, Pattaya has been transformed from a sleepy fishing
community into an international resort often referred to as
the 'Thai Riviera'. Pattaya is literally a place where East
meets West , both in colour and character, and is probably
the most cosmopolitan place in Thailand after Bangkok. |
| Pattaya
Major Beaches & Islands |
| Pattaya
Beach
Some 4 kilometres long, this beach faces Pattaya Bay, the
major venue from where boats visit Pattaya's offshore islands.
The beach curves from north to south and is largely paralleled
by a treelined promenade and beach road which is lined, in
the northern and central parts, by hotels and restaurants.
The northern section of the beach is largely tranquil, while
the central and southern parts become increasingly lively,
thanks to a position of shops, department stores, boutiques,
beauty salons, supermarkets, bars, discotheques, restaurants
and nightclubs. The central area of the beach is a major shopping
area, while the southern end is one of Pattaya's major nightlife
areas.
Jomtien Beach
This 6-kilometre long, largely straight beach, some 4 kilometres
south of Pattaya, is the most notable of several beaches south
of the resort. The beach is popular with windsurfers and watersports
enthusiasts, largely because the area enjoys brisk and fresh
breezes sweeping island from the Thai Gulf, and because the
seas are less congested with boats than is Pattaya Bay.
Jomtien is also a major residential area with beachside hotels,
bungalow complexes, condominiums and restaurants.
Ko Lan (Lan Island)
Some 15 minutes by speedboat from Pattaya Bay, Ko Lan is the
largest of Pattaya's offshore islands and is a popular venue
for watersports such as windsurfing, water skiing, snorkelling
and scuba-diving. Viewing coral reefs through glass-bottomed
boats and parasailing are other popular activities. Island
beaches are lined with souvenir stalls selling colourful beachwear
and decorative handicrafts, foodstalls and restaurants. Visitors
seeking greater tranquility can travel to Ko Pai (Bamboo Island),
some 35 minutes by speedboat from Pattaya Bay. Quiet, pristine
beaches and clear waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling
characterize this uninhabited island. |
| Pattaya
Attractions |
| Mini
Siam
Situated at kilometre 143 on Sukhumvit Highway, some 3 kilometres
from Central Pattaya Road, this complex features miniature
reproductions of major cultural and archaeological sites within
Thailand, including Khmer shrines and the ancient capitals
of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, and features a section of miniaturized
major international landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the
Sydney Opera House, St Basil's Cathedral and the Statue of
Liberty. The complex also has a go-kart track and a Thai restaurant.
Million Years Stone Park & Pattaya Crocodile Farm
Some twenty minutes from central Pattaya, this bucolic enclave
features a landscape of native Thai flora, a fascinating collection
of Bonsai trees, and massive ancient rocks (thus the park's
unusual name) imported from Kanchanaburi province. Artfully
landscaped with flowers and trees, the park contains a crocodile
farm, a select collection of wild animals native to Thailand
and nearing extinction, a pool containing giant catfish native
to the Mekong River, and a restaurant. There are daily crocodile
and magic shows.
Pattaya Park
This beachside water amusement park is located between South
Pattaya and Jomtien Beach. Colourful water slides, whirlpools
and shallow pools suitable for small children make the park
popular with families. Restaurant facilities, a fast food
corner, changing rooms and lockers number among facilities,
and there is easy access to the beach should visitors prefer
to swim in the sea. The park is overlooked by the 240-metre
high Pattaya Park Tower that contains a revolving restaurant.
The tower offers an exhilarating view of Pattaya and two novel
ways, the Pattaya Park Sky Shuttle and Pattaya Park Tower
Jump, of reaching the ground.
Pattaya Elephant Village
Situated on the Siam Country Club Golf Course road, the village
features trained elephants demonstrating time-honoured forestry
skills, enjoying themselves playing football, re-enacting
wild elephant hunts and a medieval war elephant parade in
a popular daily afternoon show. Elephant rides are also available
at 9.00 AM.
Phanarak
Park
Also on the Siam Country Club Golf Course road, this tropical
garden complex contains a well-stocked lake for fishing enthusiasts,
bungalow accommodation, restaurant facilities, a mini-golf
course, jogging and cycling tracks and boating facilities.
Ripley's
Believe It Or Not Museum
Located next to the Royal Garden Resort Hotel inside Royal
Plaza Garden, this museum, only the second of its kind in
Asia, features a high technology theatre adapted from a pilot-training
simulator, permanent and special displays of oddities such
as animal freaks and unusual human feats, based on the popular
cartoon feature of the same name which is featured in newspapers
throughout the world.
Nong Nooch Orchid Wonderland
This artfully landscaped botanical garden and country resort,
located at kilometer 163 on Sukhumvit Highway, contains a
splendid collection of native Thai flora, including hundreds
of varieties of orchids, ferns, flowering plants and exotic
blooms. The enclave contains numerous Thai-style residences,
an ornamental lake, a large auditorium wherein daily cultural
performances
are presented, featuring folk dances, martial arts and traditions,
followed by the most entertaining of all elephant shows imaginable,
an hilarious form of pachyderm burlesque.
Bottle Art
The world's sole Bottle Art Museum at Km 145.3 on Sukhumvit
Highway, has more than 300 displays of miniature bottles. |
| Pattaya
Sporting Opportunities |
Numerous
sporting opportunities include participant and spectator sports
on land and water. Major land sports include golf, tennis,
go-karts, squash, badminton, bowling, jogging. paintball and
motor-racing. Popular watersports include windsurfing, sailing,
waterskiing, gamefishing, snorkeling and scuba-diving. Opportunities
for less easily definable activities, including
bungee jumping and parasailing, are also available.
Land
Sports
Golf
Golfers can enjoy challenging rounds at 9 scenic 18-hole courses
near the resort, and a small course at the Asia Hotel. In
most cases, clubs, shoes and other equipment can be rented,
and green and caddy fees are eminently reasonable. During
weekdays, there are few courses that need to be booked in
advance.
Major courses
in the Pattaya area are:
Bangphra
Golf Course
45 Mu 6 Tambon Bangphra, Amphoe Si Racha, Chon Buri
Tel: (038) 341-149, 341-150 Fax: 341-151
Burapa
Golf Club
Tambon Bung, Amphoe Si Racha (opposite Laem Chabang International
Golf Course)
Tel: (02) 248-15569
Khao
Khiao Country Club
Tambon Bangphra, Amphoe Si Racha, Chon Buri
Tel: (02) 279-4817 Fax: 01-353-2511
Laem
Chabang International Country Club
106 Mu 4 Tambon Bung, Amphoe Si Racha, Chon Buri
Tel: (02) 255-3556, 01-485--0639
Panya
Resort Country Club
502 Mu 10 Sukhumvit Highway, Amphoe Si Racha, Chon Buri
Tel: (038) 349-370-81 Fax: 349-365
Phoenix
Golf & Country Club
Kilometre 158 Sukhumvit Highway, Amphoe Bang Lamung, Chon
Buri
Tel: 01-213-3859, (038) 239-391-8
Royal
Thai Navy Golf Course
Tambon Phlu Ta Luang, Amphoe Sattahip, Chon Buri Tel: (038)
431-189
Siam
Country Club Golf Course
50 Tambon Pong, Amphoe Bang Lamung, Chon Buri
Tel: (038) 249-381-7
Si
Racha International Golf Club
284-285 Amphoe Si Racha, Chon Buri
Tel: 01-916-2416, 01-915-6282
Natural
Park Hill Country Club
159/1 Sansuk Bangphra Road, Chon Buri
Tel: (038) 393-001-18 Fax: (038) 393-019
Noble
Place Golf Resort & Country Club
88/8 Mu 6 Ban Bung, Chon Buri
Tel: (01) 484-9066, 484-9069 Fax: (01)
212-9327
Pattaya
Country Club
Highway No. 331, Bang Lamung , Chon Buri
Tel: (01) 211-2499, 213-9457 Fax: (01) 212- 0278
Tennis
Tennis can be enjoyed at 14 Pattaya hotels, where preference
is given to hotel guests. Certain hotels have tennis coaches.
Go-Karts
Go-karts are available at the 400 and 700-metre track Pattaya
Kart Speedway, at Mini Siam, K.R. Gokart, and the 1,080-metre
track for professional drivers at the Bira International Circuit.
Squash
Squash can be enjoyed at the Cherry Tree pub on the Siam Country
Club Golf Course road, the Dusit Resort Pattaya and Ambassador
City, Jomtien.
Paintball
This game of skill, strategy and daring can be enjoyed every
day at the Paintball Parkwhich is located near the Pattaya
Kart Speedway.
Badminton
The Pattaya Badminton Court on Soi 17 is open 24 hours daily.
Bowling
Three alleys cater for bowlers, the Pattaya Bowl on Pattaya
Road 2, an alley in the Royal Jomtien Hotel, and the OD Bowl
in South Pattaya.
Jogging
A jogging track is an integral part of the pleasantly landscaped
Pattaya Fitness Park located near the summit of Pattaya hill.
Certain hotels have jogging tracks. Jogging is also enjoyable
along the promenades facing Pattaya Bay, and along Jomtien
Beach.
Motor
Racing
The Bira International Circuit at Km 14 on Route 36 to Rayong
periodically stages international motor and motorcycle racing.
The 2.4 kilometre track is ideal for Formula 3 racing. There
are daily opportunities for speed enthusiasts who enjoy driving
their own two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles around the
challenging track for nominal fees.
Snooker
Snooker can be enjoyed at the Pattaya Bowl, AR Snooker, Dice
Cafe Hall and the Royal Place Hotel.
Shooting
A handgun and rifle range with 19 fully equipped and airconditioned
galleries is open daily at Tiffany's on Pattaya 2 Road.
Horse
Riding
Available at the Horse Sport Centre at Km. 11 on Route 36
(near the Bira International Circuit). Mountain and jungle
rides are made on Australian thoroughbreds. Riding lessons
are offered. |
| Pattaya
Watersports |
Water
Skiing
The most popular venues are the northern and southern parts
of Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach and Ko Lan island. Freshwater
water-skiing is available at Lakeland Cable Water Ski at Kilometre
150.5 on Sukhumvit Highway.
Windsurfing
Jomtien Beach is the major centre for windsurfing. Tuition
is widely available for beginners. The Pattaya Windsurf Club
on Jomtien Beach regularly stages board competitions. October
through June are the best months for windsurfing, thanks to
ideal water and wind conditions.
Sailing
The most popular rentals are Lasers, Prindles and Hobie Cats.
Sailing is a yearround sport in Pattaya's waters. Visitors
wishing to avail themselves of knowledgeable information regarding
sailing rentals and seasonal conditions should contact their
hotel travel desk, or the Royal Varuna Yacht Club at Tel:
251-115.
Gamefishing
Expeditions are organized by many operators. Waters surrounding
Manwic-hai, Rin and Kram islands are popular for the pursuit
of marlin, king mackerel, barracuda and other Gulf denizens.
Major game
fishing operators include:
Bangsaray
Fishing Lodge
Km 165 Sukhumvit Highway, Bangsare Village, Amphoe Sattahip
Tel: (038) 436-757.
Deutches
Haus
Soi 4 Beach Road, North Pattaya
Tel: (038) 428-725
Samaesan
Fishing Bridge
40/7 Mu 4 Samaesan Village, Amphoe Sattahip
Tel: 01-211-4659
Scuba
Diving
Scuba diving and snorkelling are popular around Pattaya's
offshore islands, particularly those furthest from Pattaya
Bay, namely Ko Pai, Ko Manwichai, Ko Luam and Ko Rim. Neophyte
divers can take open water certification courses organized
by several local dive shops.
Pattaya's
major dive shops include:
Dave's
Diver Den
190/11 Mu 9, Central Pattaya Road Road
Tel: (038) 420-411 Fax: 360-095
Divers
World
219/76 Soi Yamato, South Pattaya
Tel: 426-517
Mermaid's
Dive School
Mermaid Beach Resort, 75/102 Mu 12 Jomtien Beach Road
Tel: (038) 232-219-20, 231-907 Ext. Dive Shop Fax: 232-221
Paradise
Divers
Siam Bayview Hotel, 310/2 Mu 10, Beach Road
Tel: (038) 423-871-8 Ext. Paradise Divers Shop Fax:423-879
Piak
Diving centre
109/18 Jomtien Beach Road
Tel: 231-008
Scuba
Tek Dive Centre
Weekender Hotel, Pattaya 2 Road
Tel: 428-720 Fax: 429-461
Seafari
Sport Centre
359/2 Mu 9 Soi 5, North Pattaya
Tel: (038) 429-060
Sunshine
Diver
53 Soi 10, Beach Road
Tel: (038) 429-069, (01) 943-8288 Fax: 429-069
The
Dolphin Diving Centre
183/29 Mu 10 Soi Post Office
Tel: 427-185, (01) 944-0992 Fax: 427-158
Parasailing
This sport is ubiquitous throughout the resort, is featured
at several hotels with their own private beaches, and is perhaps
best enjoyed at Ko Lan where floating 'take-off and landing'
platforms mean flight occurs exclusively above the sea.
Freshwater
Water Sports
These can be enjoyed at the Ban Bung Sailing & Paramotor
Centre some 4 kilometres off Sukhumvit Highway (from Km 150)
where there are facilities for, among other activities, windsurfing,
sailing, canoeing and fishing. |
| Shopping
in Pattaya |
South
Pattaya is the major shopping area for beachwear, souvenirs,
films, tapes, pharmaceuticals and liquor. The resort's major
gems, jewellery, silk, cotton and handicraft shops, tailors
and boutiques are located in the vicinity of, or adjacent
to, major beachside hotels. The Pattaya 2 Road is also a favourite
haunt for shoppers, with several handicraft and Thai silk
shops. Department stores and allied bazaars in Central Pattaya
offer other shopping experiences. |
| Pattaya
Dining & Nightlife |
| Some
of Thailand's choicest seafood is found in hotel buffets and
several specialty restaurants. Steakhouses, coffeeshops and
fast food outlets provide attractive alternatives. Gourmets
and gourmands alike find satisfaction in numerous restaurants
featuring regional Thai cuisine and French, Swiss, German,
Italian, English, Scandinavian, Indian, Arabic, Indonesian,
Japanese, Chinese and Korean food.
Major hotels
operate gourmet restaurants, cocktail lounges, discotheques,
nightclubs and supper clubs which offer excellent food, drinks,
music and international entertainment. Such establishments
are ideally suited to family entertainment. Nightlife beyond
Pattaya's hotels is more liberated and exciting. Discotheques,
transvestite cabarets, nightclubs, coffee shops, karaoke bars,
open air bars and restaurants with live music and entertainment
compete for attention. Most such establishments are located
along the Beach Road, Pattaya 2 Road, and in South Pattaya,
which is also the resort's major shopping area. Up-to-date
listings of entertainment and shows are available in local
English language tourism publications. |
| Pattaya
Transportation |
Pattaya
can be reached in a comfortable 2 and half hour drive along
Sukhumvit Highway via Bang Pakong, Chonburi and Srirach. And
one can also avoid Chonburi by opting for State Highway 36
(new route - Chonburi - Pattaya - Rayong). or motorway from
Bkk. (Rama 9 Rd. Chonburi)
Air - conditioned and non - air - conditioned coaches regularly
leave from the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) and Nothern Bus
Terminal (Morchit) on kampaengphet Road throughout the day.
First bus leaves Eastern Bus Terminal at 05:00 hrs. with every
half an hour. Last bus leaves at 23:00 hrs. For more information,
please kindly contact Eastern Bus Terminal (0-2391-2504) for
air-conditioned coaches and 0-2391-8097 for regular coaches
and the Nothern Bus Terminal at 0-2936-2852 to 66 (ext : 311)
for air-conditioned coaches.
The State Railways of Thailand offers daily train service
departing Bangkok's Hua Lumpong Station at 6.55 a.m. Tel 0-2223-7010,
0-2223-7020. The journey takes about 3 hours and a half.
Travel within the resort
Traveling around Pattaya is most convenient by mini-buses that
continually ply the Beach Road and Pattaya 2 Road in counterclockwise
circuits. Fares are 5 baht per person per ride. Fares beyond
the main bay are negotiable. Those who wish to be independent,
and explore Pattaya's surrounding countryside and beaches at
leisure, can hire motorcycles, jeeps or cars. The visitor is
advised to shop around, and consult local tourism publications,
for different companies offer different prices and conditions.
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| Festivals
in Pattaya |
Each
year, usually during April, the week-long Pattaya Festival
is celebrated with a wide range of entertainment spectacles,
including parades, beauty contests, concerts, food festivals,
fireworks and an exciting calendar of sporting events, including
Grand Prix and go-kart motor-racing, sailing regattas, windsurfing
competitions, power boat racing and fishing contests. Special
exhibitions and shopping opportunities abound as Pattaya celebrates
in a style befitting its stature as Asia's premier beach resort. |
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