Pattaya is a popular place for both Thais and foreigners because the city has everything tourists need. Traveling there is easy as you can take your own car or ride a bus, a van, or a cab from Bangkok. There is also a ferry service from Hua Hin to Pattaya, which takes about an hour.
Interesting Places to Go
Khao Chee Chan Buddha Mountain opens 06:00 – 18:00 hrs. Dress modestly and please follow exactly as the rules state. Plus, you shouldn’t get too close to the Buddha because it may cause an accident.
If you want to visit Koh Lan, you can do it in a one-day trip. On the island, there are mini buses and motorbike taxis in services. But if you are feeling adventurous, you can rent a motorbike to ride for yourself.
There are so many different kinds of places for you to stay in Pattaya such as big hotels, resorts, guest houses, condominiums, and apartments. Most of these places are right next to the beach.
There are many things you can do in Pattaya such as water sports, sunbathing, go-karting, bungee jumping, horse riding, golf playing, diving, cabaret show watching, and many more.
During the night time, all the way down Pattaya road is full of various entertainment options. Here you can always find something to eat, drink, and just somewhere to chill out.
Pattaya is a popular beach resort on the Gulf of Thailand, just 150 km southeast of Bangkok –a mere two-hour drive. Pattaya’s pulsating nightlife is well known, but local authorities have, in recent years, improved the quality of the beaches and reinvented the resort as a more family-friendly destination. Today, hundreds of thousands of visitors are drawn each year to Pattaya to windsurf, water ski, swim, sunbathe, snorkel, sail, or take trips to nearby islands. Other activities include Bungee jumping, cycling, skydiving, go-Karting, Muay Thai (Thai boxing), and Paintball. Golfers, both novice and expert, are well catered to as well, with a wide selection of golf courses around Pattaya. Another major draw for visitors to Pattaya is the wide selection of restaurants serving some of Thailand’s freshest seafood. Due to the high number of expatriate foreigners in Pattaya there is also an excellent selection of authentic foreign eateries serving French, Italian, Swiss, German, Hungarian, Scandinavian, English, Indian, Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine. Drawing such a large number of diverse visitors from across the world, it’s no surprise that Pattaya also boasts an incredible choice of accommodation. Those on a tight budget and those with money to spend are equally able to find rooms to suit their needs. Visitors can always find some peaceful beach time at nearby Jomtien beach, just 3 kilometers south.
Just over one hour from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, Pattaya is a lively beach town that draws visitors from around the world. With activities that include a wide array of water sports, golf, shopping, cabaret shows, an elephant village, and fascinating museums, it’s impossible not to have an action-packed Pattaya holiday. Unless of course it’s relaxation you crave, in which case there are beach chairs and umbrellas lining the Pattaya shore, where wandering vendors will cater to your every need: from barbequed shrimp to a foot massage. Pattaya is certainly a Thai beach resort that meets the needs of any visitor on any budget.
Key Tips
Only fish during the appropriate fishing season.
Dress politely and take off your shoes before entering Buddhist temples.
Examine rental motorbikes and cars thoroughly before renting.
Drive motorbikes and rental cars with extreme caution.
Beware of con-artists who prey on new tourists to Thailand. While most Thai people are just being friendly, be careful of those offering to do you too many favors or promising you incredible bargains.
Beware of pick pockets, especially on Walking Street when it’s crowded.
Beware of entertainment venues that have poor signage or are poorly lit inside; some venues offer free admission and then refuse to allow visitors to leave until they have paid exorbitant bar bills.
Do not purchase or consume illegal drugs or participate in illegal gambling.
Show respect to the local Thai people and the Thai police. Guilty or not, your display of anger will only make things worse.
Haggle in a good-natured way with small shop vendors. A polite “no thank you” will be more effective than a loud display of emotion.
Ask for the price first when ordering food and before getting a massage or manicure on the beach. Do likewise before renting a jet ski or getting in a tuk tuk or taxi.
The sun in Pattaya is very strong; apply sunscreen liberally and frequently.
Tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink; however, bottled water is cheap and readily available.
While illegal, the sex industry is a reality in Pattaya. It is strongly advised to protect yourself accordingly, both from sexually transmitted diseases and from theft.
HOW TO GO
BY BUS
There are air-conditioned Bangkok – Pattaya buses running from the Ekamai Bus Terminal (Eastern Line) and the Mo Chit Bus Terminal every day. The journey takes around two hours. For more information, call 1490 or visit www.transport.co.th.
Online ticket booking is also available on www.busticket.in.th, www.thaiticketmajor.com, and www.thairoute.com.
BY TRAIN
A third-class train connects Bangkok’s Hua Lumphong Station with Pattaya, a journey that departs Bangkok weekday mornings around 7am and costs less than 40 baht for the three hour trip.
BY AIR
The nearest airport to Pattaya is U-Tapao, which is serviced by Bangkok airways; however, this flight only connects Pattaya with Koh Samui. The other nearest airport is Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where there is bus, taxi, and limousine service to Pattaya, a 1 ½ to 2 hour drive from the airport.
BY TAXI
Taxi fares are normally around 1200 B including tolls ( depending on which airport ) could be upto 1400B
https://www.tourismthailand.org
