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Pattaya Holiday Guide

January 2, 2008 |

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A Holiday in Pattaya
Located on the eastern shores of the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya has long been one of the favourites for visitors to the country. From its early days as an escape for American soldiers serving in Vietnam, its popularity has grown to the point that nearly five million visitors come here every year. Although it’s still a place overflowing with massage parlours, go-go clubs and beer bars, it now also boasts a selection of international resort hotels and is making an attempt at becoming a more family-friendly destination.

Flights to Pattaya
Pattaya’s nearest airfield is the U-Tapao Airport at Sattahip, where flights arrive from Koh Samui and Phuket – and also Siam Reap, in Cambodia. For most visitors, however, arrival will likely be at the Bangkok International Airport, with shuttles and taxis providing transfer on to Pattaya.

Travel by train is possible from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong rail station – with the journey taking around 5 hours. Buses depart quite frequently from the city’s Eastern Bus Terminal, with the trip taking 2-3 hours depending on how heavy the traffic is. To get around Pattaya, most tourists depend on minibuses, called songtaews in Thai, which run constantly along a number of city routes. Motorcycle taxis cover the areas not serviced by minibus routes. No conventional taxi service is on offer.

Sightseeing in Pattaya
As you’d expect, the beach is a major attraction for many, with the largest numbers of visitors flocking to Pattaya Bay or to Jomtien Beach farther south. There’s also a temple complex on a hill high above the town’s southern end, known Wat Khao Prayai, where a 10-metre high golden Buddha image is the highlight – and where you can enjoy amazing views from the peak.

Generally, Pattaya doesn’t have the concentration of temples and historical attractions that you’ll find in other parts of the country, but it does offer up some interesting attractions as the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, Mini Siam and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
By night, Pattaya comes alive, and there’s no shortage of things to do. The resort has long been known for its sex scene, and it’s hard to miss the beer bars, massage parlours and go-go clubs. You can also readily find more reputable venues to enjoy a drink and watch the sun go down; enjoy seafood straight out of the Gulf of Thailand or enjoy live music. Many discos and karaoke bars are scattered around the town. Cabaret shows are particularly popular, featuring elaborately dressed and stunning transvestites (katoeys in Thai), who sing, dance and perform skits and comedy routines.

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The food on offer in Pattaya tends to cater to western preferences, and the Thai food on offer typically is without the fiery heat that’s loved by Thais and feared by foreigners. If you’re keen to try something local and typically Thai, order tom yum kung, a hot and sour prawn soup; or you might want to try one of the Thai curries – available in red, yellow and green, and with varying degrees of spiciness.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
The shopping in Pattaya is great, with large shopping malls offering a good selection of specialty shops, including designer boutiques. There are also many shops around the city that specialize in custom tailoring, Thai jewellery, handicrafts and souvenirs. Be on guard for fake goods - but at the same time, don’t shy away from excellent values in silk and cotton clothing.


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