Pattaya

Only two hours from Bangkok, this resort city caters to every whim. Lazy afternoons on the beach, go-karting, paintballing, golf, and full steam ahead nightlife are just a few of the entertainments provided.

Pattaya is purpose made for holiday fun and provides it with the utmost convenience. A tiny fishing village only twenty-odd years ago, it has swiftly developed into an extraordinary vacation spot catering to the holiday maker's every whim. Pattaya has it all: tranquil beaches, lavish resorts, luscious seafood and a gamut of sporting and leisure activities - all less than two hours from Bangkok's concrete jungle.

Traveling to and around Pattaya
Pattaya is 140 kilometres east of Bangkok. The town can be accessed by road and railway - the former is the most popular. Starting from Bangkok, tourists have a number of options in terms of a road trip such expressway, motorway and elevated highway. A trip by bus from the Eastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok takes merely 2 hours to get to the first beach of Pattaya.

Traveling around Pattaya is easy. Motorbike taxi and pickup truck converted bus (locally known as Song-Taew) can be seen everywhere. The beachside road is one-way street that connects North Pattaya, Middle Pattaya and South Pattaya - the last one is a walking street at night. Additionally, you can also drive along its inner city road to Jomtien beach.

On Land
Pattaya town offers a range of museums, indoor and outdoor shopping, countless golf courses, and even a world class go-karting track. Fifteen minutes out of town is "Nong Nooch", a gorgeous orchid-studded botanical garden that features cultural performances of music, dance and martial arts. Not far off is the Elephant Kraal, where elephants show off their skills as foresters, footballers, and most impressively, as warriors - re-enacting Siam's ancient battles.

At Sea
Though Pattaya's 4 kilometer beach is unspectacular, it's a short boat ride to one of several lush islands just off the bay. Koral Island, or "Koh Lann" is a popular spot for waterskiing, sailing, scuba diving, boat tours of the coral reefs and deep sea fishing. Want something more sedate? Head out a bit further to Bamboo island and deepen your tan on a quiet white sand beach.

Nightlife
At night, Pattaya becomes a neon hive of activity. Though notorious for the "naughty nightlife" along the beach strip, there is a wide variety of cabaret-style entertainment for the more sophisticated visitor. The Alcazar Show is probably the most famous of these. For detailed listings, pick up the Pattaya Mail weekly newspaper.

Sundowners
After sunset, Pattaya glitters and sparkles as the city's pulsating energy engulfs night owls, big spenders and window-shoppers walking or driving along the beach road packed with bars, pubs, restaurants and shops.

Cabaret Extraordinaire
For something a little less hectic, settle in for an enjoyable Thai or seafood dinner at one of the local restaurants and take in one of the city's exotic musical cabarets impeccably performed by versatile female impersonators. A grand evening, sure to leave a lasting impression.