Pattaya is always switched on and fun. This vibrant coastal city shot to fame in early 1980s, and stayed there. From sunrise to sunset, Pattaya's beaches are constantly brimming with life, as water sports lovers and sun worshippers take to the waters. After dark, the action shifts to the streets, as revellers explore its electrified nightlife scene, where drinking and partying continue until dawn. Apart from water sports and nightlife, Pattaya offers endless possibilities when it comes to accommodation and entertainment. It has outgrown its image as a seedy beach town to a destination for a wider audience; whether couples, families or business travellers, Pattaya has something for everyone. Only 147km from Bangkok, Pattaya is the closest of Thailand's major beach resorts to the capital city. Pattaya is known for its lively party atmosphere, but that's not all there is to this famous coastal city. Stretching along Thailand's eastern seaboard, Pattaya is split into three main areas - Naklua, Pattaya Beach and Jomtien - with a few other districts within easy reach. Each has its own unique atmosphere and attractions, with some parts being more traditionally Thai and others which are packed with high-end resorts. There are plenty of things to do in Pattaya, ensuring that you are never likely to be bored, no matter what your interests include. The city is home to many unique attractions and sights, from one-of-a-kind water parks to giant Buddha images to weird and wonderful museums and galleries which completely defy expectation. It is not unusual to find places boasting that they are Thailand's first, Asia's biggest or the world's only example of their kind, as well as other considerable claims to fame. In particular, the beautiful Sanctuary of Truth is among the best attractions in Pattaya and is quite unlike any temple in Thailand. Pattaya is known as a party city and it is a reputation it justly deserves. The town is littered with great nightlife hotspots, catering to very varied tastes. Aside from the world-renowned Walking Street, the city is also home to several first-class cabaret shows, beach clubs, Muay Thai boxing stadiums and a seemingly endless variety of beer bars offering extremely cheap beverages. Walking Street itself is the most popular place to go at night. It is a full kilometre of nightlife, including over 80 go-go bars, several restaurants, live music, nightclubs and huge number of bars, each with a unique character. Being the biggest and most popular resort town near to Bangkok, Pattaya has a huge amount of variety in terms of what you can see and do. There are plenty of great sights to see and an organised tour can help you to see as many of them as possible and to learn more about each than you would if you tried to see them all on your own. For those who like their sports and activities, Pattaya has first-class facilities for golfing, sailing, scuba diving and plenty more. There is certainly no reason why you should ever get bored.

Pattaya is quite a big place, with a lot of variety available from one end to the other. There are certain things it is all but essential to know before you visit, such as how to get there from Bangkok, how to get around, what kind of weather you should expect, what special events you should look out for and what tricks and scams you need to avoid. We're ready to arm you with all of that knowledge and more so that you can get around the city with all the confidence of a native.
Source: http://www.tourismthailand.org

Getting Around in Pattaya

Car Rental Service:

There are numerous car rental services on Pattaya. Cars or jeeps can be rented at the shop in Pattaya, and at most of the more popular beaches. Be aware that only Commercial First Class Insurance provides full coverage on rental cars (as opposed to limited personal or third party only insurance). Most international car rental agencies will offer this insurance (some only for those with a valid international driver's license) while local companies may or may not. You may wish to request a copy of their insurance policy and ensure that it states "For Commercial Use". Regardless, inspect rental vehicles prior to rental and drive with caution, particularly as traffic in Thailand can be quite confusing, especially the habit of Thai motorcycles drivers to drive on the wrong side of the road.

Motorbike Rental:

For around 150 to 300 baht per day you can hire your own 100-150cc motorbike, which will typically require you to leave your passport as a deposit. Be sure to inspect bikes prior to rental and drive with extreme caution as rental motorbikes are not normally insured and accidents are frequent. Helmets are required by Thai law. Motorcycles can be rented from rental agencies located on Pattaya Road or from different operators at various beaches.

Motorcycle taxis:

It costs approximately 30-40 baht / person / trip to travel via motorbike taxi around Pattaya Town.

Songtaew and Tuk-Tuk:

Songtaew literally means two rows. It is a minibus or sometimes called a Baht bus in English. Songtaew in Pattaya is small pick-up trucks in dark blue colour with canopy on the top. The service is available all around Pattaya. White songthaews run on Sukhumvit Rd. and go towards Si Racha and Sattahip. You can wave at them wherever you are and press the buzzer when you reach your destination. They will pick up other passengers all the way they run. The routes vary. Therefore, it is best to ask before boarding. Usually, the fare is around 10 Baht for short destination. For longer destination for example from Jomtien to Naklua costs around 20 Baht. Songtaew can also be chartered for private group or alone. The fare should be negotiated beforehand.

Taxi Meter:

Pattaya itself does not have local meter- taxi but there are some travelling from Bangkok to bring their customers to Pattaya. It is possible to flag down the available one. Car services and non-metered taxis are available on an on-call basis which is more suitable for out of town destinations. It can be arranged through most travel agencies and many hotels and resorts. The price is more expensive than songthaew charter.

Boat to islands nearby Pattaya:

Boats to Koh Larn:
Getting to Koh Larn is easy. First you need to get to the Bali Hai Pier where the ferry boat is docked. The ferry boat you want is located straight out at the end of the pier. The ferry going to Tawaen Beach on Koh Larn is just to the left then the ferry just to the right goes to Naban or the main Village. The fare for the Koh Larn ferry to both destinations is only 30 Baht for each way.

Weather

Like the rest of Thailand, Pattaya is subject to the annual monsoon rains, which are heaviest from May through October. The coolest and driest time of year is December and January. The most popular time to go to Pattaya is from November to April when there is little rain and lots of sunshine. However, the climate is warm all year round and although the risk of rain is much higher during the low season there are still plenty of sunny days so the "rainy" months are still well worth considering when planning a trip.

Expect an average of 8 hours sunshine per day, and 12 hours of daylight. March will see a slow rise in temperature, but will remain dry apart from occasional showers. April also is mainly a dry month but the temperatures can often reach annual highs.

Useful Information and Tips

Check out the following for the lowdown on Thai festivals, money matters, cultural sensitivities, communications, tipping, what to do on arrival, language, security and emergencies, time-zones, internet access, electricity and where to go for more info. All you need for a great stay in Pattaya!

Source:

• http://www.tourismthailand.or.th

  Tourism Authority of Thailand

• http://www.pattaya.net

  Pattaya Tourist

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattaya

  Wikitravel: Pattaya