Pattaya

INTRO
Pattaya is the number one resort city in Thailand for those who prefer exotic nightlife and noisy evenings over calm beaches and family atmosphere. Luxurious hotels at reasonable prices, cabaret shows and yet, a beach resort with all the leisure activities it should provide, Pattaya is an all-in-one Thailand experience where a rest means something far different than just lying under the sun and eating at nice restaurants.

City Profile
City: Pattaya
Country: Thailand
Area: 2,095 km2
Population: 65,000
Districts: 24
Language: Thai
Rating: #1 / 126 at Asian-Cities

LOCATION
This exotic city is conveniently located at the southeastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, only around 160 kilometers from the capital, Bangkok. As one of the largest tourist destinations in Thailand, it is easily reachable by air and provides all the entertainment for a fashionable Thai resort.

TIME TO VISIT
Pattaya has a tropical climate that can be distinguished with three distinct seasons. The first one is the warm and dry season that lasts between November and February and is characterised by sudden sharp showers called Mango rains and temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. The second is the hot and dry season between February and May. Occasional rain and thunderstorms are typical for this part of the year and temperatures often reach 40 degrees C. In contrast, the following months from June till October comprise the warm and wet, or monsoon, season that brings heavy and long rains almost every day and keeps the temperatures around 25 degrees C. Most visitors come to Pattaya around Christmas and New Years Eve thus enjoying the best weather conditions.

POPULATION
The official population of the resort is around 65,000 people but records prove that this is highly underestimated as the city is continually inhabited by many Thai workers who moved from other parts of the country and comprise a large percentage of the total population. Many expatriate residents also live here but are not included into the citys records. Moreover, Pattaya is the number one preferred place for many Bangkok and international visitors who additionally contribute to the crowded streets of the resort. The official language here is Thai but English is spoken by almost everyone working in the tourist sector.

DISTRICTS
Basically, Pattaya is divided into two sections, excluding its coastal line: the northern section that comprises of Naklua Beach, Pattaya Beach and the Buddha Hill, and the southern section that encompasses Jomtien Beach and Dongtan Beach. The coastline itself is divided into six sub-districts that mostly consist of different beaches along the bay.

North, South and Central Pattaya form the so-called centre of the city and are situated right next to each other. These three sub-districts are located in the middle of the other surrounding sub-districts. Pattayaland as well as the Walking Street are situated here. These sub-districts are known as the Pattaya Beach and are close to many shops, restaurants and cafes. If you are looking for hectic places, this is an example of one.
Naclua is a small and less crowded sub-district that is most popular among the German visitors. Located north from Northern Pattaya, it is a more serene place, famous for its nice beaches. The major tourist attraction here is the Sanctuary of Truth.
Buddha Hill is situated between South Pattaya and Jomtien and carries the name of the famous Buddha Statue that brings there both tourists and believers every day.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Apart from spending some relaxing time at Pattaya and Jomtien beaches or indulge in exciting water sports like jet-skiing, paragliding, snorkeling parasailing and all the rest of the main reasons why tourists come here, you should definitely visit several other places around the resort, without which your visit to Pattaya wouldnt worth it.

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden is a beautifully decorated garden with a large collection of flowers and everyday Thai dancing and elephant stunt shows. Located some 15km from the city centre, it is a pleasant place to spend one day out, surrounded by waterfalls, cactuses, Thai style houses, lakes and animals, including tigers, elephants and chimpanzees.
The Sanctuary of Truth is a huge building that is built entirely out of wood both from the inside and the outside. The purpose of the wooden carved sculptures is to reflect the Ancient vision of earth and the Ancient Knowledge. The main highlight of this complex is the large ancient style wooden temple. It is a worth visiting place as it represents the beauty of religion and combines it with charming architecture.
Buddha Hill is a romantic part of Pattaya that reveals a marvellous view of the whole resort and is especially beautiful at night. It is the highest point in the city that was named after the huge Buddha statue that emerges from the blossomed trees.
Ko Larn, or the Coral Island, is a small island situated 7km from the Pattaya beach. It is a pleasant and less crowded beach where you can enjoy all the water and underwater activities, the golden sands and clean waters. There are motor boats that take you to the island and its six different beaches.
Mini Siam is a miniature city that exhibits around 80 replicas of important tourist sites and holy places around Thailand. Siam is the old name of Thailand and this mini version of it presents the county in all its splendor, including models of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Bridge over the River Kwai as well as several foreign architectural wonders such as the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. It is a beautiful place and a great way to see the worlds attractions from a different perspective.
Alcazar Cabaret Show is one of the main attractions here in Pattaya. It is said that if you missed that performance it is like you havent experienced the real resort atmosphere. See the beauty of Thai lady-boys, their dresses and the glamour of the cabaret stage and dances.
Million Year Old Stone Park is a large park in close distance from Pattaya with a zoo inside that has a thousand crocodiles and a crocodile show. One can pay to get photographed with one of those scary reptiles or one of the albino bears. The main attractions here are the ancient rock and botanical gardens as well as fossilized plants, 200-years old Thai bonsai and dwarf horses.

AIRPORT
The resort of Pattaya has its own International Airport and is also close to the city of Bangkok, which make it conveniently accessible from both domestic and international destinations.

U-Tapao International Airport is situated at 45 minutes from the city and around 160 kilometres from Bangkok Airport at the town of Sattahip. Most visitors, however, are not aware of its existence and fly to Bangkok Airport and take a taxi to Pattaya for around 800 Baht.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Going around Pattaya is easy:

Minibuses, or baht buses, are blue pick-up trucks that are a cheap and convenient way of getting around the resort. There are no bus stops- you flag the buses down and ring a bell wherever you want to get off. Fares: Bt. 5 per person and goes up to Bt. 40 for longer distances.
Motorbikes are convenient for exploring the resort but a driving license and wearing a helmet is required. Beware for frauds and make sure to check the condition of the vehicle and have everything on it recorded beforehand. Insurance is suggestible. Fares: Bt. 150-600 per day. Motorbikes can be rented at the beach and street vendors.
Bikes can be rented from street vendors for Bt. 100 per day or Bt. 20 per hour.
Songthaews are taxi-like vehicles very characteristic of Thailand cities. You get in and tell the driver your destination. Dont ask for prices. For small distances, from beach to beach for example, you should pay Bt. 5, for longer trips dont pay more than Bt. 10.

HISTORY
The history of Pattaya is not marked by any grandeur events or important heritage. In fact, it started its development as late as the 1960s when it was discovered by American Air Force soldiers who turned it into a place for rest and recreation activities. Before that it was a small fishing village with only a small number of inhabitants who made a living out of fishing. Gradually, more and more families settled here until the village received its own identity as the native villagers renamed it after the winds that come at the beginning of every rainy season and started calling it Pattaya. Later, in 1976, the town had its status changed by the local authorities and became a self-governed municipality. Today, Pattaya is a famous tourist destination that attracts visitors from Europe, Russia and other places and is heading toward a more family friendly vacation conditions.

CITY LINKS

Pattaya Today, A Daily Newspaper in English: http://www.pattayatoday.net/
Pattaya Official Website: http://www.pattaya.com/index_eng.asp
Useful Tips: http://wikitravel.org/en/Pattaya