After leaving Pattaya I went to Kanchanaburi and looked around for a place to stay. The prices were much higher than Pattaya and I asked why. A hotel proprietor in Kanchanaburi replied that the reason was, "There are so many bar girls in Pattaya."

Pattaya has several foreign language newspapers; most come out weekly. The English newspapers include Pattaya Times, Pattaya Today, and Pattaya Mail. Additionally, there are French, Norwegian, German, Russian and Japanese publications. There are several English-language cable television programs with news and video reports from Pattaya. There are also several tourist magazines and nightlife, most of them coming out monthly. Landline telephones, satellite phones, all mobile phone systems, high-speed internet (ADSL), post offices and parcel services are available in province.

Within Pattaya
Within Pattaya pick-up trucks known as baht busses (or songthaew) serve as the public transportation system. Baht Busses drive on several routes throughout the city. On set routes along Beach road and Second Road area the normal price is 5 Baht. Foreigners are typically advised to pay 10 baht within town; dual pricing of this sort is not uncommon in Thailand, although some foreigners do choose to pay only the official fare, and it is not clear whether this will sometimes result in difficulties with the driver. Lower fares apply only when the songtaew operating as bus, which are hailed when driving along set routes. A stopped baht bus will expect passengers to be hiring it as a taxi, with negotiated rates. This can be desirable for expediency, and is necessary for destinations that are not situated along major routes. The taxi fare is negotiated with the driver; this should be within the bounds set by the Pattaya city administration, although drivers sometimes attempt to ask for more. A white and red sticker should be in every baht bus with maximum prices for negotiated fares. Baht busses serving supermarkets will usually have a special rate. Another option is using a motorbike taxi. For a lower price than an exclusive baht bus ride, a motorbike taxi is an ideal choice for a short ride within town, especially for lone travellers. The passenger will ride on the back end of the bike, usually alone (although it is not an uncommon sight to see an entire Thai family riding on one motorbike). Motorbike taxis can be recognized by their drivers wearing colored vests, with the location the serve printed on the back. Motorbike taxi stands can be found throughout town, and in front of all major tourist areas and nightlife spots. Motorbike taxis tend to drive rather quickly and commonly ignore posted signs and traffic signals. Most traffic accidents in and around Pattaya involve motorbikes.

Originally Pattaya is a small, unknown fishing village on the eastern side of Thailand facing the Gulf of Thailand. Its location appear for the first time in the Thai history when Phraya Tak who later became King Taksin marched to Chanthaburi and passed through this vicinity after the downfall of the former capital Ayuthaya to the Burmese in 1767.

After learning that an unknown troop entered the boundary, a Thai clan leader in the region, named Nai Klom intend to sack Phraya Tak's army. When Nai Klom encounter his enemy, he was awed by the dignity of Phraya Tak's army and surrendered without a fight. The have-to-be battlefield but no bloodshed is called Thap Phraya, literally means the Army of Phraya. Later it was changed and simplified to Pattaya meaning the wind flowing from Southwest to Northeast.

Pattaya had long been forgotten and not until the American servicemen discovered it during the Vietnam War in 1961. From then on, Pattaya blossomed into the Thailand' premier and most developed beach resort which attracts innumerable visitors and tourists annually. The tranquil fishermen's village disappeared and was replaced by shops, houses, mega-hotels to guesthouses, department stores, and so on. The white sandy beaches are visited by swimmers and sunbathers, not only from the local Thai but from the foreign tourists around the world.

For resort and leisure seekers, its sunny climate is an ideal place for swimming and sunbathing. There are three major beach areas, i.e. Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach and those on Ko Lan (Coral Island) where you can enjoy your holiday.

Pattaya is only 147 kilometers away from Bangkok with a comfortable 3-hours drive and the transportation services to this resort is greatly convenient!

Finding an accommodation to stay can be both easy and difficult depending upon the seasons. Cheap guesthouses and budget hotels are plenty and are mostly popular among the frequent visitors with longer stay where economy is a major concern. A number of medium and deluxe hotels in Pattaya can be found scattered on the beach roads from North to the South or on the more serene beaches surrounding the Phratamnak Hill.

Numerous sporting activities can be found at this resort of Thailand. Full range of water sports is available including fishing, sailing, water skiing, water-scooter rider, windsurfing, scuba diving, parasailing, and etc. In addition, there is a wide variety of land sports ranging from golfing, shooting, motorcar racing, horse riding, bowling, badminton, tennis, go-cart, paintball, bungee jumping, etc. Gyms and health clubs are also available at some major hotels.

Pattaya is more than a beach resort. There are many tourist attractions that are worth visiting for individuals, couples or family with kids. Interesting sites in the vicinity within easy reach are Phra Tamnak Hill, a vantage point to view Pattaya bay; Wat Yannasangwararam, a Royal Buddhist Temple built in Chinese-style atmosphere, Bottle Museum, over 300 miniatures of world-wide monuments in the bottles; Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, weird and unique things can be found in this museum.

Recommended Pattaya Tours and Sightseeing are a half-day scenic cruise to the offshore Coral Island (Ko Lan) with a chance to view the coral on a glass-menu2 boat; Nong Nooch Village, a tropical garden with various cultural and traditional shows, Million Year Stone Park having ancient flora and rare animal species as well as a crocodile farm, Sri Racha Tiger Zoo containing a largest number of Bengal tigers with numerous animals and interesting shows like pig racing; Elephant Village, where ones can see elephant shows with amusements; Minisiam, replica in miniature of renowned temples and palaces, and last but not least, the Alcazar Cabaret Show, fascinating shows and dances by beautiful actresses but actually they are all male in origin!

Pattaya is also a shopping paradise, where you can buy for various items and materials from various shops and fashionable boutiques such as garments, silk, handicrafts, gemstones, jewelry, paintings, sportswear, souvenirs, and etc.

For gourmets, various International cuisines and fresh seafood are offered in many restaurants and food shops such as Thai, French, Italian, German, Scandinavian, Russian, American, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian and etc.

After dark, Pattaya becomes a lively nightlife with many entertainment places from coffee shops, bars, karaoke, to discotheques and etc. Most of these entertainment places are concentrated in Central and South Pattaya.

In short, Pattaya is one of the most fascinating beach resort in Thailand and in Asia as it offers several facets for holiday seekers

Welcome to Pattaya Thailand - Online reservation for hotels and resorts in Pattaya beach.

Wan Lai Festival
The heat intensifies once the month of April comes in Thailand. People of old ages were wise enough to initiate the Songkran festival to cool themselves off from the heat and celebrate it as the Thai New Year. In the central region, the festival is usually held on the 13th, l4th and 15th of April while in the East there is a difference as the water throwing activities commence on the l6th or 17th, 18th or 19th known as "Wan Lai" (Flowing Day).
Pattaya City holds its Wan Lai festival annually on April 19th with activities such as water pouring for the elders, processions and the fun of dowsing and another with water, a time for Thais and foreigners alike.

Pattaya Festival
Pattaya Festival is usually held in the mid of April to promote tourism and Pattaya's reputation. Floral floats are paraded along the streets. Miss Pattaya Beauty contest is held together with traditional aquatic sports competitions and construction of sand castles. A spectacular fireworks display takes place on the beach and fire crackers are also set off. Simultaneously, arts and cultural performances, exhibitions and souvenirs for sale are available too.

Pattaya City is 147 kms south of Bangkok and with the opening of the motorway from Bangkok is less than a two hour drive. It has gained the title of "The Rivera of Thailand" annually attracting hundreds of thousands of fun loving tourists from all over the world making it one Thailand's major beach resorts.

Pattaya started life as a sleepy fishing village almost cut of from the outside world. The impact of the Vietnam war was to change all of that . On the 29th April 1961 five trucks of war weary American servicemen rolled into Pattaya to rent some houses at the southern end of the beach. This bunch were to stay for just a week. As soon as they returned to base, at Nakorn Ratchasima, word spread about the sights and delights of Pattaya. The beach resort of Pattaya , a bi-product of that crazy Indochina war was born.

As the fighting continued in neighbouring Vietnam troops would return from the frontline for R&R. They drank at Nipa Lodge as it was the only bar in town but by the late '70 things were beginning to buzz. fishermen's hut along the beach were replaced with accommodation ranging from deluxe hotels to small guest houses. Fishing vessels were transformed in tourist boats It attracted visitors from all over the world that just wanted to party, which in turn lead to wilder and wilder things. Bangkokians who had come down looking for peaceful weekend shied away the party animals turned up the noise. The words Party and Pattaya danced together. Then nobody seemed to care about the image of sleaze and pollution of beaches as long as they had a good time.

Around Pattaya BeachThat was then but in the immortal words of Bob Dylan "The times they are a changin'." Pattaya is about to experience a re-birth, rising like a phoenix out the fire. Pattaya City now has a water treatment plant located at the old Naklua Market that will be able to handle all of effluent waste and nothing will be pumped into the sea. As the water becomes cleaner the quality of marine life will improve and it is Pattaya's hope for the millenium that once again Dolphin will be swimming of the coast. That will be the clear sign that once again it is truly safe to swim in the Bay and the current trend for families to come back to Pattaya will grow.