| Pattaya | | | | The Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm |
| World famous for its girly bars, Pattaya has | | | | features a rare species zoo, and crocodile, |
| recently diversified and is trying to become one of | | | | fire-swallowing and magic shows. Great for the kids, |
| the best family destinations in Thailand, living a | | | | but about as exciting as watching paint dry for their |
| somewhat schizophrenic life as a night-time | | | | parents. |
| bacchanalia and day-time fun park. | | | | Mini Siam features miniature replicas of iconic |
| The beaches are somewhat lackluster by Thai | | | | structures. Thai structures include the Temple of the |
| standards and rampant over-development has long | | | | Emerald Buddha and the Bridge over the River Kwai, |
| since destroyed Pataya’s natural charms, but its | | | | whilst replicas of the Tower Bridge of London, Eiffel |
| huge range of facilities and convenient access from | | | | Tower, the Statue of Liberty and Trevi Fountain are |
| the capital’s Suvarnabhumi Airport make it a | | | | displayed in the section called ‘miniworld’. |
| good destination for families who have only a short | | | | Pirom Submarine. Visitors board the submarine from |
| time in the kingdom. For adults who have come to | | | | the nearby island of Koh Sak: not for the |
| party Pattaya is the place to be, with its kicking bars | | | | claustrophobic. |
| and clubs of all descriptions and with the riotousness | | | | |
| scored to pretty much whatever soundtrack you | | | | Entertainment |
| fancy, from the middle-aged to the manic. | | | | Pattaya’s 3 huge multiplex cinemas are air |
| Beaches | | | | conditioned back to arctic temperatures, so bring a |
| The main Pattaya Beach is a crowded and relatively | | | | long sleeve shirt, or jacket, or both. Some |
| narrow strip of sand that runs along the city centre | | | | English-language films will be dubbed into Thai with no |
| and pulses with life. The street along the beach, | | | | English subtitles, which can be disappointing for adults |
| Walking Street, comes alive with rock music as the | | | | and cause a minor riot from the children. Cinema |
| sun sets and the night-owls wake up and come out | | | | patrons must stand during the King's anthem. For |
| to play. In a country populated by people who love | | | | some reason singing along by Thai-speaking |
| to party, Pattaya’s Walking Street is probably | | | | foreigners is generally frowned upon: maybe it’s |
| the wildest and most frenetic party-zone in the | | | | because they are likely to get the tones wrong and |
| country, except on full moon nights, when Koh | | | | sing something completely inappropriate which, whilst |
| Phangan’s Hat Rin beach takes the number one | | | | it would usually be regarded as hilarious, is anything |
| spot. | | | | but when the revered royal family is involved. |
| Jomtien Beach, which has grainier sand, is separated | | | | Sports |
| from the main Pattaya Bay by a hill and is more | | | | Whilst the fishing and scuba diving are not amongst |
| popular among family vacationers, due to its slightly | | | | the country’s best, the golf is. There are more |
| calmer atmosphere and to its childrens’ | | | | than 20 courses within an hour's drive of Pattaya, |
| amusement park. Wong Phrachan Beach, situated to | | | | many designed by some of golf's most famous |
| the north of Pattaya Beach, is a favourite among | | | | names, including Nick Faldo (Great Lakes), Jack |
| swimmers. | | | | Nicklaus (Laem Chabang), Gary Player (Sri Racha) and |
| Pattaya's main beaches are popular and busy places | | | | Robert Trent Jones (Eastern Star Resort and |
| where activities include banana-boat riding, jet-skiing, | | | | Country Club). Laem Chabang International Country |
| water-skiing, parasailing and windsurfing. For those | | | | Club is considered the finest golf course in the area |
| more interested in inactivities there are acres of sand | | | | and is ranked in Thailand’s Top 3 best courses. |
| jam-packed with recliners and umbrellas and serviced | | | | Some of the sporting possibilities are aerobics, |
| by an army of usually polite but tenacious hawkers | | | | aqua-aerobics, badminton, billiards/pool/snooker, |
| offering everything from food to massage, manicure | | | | bowling, bridge, bungee jumping, cycling, flying, |
| pedicure, tattoos, lottery tickets, newspapers, herbs, | | | | paragliding & skydiving, horseback riding, hot air |
| flowers, gems, perfumes, CD’s and sunglasses. | | | | ballooning, jet-skiing, motorsports, Thai boxing. |
| It's a bit like TV shopping: as soon as you've declined | | | | paintball, parachute rides, sailing, shooting, swimming, |
| one offer, it's time to consider another. Eventually | | | | tennis, waterskiing & wakeboarding, windsurfing |
| you buy a pair of very dark sunglasses and then | | | | & kiteboarding. |
| pretend to be asleep. It’s best to visit the | | | | |
| beaches only after the beach cleaners have disposed | | | | Shopping |
| of the previous night’s detritus, which can include | | | | Pattaya has a veritable trolley-load of malls and |
| potentially deadly needles. There are several | | | | supermarkets, but is not a good place to buy hi-tech |
| well-frequented but pleasant islands nearby. | | | | products such as cameras, computers, etc - expect |
| | | | high prices. Beware of buying fake perfume, as this |
| Attractions | | | | may be confiscated by customs officers at the |
| Underwater World is an aquarium where visitors walk | | | | airport where, in 2007 and in front of press cameras, |
| along a 105 metre transparent-sided underwater | | | | five tons of counterfeit designer perfume were |
| tunnel through 4 separate zones. The first zone | | | | crushed by a bulldozer. The driver got sick of all the |
| displays pretty and exotic fish that would, if not | | | | strange looks he got on his way home, and hurried |
| separated, be eaten as afternoon nibbles by the | | | | back to shower. Of the many bazaar-style markets |
| sharks in the second zone. The highlight of the third | | | | in Pattaya where you can haggle till you drop, Made |
| zone is the turtles darting in and out of an artificial | | | | In Thailand Night Bazaar is perhaps the most fun. In |
| shipwreck, whilst the fourth zone holds some giant | | | | Typically Thai fashion, despite its name, it is open |
| Amazonian monster-fish. | | | | daily from 8am and also sells foreign products. The |
| Pattaya Elephant Village. Although it’s a bit | | | | reputation of the city’s art galleries is up with |
| disconcerting to see the gentle giants languishing in a | | | | that of the best in Thailand, with KC Gallery on |
| city, this a mandatory stop for parents, as the | | | | Walking Street and Narai Art Gallery (Soi 6, |
| children will love, among other exhibits, the | | | | Phratamnak Road) being the best at the time of |
| pachyderm football and the war parade. | | | | going to print. |