Going to Pattaya? You Must Be Crazy!

By: lar

What used to be a small, sleepy fishing village is now a tourist destination for millions of single men every year. Married men are also welcome but for some reason forget that they have a wife and family back home. Something about the attitude of the Thai women.

With the new International Airport, Suvarnabhumi, opening in late 2006, getting to Pattaya has never been easier. Most tourists forego Bangkok altogether and head straight for Pattaya regardless of arrival time. After all, it is only 90 minutes away. Why go to Bangkok for the night when you head straight to your final destination.

Located about 50 kilometers south of the old International Airport, Don Muang, Suvarnabhumi is an architectural marvel of steel and glass. The airport is absolutely huge and you will get your first taste of how big it is when you walk from your arrival gate to the Immigration officer to show your passport. It seems like it is miles away.

Fortunately there are numerous Immigration officers to get you through the passport control checkpoint and the luggage carousels are directly behind them. A big electronic board tells your where your luggage is and then you are out the door to a waiting taxi.

Taxi fees from Bangkok can range from 1200 to 4000 Baht so you have to use your best negotiation skills or book a ride online prior to departing. The many Bangkok and Pattaya forums can point you to reliable taxi drivers for a cheaper price than the taxi mafia at the airport. Highly recommend you book your ride ahead of time and your driver will meet you right outside of baggage claim.

Then you just sit back and enjoy the maniacal driving skills of your driver for the 90 minute ride. If you are coming from the USA, then you will be on the “wrong” side of the road the steering wheel will be on the other side of the vehicle. Get used to this and check about 8 times before crossing a road as a pedestrian.

It doesn’t matter what time that you arrive in Pattaya, there will always be something to do. Daytime gives you time for a nap or a walkabout to get the lay of the land. Night time arrival means you head straight out to the nightlife. Even arriving at 3 or 4 in the morning, you will still be able to find some night time activity to occupy your time.

It is also a good idea to book your hotel in advance so you have a room waiting for you – especially during high season. If you are not sure of the quality, book for one or two nights and then shop around upon arrival. You may or may not be able to get a deal just walking in. Or you can just book your entire trip online. It is up to you.

You will have plenty to do in Pattaya during the day and night. There are beaches, boat rides, and outer islands to visit, temples, go karts, bowling, and a whole lot more.

Night time is when Pattaya comes to life. At about 5 PM the beer bars start to come to life and later on at about 8 pm the go-go bars are lit up in neon. Bars abound and you can’t go 10 feet without finding a new one. Walking Street is the primary place to go if you want to see the go go girls. Other bars are all over Pattaya along with massage parlors and other forms of entertainment.

Pattaya is a great place for the single man to go to but be warned – once you go you will never be the same. You will come to understand the terms – Pattaya Blues and Pattaya Addiction. Chok Dee Khrap (Good Luck)

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Dining In Pattaya Thailand

By: lar

In Pattaya you will be bombarded with smells and tastes from a wide variety of cuisines. Determining where you will dine for the day may be the biggest decision of the day.

I will list approximate prices in Thai Baht and the exchange rate as I write this is about 33 Baht to 1 US dollar.

Breakfast is cheap in Pattaya. You can get basic fare for about 50 to 80 baht which consists of bacon and eggs, toast, juice and coffee. A better deal is the hotel buffet. The Lek Hotel, Apex and Diana Inn on Second Road all have buffets for about 110 Baht. Lots of food but nothing really spectacular.

I prefer to have a big breakfast but one that also tastes good. My favorite is at the Sportsman on Soi 13. They have a full English breakfast for about 240 Baht. This is served on a platter and comes with bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, beans, bubble and squeak, and fried tomatoes. It is all you can do to finish it.

I usually don’t eat lunch after having the big breakfast but for those who get hungry mid-day, there are many, many places to get something to eat. Everything from fast food to street vendor dishes are all over the city. You won't be able to walk ten feet without someone selling something to eat.

If I am hungry at lunchtime, I usually go to the Royal Garden Shopping Center upstairs to the food court. There you buy a card similar to a credit card and put however much Baht on it as you want. I usually add about 200 Baht and if I have money left over, I can get it refunded.

Then you just walk around to the many vendors and see what you like. Most of the food is Thai and there is everything from soup, to rice dishes to noodles. Beverages and dessert are also available. Most of the meals are in the 30 – 40 Baht range.

For dinner, I usually stop at a street vendor and get some meat and rice. There is a group of street vendors, or an outside food court on Soi Buakhao just north of Soi LK Metro. The northernmost vendor is my favorite. He has boiled chicken, fried pork, and cooked red pork. All dishes come with rice and cost 25-30 Baht. A bottle of water is an additional 10 Baht.

If you get hungry while out on the town in Pattaya, you will be able to get food no matter what time it is. Stationary street vendors and vendors with motorized stalls are everywhere serving soup, bar-b-que, and rice and noodle dishes. You can even get a sampling of Northern Thailand snacks – grasshoppers, silkworms, ants, and beetles.

Eating in Thailand is a way of life and you will find yourself eating 4 to 6 times per day. The meals are small in size and huge in taste. Some of the Thai dishes can be very spicy so be careful with the chili peppers.

And if you only eat pizza, burgers and fries, you can get those dishes all over the city too.

You can even find some of the best steaks and European cuisine in this former fishing village. Seafood is also abundant and you can get lobster or crabs for a small fraction of what you pay at homeI can guarantee that you will not go hungry when you are in Pattaya.

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Getting To Pattaya In 23 Easy Steps

By: lar

Here is a step-by-step tip sheet on how to get to Pattaya.

1. Save your money all year for your vacation. Not counting airfare, budget for $150 US dollars per day.

2. Apply for and get your passport. Get a visa also if you are staying long term

3. Book your flight and hotel. You can do this online or with your favorite travel agent

4. Arrange for a ride to the airport. Get a buddy to take you or find a local airport taxi service.

5. Arrange for a taxi to pick you up in Bangkok. You can get recommendations from any Pattaya forum or bargain with the taxi mafia upon arrival.

6. Get to the airport three hours ahead of your flight. You don’t want to be late for your holiday and you never know how long the lines will be.

7. Check in and get your seat assignment and boarding pass. Ask nicely and you may be able to get an exit row seat.

8. Do your last minute shopping at the duty free shop. Booze, cigarettes, and perfume are tax free.

9. Get a bite to eat and hang out near your departure gate. Airline food sucks so it is better to eat before you go.

10. Surf the Internet and check email before you take off. Do whatever to kill time. Wireless access can usually be found near the first class lounges.

11. Board the plane and settle in for the long flight. Hopefully you got a decent seat.

12. Get your book, headphones, pen, snacks, gum and laptop ready. Get everything you will need before you take off so you don't have to dig through your carry-on.

13. Kill time at you layover airport with laptop and/or food. You can get another bite to eat or just walk around and stretch your legs. Hopefully the layover isn’t too long.

14. Board the final leg of your flight. Try to control your adrenaline and relax. You are almost there.

15. Get in a short nap. You want to be refreshed when you arrive. You will be struggling to adjust your body clock and will be fighting jet lag.

16. Land and deplane. Go to the bathroom before the plane lands. Once the door opens, do everything in your power to get out of the plane. Make a beeline to immigration.

17. Go directly to Immigration and get your passport stamped. Find the shortest line and have your passport and boarding pass stub ready.

18. Find your carousel and grab your luggage. Check the sign right after Immigration and get your bags.

19. Meet your driver. Fight the gauntlet and look for a sign with your name on it. If you haven’t booked in advance, the clipboard toting, taxi mafia will find you.

20. Sit back and pray you make it from Bangkok to Pattaya in one piece. Prepare yourself for controlled chaos on the roads and pray to Buddha that you arrive alive.

21. Arrive at your hotel and check in. Have your passport ready and fill out the little form and you are there.

22. Shower, change clothes and hit the streets. You can unpack later. It is time to go out and have some fun.

23. You are now in the Pattaya paradise. Enjoy yourself, be safe, and have a great holiday.

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Pattaya and Jomtien Beach - Thailand's Twin Fun Paradises

By David Lambeth

The Kingdom of Thailand draws more visitors than any other country in south East Asia, with its irresistible combination of breathtaking natural beauty, inspiring temples, renowned hospitality, robust cuisine and ruins of ancient kingdoms. Pattaya and Jomtien Beach are considered by some as Thailand's twin fun paradises based on their beaches, diving, windsurfing, island trips, numerous golf courses, and world renowned nightlife. Pattaya, and especially Jomtien, have been growing at a fast rate. Proof of Pattaya and Jomtien's popularity is their forever-growing cosmopolitan flavor, with a large contingent of Expats from all over the world who have either settled and retired here, or invested in a holiday home. Many Expats could only have dreamt of buying a condo or house, looking over the ocean and waking up to the sea breezes, at a fraction of the cost that they would have paid in their home countries.

The growth in the residential market has been further boosted by a demand for property from Pattaya locals and other Thai buyers due to the closeness to Bangkok. As a result of the new airport and continued improvements in infrastructure, more property developers are also entering the market to launch a variety of developments, including residential, international chain hotels and retail projects. Based on the number of property developments currently underway, its a clear indicator that this trend is set to continue.

One of the main advantages of living in Pattaya Jomtien Beach, apart from the climate and low cost of living, is their world class infrastructure. Many world travelers we have talked to are impressed with the infrastructure when compared to the Philippines, Costa Rica, and other exotic travel destinations. Over the past 10 years, millions of Thai baht has been ploughed into improving Pattaya's infrastructure by resurfacing roads and improving the city's visual image. Roads and transportation are first class. The most common means of traveling around Pattaya and Jomtien Beach is the "baht bus". Seldom do you have to wait more than five minutes for the bus. The regular baht bus fare within Pattaya is 10 baht which amounts to about 35 cents American. There are two bus terminals where you can take an air conditioned bus to Bangkok or to one of the popular provinces. A large number of sports facilities have been built in and around Pattaya to cater to a wide range of sporting activities. All facilities are easy to reach. The telephone system is a modern PABX and internet cafes providing ADSL service (2 mbps) are common place. Health care is of a very high standard. There are three large international hospitals and one hospital that caters to the local Thais. Doctors are highly trained and speak English well. The hospitals also offer some interpreting services if your native language is not English

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