Pattaya Beach

BEACH

Jomtien Beach
Jomtien Beach this 6-kilometers long, largely straight beach, some 4 kilometers south of Pattaya, is the most notable of several beaches south of the resort. The beach is popular with windsurfs and waterspouts enthusiasts, largely because the area enjoys brisk and fresh breezes sweeping inland from the Thai Gulf, and because the seas are less congested with boats than is Pattaya Bay.
Jomtien is also a major residential area with beachside hotels, bunga low complexes, condominiums and restaurants.

Pattaya Beach
Pattaya Beach some 4 kilometers long, this beach faces Pattaya Bay, the major venue from where boats visit Pattaya's offshore islands. The beach curves from north to south and is largely paralleled by a tree-lined promenade and beach road, which is lined, in the northern and central parts, by hotels and restaurants.
The northern section of the beach is largely tranquil, while the central and southern parts become increasingly lively, thanks to a juxtaposition of shops, department stores, boutiques, beauty salons, supermarkets, bars, discotheques, restaurants and night clubs. The central area of the beach is a major shopping area, while the southern end is one of Pattaya's major nightlife areas.

Wong Prachan Beach
Won Prachan Beach is on the northern side of Pattaya Bay. The 1-kilometer beach shares the same entrance as the Central Wong Amat Hotel. A quiet spot, the beach is ideal for swimming and relaxation.

ISLAND

Larn Island
Koh Larn situated to the West of Pattaya Strait, about 7.7 Kilometers from the shore, covering an area of about 4 square kilometers, popularly known as Coral Island and is 45 minutes by ferry or 20 minutes by speed boat from Pattaya Beach. There are beautiful beaches, clear water, and an abundance of coral. Visitors can view the coral either from a glass-bottom boat or by diving down directly. A well-known beach is at Ta Waen Beach in the northern part of the Island, a 750 meters stretch of white sand with many stalls andshops. Sightseeing boats mostly dock in this area.
There are also Laemtien Beach and Samae Beach on the south-western side, each beach spanning a length of 700 and 100 meters respectively.Both are regarded as beautiful and interesting sports, especially Laemtien Beach which has remained exceptionally clean and tranquil. There are now a few stores servisitors. Ta Pan Beach on the western part of the island is 500 meters in length with make-shift lodging available. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, sightseeing boats usually dock along this beach all the way to Laemtie where there is coral. On the southern part is Nual Beach 450 meters in length. On this beach a hotel which accommodates a large number of tourists. This is another good place for viewing coral.

Phai Group Island
Koh Phai Group of islands is comprised of Koh Phai, Koh Manvichai, Koh leom, Koh Klung Badan etc., Koh Phai being the largest. The islands are presently under the supervision of the Royal Navy. The Koh Phai groups of islands are situated at a distance about 13 kilometers from Pattaya and takes 2 hours to reach by boat. There is a lighthouse on top of a hill at Koh Phai. Visitor's can enjoy relaxing-moments, swimming, fishing and diving down to view the coral.

Krok Island
Koh Krok a small island covering an area of 0.05 square kilo -meters, approximately 8 kilometers from the shore. The island comprises mostly rocks. Only one sandy-beach on the east of the island is Koh Krok beach which is only 100 meters in length. This is an ideal place for coral viewing

Sak Island
Koh Sak some 10 kilometers west of Pattaya strait or 600 meters away from Koh Larn. Koh Sak is another Small Island shaped like a horseshoe with an area of 0.05 square kilometers. It has two beaches, one on the northern cover 250 meters in length, and area in which boats usually stop for tourists to swim and another one on the southern part of the island opposite the first island, with a pathway linking the two beaches, a small beach 80 meters in length. A coral is found at the area in front of the beach. Skin-diving is also possible in this vicinity.

History of Pattaya

In fact only 40 years ago Pattaya as we know it today, didn't even exist. On the stretch of coast between Sriracha and Sattahip, there were only a small number of fishing villages and in Pattaya bay itself, there were just a few fishing families who had settled here because of the calm waters and the safety of the bay, protected headlands to the North and South and by mountains behind. Their nearest neighbors lived just around the headland to the north, where, in the old days salt used to be produced (Naa-Klua = salt fields) but where there were now mainly fishing families. People traveled about by foot or by bullock carts because, except of the main road from Bangkok to Sattahip, only a few dirt roads and tracks existed.

Nevertheless, the bay and nearby islands provided good, safe fishing and more and more families came here to settle down, Gradually a village developed. At first was know as Tupphraya the general name for the area which dated back to the time when Pharaya Taksin (Duke Taksin) camped near here with the followers he had gathered to help free Thailand from the Burmese (Tupphraya - the Pharaya' - army)

The pace of life was slow and it seemed as if Pattaya would remain an out-of-the-way place forever. Even up to 30 years ago there were only a few buses serving the 100 or more families who lived here and visitors from elsewhere were few and far between. But things were destined to change and as usual, it was a war (the Vietnam War) which changed them. The U.S.A. sent soldiers to build the air base at U Tapao and many of these took to spending their leisure time and money in Pattaya.

As the village grew, the villagers wanted to give it a separate identity, so they adopted the name of Pattaya,which was the name they used for the strong winds which came from the South West at the beginning of every rainy season.

The beaches were clean in those days and the sea breezes made it pleasant and cool. People in the surrounding areas were quick to spot the business opportunities and bars guesthouses begun to spring up. The fisher - folk probably resented this intrusion, but it provided a good market for their catches and they soon got on the bandwagon by offering fishing trips to Koh Larn for about 50 Baht per head. Gradually, visitors from Bangkok also begun to use the resort at weekends, although the trip was a tiring 3 to 4 hours on the two-lane road. Later the US Military based in Thailand begun to use Pattaya for rest and recreation (R&R) and bigger hotels and entertainment places (including the oldest profession of them all) were built to cater for them. Thus the' 60s and' 70s saw the most rapid change and development. In 1964 in view of its new importance, Pattata was raised to the status of a village and in 1979, elevated to that of a Teasban Nakhon (Municipality), responsible now for its own administration.

Today Pattaya is Thailand's premier beach resort and attracts annually more than a million tourists from all over the world. Pattaya provides high standard hotels, restaurants, sports, entertainment and shopping facilities. The resort is Thailand's most important diving center and the east coast is also a paradise for golfers.

PATTAYA SIGHT SEEING

Located 140km south-east of Bangkok, on the Eastern Seaboard of the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya is popular with both residents of Bangkok and international tourists. Over one million people visit this beach resort every year to sample the sun, sand, sports facilities and many fine attractions. After dark Pattaya really comes alive and the city takes on a party atmosphere which lasts until the early hours.

Pattaya City Attractions

· easy to get to from Bangkok (110 Baht by bus, 800-1000 Baht by limos and private taxis)
· great beaches: Pattaya, Jomtien, Bang Saray and beyond
· fantastic night life: bars, discos, two cinemas, recreational facilities
· cheaper accommodation than Bangkok
· low condo rentals
· many inexpensive hotels equipped with A/C, often pools, cable TV, private toilets/showers, etc. from 500 to 1000 baht
· cheap restaurants, some offering “all you can eat buffets”
· fine dining for gourmets
· comprehensive shopping facilities from small stalls to modem shopping malls
· many tours on offer
· large expat. community, offering friendship and advice· local venues include: