Beautiful Pattaya, Bangkok

So you want to leave the crowded Bangkok go somewhere calm and relaxing? Then Pattaya is the place for you! Just 2.5 hours away from Bangkok or less by taxi. It is in East coast of Thailand, about 150 km from the capital of Thailand. It is a popular beach area for tourists. There are many ways to go from Bangkok to Pattaya.

You can rent a car from Bangkok which can take you to Pattaya in a shorter time but it can be quite expensive. If you have the money and want to travel in comfort, then this is the mode of transport for you.

This is the mode of transport that I would recommend. There are nice, comfortable, air conditioned buses leaving from the eastern (Ekkamai BTS station on Sukhumvit Road at Soi 63 (Soi Ekkamai))or Northern Bus terminal (Mochit II). (Do a research and check which Bus terminal is the closest to your hotel). Once you reach the Bus terminal, go to the ticket desk and buy your ticket (around 164 baths).

Once you get your ticket, go to the bus, put your luggage in the luggage compartment and get a good seat, sit back and relax for the next 2 hours. You can watch the bus leaving the busy City and moving into the quieter parts of Thailand.

Pattaya beach is divided into three areas, North, (the most peaceful area of the three, the best area to stay if travelling with kids), south and central Pattaya are the entertainment areas where there are discotheques, beer bars and night life (NOT RECOMMENDED WHEN TRAVELLING WITH KIDS) and you also have the Jomtien beach, around 2 km away. Jomtien beaches are less congested and perfect for families with little children.

The bus from Bangkok will take you to North Pattaya. From here, you can take a taxi or a Baht Bus to your hotel. I recommend a Baht Bus, these are like a larger version of a tuk tuk accommodating around 7-8 people. It is a fun way of travelling within the city and it costs 10 Baht to go anywhere within the city!! Taxi drivers can fool you into paying double or triple the normal fare so just travel in a baht bus.

You find street vendors selling tropical fruits in the beach and along the road. It is a must try as these fruits are served chilled with salt and spice and its simple delicious!! There are many restaurants like KFC and other Indian restaurants as well. There are many supermarkets like Tesco for shopping and seven-eleven for your small shopping needs.

Enjoy a walk by the beach, dip in the pool and have a restful sleep in your hotel to prepare yourself for all the beach activities that Pattaya has to offer!!

1. Coral Island (Koh Larn)

A visit to coral island is a 45 minute boat ride from the Bali Hai Pier. You can either book a tour where they will pick you up from your hotel and take you on this tour to Koh Larn or you can save some money by going by yourself (go to the south of walking street, you will see the Bali Hai Pier where you can buy the ticket for the boat ride). The ticket cost will cost around 30 baht per person one way. You can do many activities like jet skiing, parasailing, banana boat ride or simply sunbathe in the beautiful beaches.

2. Submarine tour

You have now explored the beautiful beaches and now you want to see how they look underwater? The best way to do this would be take the submarine tour, once again you may book the tour through a travel agent or save money by going to Bali Hai Pier in the South of walking street and buy the ticket yourself. The ticket will cost around 2000 baht. The ride will last around two hours and the first ride will be at 10.30 AM while the last ride at 6.00 PM.

3. Bungee jump

Need some adrenaline rush? Then try the Bungee jump at Thepprasit Road! It is a must-do tourist activity for the strong hearted! It is open daily and they even provide free transport from your hotel. The cost would be around 2200 baht and you get to take home a photo DVD of your jump plus a certificate of courage!

4. Floating market

A visit to the floating market is a must do activity as you see how the Thais used to live and sell their products. You can take a boat ride to discover the riverside life of a Thai. There are many stalls and shops selling all kinds of things ranging from fruits stalls, souvenir shops and mainly Thai food.

5. Million years stone park and crocodile farm

A crocodile fan? Then this is the place for you! It is a 15 minute drive from the city where you can see petrified trees that are over 100 million years old and rocks and stones that are shaped liked animals. You can go to the crocodile kingdom and be amazed by the many crocodiles. You may also watch a crocodile show. A nature lover will simply fall in love with the place.

6. Splashdown water park

This is a great attraction for older kids who are ready to take a challenge! Be prepared to get wet! The entrance ticket is around 1500 baht; they provide you with the safety equipment like jackets, helmet and shoes. You can spend half a day here and sleep the other half as you will be tired for sure!

7. Ripley's believe it or not!

I am sure most of you have watched the TV program, Ripley's believe it or not? If you want to see them for real, visit this museum which is located in Royal garden plaza, beach road, Chonburi. There are many attractions with the ticket price varying for each attraction. You can do the haunted adventure, watch a movie in the 12D moving theatre, go on the sky rider or go to the Louis Tussauds wax works!

8. Elephant village

This is a nonprofit organization where the fees you pay to enter the village are used feed and take care of the elephants. There are many tours where you can go on the elephant ride, take a walk through the jungle and rafting.

So once you have explored and done the many exciting activities that Pattaya has to offer, you many return to Bangkok. To return to Bangkok by bus, go to the Bus terminal in North Pattaya and take a bus to Bangkok!