Pattaya Guide

Pattaya A Travelers Paradise
Pattaya is nestled along a picturesque bay on the East Coast of the Gulf of Thailand, roughly 170 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. From a fishing village in the 1960's, Pattaya has emerged as the favorite Southeast Asian vacation center. A fascinating escape where tourists, holiday makers and vacationers from around the world unfold an incomparable array of possibilities to unwind during an exotic holiday beach vacation.
Unlike other beach resorts, where natural surroundings are used as magnets to attract tourists, Pattaya makes an all-out attempt to provide the best of everything. Here, everything means everything a tourist can imagine while on holiday: recreation, entertainment, sports, sightseeing and fun. To put it simply, Pattaya is a paradise for everyone, as it has a variety of attractions suitable for all types of visitors. This is the place where you can fill your day, from dusk to dawn, with endless activities, or you may choose to do nothing at all and relax.
The Past
Pattaya's name was originated from the march of Phraya Tak (later known as King Taksin the Great) and his followers from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi just before the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom to the Burmese invaders in 1767.
When Phraya Tak's army arrived in the vicinity of what is Pattaya today, he encountered the troops of Nai Klom who tried to intercept him. When the two leaders met face to face, Nai Klom was awed by Phraya Tak's dignified manner and his army's strict discipline, thereby surrendering without a fight. The place where the two armies confronted each other was later called Thap Phraya, which means the Army of the Phraya. This was later changed to Phatthaya, which happens to mean the wind blowing from the southwest to the northeast at the beginning of the rainy season. Today the spelling of the name has been simplified to Pattaya.
For centuries, Pattaya was a small fishing village almost cut off from the outside world. But a big change occurred on 29 April 1961 when the first group of about 100 American servicemen who would join the Vietnam War arrived in Pattaya for relaxation. Soon, sleepy Pattaya became Thailand's premier and most successful beach resort, which annually attracts hundreds of thousands of pleasure-seeking visitors. A full range of accommodations from super deluxe hotels to bungalows and mini-pocket guesthouses replaced fishermens huts along the beach. Fishing vessels were adapted to become tourist boats and swimmers and sunbathers from various parts of the world frequented the quiet powdery golden beaches. Places of nighttime entertainment have also sprung up and are popular among international tourists.
The Present
Pattaya currently integrates the delights of a 1st class beach resort, city-like dining, shopping and night entertainment facilities with more than 300 assorted hotels, thousands of shops, restaurants and bars. In addition, there are an array of sports and recreational activities including beaches, golf courses, tennis courts, go-kart, gyms for working out, weight lifting and Thai-boxing gear. Pattaya offers a broad range of things to do. During the day, one may enjoy riding elephants or driving humble automatic mini-bikes, monstrous motorcycles, or even monster multicolored convertible Jeeps. Others go for shooting firearms, scuba diving and surfing, deep-sea fishing, speed boats, scooters, water-skiing, parasailing, or aerial sports such as gliding ultra-lights and flying motor-propelled gliders. On the other hand, at night, there are restaurants, bars, theaters, cabaret shows, night clubs, bowling halls, billiard & snooker clubs, discos, sauna & massage parlors, not to cite its absolutely incredible shopping which is available non-stop both day-and-night.
Pattaya Facts
This exotic beach resort welcomes approximately 5 million visitors a year. The friendly and hospitable Thai nature boosts its promotion, frequently bringing back the repeat visitors and constantly increasing the number of newcomers.
Pattaya city is located on the eastern coast of the country at latitude 13 N and longitude 101 E in the area of Chon Buri province. It is 147 kilometers from Bangkok and lies parallel to Sukhumvit Road on its east and the coastline on its west. Pattaya occupies an area of 208.1 sq. km. that is divided into 53.44 sq. kilometers of land and 154.66 sq. kilometers of islands and sea. Its coastline is 15 kilometers long.
Pattaya has a plain on the coast with some high mountains to the south. The area on the east slopes down towards the sea on the west.
Administration
Pattaya City has been administered under a special autonomous system since 1978. It has a status comparable to that of a municipality and is administered separately by the mayor of Pattaya City, who is responsible for making policies, organizing public services, and supervising all employees of Pattaya City Administration.

Pattaya Nightlife

Pattaya's nightlife activities normally continue until dawn to appeal to the individuals' tastes and moods. Almost all fantasies can be fulfilled especially after sunset. The extension of Beach road in South Pattaya turns into a promenade after dark transformed into one of the hottest nightspots. Hunting ground beaming with neon lights and music, where fellow holiday-makers youths and aged alike, find an endless array of dining, shopping and entertainment venues. There are a few famous discotheques in Pattaya. A disco is not just a dance floor, but more of hi-tech extravaganza filled with flashing lights, trendy music, and fun-loving crowds. South Pattaya is the jewel in its crown outshining the area with an incredible array of things to see and do. Visitors can enjoy Thai boxing or some glaring erotic shows, a wide array of fascinating shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, discotheques and other pleasurable establishments, side-by-side with all kinds of shopping. The only required skill for the visitors is to know how to manage the timing in order to experience all the wonders during the night.

Girls, shows, bar games....and competing stereos all combine to raise the blood pressure...in one huge party zone from Soi 13 to Soi 16 in South Pattaya. Closed to traffic during the evening the area becomes the famous Walking Street, where go-go's, discos, massage parlours and dozens of bar-beers compete with each other for your immediate attention. Stroll here for maximum exposure along the main street and adjoining small sois. Central Pattaya - from Soi 7/8 to the Beach road is slightly less hectic but still packed with masses of bar beers, restaurants and bars. While in in North Pattaya (Sois 2 - 6 along Pattaya 2nd Road) it's full-on total mayhem with over 50+ bars and go-gos vying to satisfy everyone's favourite fantasy with names like Classroom A Go-Go (ponytails, white socks, short gymslips) Lipstick A Go-Go (tequila shots, Jacuzzi room) and Tahitian Queen (thigh boots, good 'ol rock & roll).

Pattaya City Never Sleeping

One of the many video's of dancing girls in Pattaya City where the party never stops. You have to be there to believe it.

Introduction

 First time travellers guide to Pattaya City 

Pattaya City is an internationally well-known seaside resort, Pattaya is also a vibrant city by night and by day. Pattaya offers a colourful potpourri of mixed nationalities from near and far. Pattaya has a vast range of tourism-related activities. Pleasures of Pattaya range from relaxing on the beach, to sea-based sports, to visiting the scores of local attractions in and around Pattaya / Chonburi.

The half-moon-shaped Pattaya Beach is 4 kilometres long with a road running parallel to the beachfront. From middle-section to the southern end of Pattaya Beach are many restaurants, bars, department stores, souvenir stores, as well as other places of entertainment. Khao Pattaya (Khao Phra Bat) is a small hill to the south of Pattaya Beach. The view point on the hilltop offers a panoramic view of Pattaya City and Pattaya Bay.