Leisure Activities In Pattaya Thailand

Besides beaches, shopping centers and night-life, Pattaya also offers a great number of interesting sports and other activities for foreigner, especially those who plan to have a long stay in Pattaya. Here are some of interesting activities.

Water sports such as parasailing, sailing, snorkeling, diving, and swimming.

For parasailing, the boats will pick you up from the Bali Hi Pier and take you out to the pontoons where instruction to novices and experts alike will be given. This pursuit cannot be undertaken on windy days, and safety is a key factor.

Sailing in Pattaya is very popular, where various national and international regattas take place. Many sailors sail over to Koh Lan or one of the smaller islands for the day and return in the afternoon.

Snorkeling is the activity which is popular Diving is a very popular pursuit on the Eastern seaboard and Pattaya has several specialist companies with instructors and supervisors. There are many dive sites around Pattaya, the profusion of coral and fish, a sea temperature of around 28 degrees and cheap prices, this is a favorite venue for many international divers.

Swimming in the sea is very popular with both Thais and Europeans. Don't be surprised if the Thais go in the sea with their clothed. They are not used to showing in public, and it's warm enough to dry off very quickly when they get out.

Go-karting at the Pattaya Kart Speedway

One of the tracks is 800 meters long, nicely design with water waiting for the clumsy. Moreover there are a few types of karts to choose from and all of them are very good and well maintained.

Golfing courses in Pattaya

Playing Golf in Pattaya can totally spoil you for returning home. You can play golf at a different course every day of a two week holiday and you still won't play all the international standard courses within an hour drive of Pattaya.

Many of Pattaya's courses are Country Clubs and designed by Nicklaus, Faldo, Thompson, Wolderidge, Dye and Trent Jones.

Gyms, spas, and massage

Pattaya has a tropical climate is therefore ideal for the pursuit of outdoor activities. However, for an indoor healthy lifestyle, Pattaya is also among the best. The vast number of 5 star health massage organizations, beauty parlous, spa and fitness centers mean that Pattaya really is the place to improve you overall and look

Other activities in Pattaya

The Pattaya Bridge Club for the more leisurely.

Wandering along Walking Street and its many beer bars, girlie bars, music venues, cabarets, and restaurants.

Day trips to the Tiger Zoo, alligator and elephant farms, sapphire mines, orchid gardens, and culture villages at Mini Siam and Nong Nooch Village; countless other places of interest in the Pattaya area.

Latest Hollywood movies a the Big C and Royal Garden shopping centers; or purchase DVDs at bargain prices from street vendors.

If you're creative, build a studio to write, paint, or invent things or join a writers group and write about your travels.

Attend an international convention at one of the big hotels.

Numerous places of religious worship: temples, churches, and mosques.

by KengIsm

Thailand Vacation Series - Pattaya Attractions

Chon Buri The Nearest Seaside Retreat

Chonburi, Bangkok's nearest seaside town, is located on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, only 80 kilometers from Bangkok. The area boasts abundant natural resources, which are highlighted by delightful beaches, local colors, traditions, delicacies and fresh seafood. This is a popular resort among Bangkokians who seek the nearest escape from hectic weekly schedules as Chon Buri has something for everyone. In addition, Chon Buri is the center of the Eastern Seaboard Development Project, with its industrial parks and fishing villages.

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.

You can check all accommodations including prices, transportation, activities, etc. here, Pattaya Hotels.

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.

You can check all accommodations including prices, transportation, activities, etc. here, Pattaya Hotels.

For more information about Thailand tourism, see http://thailand-vacation-info.blogspot.com.

by Kai

Retiring In Pattaya Thailand

Pattaya, in Chonburi province of Thailand, is about 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. It is probably the most well-known destination in Thailand for foreigner alike. The Pattaya city and its three beaches - Pattaya, Jomtien, and Naklua - grew rapidly during and after the Vietnam War, when the Americans built a naval base and American GIs invaded the town for "Rest and Recreation"

Today Pattaya boasts dozens of Five-star hotels, luxurious resorts, and a vibrant nightlife with hundreds of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.

Pattaya has a large foreigner's community, with Americans and Brits topping the list. There's a sizeable population of assorted Europeans and Australians, as well. Two foreigners' Clubs organize a host of activities for the foreigners. There's a various of activities going on in the Pattaya city every day. There are two daily English-language newspapers-The Pattaya mail and Pattaya Today-and one free bi-weekly magazine which is called EXPAT.

Pattaya is a prime tourist destination for the pleasure-lover, and lies along the gulf of Thailand 150 km southeast of Bangkok. U-tapao airport is nearby. A taxi to bangkok is Bt 1,200 - 1,500. Buses and trains are much cheaper and service is virtually continual.

But a reasonable drive down the coast brings the visitor back into contact with Thailand. Sattaheep, Chantaburi and Trat are much more traditional.

Here are the comparison between benefit and drawback of retiring in Pattaya.

Benefit of Retiring in Pattaya, Thailand

1. Pattaya has foreigners' clubs that meet every Sunday. They provide an extensive support network. Each club has a host of special interest groups. One of them provides cheaper health insurance for foreigners.

2. Easy access to Bangkok and all its attractions.

3. Three beaches offer a host of water sports for the active resident.

4. The city is one of the most entertainment capitals of Thailand, with hundreds of beer bars and A-go-go bars that are open to the small hours.

5. A heaven for gay residents for foreigners and gay-lovers.

6. Amazing array of restaurants, especially for sea-food and international cuisine; five-star hotels for comfortable dining and night-life entertainment.

7. Some of the best sailing and yachting in the country; also a big-game fisherman's paradise.

8. Well over 20 golf courses in the nearly area.

9. Lots of clubs to join: five Rotary Clubs, a Lions Club, a Sportsman's club and two prominent yacht clubs.

10. Many business centers to take care of financial and property needs.

Drawback of Retiring in Pattaya, Thailand

1. Up to a million tourists during the November to March. There are a lots of people around here. 2. Overcrowding of beaches during the tourist seasons. 3. Inflated prices for foreigners. 4. Pattaya residents usually get mistaken for tourists until the locals get to know you better and see you frequently. 5. Rush-hour traffic can be as suck as other metropolis, especially during holidays and festivals. 6. Although improvement of environment, the beaches are still polluted with garbage all the times. 7. Booming tourism has caused much environmental degradation of the area. 8. High rate of Crimes. 9. Pattaya continues to have the image of being a city of sin and sex.

by Thanom Ketem