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Greater Pattaya City boasts an abundance of clean, sandy beaches. These are ideal places for simply relaxing on a deckchair or swimming through clear blue waters. However each also has its own unique flavour and appeal. Some like Jomtien Beach are perfect for watersports, while others like Naklua and Wong Amat are serenely quiet, perfect for those seeking solitude.
And then there's Pattaya Beach. Buzzing and vibrant, this incredibly famous and enduringly popular stretch is a whole different story: a cosmopolitan seafront in which it's possible to enjoy all of the above, plus pretty much every modern convenience and luxury known to man. World-class shopping, restaurants, clubs, bars and hotels in addition to sun, sand and sea - Pattaya truly has it all |
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| Pattaya Beach |
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Pattaya Beach offers superb hotels, value-for-money shopping malls and market stalls, a huge variety of restaurants, endless sports and leisure activities, and, of course, the bars and discos that have earned it its reputation.
In terms of activity, the northern end is typically more sedate, while the central and southern parts are a little funkier and livelier, day or night. The southern part ? the hub of Pattaya's nightlife ? is the densely packed epicentre of all things brash, noisy and risqu?Beach Road is lined with sand and sea to one side, and bars, restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops to the other. Inland, parallel Second Road is full of noodle bars, crowded beer bars, souvenir shops, hotels and guest houses.
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Over the past few years this area has undergone a major clean-up, with the water here now the clearest it's been in years. From here boats take visitors to offshore islands or on fishing or diving excursions, and a host of watersports are offered. The beautification process has been just as zealous onshore. While still the stage for a lot of wild nightlife, improving infrastructure, great transport facilities and a crackdown on crime have done wonders for the city?s atmosphere.
One of the best ways to enjoy Pattaya is to get comfortable in a beach chair under the shade of an umbrella (all for hire), and wait for the food vendors to come around with freshly steamed shrimp or crispy, deep-fried crabs. |
Even better, spoil yourself with a traditional Thai massage ? right there on the beach. But then, the beauty of Pattaya is that it can be whatever you want it to be. |
| Jomtien Beach |
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Jomtien Beach is a long, straight 6km stretch of sandy coastline featuring new hotels, resorts, condominiums, shops and restaurants. It?s much more peaceful and laidback than Pattaya Beach.
With its straight beach and few moored boats, Jomtien is a popular place for water sport enthusiasts, with jetskiing, paragliding, wind surfing and more activities available. And there are offbeat sights and activities to enjoy too: the Pattaya Park Tower with revolving restaurant and panoramic views, paintball and the glitzy cultural show Alangkarn.
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Jomtien is at its busiest and most built-up where Thap Phraya Road (a winding road linking South Pattaya with Jomtien) greets the northern end of the beach. Budget guesthouses, luxury hotels and condominiums loom above low-rise restaurants, cafés, beer bars and shops, all of which flank the inland side of Beach Road. Many thin 'sois'(lanes) run off it, the places for eating and entertainment along these catering mostly to guests in nearby hotels. The further south you go, the less hotels, tourists and commerce there is. The southern stretch of beach known as Jomtien-Sattahip Beach and, with its upmarket marina and many beachfront resorts, feels remote but is easily accessible from Sukhumvit Road. |
Getting to and from Jomtien is very easy, making it ideal for a day-time excursion: A 'songthaew'(local taxi) costing 20 baht takes only 10-15 minutes from South Pattaya. |
| Wong Prachan Beach |
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This 1 km stretch of beach on the northern side of Pattaya Bay is a quiet, serene beach that is ideal for swimming and relaxation. There are no shops or vendors, so remember to take a picnic basket along. Although it is somewhat difficult to find - unless you are staying in one of the fine high-rise hotels or condominiums in the area - it's worth the effort for the exclusivity and peacefulness.
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| Koh Larn (Coral Island) |
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Covering an area of about four square kilometers and known for its beautiful white sandy beaches like Ta Waen, clear water and an abundance of coral, Koh Larn is less then 8 km west of Pattaya Beach - a trip which takes about 45 minutes by ferry or 20 minutes by speedboat. For visitors who are not diving enthusiasts, glass-bottom boats are available to view the coral. Ta Waen Beach is possibly the most popular beach on Koh Larn, and there are also a few stalls with food and souvenirs. Another good place to view coral is Nual Beach on the southern part of the island. Laemtien Beach and Samae Beach is on the southwestern side; two tranquil and serene beaches that will delight sun worshippers. |
| Koh Pai Group of Islands |
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Comprising of Khoh Pai (the largest), Koh Manvichai, Koh Leom and Koh Klung Badan, this group of tiny islands are about 13 km from Pattaya, and takes two hours to reach by boat. Presently under the supervision of the Royal Thai Navy, the islands make the perfect getaway for a day of swimming, snorkeling to view the coral, fishing and chilled-out moments under waving palm trees.
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