Situated less than two hours drive from Bangkok, it’s the favoured playground for the city slickers and apart from it’s ideal setting around a sweeping bay, the city offers plenty of entertainment, fine dining and excellent accommodation options. Cutting straight to the chase, Pattaya is a favourite destination for single men, largely due to the numerous girlie bars and similar services that have made the city infamous. Ever since GIs where shipped here for R&R during the Vietnam war, Pattaya has been characterised by the ‘sex scene’ and for this reason many tourists to Thailand prefer to stay away. Pattaya has one of the largest ex-pat communities in Thailand - partly due to the proliferation of foreign businesses on this part of the industrial Eastern Seaboard, in addition to being popular with package tours from Russia. There is also a strong gay scene in Pattaya. If you came for a less strenuous holiday you may wish to visit the museums, botanical gardens, the elephant show, the walk-through seaquarium, or take the family to one of the many, diverse theme parks. These are only a sampling of the many activities available for tourists. Nightlife and dining are centred round the main districts of Pattaya: Central Pattaya, North Pattaya, South Pattaya, and Jomtien Beach. South Pattaya is the most hectic area, with throngs of people gathering in the pedestrianised Walking Street by evening. Jomtien provides a quieter alternative, and has a good selection of bars and restaurants, though the brasher and louder side of nightlife in Pattaya is beginning to encroach on this once quaint suburb too. Further out to the North in Naklua, the atmosphere is much more laid back, with old wooden houses and narrow paths, traditional noodle shops and working fishing boats. It can be a pleasant break from the relentless action of downtown Pattaya. Many visitors also choose to take a short course in one of Thailand’s ancient arts: Muay Thai, Thai massage or Thai cooking. Pattaya has great facilities, and there are a number of world class courses available in the area. Many also plan their trip to co0incide with one of Thailand’s main festivals, such as Songkran in April. The Thai New Year, with its idiosyncratic tradition of water splashing can be great fun, for those of a certain temperament. While the Pattaya festival, held at the same time of year, offers a range of shows and events to entertain and divert. The most popular time to visit is during the dry, warm season that stretches from November to February. Temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C, and humidity is a relatively pleasant 50 per cent. However hotel prices also increase during this period, as do the number of tourists in the region, so if you’re trying to avoid the crowds, it might be better to schedule your holiday for an off-peak month. With Bangkok International Airport just over two hours away by bus or taxi, the resort is easily accessible to international travellers. While those already in Thailand can use Thailand’s efficient bus service to reach the resort from Bangkok, and many other major cities. A train service also travels from Bangkok to Pattaya once daily, facilitating passengers who’d rather travel by rail. | 
