Pattaya - city of tourists
If someone labels Pattaya, a city of tourists, it won’t be an understatement. It was just a small village with a few private bungalows for the American officers who like to lay back in the sun in late 1960’s, but now is one of the major cities of Thailand. The self-governing city’s primary attraction are its beaches and nightlife, and the best way to enjoy both is by staying in Pattaya Villas. Pattaya is just over 91 miles away from the capital city, Bangkok and is the nearest major beach resort destination. The city’s foremost source of income is tourism, and as per local news, up to 13 million people visit the city each year.
Jewels of the city
This famous coastal city is split into three key areas, Naklua, Pattaya Beach and Jomtien and you must look for Holiday Villas to rent in Pattaya for a better stay. Although Pattaya’s beaches and nightlife are something people visit the city most for you still cannot miss the elegant Sanctuary of Truth. This all wooden temple, situated in the northern part of the town next to the sea, is definitely a sight to see. For nature lovers, Chaloem Phrakiat Park is the ideal place to head to relax and unwind. Buddha Hill is another big lure for the visitors; it has the biggest Buddha statue in Pattaya at 18 metres tall.
Rent a spectacular villa in Pattaya
Pattaya has a huge selection of holiday villas to rent for all budgets. In fact some of the best value villas can be found in Pattaya and you’ll be surprised that in many cases they are cheaper than a hotel. Any time of year is a good time to visit Pattaya and enjoy all the sights and activities in the region so what better way to make the perfect holiday than to stay in a Pattaya villa. You’ll enjoy privacy with your own swimming pool and all modern comforts while never be too far from the action.
Central Pattaya
Pattaya is split in three main areas that bring diverse activities and venues from one to the other. We have summarized below each part of the city:
There are two roads that serve the Central area of the city, namely the 2nd Road that runs in parallel to the Beach Road along the 3 kilometer stretch of beach.
Central is the busiest of all with lively soi (small streets) swamped with bars and entertainment activities that connect both roads. Tourists will find good value accommodation with most of them being within a walking distance to the beach.
Any one staying in Central does not need any form of transportation as there is a vast choice of restaurants, bars or open-air bars, all sorts of outlets in or outside department stores. In the worse case, a Tuk Tuk or motor taxi would drive you away.
Central Pattaya is easy to navigate; there are three streets running perpendicularly from the beach to the highway: North Road (Pattaya Nua), Central Road (Pattaya Klang) and the South Road (Pattaya Tai). Three streets run parallel to the beach: Pattaya 1 or the Beach Road, Pattaya 2 and Pattaya 3.
The city's main attraction is the promenade at Central Pattaya and the adjacent beach. From there, stunning sunsets over the Gulf of Thailand can be seen. The wide sidewalk is crowded with joggers and tourists; a low wall separates it from the narrow and sandy shore. During the days, banana-boats cater there for riders. Opposite the beach are plenty of shopping centres, coffee shops and restaurants.
A bit north from the junction between Pattaya Two Road and Pattaya South Road is the Royal Plaza Garden, the best mall in Pattaya. The building occupies all the way from road one to two and it hosts the Marriott hotel. Its third and last floor is dedicated mainly to Ripley's Believe It or Not and to a humble food plaza. The two floors below it have many shops; in the backside, facing Road Two, there is a branch of the excellent Au Bon Pain. On the second floor, close to the front side there is a branch of Asia Books - selling books in English - next to the Black Canyon Coffee. At the beach side there is a branch of the World of Coffee with a decent view of the sea. At the waterfront there are branches of Chicken Treat, Burger King, Hagen Dazs, McDonald's, and KFC.
Central Pattaya villas
Many Pattaya villas are located on or around the promenade. The promenade ends as it reaches the small hill at the southern tip of the small bay. From there, beyond a small marina, starts the Walking Street of Pattaya, that hosts many night-clubs, restaurants and Pattaya serviced apartments.
There are hourly buses to Pattaya from Ekamai (the Eastern Terminal) and Mo Chit (the Northern one) in Bangkok; the trip longs around two hours. Be careful not to take the buses leading to Jomtien since they collect passengers along the way and stop in every town along the way - you can use better the extra two hours of the way.