Pattaya City, Thailand

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By bus: Buses (air-conditioned) leave every 30 minutes from Bangkok 's eastern bus terminal in Sukhumvit Road at the junction of Soi Ekamai (Soi 63). The journey to Pattaya takes around three hours. The journey from the bus terminal to the city center continues onboard one of the local taxi-buses which wait at the terminal. Fares are paid at the destinations and the buses are stopped by ringing a bell. The return journey to the bus terminal is, oddly, double the price as the outward trip. For further information regarding buses contact Bangkok eastern bus terminal, tel.(02)3914900, 2504

By train: Trains leave from Bangkok 's Hua Lumphong railway station on an irregular basis. For further information about any of the train services contact Hua Lumphong railway station, Bangkok , tel. .(02) 2237010.

By air: Pattaya is served by U- Tapao International Airport. As yet there is only a rather unorganized skeleton service running between Bangkok and U-Tapao International airport, with only four flights a week. These cannot be termed as scheduled flights as there is no fixed timetable; there are however, plans to increase this service in the future. Duration of flights from domestic airports are 45 min's, leaving passengers to transfer by local taxi-bus for the remaining one hour, 40 km, journey to Pattaya. For updated information and flight prices contact Bangkok Airways: Bangkok office tel. (02) 2293456/ fax (02) 2293450; Samui airport office, tel.(077) 425011-4; email reservation@bangkokair.co.th

By taxi: It is possible to access Pattaya by limousine, the equivalent of a taxi. This is expensive, but it does avoid awkward transfer at either end of the journey.

By road: It is advisable to access Pattaya by bus and rent your transport on arrival. The Sukhumvit Road can be treacherous and unless visitors are familiar with Thai driving it is best avoided. However, cars can be hired through all the major hotels in Bangkok .

For additional information contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand , tel. (038) 427667 / fax (038) 429113.

Where to stay?

There are literally thousands of places to stay in Pattaya catering for all budgets. Below are three which I think are particularly good. The quieter accommodation is to be found around the northern end of the beach but you can choose from a very comprehensive list of accommodation available from the TAT Office in Beach Road . High Five, tel . (038) 427115 /fax (038) 427119. This hotel is very clean and the rooms are spacious, all with private bathroom, h/c water, satellite TV and fridge. The hotel has a good restaurant and coffee shop. There is also a rooftop swimming pool. Flipper Lodge Hotel, tel. (038) 426401/ fax (038) 426403. All room has air-conditioning, fridge and satellite TV. Other facilities include two swimming pools, a good international restaurant, a small selection of shops and an on-site hairdresser. Jomtien Beach . This 4 km (2.5 miles) beach is located 3 km (2 miles) south of Pattaya, it takes ten minutes to access onboard one of the many local taxi buses. During the day the beach offers an enormous selection of water sports including windsurfing. It is easy to imagine this quiet area becoming an extension of the Pattaya scene but for now it provides a somewhat quieter alternative to lively Pattaya City .

Where to eat?

Although the majority of hotels have good restaurants the general trend is to eat out. Local claim that it is possible to eat in a different restaurant every night of the year and still miss some! Lobster Pot, opposite Soi 14, south Pattaya. Located on the old fisherman's wharf, this is possibly the best seafood restaurant in Pattaya, and definitely the most popular. They serve a fine selection of seafood dishes as well as steaks and local food, all at reasonable prices.

Dive Facilities

Dive trips

Dive trips are run on a daily and the occasional overnight basis. A number of operators rent converted fishing boats for use as diving vessels. Trips tend to vary greatly in price and in the services provided and therefore cannot be generalized, as they can in other areas around the Gulf of Thailand .

Dive Courses

PADI and NAUI recreational and IANTD diving courses are run in the Pattaya area. All carry world-wide recognition and are perfectly acceptable. NAUI courses generally last slightly longer. Prices vary greatly between agencies and individual operators. Courses are available in English, French, German, Swedish and Thai.

Dive Operators

Pattaya Dive Centre: Tipp Plaza , Pattaya Beach Road , Pattaya,Chonburi 20260; tel/fax (038) 710918; email info@pattayadivecentre.com PADI 5-star dive centre. Daily dive trips are scheduled to both the Pattaya islands and Samae San islands and ship wrecks on 4 purpose-fitted 18m (60ft) boats, complete with oxygen, first aid and communications. The boat has a shaded area, sun deck and fresh water shower. Dive trips include transfer to and from dive shop, a meal and drinking water, tea and coffee. Mares distributor and service centre.

Film Processing

Print and digital film can be developed virtually anywhere in the area.

Hospitals and Compression Chambers

There are three main hospitals that serve Pattaya city:

Pattaya Memorial Hospital , tel (038) 422741-2/429422-4

Pattaya International Hospital , tel (038) 428374/428375/422774/fax (038) 422773

Bangkok Pattaya Hospital , 301 Moo 6 Sukhumvit Road , KM. 143 Muang Pattaya, Chonburi, 20150; tel/fax (038) 427777; email: inquiry@bph.co.th ; www.bangkokpattayahospital.com

The nearest recompression chamber is part of the Badalveda Diving Medicine Network and is located in the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital , email: vedainfo@badalveda.com ; www.badalveda.com . Sattahip Naval Base, Sattahip – direct line to chamber tel (038) 437171, Operator tel (038) 438457 ext. 0684549.

Tourist Police: Tel (038) 429371, Pattaya Police Station tel (038) 428223, 428967; Pattaya Sea Rescue tel (038) 423752

Local Highlights

Pattaya is notorious for its nightlife but there is wide a variety of entertainment, suitable for the entire family, which are often overlooked. There are a number of good excursions in the area aimed at the tourist.

Every Wednesday there is an interesting scheduled tour of the eastern seaboard which visit Buddhist Temples, Thai silk factories, an orchid farm, Ang Sila stone masonry, a cave of giant bats and a village that still maintains the ancient art of brick carving. Khao Khiao Open Zoo in Chonburi is reputed to be one of the largest open zoos in South East Asia , covering 1,200 acres of forest. At Elephant Village , exhibitions show the role of elephants in everyday working life, with examples of round-ups, training and feeding.

The Institute of Marine Science,

Burapha University is located on the road that leads to Bangsaen Villa Resort Hotel. There are three separate departments: a museum, an aquarium and science laboratories. The main feature is the impressive aquarium which has over 45 indoor display tanks with over 150 species.

Pattaya is famed for its shops and there are plenty of them. Popular bargains include cheap swim-wear, leather goods, gemstones, inexpensive silk suits, copies of western designer clothes, video and audio cassettes. On the whole shops will take credit cards but the majority will employ a surcharge for their use. There is the usual range of high street banks. The following provide a currency exchange service: Bangkok Bank tel (038) 422801; Krung Thai tel (038) 429275-6; Siam Commercial tel (038) 428700; Thai Farmer tel (038) 422335-6.

Just about every sports activity is available in the city with tennis courts, golf courses, game fishing tours, go-kart tracks, horse riding stables, shooting ranges and a bungee jump. Indoor facilities include darts, ten pin bowling alleys, badminton courts, table tennis and snooker tables. There is also a large selection of health clubs and gyms.

All of Pattaya's highlights and facilities are listed, along with several other informative articles, in a number of regular tourist periodicals which can be picked up literally anywhere in the city. The noticeable ones are Explore Pattaya and the east coast, what's on Pattaya, Guide to the east and the Pattaya pocket guide. Pattaya also has its own radio station broadcasting in English on 107.5 FM, which announces forthcoming attractions, special events and new services.

Car and Motorbike Rental

At the many cars rental agencies in Pattaya an international driving licence will be required and in some cases the agency will ask for a passport as deposit. Pre-rental vehicle checks should be undertaken as hirers will be charged for any damage that was not present when the vehicle was taken. Two of the better agencies are Pattaya Vehicle Rental Service, tel (038)425700 and Prapat, tel (038) 429854. Most visitors rent motorbikes, of which there is an enormous selection.