Pattaya Travel Guide - Top 10 Recommendations

With its large expatriate community and diverse attractions, Pattaya has gained a reputation as one of Thailand's leading international communities. Its other reputation as Bangkok's playground and the capital of the sex industry, it attracts a very specific sort of tourist. No matter what your reasons for visiting, you'll find an exhausting list of attractions, theme parks and entertainment to keep you busy while you're here. In Pattaya gay travellers are also welcome and made to feel comfortable. Thailand is very tolerant of gay activities, Pattaya is no exception.

Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm

The Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm is a great place to take in some of the indigenous plant and animal life of Thailand. More than 1,000 crocodiles are kept and bred on the grounds and there are some elephants and rare albino bears. Elephant shows are held every day, as is the crocodile roundup. The grounds also have some beautiful landscaping, most outstanding of which is the bonsai garden. The park can be reached via a 15-minute drive from Pattaya city centre.

Ripley's Believe It or Not

This one-of-a-kind museum is located on the third floor of the Royal Garden Plaza building in Pattaya. The facility contains over 300 unusual exhibits exploring the whole gamut of weird and unexplained phenomena. Some of the more popular attractions include the Infinity Maze, an immersive, walk-through sound and light show that tests the limits of perception; and the Haunted Adventure, a resurrection of an old real-life mystery set at the Grimsby and Streaper Casket Company and brought to life with live actors, special effects and animatronics. Despite its emphasis on the odd, Ripley's is Pattaya's most outstanding museum and a definite must-see.

Sriracha Tiger Zoo

North of the city of Pattaya, the Sriracha Tiger Zoo can be found off Route 3241 via a 30-minute drive from the city centre. The subjects of this facility can be found in a variety of circumstances including in their natural surroundings as well as more interactive settings. Visitors will have the opportunity to bottle-feed young cubs as well as have their picture taken with them. The zoo is home to several other species including crocodiles, elephants and scorpions. Some of the more outlandish shows include elephants playing basketball and a woman wrestling a crocodile.

Mini Siam

One of Pattaya's most well-known sites for tourists is Mini Siam, a 1:25 scale replication of some of Thailand's most popular sites from across the country. There are 80 buildings in the park representing periods throughout Thailand's history. Don Muang Airport is on-site, as is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok and the Temple of Phimai in Nakorn Ratchisima. The best time to visit is after dark, when the exhibits are illuminated and take on a new life.

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden

Anyone who wishes to visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden can catch a shuttle bus that departs from in front of the Nipa Lodge Hotel in downtown Pattaya. This park covers more than 600 acres and hosts a broad spectrum of exhibits dedicated to Thai culture and history. The grounds include a cactus garden, an orchid nursery and a lake with canoes that can be hired. The arts and culture centre hosts daily exhibitions of Thai dance, Muay Thai (Thai boxing) and elephant shows. There's also a zoo on-site and accommodation for overnight stays.

 Wat Yansangwararam

Pattaya is not as well known for its temples and ancient architecture as Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Even so, the Yansangwararam is a temple worth checking out while in the area. It's located a few miles south of Pattaya and was built in 1988 to commemorate the 42nd year of King Bhumibol's reign. On-site is a lake with Chinese pavilions and a building that houses several art exhibits and antiques of Chinese origin. The temple itself sits at the apex of a flight of 299 stairs hemmed in by snakes.

Pattaya Elephant Village

Visitors who want to get an up close look at the iconic Thai elephant can do so at the Pattaya Elephant Village. These animals have served the country in a variety of roles over the centuries, spanning war times and more recently, teak harvesting. The elephants in the village are protected and perform daily educational and entertaining feats showcasing their forestry and football skills. Visitors can also ride the elephants into the forest and listen to English language explanations of this beast's history in Thailand.

Pattaya Beach

While it may be saturated with visitors and a little polluted, Pattaya's beachfront property continues to be its greatest draw. Visitors come to enjoy the beach in any number of ways, whether it's a walk on the tree-lined promenade; a relaxed seafood dish eaten on an outdoor veranda or simply a laid-back afternoon spent on a deckchair. Charter boats head out to some of the nearby islands where further exploration and snorkelling is available. There's not too much actual swimming in the water, though it's bustling with jet-skis, banana boats and motor boats.

Amusement parks

The constant flux of tourists through Pattaya has given way to a variety of amusement parks. Pattaya Water Park is a huge facility with water slides, Jacuzzis, whirlpools and a children's wading pool. Staggering towers at the Pattaya Park Resort and Amusement Park are capped by revolving restaurants with impressive views of the city and sea. The Funny Land Amusement Park has all sorts of carnival and theme-park style rides including a roller coaster and a pendulum Viking ship. Asia's largest aquarium is also located in Pattaya--Underwater World, with an impressive walking tunnel allowing visitors to walk in among the aquatic life.

Nightlife and gay activities

Anyone visiting Pattaya will at some point be confronted with the city's notoriety as a part of the sex industry. While it's true that sex tourism is in full force in the go-go bars along Walking street, it's easy to find more family-oriented locations across town where you can get a bite to eat or relax in the evening. There are a couple of Irish pubs, an English pub and a blues bar where tourists can enjoy a relaxed evening without the risqué atmosphere. On the whole, the nightlife in Pattaya spans all interests and there's something for everyone to enjoy. Pattaya is also a popular gay destination. Gay Pattaya is centred on Boyztown and is very welcoming. Gay travellers feel very comfortable in Pattaya and have plenty of options for fun.

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Pattaya Nightlife - Hedonism, Dreams and Illusions

Pattaya is Thailand's biggest beach destination. Located just two hours from Bangkok, this city by the Gulf of Thailand continues to attract thousands every month from all over the world. What's not to like? Beach, sun and sand. Great entertainment, great food and great nightlife. It's the latter that is the biggest draw for both hopeful foreign men and Thai girls alike.

Pattaya's nightlife is like no other. The city has been referred to as Sin City, but dig a little deeper, and you will find Pattaya has a lot more to offer than outdoor bars and gogo's.

It's always going to be about sex, love and lust though. Pattaya girls are rightly famous around the world for their ability to make men feel like kings, strong, young, desired.

I have travelled much of the world, but there is nowhere like Pattaya. The number of attractive - and single - women in one location is just mind blowing. Walk down a street at night in Pattaya - any random street - and you will know what I mean.

Pattaya is a place of opportunity, of fresh starts in life. You never know what may happen when you leave your room here. Go outside smile at a girl, make small talk, and take it from there. It may come to nothing or it may end up in nights with the best sex you ever had. You may have met your future wife, but you don't know it yet. Whatever you are looking for in Pattaya, there is a good chance you will find it.

Pattaya can seem like an adult playground. Both the guys and the girls seem most interested in the pursuit of instant pleasure and gratification, but there are many who have other dreams in Pattaya. Many foreign men would like to meet a girlfriend or wife and so do many Thai women. The girls dream of their Prince to carry them away to far away countries, or at least a trip in Thailand! I've seen many happy couples over the years who met in Pattaya. I've also seen many bad relationships.

It's easy to live an illusion here and new guys seem most susceptible to getting involved with the wrong kind of girl.

If you would like to know more about Pattaya girls, where to meet them, how to attract them, how to manage a relationship with a Thai gir, then you're very wellcome to check out my ebook 'Pattaya Girls 101', written by men who lived in Pattaya and know the score. You can find it here at my website: http://pattayagirls101.com. See you soon!

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Guest Friendly Hotels in Pattaya

Pattaya is a city with multiple personalities. For some it is a place to learn about Thai culture, for many it is a shopping paradise, for families it offers a host of activities that everyone can enjoy and for a millions of single men, it's a nightclub centre and a place to meet some of Thailand's most beautiful women.

You can meet Thai girls at bars, go-go bars, at the beach or just about anywhere in this friendly town. The question that guys often ask is where do I find a guest friendly hotel. If I want to invite my new friend back to my hotel, does the hotel welcome an extra guest, is it "girl friendly" or will I be charged a "joiner fee"?

5 Star Hotels

While many people think of Pattaya as Asia's most vibrant nightlife centre, this is just one part of the tourist activities in Pattaya. Judging by hotel bookings, the lion's share of hotel revenue is from older couples and families. Hotels target their business at one or more of these tourist groups, so you'll find that the 5 star hotels and family oriented hotels like the larger resort hotels are generally not guest friendly. There's one notable exception, Pattaya's top rated hotel, the Rabbit Resort on Dongtan beach offers hospitality to all visitors, including their friends.

Walking Street Hotels

If you're looking for a guest friendly hotel you'll find that virtually all of the hotels, guesthouses and apartments close to the night life areas are guest friendly. In the Walking Street area you'll find a good choice of popular and highly rated hotels.

On Soi Diamond, the street with more than a dozen go-go bars, there's Diamond Beach Hotel, Galaxy Suites and Green View Serviced Apartments. Just nearby on Soi 14, there's the Grand Hotel, with 80 rooms in a choice of styles, and Jasmine Hotel with 62 rooms, recently refurnished and a new indoor swimming pool, one of the highest rated Pattaya hotels on Trip Advisor. On Walking Street itself, there's the Walking Street Guesthouse just above Sweethearts Go-Go and P.72 Hotel, with the street level bar that opens onto Walking Street. A great place to sit and watch the activities on Walking Street before going out for the evening.

Soi Buakhao Area Hotels

The Soi Buakhao area is another popular nightclub area. Here you'll find an interesting mix of guest friendly hotels and guesthouses for visitors and apartments for Thais who work in the nightclubs and bars.

On Soi Buakhao itself, you'll find Katesiree House, Laguna Buakhao House with Thai style furniture, Target Regency Guesthouse, and Rabbi's Elephant Guesthouse which is also a meeting place for the Pattaya Golf Society.

Just off Soi Buakhao on Soi LK Metro mingled with the go-go bars, coyote bars and beer bars you find a bunch of guest-friendly hotels and guesthouses. If you like to hang out with aliens you'll love Armageddon Guesthouse and Bar, and there's Irish Rovers Guesthouse and Kilkenny Hotel with an Irish flavour. Close by you'll find the popular Stags Head Guesthouse, and in the corner of the street, there's Pasadena Lodge with a choice of 20 beautifully furnished rooms, in 4 different room styles.

Just across the road there's Soi Chaiyapoon, famous for Crazy Daves café that serves breakfast 24 hours/day and Neeroys late night restaurant that offers fish 'n chips and English style curries. Guest friendly guesthouses don't get much friendlier than Canterbury Tales Café that has a bookstore and restaurant on the ground floor. Just further down the street, near the popular Maggie May's bar there's Chaiyapoon Inn & Restaurant.

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Pattaya Girls - Hot Nights in Sin City

Going to Pattaya? Is it time for your next trip or have you considered making it your place of retiring? In any case, you are probably interested in the Pattaya girls! Oh yes! The famous women of Pattaya. Single, sensual and looking for you! Silky smooth dark hair, hot petite body and amazing fun personalities, you're not the only if the Pattaya girls have made you interested!

Pattaya is probably the place on earth with the most available, attractive women in on location. I'm not kidding! Pattaya is the place in Thailand with the most attractive young Thai women. And there's no signs that is going to change as every day new girls arrive in Pattaya ready to party. They are from all places in Thailand, but many are from Isaan, the north east of Thailand. They work menial jobs in their village or slave in the rice fields and they want something better and more fun. Then when they see one of their friends, who has gone to Pattaya before, return to the village, they see things have changed for her. Married to a Western man, that she met in Pattaya, her status is now 10 times what it used to be in the village. Now the other girls in the village want to go to Pattaya. They are jealous and want a Western boyfriend as well!

Pattaya girls are great fun to be with. It's not just nights of hot passion. It's more than that. It's the way a Thai girl can make you feel desired, strong, wanted. If you are not a young stud anymore, maybe you had all but given up on this, but hold on: You are not too old for a little fun yet! Age isn't a barrier in Pattaya. Sure, age matters everywhere, but in Pattaya, things are different! There is plenty of girls who'd like to show you that in Pattaya!

Where do you meet these girls of Pattaya? How do you make the most of your time?

Pattaya Girls is the ultimate guide to Pattaya. It's only $20 and is available for immediate download as an ebook. If you are going to Pattaya, you should really check it out!

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Amazing Show at the Pattaya Crocodile Farm

No visit to Pattaya would be complete without a visit to the well known Crocodile Farm and Million Year Stone Park.  It's close proximity to the main hotel district of Pattaya makes it an easy and convenient day trip for most visitors. 

It is located on 70 plus acres of land, a short 10 minute baht bus ride away from your place of stay.  It was founded 30 years ago by a local Thai businessman who was a true connoisseur of natural beauty and animals. 

The park is his personal collection of nature's beautiful wonders.  He brought things such as 200 year old Thai trained trees as well as million year old fossilized trees and beautiful rock structures.  The gardens are well manicured and have many rare and amazing items for visitors to look at.

Along side the Million Year Stone Park is the Crocodile Farm.  A few other tourist attractions have a similar exhibit, however this is one of the best of it's kind.  It boasts the largest collection of salt water crocodiles in Thailand. 

At the crocodile farm, you can enjoy the performers take on the crocs in a mesmerizing show of courage and strength.  Guests can also watch and feed the animals from the safety of a wooden bridge above the pen.

The park is also home to an exotic animal zoo.  It has a wide collection of strange and rare animals, including albino bears, tigers, giant catfish, and camels.  It is a wild gathering of strange and beautiful animals.

There are plenty of opportunities to eat, drink, and shop for souvenirs on the grounds as well.  And for those visitors who wish to be driven around the park, they can hop on a tram and see the sights.

The Pattaya Crocodile Farm and Million Year Stone Park is a great activity close to your hotel or resort.  Other venues such as the Sriacha Tiger Farm offer a similar daytime distraction, but the proximity of the Crocodile farm makes it the best choice.  Give it a try next time you are looking for things to do in Pattaya.

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Pattaya Girls - Confused About What You Hear?

Thailand is a magical place, great climate, beaches and a unique culture that isn't found anywhere else. Then there are the girls of course. Many Western men find themselves attracted, almost enchanted, by the ladies of Thailand once they go on their first vacation to Thailand. Many of these men go to Pattaya, the seaside resort known for its wild nightlife. The girls of Pattaya are both famous and notorious. On one hand, they are known for their beauty, easy going fun attitude and smiles, but on the other hand some think they are only after the money. What's the truth?

Let me give you a bit of a background on Pattaya if you haven't been or is considering retiring there. Pattaya is a seaside resort about 2 hours from Bangkok. It's a modern town with all the amenities anyone could ever want. The beach is decent as well, but the real draw for most Western men are the Pattaya girls. Once setting foot in Pattaya for the first time, it's easy to think someone suddenly transported you into another dimension. Pattaya has to be, and I'm not kidding, the one place in the world with the most attractive women per square feet. It's simply astounding. You can't walk ten feet without turning your head after a young beautiful girl. She's also likely to send you a shy, but friendly smile.

The girls of Pattaya come from all over the world, but most are from a part of Thailand called Isaan. The girls mostly work at their parents farms, which is very hard work, or they work menial, low paying and boring jobs. It's easy to understand why these girls dream of something more exciting and stable. No one wants to spend their youth slaving in the fields sunrise to sunset. So some of them go to Pattaya looking for excitement, work, parties and money. Many end up working in the famous beer bars, where they entertain customers, but many also work in the tourism and hospitality industry. A lot of these girls would like to date a Western man. They are intrigued by the freedom, the financial stability and adventure that a relationship to a Western man implies.

It's wrong and too easy to say that all Pattaya girls are there for the money or that all men who visit are just looking for some good times but nothing more.

It's not always a good idea to look for love in a bar. Not back home and not in Thailand. There's no need for it in Pattaya either. If you can a gentleman, polite and kind, then you can meet women everywhere in Pattaya.

You just need to know where to go and what to say, then another world will open beyond the beer bars. Pattaya Girls is the best book on the subject. It has everything you could possibly want to know about Pattaya, written by a long time resident.

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