Pattaya is located around 150km to the south of the capital Bangkok in the province of Chonburi. The city is perhaps best known for being the party capital of Thailand with its famed nightlife and perhaps rather sordid reputation. However, the city has so much more to offer – and this applies to both expats and tourists.

Although Pattaya is located on the coast, it is not really renowned for the quality of beaches although there are some excellent beaches in the Pratamnak and Jomtien areas as well as slightly further to the south. The island of Koh Larn is around a 40 minute ferry crossing from Bali Hai pier where there are some superb beaches to be found and far cleaner waters.

Pattaya is a sportsperson paradise with over twenty championship standard golf courses within an hour’s drive of the city. There are also a variety of water sports available including paddle boarding and windsurfing as well a number of scuba diving schools. Diving is popular in area thanks to the warm, year round water temperatures, an abundance of marine life and several wrecks.

There are a number of places of interest such as Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens situated slightly to the south of Pattaya, the Sanctuary of Truth in Naklua, a number of shows including Tiffany’s and Colosseum as well as a wide selection of shopping options ranging from local and seafood markets to large shopping centres stocking designer goods. A number of food options from all around the world are available throughout the city catering for everyone’s taste and budget.

If you are a tourist in Pattaya the accommodation ranges from cheap guest houses to plush, 5-star hotels with all the luxuries you could imagine. Transportation is also excellent in the form of baht buses that follow specific routes or can be hired separately, taxis and motorbike taxis. There are also several reputable car rental firms operating in the city.