Pattaya
is 147 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, and faces
the Gulf of Thailand. Pattaya is Asia's premier beach
resort, and caters with equal appeal to Pattaya's
relaxing tropical ambience is synonymous with every
ingredient for memorable holidays.
Theme and amusement parks, offbeat museums and lush
botanical gardens offer numerous forms of leisure
activities and cultural entertainment for all family
members. And after dark, Pattaya offers all the allure
and magic of a truly vibrant nightlife with a spectacular
variety of restaurants, night clubs, bars, discotheques,
cocktail lounges and carbarets. Pattaya can be brash,
bold, beautiful and bucolic, and offers everything
an authentic international beach resort can.
Today, Pattaya is one of Thailand’s premier beach
resorts and annually attracts thousands of pleasure-seeking
tourists from all over the world. Despite the wide
range of excellent facilities for tourists with legitimate
interests, Pattaya in particular has, like Thailand
in general, an image problem, caused by the so-called
sex industry.
Reports
in the international media have long overemphasized
the sex-related negative sides of the city and these
reports, fueled by the local media haven’t helped
the situation. Prostitution is practiced and perverts
coming to Pattaya has made sensational international
coverage, enticing people to come with the sole purpose
of bedding pre-teenagers of either sex.
True, there has been a problem, but things are improving
here as well as other known ‘sex trade’ areas in Thailand.
It is regularly raided by both the Thai and international
police. The future for Pattaya is looking bright being
encouraged and although the industry still exists,
and already there are major changes to the area. Wholesome,
family entertainment is on.

Not that Pattaya lacks in attractions. It has good
beaches, though the actual Pattaya beach is not the
cleanest anymore, others are pristine and the water
crystal clear. Beach related activities are extensive
and you are sure to find something to suit you.
Pattaya is located within easy reach from the Bangkok
as well as Don Muang International Airport. It has
an excellent accommodation infrastructure, which are
of international standard and restaurants and entertainment
for all tastes. Because of its good accessibility
from Bangkok, Pattaya remains one of Thailand’s most
important and popular dive centers.