Pattaya is Thailand's oldest international beach resort. It was "discovered" as it were, by American servicemen during the Vietnam war. The US used the nearby U-Tapao air base during the war, so Pattaya was a handy "R & R" location.

With such beginnings, it's hardly surprising that Pattaya quickly gained an image as one of Thailand's seedier beach resorts. However, in recent years the local authorities have made considerable efforts to clean up Pattaya's image, even though that has generally meant adding more family-oriented attractions rather than just getting rid of the seedy bits.

Pattaya's location, just two hours from Bangkok makes it a popular weekend destination for people wanting to escape the big city. This in turn guarantees that there are plenty of hotels in just about every price category.

There aren't many cultural or historic sights in Pattaya. The main attraction is the beach, so don't expect to see much of the "real" Thailand here.

Beaches are scattered around Pattaya. The most popular one is Pattaya Beach, which features plenty of water activities and is nice and central. A promenade lines the crescent shaped beach for several miles, which is ideal for jogging or roller blading. Around a headland to the south, Jomtien Beach is quieter and more peaceful, with a sandy beach and better quality water. There are also several nice private, smaller beaches dotted around the Naklua headland to the north, usually the domain of guests of the exclusive hotels here but open to all. All beaches in Pattaya offer a wide range of water sports and good facilities.

A pristine, secluded island boasting crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. Located only a short ferry ride from the heart of Pattaya, Koh Larn, also known as Coral Island, is popular for snorkelling and diving as well as for its rich flora and fauna. There are many lovely, tranquil beaches on Koh Larn and beach-hopping is a good way to explore the island. Some of the beaches do get busy though and are hardly undeveloped.