Pattaya Thailand Hotels, Beach Resorts, Nightlife, Tours & Travel Guide Pattaya Thailand

Bikes
Motor bikes, a mix of road and track versions, are the most popular for exploring the immediate region. But be warned you should have a driving licence, wear a crash hat and have proper insurance, plenty of it in the medical category. Check the bike before renting for malfunctions, poor brakes, scratches and damage.

Cheats abound in this business category. If you think you are the victim of cheating contact the Tourist Police immediately. Beach road vendors rent by the day, week or month. Daily rates range from Bt 150 to 600 depending on the size of the bike which vary from 100 cc to 1100 cc monsters. Rental of top models of the 1100 cc category might go as high as Bt700 a day.

Bowling
There are two bowling alleys in the Pattaya with international standard where regularly championships are held.

Pattaya Bowl is located on Pattaya 2 Road in North Pattaya (opposite the Palladium) while PS Bowl is on the third floor of the PS Plaza at the corner of the Central Pattaya traffic light between Central Pattaya Road and Pattaya 2 Road. Both alleys have a sufficient car park, air-conditioning, snack bar and coffee shop, serving Thai and international dishes. Operating hours for both are from 1000 until 0200 with rates per game averaging Bt5O-7O, during weekends Bt60-80.

Game Fishing
Pattaya's Game Fishing Club has over 30 members. Bi-weekly trips are scheduled for groups of four to six. Club membership is Bt250 plus Bt250 initial registration. Entitlements include reduced rates on fishing trips. Contact : Martin Henniker at Cafe Kronborg on Soi Diana Inn. Dieter Floeth at Deutsches Haus on Beach Road offers full-day deepsea fishing expeditions with a maximum of 25 persons, Bt 1,000 per angler and Bt800 for non-angler. Boat charter for the day is Bt9,000 for up to 10 persons and Bt800 per additional person.

Horse Riding
The Horseshoe Point Resort & Country Club offers several kinds of riding, including dressage, trail riding, jumping, polo and pony club riding for children. Located on a ranch spread of 1,500 acres with trails, paddocks and beautiful tropical gardens, the owners have turned a passion for horses into a full-fledged riding academy.

Recognised as Thailand's largest riding academy, it has a team of professional international instructors and trail guides. Trail riding for all levels of riders is scheduled daily from 0800-0930 and in the afternoons from 1300-1700. Located off the Siam Country Club Road at Km 12, visitors from Bangkok, turn left from Sukhumvit highway before getting to Central Pattaya traffic lights.

Jogging
The cool run is the early morning one along Beach Rd, and back under the shade of the trees. Plus the tall hotels block the morning sunlight too. Distance: North point to south, 3km. A standard 12-km run follows Beach Road South, turns left on to South Pattaya Rd and left again on to the highway. Take a left on to Central Pattaya Rd and turn right at traffic lights on to Pattaya Sai 11 Rd to the Dusit Resort junction.

Then down the hill to Beach Rd to complete the circuit. Runs to Jomtien or round the South Pattaya hill from the main bay area are good for training. Pattaya Hash House Harriers meet at 1600 every Monday at Nyhavn Rest at 24 Soi 13, Moo 10. Runners transfer to an out-of-town starting line by minibus. Sunset: drinking and hymn session at close of the 45-min cross country run.

Outdoor riding stable Pattaya
Located at Km 11 on Highway 36, on the way to Rayong 3 km before and opposite the Microcircuit Pataya riding club offers horse back riding facilities on forests and highlands, with 16 horses which mostly originate from Australia.

Pattaya Bungee Jump
Pattaya Bungee Jump is one of the most exciting activities available - and at 56 metres it is the highest bungee jump in Thailand. The Pattaya Bungee Jump is now nine years old and during that time many hundreds of jumpers have experienced the adrenaline rush only a bungee jump can provide.

In addition to the traditional bungee jump there is also a catapult, which will rocket you 56 metres into the air. To ensure your safety, all staff are fully trained and under the direction of an experienced jump master. All equipment is regularly maintained and equals that of bungee jumps^in New Zealand. Open every tfk/ from 0900 to 1800.

Pattaya Park Tower, Water Park & Funny Land
The best views of Pattaya can be had from the observation decks of the Pattaya Park Tower. There are three ways to travel sky shuttle, speed shuttle and tower jump depending on the level of adventure and challenge and you want to experience. You can slide from the 170 metres high tower down the cable or descend via the sky shuttle to the beach below. All are free when you buy an observation ticket. For families try the water slides and relax in the whirlpool at the resort's famous beachside Water Park.

Scuba Diving
There are more than 10 scuba diving shops in Pattaya that offer PADI or NAUI certified courses. Noted for quality instruction are: Seafari, Dave's Divers, The Professionals and Mermaid's Dive Centre.

For beginners the centres offer complimentary pool sessions. This is an easy introduction to scuba at your hotel swimming pool. The instruc-tore explains how to use the breathing apparatus and takes you for a short dive in the pool. Call the scuba diving companies advertised in this issue. Or see Telguide for telephone numbers for more details.

The cost of the basic resort course starts at around Bt2,000 p/p offering one day's tuition in the pool and at an offshore island dive site with full instruction. Price includes boat
transfers toand from Coral Island, all the seafood lunch you can eat, onsoft drink, an hour and a half diving instruction in the pool by a qualified and insured instructor, two coral dives with instructor, all equipment, medical supplies, introductory diving course certificate and diving log book recognised worldwide. Prices vary depending what services are included. But as a thumb rule scuba diving is not a cheap sport and higher prices usually mean better quality equipment and instruction.

Time off to tee off
Pattaya have 18 golf courses, all very close, for a full- or half-day round of golf. You will find courses designed by some of the most famous names like Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Pete Dye, Trent Jones Jr, Thomson and Wolveridge.

These international standard golf courses with 18 and 27 holes are relatively cheap in comparison with other international standard golf courses in Thailand. Pattaya is probably the best place for golf in the world today. A package tour with the "Golf-Bus" starts at Bt900 for an afternoon round at the Phoenix Golf and Country Club. Morning tours to any golf course start at 0800 and 1100. The price rank from Bt 1,700 to 2,100 for weekdays and Bt 1,900 to 2,500 for weekends. All tours include transfer from hotel to golf course, transportation in air-conditioned mini-bus, green fee and caddie fee.

Windsurfing
October through June are the best months for professionals. Beginners have a better opportunity to get started when the winds are light during the morning. There are about 20 surf schools, mostly on Jomtien Beach with Surf House International being one of the most popular. Winds vary throughout the year from 5 km in the morning with stiffer sea breezes in the late afternoon. International tourneys are held in early December the Siam World Cup with national races is usually held in mid-April. The Pattaya Wind-surfing Club on Jomtien Beach specialises in funboard surfing.

Running
Pattaya Hash House Harriers - This local chapter of a worldwide fun running and beer swilling club, sets off at 1600 every Monday from The Hare House, Soi Post Office for its weekly run. The official bar also has a Hash happy hour from 1800 to 1900 daily. Ask for Wayne Tishburn. Hog's Breath Saloon is home for the Siam knights who meet at 1700 every other Thursday and Friday at the Harley Bar.

Shooting
Tiffany's on Pattaya II Rd. N. Pty. has an airconditioned shooting range with 19 fully equipped galleries. Open: 0900 to 2200 daily. Wide selection of hand guns and field rifles of varying calibre - .22, .38, .45, and 9mm. Demonstration room and instructors. Rates: Bt200 range fee. Single bullet price: .22, Bt6; .38, Bt15; .45, Bt20; 9mm, Bt20. Target: BtlO.

Tennis
Most of the major hotels in Pattaya have tennis courts. Although the facility is opened to everyone, guests are given preference on court bookings. Tennis coaches are in residence at courts most of these hotels. Instruction fees range from Btl 00 to Bt 150 per hour. Court rentals vary with each hotel, but in most cases play is free for guests. See our Hotel Checklist in this section for court locations. Hotels add a Btl00 hourly surcharge to cover lighting for night time use of court.

Sailing
Most popular is the Laser, a single-handed fibreglass dinghy. Rental: Bt300 perhour. Hobie Cats and Prindles also at beach locations renting for Bt500-Bt600 per hour. Main rental locations are: Wong Amat, N. Pty, near Ocean View Hotel, main bay; Surf House, Jomtien Beach; close to Cobra Cabana, N. Jomtien; Taco Windsurf Club.

Badminton
Pattaya Badminton Courts on Soi 17 are open 1400-2400 daily. There are four courts, 1 km from Pattaya II Road. Hourly rates: Bt60 per hour, racquet rentals Bt20, shuttlecocks Bt25. Contact is Payung. Members fee Bt500 month.

Paintball
Paintball is a game of skills, strategy and daring played outdoors in a woodland setting at Paintball Park located inside Pattaya Kart Speedway on Thepprasit Road.

Motor racing
Bira International Circuit (Pattaya), Km 14 on Highway 36 (see eastern coast map) is home to the the motor car and bike community. Races are held at weekends. Minibuses do the return trip for Bt200 to Bt300. The 2.4 km track, with spectator stands, features events for motorcycles, production cars; pickups and Formula 3 racing cars.
Admission: Bt80, Bt 1OO, Bt 220 or Bt 150 for regular race events. Surcharge on international events. Membership offers discounts.

Snooker
Pattaya Bowl N. Pry has 9 professional snooker tables on its third floor. Computerized scoring. Professional equipment, air-conditioned hall.

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