Jomtien Beach

Jomtien Beach stretching out towards the city of Pattaya

Jomtien Beach is a 6.5km long sandy beach located about 150km to the southeast of Bangkok, reachable by a two-hour drive from the capital. What’s that? Yes, you are very perceptive! This is roughly the same description Tiger and Bird gave for Pattaya Beach! And for good reason- the beaches are located within several kilometers of each other but might as well be worlds apart.

The local Thai people find Jomtien to be far more attractive than the more-famous (infamous?) Pattaya beach. The beach is sandy and stretches of the adjacent road have large trees that throw some shade across the parking areas. In many areas, the much-loved and very-affordable umbrella and lounge chair cities spring up. Food vendors proffer coffee, drinks, snacks, and food by the main road, but without the aggressiveness of the touts one would typically find lining Pattaya beach.

Pattaya Resorts: Where to Stay!

[Top]   [Family Friendly]   [Peaceful/Romantic]   [Pattaya Beach]

Dusk settles at the Centara Grand Mirage in Pattaya

Tiger and Bird typically do not recommend places to stay while visiting various regions of Thailand, since there are often many good options available to choose from. A friend of ours, however, informed us that Pattaya has too many hotels and asked us for a few recommendations- and hence this post came to be!

Let’s suppose for a minute that you’re not one of those tourists who always likes to stick to one brand of hotel while traipsing off on overseas adventures. We have friends who will always swear by Hilton and travel from one Hilton hotel to another the world around. These folks would probably want to stay at the Hilton Pattaya Hotel. But what about the rest of us, those like Tiger and Bird who enjoy new experiences while on vacation? Then, the city of Pattaya becomes a confusing mess of hotel and hostel offerings from the greater region, some of which may or may not be close to Pattaya beach.

Tiger and Bird have selected nine five-star resorts, located around Pattaya beach, to be featured and recommended to you here. These resorts are sorted into the categories of “Family Friendly”, “Peaceful / Romantic”, and “Pattaya Beach”, one of which hopefully corresponds to the type of vacation that you plan to enjoy while visiting Pattaya.

A Day Trip to Koh Larn

Sang Wan Beach on Koh Larn Island, Thailand

Koh Larn is a beautiful tropical island with clear waters and white sand beaches. Here, you can lounge around in the sun or under the shade of an umbrella while sipping your coconut smoothie or mai thai. Feeling tired? Dig your toes into the warm sand and take a leisurely nap! This is the dream of most tourists who want to visit a tropical island. And these same tourists when exploring Thailand will usually visit Bangkok and Pattaya. And did we mention that Koh Larn is located a short ferry trip away from Pattaya?

Koh Larn is a small 5.6 square kilometer (2.2 square mile) island located thirty minutes from Pattaya beach by ferry. The island has about eight main beaches readily accessible to the public, with the most beautiful beaches facing the open ocean on the Western shore. Shops, restaurants, and various Thailand-style resorts can be found in the main town and beside most popular beaches. The main town faces the mainland and has built up around Na Baan Pier. One of the largest and most beautiful beaches is on the western face of the island at Tawaen pier. Hordes of tourists can be found exploring the more popular beaches like Tawaen as part of larger tour groups at all times of the year. However, by taking a songtaew (in this case, a converted green pickup that acts as an informal taxi), access to the more secluded areas is readily available (as mentioned in our Pattaya post).

But enough of these dry details! Let's dive right in.

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Our story begins when...

Pattaya Beach: Daytime Activities

[Top]   [Outdoor Adventures]   [Indoor Activities]

Pattaya Beach shoreline in the morning light

Pattaya has long reveled in its reputation as a beachside party town, attracting those individuals seeking dusk-till-dawn parties, go-go bars and general redlight district activity. Indeed, when Tiger first arrived in Thailand in 2011, many Thai people encouraged him to NOT visit Pattaya, and instead go for a more local area: "check out Huahin. Or, if you must head towards Pattaya, visit Chonburi or Jomtien instead!"

Perhaps Pattaya's infamy is well-deserved. Perhaps it is not. A tourist's experience in a place is really up to the choices said tourist makes - what to visit, where to eat, what activities to try - and these days, visitor demographics are changing (China is on the rise!), with many families also choosing Pattaya as a vacation destination. On top of this, the city has been trying to improve its image to attract "higher quality" tourists. For now, the effort appears to be slowly paying off.

Today we'll look at what activities are available around Pattaya beach during daylight hours! But first, some history and general information.

Thailand: Pattaya, Jomtien, and Private Beaches

Royal Cliff Hotel and Resorts in Pattaya, Thailand

My trip to Pattaya was peaceful, relaxing, quiet, and undisturbed.... the Thai word that sums these feelings up would be "sabai, sabai." Roughly equivalent to the "Lion King's" Swahili phrase "hakuna matata." I was able to spend the day at the beach along the ocean, and at night go for a relaxing swim in one of many pools. The general mood? Tranquil. The food? Exquisite. The atmosphere? Wonderful (can't beat dining literally at ocean's edge!!!). I love giving this description of my vacation, because people familiar with the area typically stare at me in confusion and bewilderment.