pattaya is the largest beach resort in South East Asia.  It's skyline is dominated by modern sky scrappers and with more than 200 hotels and 35,000 rooms it offers an excellent choice for a holiday at a reasonable price. There are perhaps 300 restaurants and more than a thousand bar-beers and A-go-go joints in this resort city, attracting more than a million tourists yearly.

Located on the Gulf of Thailand, the resort city of Pattaya was developed in 1968 and has evolved into a major tourist destination. Pattaya attracts more visitors than anywhere else in Thailand, save Bangkok. Those who haven't been there in the last 20 years will hardly recognize this 5-miles / 8-km long beach. Though some of the newer properties are stunning, we think construction has gotten out of hand -- too many new hotels and apartments line the shore now. Because of sewage runoff, the main beach along the strip is periodically unsuitable for swimming, but outlying beach areas are still okay for swimming and other water sports. What is euphemistically called bachelor nightlife -- and more graphically acknowledged as sex tourism -- is the main attraction for some visitors. We recommend avoiding the place -- there are many other beach areas that are much nicer than Pattaya.

If you do decide to go there, take the glass-bottomed boat to see the coral off the nearby island of Ko Laan (Coral Island), Ko Lin and Ko Pai (both islands are about an hour's boat ride away) also offer good diving. Jomtien Beach, 4 mi/6 km away, is excellent, although it, too, has experienced some growing pains (too many condominiums for our taste). Mini Siam, on Pattaya's outskirts, has more than 100 miniatures of Thailand's major sights, and a nice excursion can be made to the Nong Nooch Orchid Wonderland, a 500-acre / 200-hectare private garden full of beautiful orchids and rare palm trees. Cultural shows are also staged there. Transportation to Pattaya is by public bus and train only (hydrofoil service has been suspended) 100 miles / 160 km south of Bangkok.