Pattaya (Photo by anaktaro)
Pattaya is a vibrant city located to the southeast of Bangkok, directly on the Gulf of Thailand. It is a popular spot for those that want to party and experience the wild nightlife that Thailand can provide, although it acts as a great base for seeing the beautiful surrounding area as well. Additionally, it is in the perfect spot for diving, as the Gulf of Thailand is awash with huge amounts of different sea creatures.
Although there is a small airport in Pattaya, it is not served very well by internal flights and there are no cheap flights to Pattaya from international destinations. This means that the best way to get to the city is from Bangkok and the trip can be made either in a taxi or by bus. Of these two options, the bus is usually far cheaper, as well as being air conditioned and more comfortable. Getting there from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is easier than from the city, so visitors might want to head straight for Pattaya instead of venturing into Bangkok itself.
It is also possible to get to Pattaya from some other locations in Thailand. Koh Samui and Phuket are the only destinations that offer a reasonable flight service to U-Taphao – an airport about 30km from Pattaya. These flights can be pricey though, meaning that Pattaya is usually best visited directly from Bangkok. There is also one daily flight from Siem Riep in Cambodia – the location of Angkor Wat – that lands at U-Taphao.
