THEGUIDE
pattaya
124
FAHTHAI
1 _
DON'T MISS
The tail end of the
high season means
Pattaya is still busy, but
accommodation and
restaurant tables are
more accessible. The
weather is noticeably
hotter as the city and the
rest of the country head
towards the “madness”
of the Songkran festival.
Pattaya is among the last
in the country to officially
celebrate Songkran, on
19 April each year, but the
water throwing begins a
week to 10 days before.
2 _
KNOW THE
NUMBER
1,155 – the number of
members of Pattaya’s
tourist police force. In
recent years it has greatly
improved its ability to
properly assist tourists
who find themselves in
difficulty.
3 _
OUT OF THIS
WORLD
Opened late last year,
Planet Earth is an attempt
to bring Ibiza-style daytime
dance parties centred
around a large pool and
jacuzzis to Pattaya. A mix
of younger locals, expats
and tourists make up the
crowd, with professional
DJs providing the mixes.
(planetearth.in.th)
COUNTRY
CODE
+66
EXCHANGE
RATE
THB30 = US$1
FREQUENCY
1 flight per day
from Phuket, 1
flight per day
from Samui
SRI RACHA
Tiger Zoo is
one of several
conservation
parks in Pattaya
F A N G - T A S T I C
Top 3
insider
travel tips
Rest Your Head
LE PRIVÉ
As the French name suggests,
Le Privé is private and intimate,
consisting of just six villas
clustered around a pool. It’s
close enough to allow quick
access to the nightlife in either
Pattaya central or towards
Jomtien. The resort only offers
breakfast, but there are plenty
of good eateries nearby.
(le-prive-pattaya.com)
THE HAVEN
More guesthouse than luxury
hotel, The Haven is the perfect
place for golfers, singles and
those who want to partake of
the nightlife and the nearby
shopping. There’s good, filling
food at reasonable prices, a pool
and just 22 rooms.
(Soi 13, Btwn Beach and
Second Rds, South Pattaya)
Top Tables
RUFFINO
In business since last year,
Ruffino is the signature eatery
of the highly regarded Centara
Grand Hotel and is the first top-
drawer “branded” restaurant to
set up shop in Pattaya. Ruffino
brings a history stretching back
to 1877 to the table, and this
expertise shows in the quality of
the food and the décor.
(ruffinopattaya.com)
Bottoms Up
MOOD BLUES CAFÉ
This newcomer to the bar scene
offers live music seven nights a
week, with bands playing – you
guessed it – the blues. The
surrounding area is becoming a
more upmarket entertainment
district, designed to attract
those looking for a change from
the bustle of Walking Street.
(Soi 6, Pratamnak Hill)
Stop to Shop
CHIC REPUBLIC
Newly opened, this Bangkok-
owned home décor store
specialises in high-end and
unusual furniture, lighting and
home accessories. You can also
book an interior designer to
assist with styling your home.
(chicrepublicthai.com)
Pattaya
TEXT: DUNCAN STEARN; IMAGE: CORBIS
