Pattaya from A to Z

Few people anywhere enjoy dealing with the authorities, and Thailand is no different. If you have to deal with an office as a tourist, keep the following in mind:
• Bring plenty of time and patience.
• Never lose your temper: a smile and a polite request for help are all you need.
• Please dress neatly!

Pattaya has four beaches: Pattaya Beach (along Beach Road, not far from our guesthouse), Wongamat Beach (in the north), Dongtan Beach (in the south) and Jomtien Beach (also in the south).

The climate is tropical. It is coolest between November and February, with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees and about 50 percent humidity. The hot season runs from February to May, and the rainy season starts in June. At first it rains only at night, later during the day as well, but usually in heavy showers that last no more than a few hours.

The currency is the Thai baht. International credit cards are also accepted.

Please note that Buddha statues may not be taken out of the country. Also remember that copies and fakes of well-known brands (sunglasses, bags, watches, fashion etc.) are protected by copyright worldwide and may be confiscated by customs when you enter Europe.

Pattaya has many department stores and shopping centres, often called “plazas”. They are all air-conditioned and spacious.

Best Supermarket: On Pattaya North Road at the corner of Naklua Road, right at the Dolphin roundabout. A big selection, especially of bread, sausages, wine and spirits.

Big C and Big C Extra: Like Lotus's, everything you can think of under one roof. You will find Big C on South Pattaya Road, near Sukhumvit Road, and on Central Road (formerly Carrefour).

Central Pattaya: A huge, beautiful shopping mall on Beach Road, now the number one in Pattaya.

Foodland: Plenty of European food, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (Central Road, corner of Soi 4).

Friendship: On South Pattaya Road, one of the most popular supermarkets among expats, with a large range of imported food.

Lotus's: On North Pattaya Road, on the left as you leave town. Here too you will find everything, from food to flat-screen TVs.

Mike Shopping Mall: Between Beach Road and Second Road, right next to Royal Garden Plaza. Many fake brands are sold here, which is a little risky.

Royal Garden Plaza: The best-known shopping centre in Pattaya, between Beach Road and Second Road (next to Soi Post Office and Soi Pattaya Land), with many brand stores (no fakes).

Tuk Com (Com City): A large store for electronics, computers and software on South Pattaya Road (across from Soi Buakhao).

Visa and entry rules for Thailand change often. Please check the current rules with the Royal Thai Embassy or consulate in your country, or at thaievisa.go.th, before you travel.

In 1943 a law was passed requiring every child to go to primary school for at least four years; this was later extended to six years.

Almost like at home: 220 volts at 50 Hz. Power fluctuations and cuts do happen, but are usually fixed within a few hours.

Thai food is one of Thailand's great achievements. Thai cuisine is known all over the world and deserves its reputation. There is hardly another holiday destination where you can eat so well for so little, and the success of Thai restaurants in Europe speaks for itself. In Pattaya's many restaurants you will find Thai as well as European specialities.

Gambling is forbidden in Thailand. But it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than to stop Thais from gambling: along with eating and drinking, it is one of their great passions. Only the national lottery is legal.

For Thais, the wrapping matters (almost) more than what is inside, and gift wrapping has become a real art.

The traditional greeting in Thailand is the wai: the hands are held together, palms touching, higher or lower depending on the other person's social standing, with a deeper or shallower bow. If a Thai looks at you without smiling, you can be sure they do not like you. Remember: a smile costs nothing and creates a good atmosphere!

If you lose your passport, you need a police report of the loss. The easiest place to get one is the tourist police; then contact your embassy (see Important numbers).

Dialling codes from Thailand (001, then the country code):
UK: 00144
Australia: 00161
USA: 0011

If you want to make calls on your own or be reachable, the easiest way is a prepaid SIM card, available from 200 baht in any phone shop.

It is best to have nothing to do with the police. If it cannot be avoided (after an accident, for example), ask for the Tourist Police: they have English-speaking officers and are there to take down the all-important report.
When the reputation of tourism and the safety of tourists are at stake, the police are extremely efficient. Two police stations with more than 200 uniformed and plain-clothes officers look after safety in Pattaya. eng.pattayatouristpolice.com

The Kingdom of Thailand is about 9,000 km from Europe and covers about 514,000 km². It stretches about 2,000 km from north to south. In 1990 Thailand had just under 55 million inhabitants; today there are about 65 million. About 80 percent of them are officially registered in rural areas, yet an estimated 10 million people live and work in greater Bangkok alone.

The name Thailand (Prathet Thai) means “land of the free”, and rightly so: unlike its neighbours, it has never been colonised. All over the country you will find patriotism and national pride, magnificent buildings, beautiful exotic landscapes and smiling people.

Pattaya is known as a shopping paradise, and the huge choice keeps prices low (see Street markets and Department stores).

If you want to do more than lie on the beach, see the sights and enjoy Thai food, there are plenty of ways to keep fit in Pattaya: gyms, bowling, bungee jumping, go-karting, golf, jogging, horse riding, shooting, sailing, windsurfing, diving, water-skiing, tennis or simply walking. Just ask us, we are happy to help.

Beach Road: The inland side of Beach Road is one long shopping street, full of bits and pieces and odds and ends.
Chaimongkon Market: Another street market, this one geared to local people, on South Pattaya Road.
Photisan Market: On Soi Photisan (Naklua Road, Soi 23), coming from Naklua Road, there is a big market on your right that leaves nothing to be desired!
Naklua Market: If the market on Soi Photisan is too small for you, or if you love seafood, you will find everything a size larger at Naklua Market (also known as Banglamung Market, near the Dolphin roundabout).

Thailand is five hours ahead of Central Europe in summer and six hours in winter.

Tipping is not really customary in Thailand, but in the tourist centres it has become usual. For the room cleaner about 50 to 100 baht a week; in restaurants people round the bill up by up to 10 percent if they were happy. How much you give is still up to you.

We recommend taking out travel health insurance, or checking with your health and accident insurer that you are fully covered in Thailand. Pattaya has first-class hospitals (for example Bangkok Hospital Pattaya) with interpreters for several languages, and excellent, inexpensive dental clinics (see Important numbers).

In our guesthouse you can watch foreign channels, including Deutsche Welle. Some German, Austrian and Swiss restaurants also show recordings or live broadcasts of German-language TV programmes.

No vaccinations are required for cities such as Bangkok or Pattaya, but it is a good idea to see your doctor before you travel to Thailand.

Thailand's VAT is 7 percent, and you can claim it back when you leave the country if you spent at least 2,000 baht per shop and can show purchases of more than 5,000 baht in total. VAT refunds are available at all airports with international flights.