Pattaya Beaches and Islands

Greater Pattaya's beaches are alive with activity. Relax on a recliner under an umbrella and the world will soon come to you. If you want a drink, your recliner/umbrella vendor will have a supply of whatever you need at a reasonable price, and if he doesn't have it, will get it for you. A never ending parade of hawkers patrols the strand selling an incredible array of services and merchandise. Services commonly offered include massages, manicures, pedicures, henna tattoos and hair-braiding. Anything portable and likely to be purchased will offered for sale. Sunglasses, lighters, bogus watches, copy CD's, T-shirts, handicrafts and more are yours for the asking. Popular food items include fruit, seafood, BBQ chicken and ice cream. The hawkers can be pests, but most will move on if you simply shake your head.
Climb off your recliner and go to water and another world will open up. You can ride a banana boat, jet-ski, windsurf, water-ski, parasail, or simply swim and splash in the water. The water is an active place so keep your eyes open, particularly if you are swimming. No one likes getting run over by a banana boat and getting hit with a jet-ski can have tragic consequences.Greater Pattaya comprises three main beaches. In the middle is Pattaya Beach; to the south (actually east), past the Buddha Hill promontory, is Jomtien; and to the north (actually west) is Naklua. The people using the beaches usually come from hotels that are within walking of the sand. There are several islands off the coast of Pattaya and a couple of them are popular destinations for those seeking more space and tranquility