Jomtien beach road
Jomtien is immediately south of Pattaya and, practically speaking, they form one municipality. Jomtien, like Pattaya, is popular with tourists, but has a significant population of permanent expats and some workers, making for a more sedate bar and nightlife scene.
As with most Thai place and street names written using Latin characters, Jomtien is spelled in a number of ways with road signs usually reading Chom Tien or Chom Thian while shops and businesses use Jomtien.
Visitors from Bangkok by bus will arrive at the main Pattaya bus terminal on North Pattaya Rd. Taxis can take you directly to your hotel or other destinations. From the bus terminal songthaews (aka “baht buses”, converted pick up trucks with two longitudinal benches in the back) depart once full and will drop travellers throughout Pattaya and Jomtien for between 5 and 20 baht depending on the distance travelled. If taking a baht bus it’s advisable to know roughly where your intended stop is, as passengers have to push the buzzer to signal the driver to stop.
Pattaya/Jomtien Beach from/to Suvarnabhumi Airport: Governmental bus Tel. +66 86 3242391 134 baht to Pattaya: 07:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00, and 22:00. Even more frequency depending on numbers. The bus departs directly from the airport at Level 1 between door 7-8 and makes stops along Sukhumvit Rd at Pattaya Nua (north), Pattaya Klang (middle), Pattaya Tai (south), its bus station at Thapphraya Rd/corner at lower end of Theprasit Rd and the bus station at Chaiyapreuk Rd.
Departing from the Jomtien bus station (Tel. +66 32 42389) at Thapphraya Rd/corner Theprasit Rd to the airport at 07:00, 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, 20:00, and 21:00. It is also possible to board the bus 20 minutes prior to its departing time at the bus station at Chaiyapreuk Rd. No other stops are made.
If you have very little or no luggage (and don’t mind risking your life) motorcycle taxis are plentiful and should cost between 20-100 baht to any destination within Pattaya or Jomtien.
Beaches
- Dongtan Beach runs to the right of the police box at the very end of Thappraya Rd. While this area is frequented by mostly straight families, it also boasts perhaps the largest concentration of LGBT community beach-goers in SE Asia. A 265 m section of this beach, from Tui’s Place to Rabbit Resort is greater-Pattaya’s only gay beach. The beach is divided into sections, each run by a separate vendor. Here you can relax and share your experiences with fellow gay travellers from around the world or with local expats, get a foot massage (about 300 baht for an hour), purchase all manner of DVDs and other paraphernalia from roving vendors, people watch, eat, drink, read, relax. If you are coming with your family, you may be asked by your children to explain these overt displays of homosexual behaviour, which can be difficult without appearing homophobic.
- Jomtien Beach is some 6 km long and is especially popular with Thai families enjoying day outings. Beach chairs are 30 baht/day, and there are countless places to eat, shop and stay just a few steps away on the opposite side of Jomtien Beach Rd.
Theme parks
- Pattaya Park and Tower (สวนสนุกพัทยาปาร์ค), ☎ +66 38 364-110(-20). Su-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-20:00. Pattaya Park Beach Resort and Tower at Chom Thian features a large whirlpool with giant sliders and a tower with a revolving restaurant. Visitors can also enjoy several games and rides on the tower and in its playground. 200 baht.