History

   In  fact  only  40  years  ago  Pattaya  as  we  know  it  today,  didn't  even  exist.   On  the stretch of coast between Sriracha and Sattahip,  there  were  only  a small number of fishing villages and in Pattaya bay itself, there were just a few fishing families who had settled  here  because  of  the  calm waters and the safety of the bay, protected headlands to the North and South and by mountains behind.  Their  nearest  neighbors lived just around the headland to the north, where, in the old days salt used to be produced (Naa-Klua = salt fields)  but  where  there  were  now  mainly  fishing  families.  People  traveled  about by foot or by bullock carts because, except of the main road from Bangkok to Sattahip, only a few dirt roads and tracks existed.

  Location

  Nevertheless, the bay and nearby islands provided good, safe fishing and more and more families came here to settle down, Gradually a village developed. At first was know as Tupphraya the general name for the area which dated back to the time when Pharaya Taksin (Duke Taksin) camped near here with the followers he had gathered to help free Thailand from the Burmese (Tupphraya - the Pharaya' - army)

   The pace of life was slow and it seemed as  if  Pattaya  would  remain  an out-of-the-way  place  forever.   Even up  to  30  years ago  there were  only  a few  buses serving the  100  or   more  families  who  lived  here and visitors from elsewhere were few and far between. But things were destined to change and as usual, it was a war (the Vietnam War) which changed them. The U.S.A. sent soldiers to build the air base at U Tapao and many of these took to spending their leisure time and money in Pattaya.

   The  beaches  were  clean  in  those  days  and  the  sea  breezes  made it pleasant and cool. People in the surrounding  areas were quick to spot the business opportunities and bars guesthouses begun to spring up. The fisher - folk  probably resented this intrusion, but it provided a good market for their catches and they soon got on the  bandwagon  by offering fishing trips to Koh Larn for about 50 Baht per head. Gradually, visitors from Bangkok also begun to use the resort at weekends, although the trip was a tiring 3 to 4 hours on the two-lane road.
           Later  the  US  Military  based  in  Thailand  begun  to  use Pattaya for rest and recreation (R&R) and bigger hotels and entertainment places (including the oldest profession of them all) were built to cater for them. Thus the' 60s  and'  70s  saw  the  most  rapid  change and development. In 1964 in view of its new importance, Pattata was raised  to  the  status  of  a  village  and in 1979, elevated to that of a Teasban Nakhon (Municipality), responsible now for its own administration.

     Today  Pattaya  is  Thailand's  premier  beach  resort and attracts annually more  than  a  million  tourists  from  all  over  the  world.    Pattaya  provides  high standard  hotels,  restaurants, sports, entertainment and shopping facilities. The resort  is  Thailand's  most  important  diving  center and the east coast is also a paradise for golfers.

Departure from the Bangkok's Don Muang Airport to Pattaya daily (by direct expressway) at 09:00, 12:00, and 19:00. Duration +/- 2.5 hrs. Reservation: Thai limousine service, Thai Airways, arrival lounge, Bangkok Airport (Don Muang).
Fare : 280 baht.
Tel. 02- 535-2801, 02-535-2803. (Bangkok)
Tel. 038-423140-1(Pattaya)
(individual taxis are available for the same journey and cost from ?1500 to 2000 baht, one way)
 

By air-conditioned bus (Duration 2 1/2 hrs.)
    Depart form the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) to the Pattaya Bus Station on North Pattaya Rd. daily at 05.00 hrs. and every 30 minutes until 22.00 hes. One way fare: 66 baht. Reservation: Rung Ruang Tour Tel. 02-390-1230

    Depart from the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) to the Pattaya Bus Station on North Pattaya Rd. daily at 05.00 hrs. and every 30 minutes until 19.00 hrs. One way fare: 67 Baht (from Pattaya to Airport 150 Baht) Reservation : Rung Rung Tour Tel. 02-271-2962

    Depart from the Bangkok Airport to Pattaya at 09.00, 12.00 and 19.00 hrs. One way fare: 180 Baht Reservation: Thai Airways, arrival lounge, Bangkok Airport Tel. 02-535-2801, 535-2803 Pattaya Tel. 038-423-140

    Departure from any hotel in Bangkok to Pattaya daily at 09.00, 11.30, 14.30 hrs. One way fare is 200 baht. Reservation: bell Travel Tel: 02-747-4675-6

By non air-conditioned bus
    Departure from the Eastern Bus Ternimal, Tel. 02-391-2504, Daily at 05.00 hrs. and every 30 minutes until 21.00 hrs. One way fare: 37 baht.

  Few  visitors  to Pattaya are aware that the city does have a railway station. It is north of  Sukhumvit Rd close to the Siam Country Club. One train a day leaves Bangkok Railway Station (Hualamphong) at 7am and  takes  5 hours to works its way down to Pattaya. For more details call (66-2) 223-7010, 223-7020.

The vast majority of tourists going to Patttaya are unaware that the resort does have U-Tapo Airport at Sattahip. Currently the only scheduled flights are operated by Bangkok Airways to and from Koh Samui.