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Information about Pattaya

You will find many sites describing what happens in Pattaya and other tourist infomation. So we are going to tell you some of the things the other sites sometimes miss, and to cover the topics that home owners want to know.

HOSPITALS
In the Pattaya area, the 3 main "International Standard" hospitals are the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital on Sukhumvit Highway near North Road, The Pattaya International Hospital, Soi 4 Pattaya Second Road and the Pattaya Memorial Hospital, Junction Pattaya Second Road and Central Road.

DOCTORS and DENTISTS
There are several Doctor's clinics recommended by the ex-pat community. All doctors have to be qualified under Thai law to practice and have passed the Thai examinations. Most speak English and another European languages. The Dentists are excellent, being up to and sometimes better than those in your home country but will often cost you a tenth of treatment costs back home.

SCHOOLS
You have a choice of several International Schools, where pupils are from many countries, but are taught mainly in English. Your children can also go to some of the many local schools, but remember that their first language is Thai, with English taught as a foreign language.
There are universaties in Bangkok who also have an English language programme.

SHOPPING
We all know the usual tourist shopping (watches, Teeshirts, made to measure suits), but what is not usually mentioned that there is excellent commodity shopping for the ex-pats who live here. The town centre supermarkets are Big C, Best Supermarket and Friendship Supermarket, with Foodland near the top of Central Road (Pattaya Klang). The biggest selection is at the Lotus-Tesco Superstores on Sukhumvit Highway and the North Road, clothes, electrical, and a massive Food Hall, where you can eat for 20-40 Baht for a meal.

EATING OUT
The price of eating out is far lower than back home. It is often cheaper to eat out than buy the food and do it yourself. The standard of hygene is surprisingly high, even off street carts, where it is cooked in front of you. As in the rest of the world, the Tourist Trap areas charge more, but try a steel topped table in a large Thai restaurant where the Thais eat, you will not only save money but get a delicious meal at the same time. You can even choose your food and take it home to your microwave. AND it will only cost you pennies !!

TRANSPORT
The normal method of transport in Pattaya is Songthaw (means Two-rows) or better known as Baht Buses. Blue ones around Pattaya, white ones along Sukhumvit Highway and red ones on the other side of the highway. There is a standard fare on most main routes, but off route you have to negoiate a price BEFORE the trip is started (or you will pay much more later!) The other main method of transport is buying/hiring a motorcycle, be it big or small. Please be careful, as the quality of driving is not up to European standards. Most Thais have at least 22 scars from a motorcycle accident. Thinking of renting a car, just ask us for our prices.

CINEMAS
There are 2 multiplexes in Pattaya. There is a 6 screen complex in Pattaya Festival Central, better known locally as "Big C" (due to the supermaket there). This has recently been totally rebuilt and has comfortable reclining seats with plenty of space. The other has 2 screens and is located in Royal Garden Plaza. The films are mainly in English with Thai subtitles. Some of these films are also dubbed in Thai at other showing times. There are also some very good Thai films but NO English Subtitles.
Unfortunately you may encounter the mobile phone freak who insiste in holding a conversation during the show ..TIT, This Is Thailand!

LEISURE ACTIVITIES
There are THREE Ten Pin Bowling alleys, a gun range (pistol and rifle), many, many golf courses and several driving ranges to practice on. Several Discos, where they have live bands with very good singers and backing dancers, such as Hollywood or Star Dice Pub. Entrance is free and the drink prices are reasonable. The Pattaya Park aqua park is fun for the whole family, or try the cable car from the 240m tower. For the very brave, you can slide down the wire in just a harness (Shudder!!)

GETTING AWAY FROM PATTAYA
At the top of North Road is the Aircon Bus Station, with a very frequent service to Bangkok Ekami station, which is on the new Skytrain route. The cost has recently risen however it is still as cheap as chips and remains the simplest way of travelling. The journey takes about 2 hours to do the 120 kilometres. Another service takes you via the new airport to the Northern Bus Station in Bangkok, which is the busiest bus station in the world. Near the top of Central Road, you will find the non-aircon bus station, from which buses leave for most parts of Thailand, usually at night when it is cooler. There is a railway station the other side of the highway, and I gather the fare to Bangkok is only 31 Baht, but few services on the line. The local airport is Utapo, which is near Rayong. It is about 45 minutes away from Pattaya. 
The Thai Air Limosine Service runs a minibus service to airport about 3 time a day for only 450 baht. At the Bangkok end, it leaves from Terminal 1 and is the best way to get to Pattaya. The 9.00am bus is best for most European flights which arrive early morning.

MOBILE PHONES
There are several phone networks here. The main one is the GSM system. Phones are reasonable here, and line rental and calls are low. Your home phone will normally work here (if you have International Roaming) and your call charges will be billed at home. But remember that any calls your receive will be from your home country so you will pay for that leg of the call, even though someone here rang you (as they have to call your "Normal" number). Check with your operator for Thailand inland calls. UK Orange charge the same as international. Pay-as you go are cheap and easy to buy in Thailand and can normal call the UK at lower rates.

MONEY
Thailand is a CASH based economy. You want to buy a car, so you go to the bank and get a suitacse of money and take it to the garage, who then takes it to their bank, which may be same as yours, and pays it back in!! Cheques are not used or trusted much. Charge cards and Credit Cards are taken by most big stores, but even some of the hotels still insist on cash. On the up side, there is an excellent network of ATM (Automatic Telling Machines or Cash machines) throughout the urban countryside. There is normally a 20-25 baht charge to use the card if it is not your own branch in THAT town (you also pay when using your bank in another town), but it is a very good system. You can transfer money to anyone, no matter their bank, as long as you know their account number. You can get up to 40,000 Baht with Bangkok Bank's Gold ATM card (as long as you have the money in your account!).
It is easy to get your bank at home to transfer money to your Thai bank account, once the arrangement is set up.

VISAs (or How to stay in Thailand)
Finally a little on Visas. As this seems to change by the week, we recommend you get up to date information from your local Royal Thai Embassy or from the Immigration Office in Soi 5, Jomties. They can explain about retirement visas, non-immigrant visa for people married to a Thai national, business and other types. For your initial visits, most (Western) people can get a 30 day transit visa at the airport on arrival, but this cannot be extended. If you want to be here more than a month, apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa from your local Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate. for more information try the Pattaya Thai Immigration Police's own website

We hope these bits of information will be of help to you.