Are You Looking for a Luxurious Beach Hotel & Resort in Pattaya?

Pattaya is well known for its nightlife and beaches and is located about 150 km southeast from Bangkok. By car you would have to spend about 1.5 hours as the motorways are very developed. Starting as a fishing village, Pattaya has grown tremendously the last 40 years. The hotel industry has flourished with lightening speed due to ever increasing number of tourists visiting Pattaya (about 5 million per year). Hence, it’s the most popular and profitable business of this region. For this purpose only, the right hotel with lots of offerings at low rates is very easy to find. Pattaya has a lot to offer for anyone such as theme and amusement parks, golfing, ease of access to beaches, scuba diving, sailing, para-sailing, bungee jumping, go-karts, and a very vibrant nightlife. Pattaya also has a wide variety of international cuisine as well as great sea food at the restaurants along the beach. You can also find some great bargains on clothing in Pattaya. Although not as extensive as Bangkok, it still has some great shopping venues.



The general factor for choosing a right resort at Pattaya would usually be the starting price. You can visit each hotel's official site to see and check their offerings. You can also browse directories and travel sites by price, by class or even by top 10 lists. This can ease your work of finding the right accommodation partner when you visit Pattaya; little bit of searching can get you more than what you invest for the stay.



However, there are few points to be noted before choosing a hotel for your stay. Price should not be the only factor in choosing the right hotel. Other factors like location, services do matter in choosing the right hotel. If you want a cheap hotel yet want to see

the beach from the room, then it’s not difficult job to find one as there are lots of accommodations which offer cheap accommodations.

But, if you plan to stay in a luxurious hotel then you need to decide about the location, as you may be expecting high quality service for the money you spend.

If you have a fair budget and want all the luxuries of a hotel but also want to see the beach from the room of your hotel, then you might consider Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa located between “Walking Street” and Bali Hai pier. This hotel consists of 12-beautifully designed low-rise pavilions are set in acres of manicured tropical gardens and quiet lagoons. You can definitely feel a sense of privacy from your hotel room. Each room has a balcony overlooking the gardens, pool or ocean. This resort also offers six tennis courts for the avid tennis player, fitness room, 20 acres of lush gardens, swimming pool, children’s pool, Jacuzzi, spa services such as Thai massage, full aromatherapy treatment and massage, facials and foot massage, full conference and high speed internet connection. As the life in Pattaya can get a little hectic at times, many people prefer to stay in a serene and private resort located by the beach. Daily tours and arrangements to enjoy beach activities are available and highly recommended if you plan your holiday in Pattaya.

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Guide to Thai Cuisine

Tourist restaurants will often serve up a spineless, tasteless version of what should be a full flavour feast, and without anyone to tell you the food is less than genuine; a visitor’s introduction to Thai food is often tainted by these ‘farang-ised’ Thai dishes. Once you have had enough of yet another overly sweet, messy slop of phad thai, it is time to explore the never-ending possibilities of Thai cuisine.

When asked what they like most about Thailand, visitors often answer ‘the food’. The creation of Siam servings is a masterful mix of salty, sweet, sour, spicy and bitter. The spice factor, often too much for most westerners, is used for medicinal purposes, combined with the use of market fresh vegetables and the choicest local herbs for bursting flavours and prevention of common ailments. The food is low in fat and high in fibre and most dishes, considering they taste so good, are surprisingly nutritious.

But it is not only the unique and pleasantly pungent tastes that visitors love, the cost of eating in Thailand is as satisfying as the pleasure experienced by the palate. One of Thailand’s major industries is agriculture. Grains, meats, vegetables and most importantly rice are all locally produced at minimal cost. The country also has rich waters filled with fresh and sea water creatures, which are shipped across the land, making seafood and fish dishes some of the most popular choices. Add to this the natural innovation and long standing techniques used by Thais in food preparation and there are few who visit who cannot be satisfied.

Passing through different regions of Thailand, you may notice that the dialect and sound of the language changes abruptly. When you think you have learned how to say sawdee kha in exactly the right tone, you move to another place and find that they have a completely different method of utterance. The same goes for the food. There are four main regions offering cuisine adventurers a unique experience.

Food in the northeast is influenced by neighbouring Laos. Dishes are highly seasoned and among the most popular specialities are larb, a spicy, seasoned salad made with pork or chicken; somtam, spicy papaya salad, and gai yang, barbequed chicken. All are served with glutinous rice, a northern favourite widely known as sticky rice, or khao neow.

Burmese influences have bearings on the dishes of the central northern regions. Northern cooks generally are less heavy handed with the chilli and the use of ginger, tamarind and turmeric is common. Khao soi, a curry with egg noodles and pickled cabbage, is only found in the north and should be number one on any visitor’s list of dishes to try. Tourists to the north should not miss the opportunity to dine at a traditional Khantoke dinner, combining the best of northern specialities and traditional performances in a reconstructed wooden palace.

Throughout the central plains of Thailand, the food combines mixes from all regions, and many Chinese-Thai fusions are common characteristics. The south is the place to get down to spicy treats. Chilli-filled soups and curries are common dishes and fresh seafood is abundant. Influences are also found in dishes taken from Indonesia, such as chicken kebabs with peanut sauce (gai sate), an international favourite, and rich curries such as kaeng masaman from Malaysia.

Eating in Thailand is very much a family affair. It is often thought of as odd to see someone eating alone and most Thais will wait to the point of starvation until they find a dining partner. A typical meal will include a soup, fried fish, spicy salad known as yam, a curry dish and a dip with vegetables. Each member of the party will be served a bowl of rice and can take a bite from the main dishes in the centre of the table. Meals are eaten with a spoon and fork, while chopsticks are generally only used for noodle soups or Chinese food.

Thai ‘fast food’ is known as such, not because of its enticing greasiness or fat content as with the western equivalent, but instead as a range of dishes that can be cooked up in a matter of minutes. These dishes such as phad thai, or fried noodles, khao phad, or fried rice, or phad khrapao, or fried basil with pork or chicken, are commonly ordered as a quick lunch, breakfast or evening meal, and often served with a fried egg plonked on top.

There are few countries that can offer such a range of fruits like Thailand. Its tropical climate and heavy rains in monsoon season mean that fruit is everywhere. The diversity of delicious fruity sweetness to be found is so vast and the cost so little, some health conscientious rebels decide to diet solely on fruit as an internal body cleansing exercise. From the vibrant pinks of the dragon fruit to the prickly looking shells of the rambutan, photo opportunities are an added bonus to the already particular delight of fruit shopping in Thailand.

Thai desserts, in general, use five base ingredients: coconut cream, coconut flesh, rice flour, palm sugar and eggs. Among the favourites are thong yip, a sweet egg yolk cup; foi thong, shredded, sweetened egg yolk, and tako, a jelly served with creamy coconut.

Those interested in more than just sampling the food fare on offer while travelling in Thailand will be pleased to know that in any mildly touristy area you are sure to find a local cooking school. Courses include trips to local markets, ingredient preparation, cooking and best of all, an eating party after all the hard work.

Top 10 Thai dishes among tourists

Tom yam goong: a spicy shrimp soup made with coconut milk, lemongrass, lime leaves, galangal and shallots.

Kaeng khio wan gai: green chicken curry made from green curry paste and coconut milk.

Phad thai: noodles fried with tofu, spring onions, bean sprouts and ground peanuts.

Phad khrapao: chicken, pork or prawns stir-fried with basil.

Kaeng phet pet yang: roast duck curry.

Tom kha gai: chicken in coconut soup with galangal and lemongrass.

Khao phad: boiled rice fried with meat, egg, onion, cilantro, garlic and tomatoes.

Moo/gai sate: pork/chicken kebabs served with peanut sauce.

Gai phad met mamuang: stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts.

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New Thai Law Streamlines Consumer Complaints

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On the 23rd of August, a new Thai law came into effect, known as the Consumer Case Procedures Act. Prior to this Act's inception, it had been logistically and legally difficult for consumers top make complaints against corporations, with travel, court costs and time creating significant difficulties for consumers. This new law makes provisions for the location of court cases and who is responsible for paying court costs, as well as the handling of repeat complaints against companies.

Teeravath Chantarasomboon is director of legal affairs at the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB). He believes that the new laws "will be fairer to consumers. It will force entrepreneurs, which have more bargaining power than consumers, to prove their cases". Mr Teeravath pointed to previous cases where, although Thai law may have supported the consumer, they were unable to receive compensation or to continue with their complaint because they had to travel to civil courts from the home jurisdictions. This effectively made justice out of the reach of many, especially those in rural areas.

Companies also need to be aware of this Thai business law, especially as regards their policies and procedures. One important adjustment to Thailand's consumer law with this new act is the fact that if a repeat complaint is brought against a company, where the company previously lost the case, there will be no trial. The judgment of the new case would be based on the previous complaint, with similar penalties or compensation applied.

Business law in Thailand will also be affected by the reduction in the number of courts that will handle consumer complaints - the court of first instance and one appeal court are the only avenues open to businesses and consumers who disagree. This is one measure which will help with overcrowding of the legal system in Thailand. Another important streamliner for the legal process is the fact that only one postponement of 15 days or less will be allowed, so companies will need to be efficient at gathering required documents and evidence - as will consumers.

The new Thai law had its first test recently, when former Bangkok senator Chirmsak Panthong complained about lax security, suing the director of Nakhom Si Thammarat provincial airport, and the budget airline Nok Air.

This complaint was under the new Thai law's provision that affected people can file charges against substandard goods and service providers in court. Mr Chirmsak said that check-in staff had not searched passengers for weapons before they boarded the aircraft. Mr Chirmsak said ''I told the staff member that such [lax security measures] would put our lives at high risk. That female staff member said I had to take risks today [Aug 16]. I didn't feel good and was worried as there were 150 passengers on board the flight. If someone had hidden explosives, we would have died en masse,''

''This is a case of negligence and a reckless act that might cause serious damage to the lives and property of passengers. I decided to bring the case to the court's attention", he continued. The court reprimanded the airline.

Under Thailand's new consumer laws, complainants do not have to pay court fees, except if the damages sought are deemed to be excessive, or the suit is found to be unreasonable. Even if complainants lose the suit, as long as the first two conditions are met, there will be no court fees charged to them. However, check with your Thailand legal service, as companies are required to pay court costs in the event that they lose the case.

The new laws are widely hailed as levelling the playing field and making consumer law in Thailand much fairer.

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Thailand's World

Featuring Vut Kamnark #MTBO4. On this tape, Vut Kamnark puts it all together. He starts out with shadow boxing, the perfect way to practice all your techniques and warm-up at the same time. You'll learn how to defend against all attacks and develop an arsenal of counter combinations. Whether in a clinch or at long range, this tape will give you the information to fully utilize all your weapons. A variety of kick and punch combinations, good for fighting or just a great workout concludes the tape. Time 40 min.


Thailand is a modern democratic Nation in Central South East Asia. ‘’ Thai ‘’ is the Tai word for ‘’ free ’’. The ‘’ Thai ’’ identity was formed in the late 13 th C at Sukhothai and is not to be confused with ‘’ Tai ’’ the name of the ethnic groups of people who migrated from Yunnan in the 12th & 13th Centuries. The character of the Thai Nation today and of its people can only be appreciated by exploring its 2000 years of recorded history and the cultures of the various peoples who live here. Thailand’s natural landscape includes tropical wet evergreen forests in Southern Thailand to temperate deciduous forests in North Thailand and we explore these in the Thailand National Parks. Thailand art architecture and decorative objects need to be considered with regard to the influences of religion, mythological beliefs and regional artistic styles. Thailand is so large and diverse we detail all about Thailand in separate regions, North or Northern Thailand, South or Southern Thailand, Central Thailand and North East Thailand [ I 'san ].

North Thailand Travel & Places Of Interest

The Thailand Government defines North Thailand as consisting of both [ 1 ] the 84,000 square kilometres comprising 8 provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Lamphun, Phrae and Mae Hong Son, which area originally comprised the Lan Na principalities detailed in the North Thailand History link [ the Upper North ], and [ 2 ] the 86,000 square kilometres of the Lower North, comprising the provinces of Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Uthai Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit Phitsanulok and Phetchabun, which area originally comprised the Kingdoms of Sukhothai and later the northern parts of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, Thon Buri and Bangkok Kingdoms.

The Differences Between The Upper North Thailand And The Lower North Thailand

One discernable difference between the Upper and Lower North Thailand is topography. Upper North Thailand is characterised by long valleys generally running north south. The climate has three seasons, hot [ April to May ] cool and rain [ July to September ]. Approximately 72% of the area is mountainous, 21% upland and 8% lowland. The lowland is cultivated by the Tai people to produce wet rice.

Lower North Thailand has 45% of its total land mass less than 150 metres above sea level and is thus similar to Thailand's Central region. However the two mountain extensions of the Upper North, [ 1 ] Thanon Thang Chai Range to the west and, [ 2 ] Petchabun Range to the east attract an extension of swidden hill tribe communities as in the Upper North, all part of the exodus from China of these ethnic minorities over the past hundreds of years. The geographic differences in topography need to be appreciated as the ethnic, sociological and cultural differences are essentially between lowlanders and highlanders [ Hill tribes ]. These classifications and detailed explanations are discussed in North Thailand People .

About Central Thailand

Central Thailand is situated on the central plains of the Chao Phraya River and the Meklong River valley. The first substantial civilisation here was that of the Mon people and during the 6th - 9th C its Buddhist Kingdom was referred to in chinese records and on silver coins as '' Dvaravati ''. Influences from India when merged with Mon characteristics formed the basis of religion, art, architecture and public administration.

About South Thailand

South Thailand comprises the Southern Peninsula with the Andaman Sea to the West and the Gulf of Siam to the East. It is a mountainous region and the Phuket Mountain Range is the most important on the West from Chumphon to Krabi and to the East is the Nakhon Si Thammarat Mountain Range from Surat Thani to Satun. Between these ranges are the plains and limestone hills and to the South the Sannkalakhiri Mountains which divide Malaysia and Thailand.

Thailand has in excess of 138 wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks. The major locations are listed in the opposite links and we detail 20 National Parks and eco tourism locations. Thailand is home to over 15,000 species of vascular plants and 16,000 species of animals

Thailand travel and tourism to Thailand places of interest is not a matter of a few choices as is the case with many Asia destinations. Thailand is large and diverse with a large selection of travel and holiday options. In 2005 over 14 million tourists visited Thailand and their range of interests varied.

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Bangkok: a Travel Guide for the First Time Visitor (part One)

Bangkok is Thailand’s largest city with a population of more than 10 million and is a hugely popular destination for tourists. This article is a brief guide for first time visitors to the city.

Climate
Bangkok is a hot and humid city all year round but for those planning a Bangkok holiday, the best time of year to visit is probably between November and February. This is when the city is at its driest and coolest (only averaging 28°C!). March to May is the hot season and temperatures can reach an oppressive 40°C, whilst frequent, torrential downpours and flooding are commonplace during the rainy season between June and September.

Eating
Both Thai and Western food is widely available in Bangkok. Whilst there are many excellent air conditioned restaurants to choose from, many locals choose to eat from the numerous food carts and stalls found around the city. Thai food is typically spicy with curries and stir fries being favourites. Many dishes use fish sauce or shrimp paste along with plenty of chillies, lime juice and lemon grass and are usually served with rice, a staple component of Thai cuisine. For the adventurous, you will also find stalls selling fried insects on Bangkok’s streets, with black water beetles being a particular favourite. Food in Bangkok is relatively inexpensive and you can expect to pay between 50 and 100 baht (approximately £0.80 - £1.50) for a plate of food and a soft drink.

Getting Around
Possibly the best way to travel around the city for Bangkok holiday makers is the Skytrain. As the name suggests, this is a train that travels above the city. It is a very efficient way to get around and stops at many of Bangkok’s popular tourist attractions. Single tickets are available although if you are making more than a couple of journeys an unlimited one day ticket is probably a better idea and is available for around 100 baht (£1.50). Another good way to get around is by metered taxi. If the traffic is moving in your favour it is a comfortable and quick way to get around. The buses are cheap, but crowded and challenging as the routes are numerous and are often marked only in Thai and the infamous three wheeled tuk-tuks are not worth the charge for anything other than a five or ten minute journey or the experience.

Sightseeing
Bangkok’s temples are some of its most popular tourist attractions with the majestic Grand Palace being perhaps the most famous and a must see. The palace was formerly home to the king and the entire Thai government until the turn of the twentieth century. Entrance to the Grand Palace costs 200 baht (about 3 pounds). The main focus for many visitors to the Grand Palace is the emerald Buddha, a 45cm tall statue carved out of Jade. The Buddha is the most revered image in Thailand and is the centre of national religious pride. It is really worth hiring a guide to visit the Grand Palace as without one you may miss quite a lot. Visitors to the Grand Palace should note that there is a strict dress code enforced. Men should wear long trousers and sleeved shirts, whilst women should ensure their shoulders are covered and clothing is opaque. Bare feet are also disallowed so if you are wearing sandals or flip-flops, socks must be worn as well.

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