Things To Do In Pattaya/phuket

[qwertz]

After years of having to rise and shine very early, I find the habit hard to shake.

Both places are very quiet daytimes and I'm running out of ideas, having done most of the usual excursions.

Since I'm not a dedicated drinker, I don't hang in the bars too much either.

I meet up with my Oz relatives there and they have probs too in keeping the kids amused.

Aside from the pool, they stay in the room and play video games, which they could just as easily do at home.

Any ideas, please, before I'm there again?

Edited June 23, 2007 by qwertz

[uptou]

when i was living on phuket for awile i got quite into squid fishing on the rocks off in between any of the many beaches on the west coast.it was great doing as the sun went down,& the squid came inshore to feed.had some freindly thais cook them up when i came back.only needed a squid lure,although not sure its the best time of year for it,i think before & after the end of the year is best.i was out fishing the day before the tsunami which is kind of funny thinking about it.

or theres always a ride on one of the banana boats.good fun if you dont get a knee in the groin.

[qwertz]

Uptoyou, I forgot to mention, I'm there in Sept. and Oct. this time.

Thanks, I hadn't thought of angling; the kids might have some of that too.

[solent01]

Pattaya has lots to do.

Bira circuit for 2/4 wheel track days.

Towards Jomtiem you have 2 go kart tracks, 1 for kids and the other for faster fun, they also have an off road track there, as well as Bungee jumping and Paintball arena.

Crocodile farm, which has some lovely gardens to walk around.

Scuba diving, jet skis, para gliding, visit the Islands, or go flying with 1 of the many clubs dotted around.

10 pin bowling, a great pool hall "Mega-Break", shooting at "Tiffany's", great shopping for the ladies, the list is endless qwertz.

Edited June 23, 2007 by solent01

[qwertz]

Pattaya has lots to do.

Bira circuit for 2/4 wheel track days.

I'll give this a try.

Towards Jomtiem you have 2 go kart tracks, 1 for kids and the other for faster fun, they also have an off road track there, as well as Bungee jumping and Paintball arena.

These too, not sure about the bunjee though for the little girls.

Crocodile farm, which has some lovely gardens to walk around.

Scuba diving, jet skis, para gliding, visit the Islands, or go flying with 1 of the many clubs dotted around.

10 pin bowling, a great pool hall "Mega-Break", shooting at "Tiffany's", great shopping for the ladies, the list is endless qwertz.

Thanks for the input Solent01.

Things have improved then since I was last there.

Many of these things I do alone anyway but I'm stumped for what will amuse all the kids (about nine, ranging from 6 to 16) and some of these things they daren't be let loose on.

The bowling I always do and most of the kids are into that.

The ladies are the least problem as they can shop all day (is this just the Aussies?) and never get bored but they like a break from the kids and I suspect they use them to keep the guys away from the bars and soapies.

BTW, I'm the only single man in a bunch of families and they all look at me as if I'm supposed to know everything that's worth doing.

I'd be inclined to suggest hiring a bus and doing trips out but all I know of Phuket is Patong and Phuket city and the farthest I've ever been out of Patts was Nong Nooch and rayong.

Edited June 23, 2007 by qwertz

[jetjock]

If you run out of interesting things to do in Pattaya, you could always go over to Tony's Gym and tell the Muay Thai boxers that you want to spar a few rounds with them ! Your recovery could possibly take up much of your remaining time in Pattaya.

When I run out of things to do when I am in Pattaya, I usually start taking some short side trips to some of the islands like Koh Chang.

[qwertz]

Good suggestion, jetjock.

I mean the islands, not the boxing, although I might toss a couple of the older boys in the ring to show them what hard really means.

[jetjock]

Good suggestion, jetjock.

I mean the islands, not the boxing, although I might toss a couple of the older boys in the ring to show them what hard really means.

Yeah Qwertz- go easy on the guys if you step into the ring but definitely teach them a lesson that they will not forget !

We will also be going over to Pattaya in October for a few months. This will be the first time that I plan try to get to one of the TV Pattaya Friday night pissups if they are still having them so I can meet some of the TV faces behind the names.

[qwertz]

That's another suggestion for an evening, I've never done that either as I'm a comparative newbie in TV.

The biggest problem is the evenings for the families, the women don't want to go far from the hotel as they're worried the older kids will get up to no good and won't keep an eye on the little ones.

I think Thailand's one of the few places where you have to worry more about the sons than the daughters.

Edited June 23, 2007 by qwertz

[Zeid]

in phuket as you leave patong to kathu when you hit teh intersection before the first big hill take a right and tehre is a nice srimp pond where you can fish it used to be 100b per hour and you can keep the prawns you catch they also cook them for you very nice place during sunset,

tritrang beach is also a nice place to go, and further up paradise beach.

there are always the waterfalls, end of rain season you can actually jump down wit hthe waterfall, just make sure you do not hit the rocks

koh sok national park in surrat thani is a great great great place to spend there they have a 14km hike with waterfalls, i can send you teh pics if you interested. a bit farther than you might want to go but a week after rain season is great there.

i used to go try restaurants, down in rawai. close to the gypsy village great strip right on the beach.

ofcourse the zoo was always fun.

phuket town, kung kata next to the weekend market

but that is all sunset time, i spend most of my day time working

[qwertz]

Thanks Zeid, I'd appreciate the pics.

[Zeid]

i just selected some random pics of kao sok national park,

the last one is of tritrang beach in a gloomy day used to take my dogs there and most locals are there it is great, sorry can not find pics of kung kata restaurant i lost one external drive

[qwertz]

Nice one, Zeid, thanks.

[Zeid]

i am a morning person myself, and in eth end of the rain season you can go white water rafting in the national park canoeing cycling, the monkey drinking spot, enjoy nature and the hiking.

btw that is a pic of teh waterfall in phuket the natural one opposit side of bangtao close to the east cost. bang pae waterfall that is it, nice elephant ride as well.

make sure you make it to the weekend market there are two one in central phuket town, close to the province bus station, the second one is heading from patong to central at the intersection take right and i believe it was teh second trafficlight to the left maybe a 200meters or so you will see a big weekend market on eth right.

i am an eating guy so tend to go where food is

[Jimjim]

I've heard there are beaches to go to and snorkeling to do in those areas. Could be wrong though. Isn't there some sort of little amusement park/water park between Pattaya and Jomtien?

[suiging]

When in Patters and bored head out a tad to the East and visit Horseshoe Point.

Quad bikes, guided mountain biking, and of course fabulous grounds and horses.

[kankaroo]

Well, you could take up a healthy interest in hard drinking and possibly become a professional bar fighter.

Just a suggestion....

[qwertz]

Well, you could take up a healthy interest in hard drinking and possibly become a professional bar fighter.

Just a suggestion....

Kankaroo, just two problems there.

BTW, sorry you didn't like the fruit cake recipe.

I have to fight against hard drinking, not take it up as a hobby.

I have to fight the bar girls off in Bangla and Patts, that's energetic enough for me.

I have enough to do to fill my time during the day but this is the first time we'll have a bunch of kids with us.

Like I wrote, the Ozzie cousins seem to think I'm the great knowledgeable Thailand expert when I hardly know my way past Bangla, i.e. stereotype barfly and bon vivant.

It's going to be a real problem pleasing them all for 3 weeks.

Zeid, thanks for the pics, that place is a must to visit.

I appreciate the input from all, it's a lot more informative than the booking agents offer.

[dogblower]

Pattaya has a great water park with swimming pools, slides etc. Definitely a whole family destination and the kids will probably be keen to go more than once.

[qwertz]

Thanks dogblower, that's already on the list.

BTW, I heard there's a fishing park somewhere outside Patts but the guy who told me was drunk so I never found out where.

Any info on this?

[kmart]

Thanks dogblower, that's already on the list.

BTW, I heard there's a fishing park somewhere outside Patts but the guy who told me was drunk so I never found out where.

Any info on this?

Heading out of Pattaya on the Sukhumvit Rd to Rayong. Just past the Elephant Training Ground (another go-see) turn left at the lights. There is a big fishing park and shooting range there. Going a bit further along the Sukumvit road there is the Nong Nooch Gardens which are spectacular, and a great family day out (apart from the minging little zoo cages). If you turn left just before Nong Nooch; go see the Silverlake vineyards and the huge Buddha image carved into the mountain (Wat Sala.... sp?). Loads of stuff to see just off the Sukumvit Rd, qwertz. Hope you and the family have a great time.

[qwertz]

Top input, Kmart, thanks.

Did I say 9 kids?

Latest count is 11, 2 more teens.

Looks like we'll be hiring a bus and we could spread all that over 2 or 3 days.

I can find all these places with your directions too.

Escorting kids in LOS is a first for me, I'm kind of looking forward to it I must admit.

I suspect I'll be assigned to keeping the hubbies out of the soapies too but I'll refuse that particular job.

[Gary A]

I've heard there are beaches to go to and snorkeling to do in those areas. Could be wrong though. Isn't there some sort of little amusement park/water park between Pattaya and Jomtien?

That's called Pattaya Park. It's right under the tall tower with the revolving restaurant so it's easy to find. Mostly swimming but good for kids.

[qwertz]

I've heard there are beaches to go to and snorkeling to do in those areas. Could be wrong though. Isn't there some sort of little amusement park/water park between Pattaya and Jomtien?

That's called Pattaya Park. It's right under the tall tower with the revolving restaurant so it's easy to find. Mostly swimming but good for kids.

Thanks, Gary, just got word that their hotel (not mine) has a good pool complex so that'll keep 'em busy at least mornings and their parents can check 'em out from the balcony.

I think I should have started this as a "Things for families to do thread", might have been more appropriate.

It's kinda new for me to be looking at entertainment other than night life but I think I'm going to enjoy this trip.

Edited June 25, 2007 by qwertz

[colino]

Tiger zoo is a good day out plenty to see and lots of free shows its near chon buri

[Kerryd]

I'll see if I can find a topic that ran awhile ago, on things to see & do in Pattaya that had nothing to do with bars and night-life. At one point, we had a list of something like 50 places/activities that a family could enjoy.

In the mean-time, some other suggestions are:

The Jungle Bunji Jump (Jomtien area I believe)

Paintball Park (Jomtien area I believe)

Pattaya Water World (on east side Sukhumvit, past the southern end of Pattaya)

Underwater World (on west side Sukhumvit, past the southern end of Pattaya)

Monkey Ranch (or Monkey Farm ? Not to be confused with the Monkey House !) (on west side Sukhumvit, past the southern end of Pattaya, hard to see if you are driving south towards Rayong, easy to miss if you are driving north as well)

Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens (and Zoo)

Crocodile Farm (and Million Years Stone Park)

Sri Racha Tiger Farm

Khao Keow (spelling ?) Open Air Zoo (also near Sri Racha)

(argh, what is the name of that Teak Temple place ? Apparently it is quite the nice place for visit as well).

Off to google some more.

[Kerryd]

OK, I found the list (or part of it) from the thread back in April of last year:

Khao Keow Zoo

Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens

Crocodile Farm

Sri Racha Tiger Zoo

Mini Siam

Bowling Alleys

Jomtien Beach (snorkeling/jet skis/wind-surfing/ect)

Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum

Fishing Charters

Diving Schools

Elephant Rides

Monkey Ranch

Shooting Range

Paintball Parks

Karting (Go-Karts)

Sky Diving (now featuring parachutes !)

Pattaya Water Park

Underwater World

Cinema (movies)

Pilot lessons

Submarine Trip

Koh Larn and other islands

Golf, golf and more golf

Bottle Museum

Other sports like Badminton, soccer, tennis, ect.

And of course, dozens of great temples (Wats) to tour.

(not a complete list by far, but enough to keep you busy for a couple of days at least !)

[chanchao]

Excellent suggestions, thanks all!!

I will soon be visiting the Pattaya area with the wife & kid and my mum.. Thanks very much for all the suggestions.

To Qwertz: So the Pattaya area it is then, not Phuket? I'd keep things flexible a bit, and not make assumptions as to the type of things everyone likes. (Nobody likes EVERYTHING, or the same things, but you have to cater to everyone's individual tastes at least some of the time).

That may mean cutting up the group a bit to visit nature or historical or cultural sites further afield, while the remainder goes bowling or swimming or shopping.

I still haven't decided if I should go get a minivan myself instead of fly, but if I do that then opens up a lot more possibilities for trips further afield.

[qwertz]

Thanks KD and colino.

Chanchao, I should have mentioned, we're all meeting up in Patts for a week and then all going down to Phuket for a fortnight.