The massage parlours usually have boards outside them advertising the different massages on offer. Choices for traditional massages are usually standard body ones, oil massages, herbal massages and foot massages. Prices begin at around 150 Baht an hour.

Conventional massages focus on body pressure points to relieve stress and soothe fatigued muscles. Masseurs and masseuses offering herbal treatments often compress leaves in cotton gauze and apply them to parts of the body. A foot massage can leave feet feeling lighter than air and as though they have had knots and twists taken out of them.

Another option for a massage in Pattaya is to get one from the bevy of masseuses that walk along the beach every day. The last alternative for male visitors is one of the entertainment venues with attached massage parlours where adult-only treatments are offered.

Even though Pattaya is entering its traditional yearly high season, it is especially crowded this year due to the large number of Bangkok residents who have fled here to avoid the floods. Walking along Beach Road and up Walking Street yesterday, seemed busy with both foreign and domestic tourists. Discos and bars all had bumper crowds, a fact no doubt helped by the clement weather of the last few days.

More than 40 Pattaya hotels have offered rooms at discounted rates to people fleeing Bangkok’s flooding. Local Tourist Authority director Athapol Wanakit said that while Thai residents were snapping up available accommodation, Pattaya has an estimated 50,000 rooms, more than enough to cater to domestic demand and High Season tourists. Tourism officials also say that Highway 7 from Suvarnabhumi International Airport is clear and there are no delays on bus and taxi connections.

This is a small hill to the south of Pattaya Beach with a vantage point to get the best panoramic view of the curved bay of Pattaya either in the day or night. Pattaya hill is now the site of the Naval Radio broadcasting station (FM 104.75 MHz) where the monument (a statue of HRH prince of Jumborn), Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, the father of the Royal Thai Navy, is situated.

Apart from seeing Pattaya almost from all angles, you will also see the sacred Buddha image enshrined on the top of the hill, but most importantly, you see the amazing Pattaya city and the Pattaya bay as you have seen before.

The view is so amazing and relaxing, for those whose hobby is photography, do miss the opportunity of visiting Khoa Phra Bat because the photos of Pattaya you will take from here, will always be wonderful to look at. Getting there, you can take the Songtaew from anywhere that goes around the Pattaya bay and on the hill, but you can take the Tuk-Tuk, it wouldn’t cost you much.

The hill is also a great location for travelers who want a unique experience and can also stay as on the hill, there are at least five cheap accommodations and even the 5 star hotels at the hill are at an affordable price such at the Manita Boutique Hotel pattaya, Royal wing Suites and Spa Pattaya and so on.

The Phra Tamnak Hill also hosts a temple with an impressive huge Buddha statue at the summit and beneath, there is a great scenic park which is also an exercise haven in the late afternoon till evening.

The views of Phra Tamnak Hill are fantastic as they take in all the harbor and beach area, and the other side of Jomtein beach plus a few islands off Pattaya and this is a good place for those who fall in love with Thailand and want to stay in Thailand, in that, this area has a lot of properties for rent and sale and since it is one hour away from Bangkok, it has become an area of foreign settlers.

Tourists, who come here, enjoy spectacular Thai performances featuring Elephant costumes, music, graceful dance movements, parades and a string of talent shows performed by a lovely troupe of Thai elephants. There is also a wide range recreational activity including elephant riding, bicycling, and boat paddling or just strolling from one botanical garden to the next ensuring great fun for every tourist who comes here.

Nong Nooch garden is alo dedicated to education, preservation and research as well as the conservation of the world’s largest palm collection and this is where you find the largest variety of orchids in Thailand and other tropical flora and fauna. Also among the many things done at Nong Nooch, is the fact that they are constantly developing and evolving creating new interests of the Thai loyal family and returning guests.

A visit to Nong Nooch Tropical garden is an experience you will never forget, so why no make plans to visit this natural reserve of nature and even if you are not in Pattaya, it is not far at all from Bangkok, it is an experience you and your family will enjoy. This can be booked through your hotel or guesthouse or from any tour operator in Bangkok or Pattaya.

The elephant village provides these magnificent creatures with a safe haven, where they may live out their lives with dignity and freedom from fear. A visit to the elephant village is not only unique experience, but it is also a lifesaver because the fees paid by all visitors, contribute to the very survival of the elephants, both now and in the future.

The elephant round-up at the elephant village is literally a large gathering of herds of elephants which have been the backbone of heavy work in the jungles of Thailand and the a visit to the village, includes a thrilling event of spectacular demonstrations of elephant capture, the daily life of elephants and their masters, elephants being trained, worked and fed, elephant riding and an ancient war and they get dressed for your photography.

The elephant village is located on the road to Siam country club golf course (about 145kms), at 55/1 Moo 2, Tambon Nong Prue, Pattaya. The show time begins at 2.30pm. For further inquires, you can contact the elephant village on (038) 249 818, 249 853.

Alangkarn
Is simply the hottest cultural extravaganza in Pattaya as it offers a fun- for- all entertainment in its 80- rai area. It employs a state of art light and sound system which makes a guarantee to captivate the audience of all ages with a lavish production performed by professional trained artists. The show starts at 18.30 pm, though it is better to arrive early as the restaurant opens at 17.30 pm and it costs about 1500 Baht, you check with your hotel for changes in pricing.

Alcazar
This is a must see as it one of Thailand’s world famous lady-boy show and it has been staged for over 20 years now and it is still a wonderful show. You will be thrilled by over 400 dazzling talented artists and entertainers who will deliver fun filled performances including comedic impersonations and dramatic numbers. There are three shows a night from 18.30, 20.00 and 21.30 pm, prices range from 550 to 750 Baht.

Tiffany
This is one of the longest running cabaret shows in Pattaya with over 28 years of stage experience; it ranks among the most spectacular lady-boy show in Thailand. It is flawlessly impersonated by Tiffany’s talented performers and you will meet the world’s most fabulous divas performing in a 1000-seat theatre fully equipped with modern light and sound stage equipment. They are 3 shows a night from 18.00, 19.30 and 21.00pm and the pricing start from 650 – 900 Baht.

- Motor Bike Taxi, these are very easy to find as the motor taxi drivers usually wear a colourful vest and they are very easy to flag down, you can flag it down whenever you see it coming or go to them, ususally they are stationed in a corner or at the beginning of a soi. For shorter distances, they are cheap and the fastest means of transport.

- Songthaew, is the most common and favourable means of transport in Pattaya, these are usually a pick-up van with two benches at the back with a cover on the top and they are dark-blue in colour, easly to notice. The standard fee is usually 5 baht, but foreigners are expected to pay 10Baht and fighting it, isn’t worth the effort.

- Taxis, since most of the tourists that come Pattaya from Bangkok use taxis, you will find many of them as they drive around Pattaya till they find someone heading back to Bangkok. You will have to negotiate the price since most of them, don’t want use the meter.

- And the last method of going around in Pattaya is by using Motorbike or car rental. Motorbike usually are from as little as 150 Baht to 750Baht depending on the type of the motorbike you want to rent per day and car rentals begin from 1500Baht to 2500Baht per day, again depending on the type of vehicle, you want to rent. You need to have your drivers lience though the rental agencies will not ask for it but sometimes the police want to see it and if you don’t have it, it may cost you 150baht- 200 baht or more depending on the police officer who stops you.

Tuk.com is an IT mall that has a huge range of shops selling mobile phones, computers, laptops, computer games, Nintendo’s, iPods, iPads, and pretty much anything else you can think of relating to computers and technology.

The first floor is actually set aside for mobile phone stores exclusively. You can find an excellent variety of new and used phones here. If you’re willing to bargain you will certainly come away with a great deal.

Computer and other handheld electronic devices take up all of the second, third, and fifth floors, whilst on the fourth floor you will find computer software, CDs and MP3 players.

One thing you should be wary of is vendors who jack up the price for foreigners. This place is notorious for ripping-off tourists, so make sure you stand your ground and bargain in order to get the price down to something reasonable. However, many people who were willing to stand there for a while and haggle have said that they got some excellent deals in the end.

If IT and technology isn’t your thing, you can always head down to the basement floor where there is a Tops supermarket, as well as a good food court with various cuisines from around the world. A handful of clothes shops can also be found on the basement floor as well.

Tuk.com opens every day from around 11am and closes late at night.

For those looking to explore the nearby islands, cheap day trips can be booked through Pattaya travel agents and guesthouses. Boating trips to nearby Ko Laan are a cheap way to enjoy the beaches of these islands and take in the breathtaking scenery of Pattaya’s surrounds.

Along the beach are a number of day and night markets and stalls set up, offering a cheap way to enjoy a spot of shopping for souvenirs and local handicrafts.

Beyond the beaches are a number of temples that provide an inexpensive way to explore Thai culture and religion. Temples include the tranquil Wat Yannasangwararam and Phra Tamnak which are cheap and easy to get to. There are also lots of zoos and wildlife attractions including a tiger zoo and monkey shows. Entrance fees for many of these places are very reasonable for those on a budget.

To get around, be sure to take the local song taews which provide a cheap way to tour the city and its surrounds.

Pattaya really comes alive at night, and for many it is the lure of Pattaya’s nightlife that attracts them to this coastal town. The famous “Walking Street” is worth a look, but for the budget traveller looking to enjoy a night out, head instead to nearby 2nd Road and Soi Bukhao.