Around Jomtien Beach

As is so often the case in Thailand, you will see several different spellings of "Jomtien". This district, with its 6km beach, is divided off from the rest of Pattaya by the hill which rises to the back of South Pattaya. Drive over the hill, past the big Buddha and the Royal Cliff Hotel, and down into the relatively quiet Jomtien.

The beach is popular with windsurfers and watersports enthusiasts, largely because the area enjoys brisk and fresh air from the Thai Gulf, and because the seas are less congested with boats than in Pattaya Bay. This is also the place to relax for a suntan, or go for long early morning or sunset walks along the ocean front. There is little in the way of shopping or beer-bars at Jomtien, which is essentially a residential area with beachside hotels, bungalow complexes, condominiums and restaurants.

Jomtien has its own very distinctive gay beach, accessed by turning right at the bottom of the hill; for all other attractions, turn left.