Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Aug / Sept 2017: The Kids & Family Issue | Page 57

The Wanderlist
5 PATTAYA
A parasailer
floats over
Pattaya's
waters
Pattaya’s reputation for
seediness precedes it, but
that’s not to say that there isn’t
more to this resort city than
red light districts. In fact, it’s
perfectly possible to have a
family-friendly vacation here
without so much as a wink
from a go-go girl. Hotels ca-
tering to kids abound, includ-
ing the Centara Grand Mirage
beach resort, with its own wa-
ter theme park and a calendar
of complimentary activities that
includes arts and crafts, Thai
dancing and supervised games.
Prices start at around 5000 THB
per night for a family room.
There are indoor and out-
door activities aplenty in
Pattaya, too, from the natural
wonder of Koh Larn’s coral reef
just seven kilometers off the
coast, to the jaw-dropping rev-
elations at Ripley’s Believe It or
Not museum, on to a rip-roar-
ing ride at one of the many
go-karting tracks in town. For
some traditional family time,
you have the option to go fish-
ing at the Arapaima Park. A full
day at Arapaima costs 3500 THB
per person including lunch,
equipment and transport.
Getting there
First-class buses run approxi-
mately every 30 minutes from
Mo Chit and Ekkamai bus sta-
tions. They usually take two and
a half hours and cost around
120 THB. Alternatively, hire a
taxi, which shouldn’t cost more
than 1300 THB per way.
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