TRAVEL:POSH PATTAYA

One glance at the property and hotel developments in Pattaya and there’s an obvious trend. The notorious pleasure town is going upscale and showering its visitors with ever more luxury: Raimond Land’s Northshore and Northpoint, Dusit’s new 5-star hotel, D2, and the upcoming 5-star “themed” beach resort with 555 rooms, Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya (www.centarahotelsresorts.com). Plus Hilton, Mövenpick, InterContinental and Le Méridien plan to open high end hotels in Pattaya between 2008 and 2010. The craziest project so far is Pacifi c Shore Development’s 5.8 billion baht project at Bang Saray (a fi shing town 20 minutes from Pattaya) which will transform the fishing town into a complex, hotels, water theme park, villas and a kilometer-long shopping mall. So what’s so chic about Pattaya and where can you go to join the party?

Relax
When we think luxury, we think a day at the spa. Here are some places where you can take your clothes off, let your hair down and get touched in all the right places, all within the bounds of decency. Yes, Pattaya has really changed!

Set at the foot of Raimon Land’s elegant Northpoint condo project, Aisawan Resort and Spa (445/3 Moo 5, Soi Wong Amart, Pattaya Naklua Rd., 038-411-940/-8, 038-368-236. www.aisawan.com) has its own “private” stretch of beach and an excellent spa with
a book-like menu of treaments. The spa is set just a short walk away from the sand and, so you can enjoy the view and the services at the same time. We recommend the Aisawan Body Massage (B3,200 for 50 minutes or B3,800 for 80 minutes) to reenergize your body and soul as well as to relieve tension, aches and pains. But if you are looking for something hot and hard, try the Aisawan Hot Marble Stone treatment (B2,800 for 80 minutes). They place hot marble on your vital points to extract toxins from your body and improve your bones’ calcium intake.

You, dear readers, voted the Bangkok branch Best Spa 2007, so you must be eager to try their sister branch. With its Thai décor, Devarana Spa (240/2 Pattaya Beach Rd., 038-371-044. www.devaranaspa.com) offers relaxation in an luxurious environment. A must try is the Power Nap Ritual (B4,900/2 hours), consisting of a scrub, milk bath, and massage. They don’t throw you out when the massage is over but let you enjoy a 30-minute long nap. Now we like that! If you want something more clinical, Rasayana Retreat (179/201 Moo 5, North Pattaya Rd., 038-253-8947. www.rasayanaretreat.com) features cleansing and detox thanks to techniques that go from a gentle massage to full-on colonic. Try the Rasayana signature massage (B500-1,200) or infrared sauna (B1,000) to release those urban toxins.

Play
Don’t look too closely at the water. It’s still as murky and full of plastic bags as ever. And who wants to do the pricey (B500-2,000) and tired classics: banana boat, donuts, and parasailing? Instead head to Koh Larn by taking either a speed boat (B1,500-2,000/day) or the ferry (B20/departs every hour) from Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya. It takes 45 minutes to get there.



For big spenders, make the trip a little more glamorous with a yacht from Ocean Marina (Ocean Marina Yacht Club 274/1-9 Moo 4, Sukhumvit Rd., km 157, 038-237-310/-23. www.oceanmarinayachtclub.com). Go green and preppy with a sailing yacht (B10,000/ hour, B30,000 for half day) that can carry up to 20 people. It’s the perfect way to travel around Pattaya on a sunset cruise, as you throw back cocktails and go swimming out where the water’s clear. To travel to Koh Larn or Koh Pai, you’ll need to reach into your inner oil sheikh and rent a motorized yacht. Starting from B35,000 for a whole day on a small yacht (up to eight people) or things can get really serious with the Serenity yacht that can accommodate up to 65 people (B45,000 for half day/B80,000 for a day trip).

If you want to be your own captain, Royal Varuna Yacht Club (286 Moo 12, Phatumnak Rd., Bang Lamung, 038-250-116. www.varuna.org) offers membership costing B60,000 per year that grants you access to their facilities.

Another posh option to get out and enjoy nature is to go horse riding. HorseShoe Point (100 Moo 9, Tambon Pong, Bang Lamung, 038-735-050. www.horseshoepoint.com) will take you on ride to enjoy the human-made lake and greenry around the resort (minimum B500/ride, but it does depend on your weight, so, get slimmer before you go).
Eat

Mantra Restaurant & Bar (240, Pattaya-Naklue Rd., 038-429-591. www.mantra-pattaya.com) offers a Buddha Bar-esque atmosphere to sip on cocktails and enjoy some Japanese, Chinese and Mediterranean delicacies. Ask to be seated in the opium den, then complain that there’s no opium.

Don’t be fooled by the décor and props –5 Bar and –5 Supperclub (254 Moo 9, Soi Petchatrakool, Nongprue, 038-489-488. www.amari.com) are not a spinoff from Bed Supperclub. They’re more like a knock-off. The bar provides drinks and tunes in cold white atmosphere and has a little room where you can pound unlimited vodka for B500/20 minutes in subzero temperatures. The Supperclub is just a lounge with fusion food and some creative cocktails. In case you miss the one in Bangkok, Hard Rock Café (429 Moo 9, Pattaya Beach Rd., 038-428-755/-9. www.hardrockhotels.net/pattaya) gives you the same rock, US food and memorabilia you’ll get in every other Hard Rock on the planet.

For a better view, head to the Latitude Lounge (Sheraton Pattaya Resort, 437 Phra Tamnak Rd., 038-259-888). The must have cocktail is the Pacifica (B340) for that perfect sunset moment.



Sleep

Newcomer The Zign Hotel (555/65 Moo 5, Naklua Soi 12, Banglamung, Chonburi, 038-909-800/-20. www.thezignhotel.com) is a spacious boutique hideaway. There are 959 rooms—each is inspired by different art themes from funky Retro art to geometric Cubism. The hotel also comes equipped with eight F&B outlets, Z Fitness and Zphora Spa. Prices range from B6,000 for a night stay in a superior room to B8,000 for a villa.

Just out of Pattaya, you will find the newly opened 5-star resort, Sea Sand Sun Pattaya Resort and Spa (78/4, Moo 8, Sukhumvit Rd., Chonburi, 038-238-656/-8. www.seasandsunpty.com). With only 60 rooms it’s a real boutique resort and it’s all decorated in Balinese style for that extra chill tropical atmosphere. Pick one of the super private Pool Villa Suites (B25,894) or, for a view of the sea (but a smaller pool), an Ocean Villa (B8,121).

Eravana Hideaway Pattaya (130/1 Moo 12, Chaiyapruek Rd., Bang Lamung, Chonburi, 038-233-233. www.eravana.com) offers the supreme leave-me-alone vibe if you feel like isolating yourself from others. Tucked in a deserted part of city, you should splurge on the Hideaway Pool Villa Suite (B35,000) or the slightly more reasonable Hideaway Spa Villa (B12,000). Enjoy your stay in Pattaya.


Essentials

Getting there by bus

Ekkamai Bus Station (Sukhumvit Rd., 02-391-2504. BTS Ekkamai). Buses leave every 30 min starting from 5am to 11pm. Journey time is around 2 hours. B128.

Mo Chit Bus Station (02-936-2852/-66 ext 311, 442. BTS Mo Chit). Buses also depart from the northern bus station every 20 minutes from 4:20am until 10pm. Journey time is around 2.5 hours. B128.

Getting there by car

From Bangkok, take Sukhumvit Road down to the Bang Na intersection (just after Soi 103) then turn left. Head up onto the Bangkok-Chonburi tollway (B55) then just keep following the signs to Pattaya.

Getting around

Songtaew (B20/trip up to around B2,000 for a whole day) good for journeys around the city and to nearby attractions.

While you might not see them trawling the streets, you can usually book taxis through your hotel. If you want to travel in style then Pattaya Limo (08-1863-3074. www.pattayalimo.com) might be an option. Their Toyota mini-vans come complete with snacks, drinks and a DVD player as part of the service. Prices start from B6,000-10,000 depending on how far you want to go.
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