But for those who awaken to the bright morning sun, the sights, sounds and sensations of this seaside resort can be equally rewarding.

The myriad attractions - both natural and man-made - are enough to amuse even the most jaded traveler.

Entertainment and sporting venues abound - everything from the latest movie releases to state-of-the-art bowling centers, from live concerts and stage shows, countless restaurants, shopping malls and local markets. 

There is a modern water park and a host of water sports ranging from boating and parasailing to jet skis and deep-sea diving. Not to mention spectacular golf courses, with green fees starting at less than a thousand baht. 

Sadly, the miles of shoreline offered by Pattaya are not the pristine beaches of picture postcards. But a short hop south to Jomtien provides miles of clean beach and water. 

This is the place for you whether you are aching to catch fish with rod and reel, or with a camera.

Whatever your interest, whatever your goal, Pattaya and the surrounding areas has it all.  And if you have no interests or goals, you have still come to the right place.

There is no better spot from which to watch the world parade by as you sip your morning coffee at a sidewalk cafe or nurse an afternoon beer or two at an open-air bar.

While most of the passing procession is made up of Thais, those are often followed by expat faces from over a dozen other nations.

When you’re ready to join—rather than ogle—the amblers (and in Pattaya there generally is little pressure to do one over the other), then head out and visit one or more of the area’s must-see attractions.

Yet despite these attractions, Rayong is unlike Pattaya.  It is not as touristy and it even has a sleepy feel.  Although fine hotels line some of its beaches, the tourists visiting Rayong are mostly locals. The few foreign tourists who stray into the province mostly proceed to Ban Phe, a busy fishing port and jump-off point to Koh Samet, the island with the whitest and squeakiest sand in the kingdom.