Jomtien Beach — Attraction in Pattaya City

The reason that I have given Jomtien Beach a five star rating is because even though the beach was good-matter of fact far better than the more crowded and smaller Pattaya Beach just a few K's north I am over the moon about and a few lb's heavier having done something I NEVER do whilst on holiday. I ate at the same restaurant every single night for over a week! So, the five stars actually belongs to Frankie's Inn and Italian Restaurant.

Located only a block up from the beach on Second Road I had eaten there twice last year when I visited Jomtien Beach. Once for breakfast and once for dinner during a three day trip to the area. So, on my very first night back this year it was the very first place I headed off to when it was dinner time. Even better than I had remembered I thought as I savored my first bite of gnocchi (pronounced Nok-key). Handmade, fresh ingredients in a pesto sauce with prawns....then on to one of the dessert specials of the night. Homemade cheesecake with berries. To die for! During the week I sampled the seared tuna with sesame on rocket salad, ravioli stuffed with ricotta in a pumpkin sauce, gourmet salmon pizza, grilled salmon with veggies, a burger so big, juicy and delicious on a homemade roll it took me over an hour to finish it! On several evenings I went back and repeated what I had enjoyed a night or two previously. Everything is made with fresh ingredients, seasoned perfectly and delivered to your table beautifully presented.

The staff is friendly, attentive and English speaking. Both indoor and outdoor dining areas are exceptionally clean and nicely decorated. The...

My family and I come here from Bangkok because it's fast and convenient. It's more "family friendly" than Pattaya Beach, but there is still a bit of a party scene at the north end if that's what you want. There are designated swimming areas where the jet skis can't go, but the beach is so long that the further you move south, the less boat traffic you'll encounter. Of course, you'll encounter less restaurants and tourist conveniences, too. The sand is relatively coarse and the water isn't the cleanest in Thailand, but the prices are pretty good on Jomtien Beach. It's perfectly fine for a long weekend away from Bangkok but if world-class beaches are what you're looking for, I'd consider finding better sand and cleaner water elsewhere in Thailand.

EDIT: There has been A LOT of trash in the water and on the beach lately. You can't even go waist-deep without getting covered in plastic bags, wrappers, ropes, and used condoms. An absolute disgrace. We used to come here a lot, but not anymore. If you want a true third-world swimming experience, then come visit Jomtien Beach. If you want a nice family vacation, though, then you'd best avoid this place.

EDIT 28/07/18: We thought we'd see if the local government had done anything to clean up the water situation since we were here last. Nope! The water is still filthy. It's like that scene from that old 80s movie Caddyshack with the O-Henry chocolate bar in the pool... only in Thailand nobody seems to mind. 😅 We still had a good time, but I recommend the pool if swimming...

Jomtien Beach is just south of Pattaya along the Bay of Thailand (Aow Thai). You can reach it for 10 baht on a "baht bus" (pickup truck with two covered bench seats) from Beach Road in Pattaya. Jomtien Beach is very popular, and it is kept in good shape and very clean by the city. There are multiple vendors who rent chairs and unmbrellas along the beach. There are vendors who will constantly offer to bring you seafood (prawns, clams, langosteens (small lobsters), etc. as well as a wide selection of Thai fruit.and ice creams. You can purchase drinks such as sodas, beer and whiskey if you so desire. The sun is usually very intense on the beach, so do wear sunscreen regardless of how dark your skin might be. .You can swim in designated areas. You can wind surf, water ski, etc. It is not recommended to rent a jet ski there as there have been a large number of scams regarding outrageous charges for repair of jet skis. The bay of Thailand is polluted, so you are well advised to swin in the swimming pool at your hotel if you are going to spend much time in the water. Alternately, you can catch a boat from South Pattaya to Gaw Chang (Elephant Island) as the sea is much cleaner there. Jomtien Beach is fun. People are friendly. You will meet people from all over Thailand and all around the world. I...