I’m writing this from the balcony of my hotel room at U Jomtien Pattaya. Everything around here is so alive. The smell of the ocean. The sea breeze gently brushing against my skin. The sound of the sea waves crushing against the sand. The sight of the glistening turquoise water and the blue sky. The seagulls flying past.The silhouette of the mountains lining the horizon, embracing the vast ocean as it flaunts majestic grandiosity.

This trip is slightly different from how I ususally do it.  My vacation often tends to be about action: wandering around to see places, checking out attractions in the neighborhood, and looking for things to do. 

But in this trip, it’s pure relaxation at this Pattaya beach hotel.

I have to admit: it’s quite nice.

Starting from the wonderful breakfast. As I stepped into the dining room, I was greeted by friendly staffs who brought me to a table next to the window where I could have full view of the ocean. The breakfast buffet was delicious. I ordered an eggs benedict, and helped myself to pastries, cereals and a nice cup of cappucino. The coffee was so delicious and fragrant that I had to look up what the brand of the coffee machine was.  Their tea selection was an amazing collection of Dilmah. The peppermint tea was so soothing. This place knows how to perfectly pamper their guests!

As the sun got stronger into the afternoon, I came back to the hotel and basically lounged around in the hotel rooftop almost all day. Thanks to whoever so brilliantly designed the place, it has the perfect rooftop bar where I could sit in the shades looking over the infinity of the ocean, and read a good book. When it got too hot, I simply jumped into the pool.

Hours easily flew by. And before I knew it, the whole day had gone by.

I watched the sky changing colors from pale blue to soft pink before the sun disappeared into the horizon, leaving me to the darkness of the night. The ocean became littered with green lights from fisherman boats. And I was just lazily lying in my beach couch before falling asleep to the ocean breeze, only waking up minutes before the rooftop bar closed for the night.

I packed up my stuff, came back to my room and retired to bed.

I woke up to the soft ray of the sun and the sound of the sea.

That pretty much summed up my beach vacation in Pattaya at U Jomtien. 

Perfection is simple. 

Whether you're a traveler based in Bangkok, here for a business trip, or an expat living in Bangkok, there are many weekend getaway options that are quite close to the city.

Here are the best destinations - both for travelers and locals alike!

While you can get to these places with public transportation, having a car to drive around can be very convenient. Buses run on schedule and in some region, it's not that frequent. 

I'd recommend renting one. Check out your car rental options here

Pattaya 

One of the favorite getaway destination for locals and very popular among tourists visiting Bangkok! Pattaya offers a wonderful beach vacation experience only 2 hours away from Bangkok. 

There are plenty of activities and things to do in Pattaya - from swimming in the sea, sunbathing in the beach, to visiting a zoo! There are lots of seafood restaurants that offer fresh seafood. In fact, as you walk along the beach, there'll be people selling fresh seafood for you too!  Pattaya is no doubt my number one getaway from Bangkok! 

If you're looking for a place to stay, there are many fantastic hotels and resorts at various price range. For solo travelers who'd like to keep the budget under $100 a night, you can see some great hotel choices here. 

Pattaya is one of the most popular travel destinations in Thailand! It's a beach vacation. It's only a 2 hours drive from Bangkok. And there are plenty of shops, tourist attractions, and fresh seafood restaurants.

I visit Pattaya several times a year. Each time, I'd try different hotels from super cheap to mid-price range. And here are my list of the best hotels in Pattaya for your perfect vacation, whether you're travelling solo, couple, or with family! 

Wondering what to do in Pattaya? Check out things to do in Pattaya here where you can also find discounted tickets!

For your convenience, you can click on the hotel name to book your next vacation. 

 U Jomtien Pattaya

Wouldn't you just love to wake up to the view of the tranquil ocean, the sound of the gentle waves, and the smell of the sea breeze? I cannot recommend this hotel enough. Read my review here 


U Jomtien offers all rooms with a sea view! The rooftop bar is amazing and very relaxing, with the open view of the ocean.

​It's literally steps away from the beach where you can soak up the sun. This is totally my top choice when I travel to Pattaya.

Rooms tend to get fully booked fast, so make sure to reserve early