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If you don't fancy venturing far from your hotel, there are plenty of beach daytrip options close at hand. Just around the headland from Pattaya is Jomtien Beach, a short taxi ride away. The layout here is less cramped, giving you more leg room in which to enjoy nibbling on fresh seafood. The waters are also cleaner and there are excellent water sports facilities.

Jomtien, like Pattaya, can get very busy in the peak season, and it makes sense to have a backup plan. Naklua Beach is just a 20-minute ride from Pattaya Beach and offers a less frenetic alternative that is ideal for families. Much removed from the bar scene that is so universal in Pattaya, Naklua is a good getaway choice if you don't want to go far.

If it is a day away from foreign holidaymakers that you are after, there is no better choice than a daytrip to the beach at Bang Saen, just north of Pattaya towards Chonburi. This resort attracts mostly Thai visitors and offers a refreshing change from the commercialism of Pattaya. Sit back in a deck chair and soak up the sun alongside the locals.

A greater choice of beaches is available south and southeast of Pattaya, although some of those near Sattahip are exclusively reserved for Thai military use. One beach that is open to the general public is Bang Saray, a low-key place with excellent sands and a choice of restaurants.

Continuing east along the coast from Sattahip is Rayong, just a 1-hour, 30-minute drive from Pattaya. While the beaches near the city are not Thailand's best, those at Ban Phe, the access point for boats to Koh Samet, are very appealing. Most day-trippers from Pattaya opt to stick to the sands around Rayong at Ban Phe rather than a trip to Koh Samet, for which you really need time for an overnight stay.

If you don't want to be hassled with independent travel, there are dozens of travel agencies in Pattaya that can organise a daytrip to the nearby island of Koh Larn. Organised tours to the island typically include all transport and lunch, with ferries departing from South Pattaya and taking 40 minutes to reach Koh Larn. Snorkelling stops at neighbouring islands, such as the horseshoe shaped Koh Sak and Koh Krok, are also common.

There is no need to confine yourself to just one beach when holidaying in Pattaya as there are simply so many excellent alternatives close at hand. Whether you sign up for an organised daytrip or you go at it alone, a beach daytrip is a fantastic addition to any Pattaya holiday.