Jomtien Beach

Jomtien (จอมเทียน) or Jomtien Beach (หาดจอมเทียน, Haat Jomtien), on road signs and road maps also often written Chom Tian, is a town on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand about 165 km south-east of Bangkok in Chonburi Province. It is about 3 km south of Pattaya and is home to high-rise condominiums, beach side hotels, beaches, and restaurants.

The town

There has been a construction boom in the last several years with many new condominiums as well as housing developments built in the Jomtien area. It has become quite popular with Bangkok residents seeking a second home, as well as with retired expatriates.

The Jomtien Complex includes a large group of shophouses, many restaurants, bars and stores. A recent trend has been the opening of many upscale restaurants along Thappraya Road, the main thoroughfare connecting Pattaya and Jomtien. Also Second Road (running parallel to Beach Road about 400 m inland) was completed in the last few years and now features many new developments and the Jomtien market adjacent to another complex of about 60+ open-air bars.

A large number of Russian and Scandinavian nationals visit or live in the area. In particular these is a large Norwegian colony, called Nordic and New Nordic on the Pratumnak Hill.

Attractions

Jomtien Beach is known for its water sports (jet skis, para-sailing, scuba diving), and for several annual sponsored sports events and festivals, attracting visitors from around the world.

A 265-meter section of Jomtien Beach (also known as Dongtan Beach) is Pattaya's only gay beach.

Transportation

Road

1. Via the Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway (Highway 7) The motorway is linked with Bangkok's Outer Ring Road, (Highway 9) and there is also another entrance at Si Nakharin and Rama IX Junction.
2. Via Bang Na-Trat Highway (Highway 34) From Bang Na, Bang Phli, across the Bang Pakong River to Chonburi there is a Chonburi's bypass that meets Sukhumvit Road., (Highway 3, passing Bang Saen Beach, Bang Phra to Pattaya.

City roads

• Jomtien Beach Road: this street runs parallel to the beach
• Jomtien Second Road (Thappraya Rd extension): this four-lane road runs parallel to Beach Road and connects to Thappraya Road to the north and Soi Wat Boon to the south.
• Thappraya Road: commences at the northern end of Jomtien Beach Road and at the junction of Jomtien Second Road turns left (north) and forms the main access road to Pattaya.
• Thepprasit Road: this street connects Thappraya Road to Sukhumvit Road.
• Soi Wat Boon: This street connects south Jomtien Beach Road to Sukhumvit Road.
• Soi Chayapruek: This street connects south Jomtien Beach Road to Sukhumvit Road.

Bus

Pattaya is served by frequent bus services from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) and the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai). Buses from Pattaya serve nearby provincial towns and direct long distance routes serve many provincial capitals. City and suburban services are mainly provided by blue songthaews. They are available to the Pattaya Nuea bus terminal to take passengers to Jomtien Beach.

There is now a regular bus service from the bus depot on Thappraya Road (just north of Theprasit Rd intersection) to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Taxis

There are some metered taxis and air-conditioned vans operating for private hire from some hotel car-parks. Songthaews (aka "bahtbus") are the most popular mode of public transportation, and run from Jomtien Beach to north Pattaya. On the regular route the cost is 10 baht for shorter distances and most Pattaya destinations or 20 baht for north Pattaya and beyond. However they can be much higher if asked to go to a designated destination. Motorbike taxis generally operate in the town and suburbs, and are mainly used by locals for short distances.

Air

Jomtien Beach is about 1-1/2 hours, or 120 km by road from Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Bangkok international hub. By road, it is accessed from Sukhumvit Road and Motorway 7 from Bangkok. There is a new airport bus service terminal located on Thappraya Road just north of the Thepprasit Road intersection.

See also

• Pattaya

External links

• Jomtien travel guide from Wikivoyage