I can’t say that I’m much of a beach person, but that’s mainly due to my skin, which doesn’t tan, it just burns, after only about 30 seconds of direct sun. So, while I might like a day at the beach, sitting on the sand, absorbing all that fresh sea air, I generally can’t indulge in such a pleasure without several days of painful consequences.

Except at Dongtan beach, near Pattaya. Set between the much bigger Jomtien beach and the hill at the south end of Pattaya, Dongtan is the beach made for me. The tree-shaded beach is divided into sections of beach chairs, each staffed by a team of people that will bring you food, drinks and other things. The sections are covered by umbrellas placed so close together that no direct light may enter, although if you do want to work on your tan, the staff will be happy to oblige you by lowering the umbrellas over your chair.

Other vendors wander up and down the beach, selling ice cream, pastries, fresh fruits, grilled seafood, and many other things. It’s the most laid-back shopping experience you could ever imagine. There are also massages, manicures, and other ‘pleasures’ on offer as well.

The upper part of the beach, where the chairs are placed, is steep enough so that no matter where you sit, you can still get a good view of the sea, as well as the passing parade of people.

The cost for all this? Believe it or not, the cost of renting a chair for the day is just 30 Baht (about US$1) plus of course the cost of whatever food and drink you order.

I’m sure Dongtan won’t be to everyone’s taste. Different people look for different things in a beach, but for me, Dongtan is about the best there is.

Posted by michael under Just back from...
Tags: Pattaya • Thailand
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