Many people think of Pattaya as a tourist trap, a busy beach town full with bars and night clubs. Well, it's true!! But there are so much more about Pattaya that most people don't even think about.
First of all, you can go to Pattaya right when you land in Thailand. The new Airport is closer to Pattaya and Bangkok Itself. The ride will take you less than 40min. Most of the hotel in Pattaya also take walk-in guests (be carefull during the high season though)
There are beautiful beaches and island that you can see beside the nightlife. Kor Lan, is one of the most beautiful island and it is only take an hour boat ride from Pattaya beach. The water is nice and clear. If you travel further away from pattaya, you will be at Rayong. The boarder between Rayong and Pattaya located a Thai Navy base. They let people go in there to take a look at the Navy school and also the one of the most beautiful beach called "Taey ngarm". They reserved the area for the Navy traning. Make sure you bring an ID or passport with you for the entrance check.
If you have a whole day of doing nothing, but feeling like having a small advanture. Why not buying a one day package tour for fishing and sightseeing!! Normally those tours take a whole day (7am to 4pm), including picking you up at the hotel, boat ride, everything you need for fishing, lunch on the boat that you catch and what they prepare for you, and dropping you back at the hotel at the end of the day. It costs around 1000-1500 baht depends on the agency. Get the cheapest one that you see, since they are all the same. I took one of my Thai friend to this tour once. He was very impressed and didn't even know that he could have such fun in Pattaya.
There are a couple restaurants that I would like to recommend. One is call Plar Tong (gold fish). This one was recommended to me by the local. It's a small restaurant in Nar-Gler. Their seafood are the best especially Stir fried Squid with salted egg!!! Yum and Yum!! The second restaurant is at the end of JomTien beach called Laung Sawai (uncle sawai). One of the best and reasonable price restaurant ever! Fresh tasty seafood. For two people, I ordered 5 different seafood dish, it only costed me 800 baht (around $30.
There are many more about Pattaya I would like to tell you guys, but it will be too long. If you have any question, just ask. Enjoy.