As Pattaya becomes a more family-orientated city there has been and will continue to be a shift towards entertainment aimed at families. One of the most popular activities for this group is a visit to one of the excellent waterparks that are located in and around Pattaya. OK, the beaches are great but they don’t create quite the same thrill as high-speed slides or wave pools. All the parks have trained lifeguards to ensure everyone’s safety – another advantage that they have of a visit to the beach.
Pattaya Park
The oldest of the waterparks in and around Pattaya but one that still manages to maintain its appeal, perhaps due to its close proximity to the city. Pattaya Park is more than just a waterpark, it is also described as an amusement park and the famous Pattaya Tower, which stands 240 metres high can be seen all across Pattaya. The tower has three revolving restaurants and a zipline to ground if taking the lift is a little too time consuming!
The waterpark has all the usual things that you would associate with a water park anywhere in the world. This includes various slides, flumes and a lazy river. Of course, there several different swimming pools, many of which are ideal for younger children. The main advantage with Pattaya Park is how easy it is to get to, especially if you don’t have your own transport. It may not have the thrill-seeking attractions of some of the more modern other parks, but it is still a great family day out nonetheless.
The park is located on Thappraya Soi 12, close to the beach.
Cartoon Network Amazone
Cartoon Network Amazone, is located to the south of Na Jomtien on the Sukhumvit Road in the direction of Sattahip. This is a fantastic fun-filled family day out at a large, spacious site that has “30 state-of-the-art” slides, flumes and activities. The park is very similar to what you would find across Europe or the US with all your favourite Cartoon Network characters happily working away keeping the children entertained.
An impressive feature about this waterpark, and one that shows a lot of thought and planning has gone into it is the fact activities aimed at teenagers and adults are kept apart from the those for younger children. This helps to ensure that over-exuberance doesn’t spoil anyone’s day. Children tend to be huge fans of the Cartoonival area where you will find 150 slides, tubes and fountains plus a whole host more. Adults and teenagers always go for the Surfarena, a Flowrider where you can put your surfing and bodyboarding skills to the test. If that isn’t enough you could try out the Mega Wave.
If you want something to eat, then the park has a wide selection of restaurants and eateries in the Foodville area. If you want to quieten down your afternoon or evening you can lounge around the pool or take in the spectacular evening shows including acrobats and light displays. It’s a long day for all the characters but they will be on hand to again provide some entertainment and spend time with the kiddies.
The park is open from 10am until 6pm every day and the prices are THB1,800 for foreigners and THB1,200 for Thai citizens or those holding a Thai ID card.
Ramayana Water Park
Ramayana is the largest waterpark in SE Asia and sits on a whopping 184,000sqm of land. The park is beautifully located in the rolling hills close to Silverlake Vineyard and the Buddha Hill, where you will find a gold Buddha carved into the rocks. The park is around a 30 minute drive from Pattaya and can be reached by turning left around 3km to the south of Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens.
Every member of your family will be ideally catered for at Ramayana with activities available for toddlers through to adults. Being the most modern of the waterparks in Pattaya, opening in 2016, Ramayana has gone to great lengths to make it a state-of-the-art entertainment complex. There are large shaded pools to protect younger children and no chemicals are used in the water to make it as safe as possible for all visitors. The water comes from the park’s own wells and is filtered using the latest filtration system.
For younger children, you will find a range of spray toys that always bring a smile to the youngster’s faces. They have some of the best slides and flumes in Asia along with a double Flowrider, once again appealing to surfing and bodyboarding fans. You will find a wide selection of bars and restaurants on site as well as private cabanas on a hilltop where you can relax. Speaking of relaxation, the lazy river is always popular for those who feel like doing a lot of, well, pretty much nothing!
The park boasts excellent facilities and has ample parking. Booking in advance is recommended as you can generally get a better deal.
