Golf in Pattaya can totally spoil you. You can play a different course every day for two weeks and still not play all the international standard courses within an hour's drive of town. Many of Pattaya's courses are country clubs designed by such names as Nicklaus, Faldo, Thompson, Wolderidge, Dye and Trent Jones. Expect manicured greens, raked traps and real live caddies. Courses in the Kingdom, especially on weekdays, tend to be much less crowded that what one sees in the West and greens fees for world-class courses – which include cart and caddy -- cost less than you'd pay at a humble municipal course in the U.S. or U.K.

Golf not your thing? Well, Pattaya probably has what you're looking for. How about water skiing, paintball, Thai boxing, yachting, bowling, bungee jumping, jet skiing, parasailing, darts, sky-diving, swimming, shooting, trekking, fishing, billiards, snooker, shuffle board, softball, badminton, go kart racing, tennis, cycling, motorcycle racing, polo, squash, football, or wind surfing? There are clubs, organized leagues or venues available for all of these. And, again, the prices are unbelievable. Here's a few examples:

• Laem Chabang International Country Club – Designed by Jack Nicklaus, this course is the No. 1 rated course in Thailand and one of the finest in all of Asia. Greens fees? $21.
• Full day deep sea fishing charter with all the equipment, bait and supplies, plus two meals -- $25
• Pattaya Water & Amusement Park – All day pass: $2.50
• Lakeland Water Cable Ski -- Cable ski around an enormous freshwater lake for $7.50 for about 2 hours.