Thanks Skeezix. Pattaya would never be my first choice in Thailand, but there are a couple of places that seem worth visiting and I thought the Centara would be good fun for the kids. I was also looking at Kanchanaburi but will save that for another time.

There's a good zoo in Pattaya that has a monorail, I think, that the kids would probably like, and you could always take a ferry over to the small island off shore - Koh Larn - the kids could build sandcastles and the boat ride would be fun. Just some thoughts...

Thanks Skeezix. Zoos in Thailand are not somewhere we generally head to as they are usually pretty upsetting for us, but definitely looking at Temple of Truth and Mini Siam. We we will be exhausted from a hectic 2 weeks in the UK and the overnight journey as well, so that will probably be enough for us.

I suggest Nong nooch botanic garden. There are lots of flower, PLANT,butterfly,elephane,and many thing for family to visit and enjoy the day. There are skywalk all around the garden for you to visit garden from above.

And even have tree top observation deck. have big pool full of large fish. U will love it. I PROMISE.

http://www.nongnoochtropicalgarden.com/

Thanks KhawOAT K, sounds good.

Lots of Russian and Eastern European families seem to over run Pattaya, so you will be fine in with children Cassnu and its not as sleazy as some people make out.

When my Thai GF comes over from Bangkok its usually Koh Larn an excellent 30 Baht trip over in the ferry boat. Other things to do early evening is check out 2 or 3 very good shopping malls my favourite being Central Festival. This mall has a massive food court at the bottom, several floors of very good shopping and a cinema at the top. There's also good malls at Royal Garden Plaza and Mikes shopping mall.

Be sure to make use of the 10 Baht buses and get familiar with there routes. They will drop of anywhere along Beach Rd. Have a look at Jomtien Beach which is reached by 2 x Baht buses. We like the Pattaya Beer Garden for early evening meals. Get right to the back and you will get decent, reasonable price food with excellent views across the bay.

Thanks RoverEngland. I'm not so worried about the sleazy side as I've spent time in Phuket previously and don't think it's that bad, but it sounds like there's plenty to do in Pattaya if we do decide to head there for a few days. I'm more worried about the Eastern Europeans as I've found them extremely rude when I've been in Samui etc.

Not really sleazy - pretty sedate during the day and just a bigger version of Patong. Anything off usually need to look for it rather than stumble upon it. The worst you will see on Walking Street is ladyboys and the Russian gogo girls dancing in the glass box trying to entice people to visit there Gogo.

Market - Soi Buakhao Market on Tues and Fri Evening is worth looking at if it fits your schedule.

Thanks Britmaveric, the Friday evening would be good for us.