Venture Bikes - Jomtien Beach

Venture Bikes is situated on Chaiyapruek 1 Road close to Jomtien Beach Road on the left hand side as you head down Chaiyapruek 1 towards the beach or on the right hand side as you head towards Sukhumvit Road.

The Venture Bike guys are real pros when it comes to bike sales, hire and repairs, with two full time mechanics in addition to the owners, husband and wife team Khun Suwipha and Ben from England who are both lovely.

The shop has a range of on and off-road bikes for rental with prices starting at 50 Baht a day through to 200 Baht a day depending on model and length of hire. This is easily the most civilised way to enjoy Jomtien for visitors. It gives the people who hire bicycles a real feel for the area and a sense of satisfaction at having taken a look around by their own steam. It's just not the same as exploring in a car, by motorbike or on a coach.

Rental Prices

I've never had to purchase or rent a bicycle at Venture Bikes yet, though there are strong reviews on TripAdvisor. My own experiences as a bike enthusiast are quick and inexpensive repairs for silly things like a puncture or a loose pedal. A recent report from a friend who collapsed his front pedal cog and required a new one fitted was very positive and in line with my own customer experience. Quick, friendly and professional.

Naturally there are a range of bikes for sale with selection of models chosen for balance of precision engineering and value for money. There's an online section of the website dealing with sales if you wish to take a look before visiting.

Pattaya Sunset - Sunset at Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, Thailand

The sunset facing Jomtien has some of the most spectacular in the world. More over here.

Baan Amphur

Just Jomtien on Storify

Jomtien Breakdancers

From time to time if enjoying the bars and restaurants around Jomtien Sois 1 to 5, Jomtien Complex or Rompho Complex a travelling gang of young Thai Breakdancers are entrepreneurially entertaining the onlookers with their breakdancing skills.

They really are quite talented and worth tipping at the end of their set. Young people who make an effort to entertain through practice and effort deserve to be rewarded if at all possible.

Top Jomtien Breakfasts - Simple Simon

On the advice of Thaivisa readers we paid a visit to Simple Simon's on Jomtien Soi 5 or Chom Thian 5 Alley as the Google Maps API prefers to call it (map names in Jomtien are a challenging memory game working through all the variations). 

Unlike the Denmark Hotel the breakfast here is pure British and included a couple of items not available at the Scandinavian style establishment. These included Black Pudding and Tinned Tomatoes.

The price for December 2014 was 180 Baht and it was indeed a splendid breakfast, possibly the best British one so far although we still think the Denmark Hotel offering has a lot more choice and quite a few surprises though the British style bacon, tinned tomatoes and black pudding offering are not available

Jomtien Beach Road With Helmet Camera

Lovely helmet camera action of Pattaya Beach Road, Walking Street and Jomtien Beach Road. This is the best way to see it from afar though we have done a bicycle action film in the past.

Planet Earth Beach Club - Grand ReOpening

Planet Earth Beach Club on Jomtien Beach Road Soi 15 is probably about as close to, if not better than any Ibiza style pool party you may have experienced. We had an excellent time meeting new people and old friends as well as sampling great music with super hot girls and plenty of great looking guys too. We also noticed a great multicultural mix with just the right amount of first class transsexuals and Russian talent spicing up the scene.

The Planet Earth action starts every Saturday from 1pm to 1am with their Black Butterfly event which was held on the Sunday following the Grand Reopening "Planet Earth White Party" If that sounds confusing just head over to the website or facebook page or make a note of what goes down each Saturday and Sunday: 

Dresscode: Less Bikini

• Live Entertainment
• Pool Tables
• International DJ's
• Sexy Dancers
• Booty Shaking Contest
• Shisha Lounge
• Free Shots
• Free BBQ
• Free Massages

Dirty Jomtien Beach

Most of the time, and indeed most of the day Jomtien Beach is suitable for swimming in. But often in the morning, and particularly during the high season there's a foamy surface pollution to it that makes it unsuitable for swimming. 

These are tough days for the tourism business in Jomtien with up to 50% downturn in Russian tourists who are the bulk of the business on Jomtien. We suggest now is the right time to start thinking about this issue and plan ahead for the long term.

Top Jomtien Breakfasts - Denmark Hotel

One of the best breakfasts in Jomtien is available at the Denmark Hotel, Jomtien Beach Road Soi 7/1 or Soi White House as it's better known. The hotel is at the end of the soi on the right hand side.

They offer a Scandinavian style breakfast with cold meats and cheeses in addition to the usual expected breakfast fare of eggs, bacon and sausages. The price is currently 170 Baht which is outstanding value for one of the most generous breakfast buffet spreads we've come across. 

It's the choices of breads, deli meats, sausages an cheeses that make this an attractive way to spend a weekend buffet breakfast. There are Thai and Asian dishes if you wish, and cereals as well as pancakes and fruits. The buffet spread has different offerings on the two occasions we've attended so it's really about knowing the variety and quality is as good as it gets and seeing exactly what's on offer on the day you attend.

We like to go on Sunday morning when it's all very relaxed with mainly Scandinavian guests and their Thai partners enjoying the good food and pleasant seating arrangements that offer a number of different perspectives depending on how you wish to enjoy the food and the experience.

If you have any breakfast recommendations to make in Jomtien please let us know in the comments and we will be sure to try them out.

Collingbourne Auctioneers - From the Darkside of the Moon to Apple Macs

Someone once said that “life is like a box of chocolates,” because the variety is endless and you never know what you’re going to get next. Variety sure is the spice of life, and it’s the eclectic nature of the world and reality as we know it that makes being alive such a gift.

The reason we are waxing lyrical about choice is because we visited Collingbourne Auctioneers on Chaiyapruk Road 2 in Jomtien over the weekend, which not only excited our mortal souls, but also introduced us to a brave new world of buying and selling, the likes of which we didn't think existed in Pattaya.

When it came to finding a bargain in Pattaya and Jomtien, I had resigned myself to the fact that the second-hand market on Thepprasit Road was my only choice. Making our way into the auction house was akin to first opening Aladdin’s cave. From arts & crafts such as sculptures, water and oil paintings on canvas, to classic vinyl music albums, Apple computers and even car and motorbikes, Collingbourne Auctioneers is a veritable paradise for collectors, art dealers, and those looking for a bargain.

The only problem when visiting Collingbourne Auctioneers is that it’s impossible to come away empty handed, even if you only came to have a look around… it has that sort of effect on you. But in all honesty, who can turn down a bargain?

We were amazed to see pristine Apple Macs sharing the same space with Taylor Made drivers, all manners of jewellery, classic vinyl albums and even motor vehicles such as bikes, cars and even tuk-tuks. It would be easier to detail what they don’t have. Although perusing the lots, diggin' in the crates so to speak, is an exciting element of exploring any auction house, nothing can compare with bidding for a bargain. Everyone remembers their first time, do you?

The main auctions are on Wednesdays from 4pm and every Saturday from 11am. The Saturday auction is where you will find the most eclectic range of goods on offer. Wednesdays is for car and motorbikes.

Whether you are looking for a bargain, buying or selling, or you are seeking something a little different in Pattaya and Jomtien, get down to Collingbourne Auctioneers and bask in the hustle and bustle that only an auction house can create.

Collingbourne Auctioneers - Jomtien - Pattaya

If you've never been to Collingbourne Auctioneers on Chaiyapruek Road 2 near Jomtien Beach, Pattaya you're missing out on one of the weekly highlights of the Thailand bargain hunter's calendar. 

The two major auctions are held every Wednesday at 4 PM and every Saturday at 11.00 AM 

Wednesday's auction is for cars and motorbikes so it's more practical then the weekend, because that's almost like a social event. 

There's a lot of fun to be had with unexpected and highly desirable goods falling under the hammer at the Saturday auction where a range of items from antiques to apple phones and apple computers are to be had.

Every Saturday a container of returned goods from a well known high street retailer in the UK is put under the hammer at the 11 AM auction.

The rules and regulations, not to mention VAT stipulations for returned goods in the UK make it cost prohibitive to repackage these brand new and pristine condition items and put them back on the shelf.

This is to our advantage for people in Chonburi as we get to bid on a wide range of retail goods from Disney Toys to Hair Clippers, Black & Decker Power Tools and Beauty equipment plus so much more.

They often go for unbeatable prices that are the lowest on the planet.

Check out John Collingbourne's video interview above on Good Morning Pattaya and see why people love to buy and sell at Collingbourne Auctioneers.

Jomtien Beach Sunsets

The range of sunsets visible from Jomtien Beach is quite extraordinary. We may not have the cleanest beach in the world 365 days a year, or the tidiest visitors on Thai Public Holidays but the sunsets are spectacular and a privilege to witness. 

It's like living in an oil painting after 6pm for about 30 to 45 minutes. Nobody charges me for it either. 

Some of these photographs belong to Scott Innes and they can be purchased here.

Dragon Beach Resort - Тайланд, Паттая

Most visitors to Jomtien end up on the more crowded Northern side of Jomtien beach where the larger hotels are, but in terms of value and proximity to the beach there's a handful of hotels towards the Southern end of Jomtien Beach Road that represent much better quality than the better known names. 

Dragon Beach Resort is one example of these desirable hotels. It has a front facing complex on Jomtien Beach Road and a secondary building on Soi 16 close by. Both are elegantly decorated in a modernist and hip manner with Chinese customers usually seen to be on the beach front side and Russia guests residing in the non beach facing side. Our guess is this is done by the travel agents so if you have a preference you may wish to book direct, though in our opinion the Soi 16 side is more chilled out than the hustle of the beach facing hotel front.

Jomtien Beach Tide Out Panorama

  

The tide is out during the day on Jomtien Beach currently, so we decided to take a panoramic bicycle ride to give a view of Jomtien Beach that is rarely seen. 

The video commences looking at the Southern end of the beach and then rides North before panning out to the horizon and back down South. The major condominium feature is the Reflections Pattaya twin buildings at the beginning.

Jomtien Beach Snapshots

 

 

It's still low season here on Jomtien Beach so the weekends are mainly full of Thais making a break from Bangkok or Chonburi the province where Jomtien is located. A small trickle of Russians are beginning to take their holidays here and the first smattering of foreign tourists are on the beach in the morning trying to catch the suns rays. 

Most of the day the tide is out unlike during in high season when for some reason the water laps close to the beach road.

The weather is currently windy and cool. The fishermen aren't always out in their boats like during the peak periods and so the kiteboarders and windsurfers take advantage of the consistently excellent gales, particularly in the late afternoon to exploit the power of nature on the sea.