any reason to go to pattaya if i'm not on a sex junket?

nope

How about the best nightlife in Thailand. In the Walking St Thailand's 2 top guitar players can be seen in action nightly: Lam Morrison at the Blues Factory, and Kiti at Tony's Disco. While in the Walking St you can enjoy some of the finest seafood meals in the world. How about paying 55bt for a beer in numerous bars. In the day you can play golf, work out in one of many gyms, go out to the islands, go waterskiing, windsurfing.
Pattaya is only 2 hours from BKK. Give it a try, nothing to loose. It's a great fun place with outstanding shopping too. But if it's not to your liking you can be back in BKK within a few hours.

thanks texas for the info.. everything i read about pattaya is negative ... maybe i'll give it a try

There are a multitude of attractions and things to do.
This gives you some ideas including Mini Siam, Pattaya Water Park, Ripley's Believe it or Not, it's not so up to date as there is also Underwaterworld which is a major attraction, also the offshore submarine for marine viewing, the new marina, also the Alangkarn Show which is a historical and cultural spectacular with amazing lights and sound, seats around 2,000 people, hightly popular with Asian tour groups and conferences. 75% plus of all visitors are from Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, HK, Singapore etc so lots of other Thai shows and seafood restaurants.

http://pattaya.sawadee.com/attractions_pattaya.htm

Further out are Nong Nooch Park, plus Koh Larn Island etc

http://pattaya.sawadee.com/around_pattaya.htm

Alangkarn is amazing, a must see:

http://www.alangkarnthailand.com/main.htm

Also lots of major sporting events, Golf, frequent tennis championships, also venue for Indood Pan Asia Games, there is frquently some sports championships going on and worth seeing as seats are reral cheap.

Lots of Golf courses
http://pattaya.sawadee.com/golf.htm

Ruen Thai is a great restaurant with Thai cultural music and dance shows everynight, PIC Kitchen is also excellent for great Thai cuisine. Although cheaper hotels available if you are planning on the top resorts like Royal Cliff, Dusit, Sheraton etc these get full when there are major conferences and exhibitions in town. Ambassador city claims to be the world's largest resort with 5,000 rooms. If you find it too busy you can get to Koh Samet or Koh Chang down the coast.

just looking at this old post of mine...well, i made it to pattaya...met a nice thai girl (not a bargirl) and she loved pattaya more than me..we stayed in jomtien beach...for anyone who wants to avoid the bargirl scene, jomtien maybe be what your looking for.

I thought Pattaya would be an interesting destination, but I found that its a seedy, disgusting place (and I'm far from being prudish). If you want to be surrounded by things of a prostitutional nature at nearly all times, then this is your place. After two days of this depraved city I was ready to get out. Dirty and Sleazy. Spend your money at a nice, cleaner beach town.

Whirlwind- I didn't see that you replied yet. Your nice friend..Not a bar girl? Did you have sex with this girl?

My wife and I were in Pattaya in January and had a great time. We stayed at the Royal Cliff Grand and Spa- probably the best hotel experience we have ever had and we have been around the world. We also enjoyed the shows- Tiffinays and Alangkarn- great entertainment. One does not have to frequent the bawdy aspects of the town to have a great time. Its only a 2 hour drive from BKK so you can do both - Pattaya and BKK.

whirlwind, did you get your Pad Thai noodle wet?