French 
The Bay of Siam – where Pattaya is nestled – has a number of Coral islands – if you’re looking for scenery akin to ‘The Beach’ from the film with Leonardo Di Caprio, then one of the islands is definitely for you.
Koh Larn (Koh meaning Island in Thai) is the closest and can be reached by Ferry (20 baht) or local Speed Boat (500-1000 baht). The beaches here are marginally better than those on the mainland, however, being a very popular destination they’re neither quiet nor secluded. That said, there’s a fantastic range of food and watersports available for those who don’t simply like lying on the beach all day (although the sunbathing is, of course, excellent).
Koh Krok, Koh Sak, Koh Phai (or Monkey Island) and Koh Rin are all further away from the shore and aren’t served by ferries. However, there is a good number of speedboats – some fairly large – that can take you to these Islands if you want to get further off the beaten track. The snorkelling is excellent off the corals and beaches as they have retained much of their unspoilt natural beauty.
If you want some real luxury, why not take a trip on the Catamaran that sails around the further islands. You can book a place on it or even take a private charter – our local tour company can arrange this for you.
