Get ready for the Wan Lai festival in Pattaya - AsiaRooms.com

AsiaRooms.com highlights Songkran events will be taking place across Thailand in April as people celebrate the arrival of the new year on the Buddhist calendar.

However, people staying in Pattaya hotels during this period may notice that the local festivities are slightly different.

This is because the city's Songkran celebrations usually get underway slightly later in the month than other areas of the country and the festival is known locally as "Wan Lai".

With Songkran taking place across Thailand from April 13th to 15th, Wan Lai will be held in Pattaya on April 18th and 19th.

Despite this subtle difference, the city's version of the festival remains similar to other regions in many ways, with an emphasis on fun, family and water throwing.

Travellers who have used Thailand hotels during Songkran will be aware that walking the streets without a water pistol can be risky business.

One of the main activities of the festival is the throwing of water, with many Thai people riding around in trucks and dousing each other with buckets at the first available opportunity.

Tourists will usually be expected to join in with the fun and it can be a good way to cool off during the hottest month of the year in Thailand.