Hua Hin Travel Guide

Hua Hin is a seaside resort city in Thailand. It is popular with Thais, having become quite fashionable as a weekend getaway spot for Bangkok residents, as well with foreigners and as an ex-pat retirement or vacation home location.
Although developing rapidly, there is a commitment by the local and provincial authorities to avoid the kind of overheated blight that has affected other beach resorts in Thailand.

Understand

Hua Hin as a resort was discovered in the early 1920s by King Prajadhipok as an ideal getaway from the sultry metropolis of Bangkok. The tranquil fishing village was turned into a royal resort and consequently became popular among Siam's nobility and upper class. In 1928, Prajadhipok built his Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) Palace. As of 2007, Klai Kangwon is the full-time residence of the current king and is not open for visitors, although the outer palace grounds are open for walkers and joggers from 4pm to 7 pm daily. (Wear shoes, bring passport)

Get in

By plane

Hua Hin Air Shuttle is currently the only passenger carrier offering regular flights to/from Hua Hin Airport. The price is very expensive compared to the distance and the time - 3400 baht one way, or 5800 baht return (adult, to/from Bangkok).

By train

Train is an easy method to get into Hua Hin, as the train station is right in the center of Hua Hin. However, the trains go very slowly getting away from Bangkok so 2 1/2 hour road time to Hua Hin stretches to 5 or 6 on the train. The price of the train is around 100 baht(and only 44Bath for ordinary train). See State Railway of Thailand for time tables and fares.

By bus

From Bangkok, buses to Hua Hin leave from the Sai Tai Mai terminal about every 20 minutes and take around 3.5 hours. The price (1st class) is under 200 baht. More convenient to downtown Bangkok, you can also take a minibus from the Victory Monument (Anusawari Chai) area, near the BTS skytrain. Cost is 180 baht, limited baggage. The Hua Hin vans board in the alleyway next to Rajavithi Hospital at the southwest side of the Victory Monument traffic roundabout. From the skytrain station, take the walkway towards the monument, then turn left and descend the staircase to street level. The minibus area is behind the food vendors area. Look for a small table with "Cha Am, Hua Hin" written in English to buy your ticket.

A 1st class bus service will eventually connect Hua Hin directly with Suvarnabhumi Airport (the new BKK).

By taxi

Taking a taxi from Bangkok to Hua Hin (distance about 200 km) is possible. Price after negotiation should be in the 2000 baht range. The limousine services, available at Bangkok Airport, are more expensive than an ordinary taxi.

Get around

There are many ways to get around in Hua Hin, Sawngthaews run the same routes all day and cost only 10 baht. There are numerous motorcycle taxis and tuk-tuks, fewer car taxis. Negotiate price beforehand. There are quite a lot of upscale tourists in Hua Hin and prices are sometimes adjusted upwards. Better to clarify the matter ahead of time. Car rentals are available, and this can be convenient if you're comfortable driving in Thailand. Motorcycle rentals are readily available. Hua Hin is very flat, and bicycle is a good way to get around locally. Rentals available, but not so prevalent as motos.

See

Kao Takeab is one of the highest area in Hua Hin, by going up this mountain by driving you will see the whole Hua Hin and also nice beach. This is another good place to wait for the sunset as well. Also the food on Kao Takeab is very delicious too.

Beaches - there is only one beach, which runs from one side of Hua Hin to the other. Basically it's one long beach. At the south end of town, Khao Takeab interrupts the beach. On the other side (technically not Hua Hin anymore) is a lovely swimming beach with a view of Khao Takeab's South face. Just a little further on, Suan Son beach is owned by the thai army, but open to the public for a small fee. Notable for the tropical sea pines lining the shore.

Do

Sand and sea.

Hua Hin is famous for its many nice golf courses. Worth a visit.
There are many other acitivities as well like ATV, horse riding, go-kart, and kite boarding.
Must go to night market. Where they sell foods and clothes.


Buy

Shop at the night markets. Things that you can buy range from T-shirts to antiques. shirt will cost you around 300 baht (£2) Note that there are two night markets. The better known is in the middle of Hua Hin, and is rather tourist oriented. The one the Thais favor is known as the Grand market because its in the parking lot between Grand Hotel and Sao Paulo Hospital. More diverse and interesting, but does not operate Monday and Tuesday.

Eat

There are plenty of eating options around Hua Hin. Those close to the beach and atop Kao Takiap are touristy, while some good local options can be found on Phetkasem Rd along the way to Kao Takiap. For cheap eats, check out the night market.

Drink

If you want English songs better go in the downtown area of Hua Hin, where Hyatt Hotel is located. If you go there, most of the people will be foreigners.

Style. One of the best nightspots in Hua Hin, with hip hop music and techno. Popular for teenagers around that area. Open from 6 pm to 2 am, but most people come around 10 pm onward. Live music as well, but thai music. Frequently overcrowded.

Takeang (J. Gene) Pub. Located at the end of Soi Bintabaht (girl bar street) closest to the Hilton Hotel. Live rock music with a very gifted Thai guitarist named Thep. The tunes are all classic rock covers (Hendrix, Guns & Roses, Steppenwolf, etc.), but Thep is a remarkable soloist who makes any song his own. Recommended

Bluestation Country Pub. Very popular with local folks, but nearly unknown to tourists. Located behind the older of Hua Hin's two bus depots, by the intersection of Chomsin Road and the railroad track (only rail crossing in central HH, so easy to find). The house band is excellent, playing all Thai country (Peu Chiwit) songs. Before 10 pm, there's an opening act that some nights (but irregularly) consists of a duo of Thai on guitar and farang on accordion, doing all Thai songs. One of a kind, and pleasant listening.

Sleep

Ranging from motel to 5 stars hotels. Hua Hin has a lot of hotel for you to stay, one of the best are Dusit Resort and Spa, Hyatt, Cheevasom Spa and Resort, Veranda Hotel. Those are 5 stars hotel which is like the best, if you want a bit lower grade, try Chom View Resort, which is near Kao Takeab and cheap. To go to any of these hotels you can ask the truck to take you there easily.

Budget
Many guest houses are available, walk in, no need to make reservations. A room is 150B and up. For 400B per you can get room with modern AC and TV.

Lucky, located around the corner from the Hua Hin Hilton, has small clean rooms with shared bathroom available for 150B per night.

Mid-range

Chom View Resort - very nice, not big, cheap, clean. Near Kao takeab, private beach.
Preeburan Resort - you can feel warm welcome with local Thai greeting, beachfront unique design villas with relax sensation at the affordable price visit preeburan.com

plurge

Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, 91 Hua Hin - Khao Takiap Road (on the beach-front), ☎ +66 3 252 1234 (hotel.hrhuahin@hyattintl.com). 5 star hotel with 204 rooms and suites. The hotel is within 12.5 acres of tropical landscaped gardens and has a 200-metre long beach-front. Host to

The Barai Spa.
Veranda Resort - very nice, cozy resort, not too big, service is excellent and all rooms are unique.

Chevasom Resort and Spa - one of the best Spa resorts in Thailand, very private. And well known to tourist as well. Pricy but the quality you get back is the best.

Evason Hideaway- Nicest pool villas, luxurious/secluded 5 star hotel, 6 senses spa (one of the best in Thailand)

Hua Hin

281 kilometers south of Bangkok, Hua Hin, which literally means stone head in Thai, is the oldest beach resort of the country and is still very popular. Clean white sand, crystal clear water and a tranquil atmosphere has continued to attract tourists in search of peaceful and relaxing holidays.

The town was originally known as Ban Samoe Rieng, or Ban Laem Hin (Stony Point Village). The construction of a railway station in the city as part of the Southern Railroad in the reign of King Rama VI resulted in making Hua Hin stand out from many quite fishing villages. In addition, the construction of a Summer Palace of King Rama VII totally transformed the village into a high-society resort town for royalty. Even today, the Royal Family continues to reside at the Palace for part of the year.

Hua Hin's consequence came with the opening of the Railway Hotel (known today as the Sofitel Central Hotel), an elegant Victorian-style resort hotel, and also the countrys first standard golf course. A cluster of royal and high-society residences gradually became more visible resulting in the transformation of the whole village into the first seaside resort of the country, where visitors could enjoy swimming, fishing, and golfing in the country's first standard golf course.

Today, Hua Hin is a well-established beach destination with word-class facilities coupled with a true sense of Thai hospitality. Despite its expansive growth and development as a luxurious destination, the splendor of Hua Hin remains intact. Remaining content in itself, Thailand's oldest seaside resort has never sought international recognition. It has continued to provide a peaceful and relaxed sanctuary in a picturesque environment that comes with a true sense of historical identity.