From Wikitravel

Hua Hin (หัวหิน) 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.

[edit] 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)

Also understand, that the accommodation and bar information on this page is frequently spammed by the owners.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

SGA Airlines (now in alliance with Nok Air budget airline) is offering regular flights from the new Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok to Hua Hin Airport three times a day. Online booking can be made through Nok Air website (SGA Airlines' website simply redirects there when you start a booking). The price is not "budget" by any means though, compared to the distance and time of flight - 3100 baht one way, or 5800 baht return (adult, as of January 2008) for 50 minutes flight on a small Cessna 208 aircraft.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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).

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit][add listing] See

• Khao Takiab 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 Khao Takiab 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 Takiab interrupts the beach. On the other side (technically not Hua Hin anymore) is a lovely swimming beach with a view of Khao Takiab's South face. Just a little further on, Suan Son beach is owned by the thai army, but open to the public. Notable for the tropical sea pines lining the shore. A little south of the Marriott, watch for tiny sand crabs digging industriously, leaving odd patterns of tiny sand clods around their beachfront property.

Parts of the beach closer to the town may have greenish water, in this case continue walking down the beach where the water appears cleaner. There is ample supply of deck chairs along the beach, however many places will charge for their hire (100 baht is common). Deck chairs that are part of a beachside cafe may be free (in the assumption you will buy food or drink).

[edit][add listing] Do

• Sand and sea. This is the number one attraction of Hua Hin, also according to tourist information.

• Night market on Soi 72 opens at 5 PM every day. All kinds of stuff sold, also some cheap and good food at least in places where most customers are locals.

• Hua Hin is famous for its many nice golf courses. Worth a visit.

• There are many other acitivities as well like Mountain Biking, ATV, horse riding, go-kart, and kite boarding.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Shop at the night markets. Things that you can buy range from T-shirts to antiques. Note that there are two night markets. The better known is in the middle of Hua Hin on Soi 72, 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.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are plenty of eating options around Hua Hin. Those close to the beach and atop Khao Takiap are touristy, while some good local options can be found on Phetkasem Rd along the way to Khao Takiap. For cheap eats, check out the night market. Budget tourists having problems with the local fare will be happy to know that at the Tesco in the posh Market Village mall, there's street-style Thai food with modern fast food hygeine: 25-45B, and real coffee for 10B.

[edit][add listing] 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. There's active tourist night life between Dechanuchit Road and Soi Bintabaht with mostly middle-age and older customers.

• El Murphy's. The place for live music,located in the heart of Hua Hin on Soi Selakam 20M. from the Hilton Hotel.This Irish Bar is the nightly home of Hua Hins own The Stonehead Band,these boys have been rocking Hua Hin for more then 15 years with their great rock and blues classics.Sometimes there is an early opening act.

• 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.

• 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.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Hua Hin is quite tourist oriented at least in the central parts and thus there's mostly hotels there, but also some guest houses and motels are available.

[edit] Budget

True budget beds are less common than they might have been a few years ago, at least during high season.

• Kings Home Hua Hin is a quite small and very friendly guesthouse in the centre of Hua Hin with prices ranging from 800 to 1200 baht a night.

• 21 Guesthouse advertises 100-300 baht rooms with AC and television on their signage, but on arrival will offer you only a 500B room or a disgusting, mosquito-infested 100B with unspeakable stains on the sheets.

• Sukwilai Hotel and Guesthouse on western Soi Bintabaht near a "150 meters to Burger King" ad offers fan rooms for 300 baht, or 350 with cable TV. Also upper scale rooms available in the main building. Guest house is opposite to some bars playing quite loud until 2 AM.

• Mod Guesthouse is near 21 Guesthouse and the Hilton.

[edit] Mid-range

• El Murphy's. - located near the Hilton Hotel on Selakam road 20m. from the beach.This Irish Bar has clean air-con rooms from 500B.The rooms are en-suite with tv's,dvd's,Safes.Downstairs in the bar there is always a crowd either to eat Mexican food and steaks or to catch the nightly live band.

• 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 www.preeburan.com

[edit] Splurge

• Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, 91 Hua Hin - Khao Takiap Road (on the beach-front), ☎ +66 3 252 1234 (hotel.hrhuahin@hyattintl.com), [1]. 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. edit

• 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)

[edit] Contact

Tourist information can be found from the corner of Petchkasem Road and Damnerkasem Road (Soi 76), quite close to the railway station.

[edit] Stay safe

As the King has a palace here, the security in Hua Hin is very tight, with a lot of cops around. There's a tourist police station by the beach at the end of Soi 61.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

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