Hua Hin tourist guide
Hua Hin is within easy reach of Bangkok and it is a nice little seaside town which attracts families and package tourists: certainly not a backpackers’ hangout. Being close to Bangkok it also receives a lot of Thai tourists, and this helps give it a more authentic Thai feel to compliment the westernised elements of mainstream tourism. Hua Hin is a quaint, friendly place: there are narrow lanes lined with cafés and souvenir shops; and donkey rides, deck chairs and ice cream vans on the beach.
The beach is the main attraction here and it is very large at 5km long. Boulders are strewn throughout and this adds to the aesthetics of the beach and also creates a few small rock pools. In fact ‘Hua Hin’ means ‘head rock’ in Thai and refers to a particular rocky headland that separates the two main beach areas of Hua Hin. These rocks don’t hinder swimming though – in fact the sea here is great for swimming in, the only drawback being the appearance of quite a few jellyfish during the wet season.
At one end of the beach is Khao Takiab – or chopstick hill. There are a few modest temples on the way up this smallish hill and it makes for quite a pleasant walk. The hill and its temples are home to scores of monkeys and these will be jumping and swinging around you as you ascend. From the top of the hill you get a great view of the beach below you and the huge high-rise hotels dotted around.
A visit to Hua Hin’s Chatchai market is also highly recommended, especially if you want to sample some of the locally caught seafood. But there is a whole host of other culinary options available to you in the market, and a meal can be had easily by grazing – i.e. trying small portions from a few of the many tempting food items on offer rather than having a big sit down meal.
Hua Hin activities
If you’re a keen golfer then you’ll also be able to get your fix in Hua Hin as there are many golf equipment shops in town and golfing tours can be arranged easily. Some recommended golf courses include the Imperial Lake View Hotel & Golf Club, just out of town in Cha Am, which is ideal for average level players; or for a championship level course try the Springfield Royal Country Club also in Cha Am or The Majestic Creek Country Club directly inland from Hua Hin at Moo 4 Tambol Tabtai.
Hua Hin is also one of Thailand’s top destinations in which to pamper yourself: the spas and massage parlours are plentiful and very good.
Hua Hin restaurants
When the sun sets and you’re looking for somewhere to eat, seafood seems the obvious choice. The Chatchai market, as mentioned previously, is probably the best place to sample some and you’ll be eating in a lively and fun atmosphere.
If you’ve had enough of seafood and you’re hankering for something western, there are plenty of foreign cuisine restaurants and steak houses in town: head to Phunsuk Road and Naretdamri Road where there is a huge collection of western eateries, with Italian ones being of prominence. Luciano Pizza House and Lo Stivale are two recommended Italian restaurants, and Buffalo Bill’s Steak and Grill, near the post office, does a good ribs and steak.
Hua Hin nightlife
Great beachfront resorts, just 3 hours from Bangkok
For night-time entertainment the options are fairly limited: due to the emphasis on family holidays here, you won’t find yourself in a party town in which you can drink until the early hours. There is a collection of bars which are mainly of the ‘friendly hostesses’ variety along the roads leading from the Chatchai market to the beach (off Naretdamri Road and Damnoen Kasem Road) although these are among the tamest in Thailand and you can easily avoid the attentions of the girls who work there if it’s not your thing. This area is the liveliest in Hua Hin after dark and many of the bars show sports on big screens and have pool tables. Families take their children into these bars from time to time too, making them altogether a far cry from the much more sleazy hostess bars to be found in Bangkok or Pattaya!
The only sizeable disco in Hua Hin is in the Hilton hotel, although drinks prices aren’t quite as astronomical as the Hilton’s rooms are. This disco features a live band on most nights and closes at 1am sharp.
Getting to Hua Hin
Probably the most comfortable and best way to get to Hua Hin is by train, not least because it will give you a chance to see the cute and colourful Hua Hin train station. The journey takes about four hours and they leave Bangkok’s Hualamphong train station at 09:00, 12:35, 13:40, 14:00, 15:15, 16:00, 17:05, 17:45, 18:30, 19:20 and 22:35.
Buses also leave Bangkok’s southern bus terminal 36 times a day between 4:20am and 4:20pm.
To get to Hua Hin by road, take the southern Thonburi-Paktho Road, pass Samut Songkhram, turn left onto Petchkasem Highway and go in the direction of Prachuab Khirikhan. Eventually you will pick up signs to Hua Hin – the journey takes about three hours.
Recommended guesthouses in Hua Hin
Despite the obvious luxury high-rise hotels springing up all over Hua Hin’s skyline, there are also a number of more affordable guesthouses and budget hotels too. Below are a few recommendations to cover a range of budgets:
Bird Guest House
Cheap but pleasant guest house right by the sea has fan rooms for 400 Baht or air con rooms for 600 Baht. Situated on Naretdamri Road, tel 032 511 630
K’s Place
Located about 5 minutes walk from the beach, this bright, friendly guest house has air con rooms for 800 Baht. 116 Naretdamri Road, tel (032) 511 396
Puangpen (a.k.a. PP) Villa Hotel
The spacious rooms here have cable TV, air con and a fridge with minibar – and a large swimming pool is on the premises. Rooms start at 850 Baht. 11 Damnoen Kasem Road, tel 032 511 216.
