Travel Eye on Hua Hin (Thailand)

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Overview:

Hua Hin and the neighbouring town of Cha-am are best described as small sleepy seaside resort towns . They are to Bangkok what Brighton is to London or the Hamptons are to New York. Initially for the rich and famous, the area flourished with the expansion of the railways giving access to the masses.

Being only 2 to 3 hours drive down the Gulf of Thailand, the towns offer a close retreat of sharp contrast to the hustle of Thailand's capital and as such their personalities change as the hordes arrive at weekends with many hotels being full. Hua Hin has the added credibility of being the favoured resort of the Thai royal family; indeed the current king spends much of his time in residence there.

This area is suitable for those seeking a quiet beachside stay with authentic local flavour. It is popular with Thai holidaymakers. There is close to 100 hotels. Several large modern upmarket options are close to or on the beach front; there are some middlemarket hotels, holiday bungalows and smaller economy guesthouses. There is one grand hotel of 1920s vintage.

Locality:

Hua Hin is halfway down the length of Thailand, on the west("sunrise") side of the Gulf of Thailand, (it is roughly 120 mls SW of Bangkok and its airport). It occupyies generally flat land fronting a long, curved beach bounded by rocky headlands. Backed by gentle, verdant hills.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

With over half a dozen courses dotted around the town, Hua Hin is a golfers' paradise and many just come to play day-in and day-out. All the courses are well maintained as one has come to expect in Thailand. The closest to the town is Royal Hua Hin Golf Course just behind the railway station in the town centre and was Thailand's first golf course. Others include the 27 hole Lakeview, which has its own hotel so addicts need not stray far, the Jack Nicklaus-designed Springfield Royal Country Club, Palm Hills, just 15 minutes from Hua Hin, Majestic Creek and Bangkok Milford. Green fees are a real bargain and the fairways are never busy although weekends are more crowded. Guests staying on the course usually enjoy significant discounts on playing fees.

Other than golf, Hua Hin and the surrounding area has little to offer and most visitors never even venture from their resorts, especially as most now have spa services in situ. The town itself is fun to walk around in the evening with its night market dedicated to selling tee shirts, trinkets and copy products.

Hua Hin is a resort town most attractions and activities centre around the beach. Well-kept horses are available for trekking on the beach for a few dollars an hour and a wide variety of water sports are on offer from jet skiing, hobie sailing, banana boating and parasailing. The motorised sports areas are sensibly fenced off from the main swimming areas. The beaches themselves are not stunning and in many cases have been eroded away completely. At high tide the sand area can be very limited. The best public beach is at the centre of Hua Hin in front of the Sofitel Hotel. Other good stretches are usually in front of the bigger resorts. Deck chairs and umbrellas are often available for hire.

Other attractions within the town include the quaint railway station , which is straight out of the 1930s with the king's private waiting room and a restored locomotive. Nearby is the beautifully restored Railway Hotel now run by Sofitel. The delightful grounds, drifting piano music and afternoon tea set take you back to a bygone era. The king's palace is also in town towards the north near the airport. It is no longer open to the public as the king spends much of the time in residence. The surrounding area is densely policed so approaching the palace is difficult.

Towards the south of the town are two hills. Mount Khao Takaip or ' Chopstick Hill ' offers sweeping views of Hua Hin from its summit. Nearby Khao Krailat has a collection of Buddha images within the temple at its peak.