HUA HIN - Great Beaches in Thailand

HUA HIN is a beach resort town in Thailand, some 200 kilometers (or 4 hours drive)  south of Bangkok. It is a popular beach resort gateway for Bangkok residents. Thailand's royal family and especially former kings were the first to set this location on the map as the original seashore destination in Thailand. The 5 km long beach itself is pretty and the sea is relatively calm.  Besides just sunbathing, snorkeling and swimming it is the place supporting attractions and activities such as golf, spas, caves, peaks, waterfalls, shops, seafood and nearby national parks.

ATTRACTIONS

Hua Hin Beach extends to some five kilometers. You can best access the beaches through resort facilities such as:

      Let's SEA (Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort)  - we highly recommend this place.

•    A perfect place to laZzzz around or walk barefoot along the beach
•    Place has 5-star  accommodation or you can just go and visit its famous Let's Sea Lounge and Restaurant which offers authentic Thai family style cooking, served creatively.
• It has a dramatic 120-m swimming lagoon directly accessible from your room.

Let's SEA/Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort
83/188 Soi Talay 12
Khao Takieb Road, Hua Hin
Prachuap Khirikhan 77110
Thailand
T +66 (0) 32 536 888
F +66 (0) 32 536 887
E info.huahin@letussea.com
www.letussea.com

 Night Street Market - a popular shopping market, right at the downtown district,  allowing people to shop, eat native-style seafood cooked on the spot and to witness local people's lifestyle.  This night market opens daily from 6pm till midnight.

TIP: Hua Hin's most popular local product is Khommaphat printed cotton which can be made into shirts, handkerchiefs, wraps as well as decorative  pieces such as pillows, bags and fans.  Other local products include hand-woven cotton and a traditional Hua Hin-style duster. 

Wat Huay Mongkol - was home to the popular monk Luang Pu Thuat who is famous for his "miracles". Wat Huay Mongkol houses the largest statue of Luang Pu Thuat in Thailand in a park-like setting.  The statue is about 12 meters high and 10 meter wide. This place is very popular with Thai people who come to pay respect to the monk and to ask for things as favors, good luck, health, fortune and happiness.  On each side of the giant statue, there is a huge wooden three-headed elephant. Local people walk in circles three times under the belly of the elephants wishing for good luck. The place is where you can buy the Amulets of Luang Phor Thuad.  Thai people believe that amulets with the Luang's image hold great protective powers, especially from natural disasters and from accidents.

• Wat Huay Mongkol is 15 km from downtown Hua Hin.  The most comfortable way to get there is to drive or by taxi that most hotels will be able to book.
• TIP: when you climb up the stairways to the giant statue, bring water and sun cream since there is no shade and it gets hot so quickly.  The best to get there early in the morning and avoid the crowd.

GOOD EATS

Go to the Marina/Pier along Naresdamri Road where Hilton Hotel is located or access through Soi 57 from the main street of Hua Hin.  This is a long stretch of restaurants and local hotels. For real fresh seafood taken from aquarium tanks, go to:

1. Chao Lay Seafood - 15 Naresdamri Road, Hua-Hin, Prachuabkirikhan 77110 (tel. 0-3251-3436 or 0-3251-3437. Place is huge and crowded overlooking the sea. Prices are reasonable.

2. Sang Thai Seafood Restaurant - (Tel. 032-412 144)  Local people go to this place for fresh seafoods which they cook after you have chosen your live seafood from the display tanks.  This restaurant is very close to Chao Lay Seafood.

FOOT MASSAGE

Good SPAs for your body or foot massage are also found along  Naresdamri Road close to the Hilton Hotel. The following are recommended:

1. Baan Kwankamon Massage and SPA - (120/1 Naresdamri Road; Tel 032 533 733, 080-6585591)

• Place is very clean and spacious
• Highly trained attendants
• Tourists with young children go her for foot massage
• Foot massage is Baht 300 ($10) for one hour

2. Elephant Thai Massage and Beauty Salon - (162/9 Naresdamri Road; Tel. 032-532455; open from 9am to midnight)

• Traditional Thai massage - 2 hours (400 Baht/$13); 1 hour (300 Baht/$10)
• Food massage - 1 hour (300 Baht/$10)
• Hair cut - 200 Baht
• Shampoo and hair dry - 200 Baht
• manicure/pedicure - 150 Baht

3. Fish massage (found in several places in Naresdamri Road) Fish nibbling away your dried skin cells to leave feet soft. Rates: 150 Baht- 15 minutes; 200 Baht - 20 minutes; 250 Baht - 30 minutes.

SUGGESTED PLACES TO STAY

1.  Let's SEA - (see contact information above) rate per night approx $190 with breakfast for two.

2. Hua Hin Mantra Resort - 4 star hotel located just beside Let's Sea

            Daily Rates:  Deluxe Room   - Baht 2,750/$91  (weekday); Baht 3050/$102 (weekend)

                          Hua Hin Mantra Resort
                          83/181 Soi Nongkae Village
                          Hua Hin, Prachuab-Khiri-Khan 77100, Thailand
                          Tel. 00 66 (0) 32 536 777
                          Fax 00 66 (0) 32 536 778
                          Email : rsvn@huahinmantra.com
                                       info@huahinmantra.com
                          www.huahinmantra.com

3.  Fresh Inn Hotel - just infront of Hilton Hotel (132 Naresdamri Road, Hua Hin, Prachuabkhirikan 77110 Thailand) ; Tel 66 32 511 389; www.freshinnhuahin.com

        Daily Rates (w/ breakfast)        1 Nov to 19 April       20 Apr-31 Oct    

                      Standard Room                 Baht 1700                Bhat 1500
                      Superior Room                  Baht 1800               Baht 1650
         Cash only; with 7 nights free one night

                         
4. Royal Pavilion - 4-star hotel; recommended if you prefer staying in the center of downtown Hua Hin; hotel is two blocks away from the Night Market and 10 minutes walk to the Marina/Pier area.

          Daily Rates (w/ breakfast for two) Baht 3300 ($110)

                       Royal Pavilion
                       40/88 Phetkasen Road, Hua Hin
                       Prochuabkhirikhan 77110, Thailand
                       Tel. +66 (0) 32 513 188
                       www.royalpavilionhuahin.com

5. Anantsila Khao Takiab Resort Hotel - (suggested by our friend, Thetis) 4-star beach front family-oriented hotel on a beautiful sandy tree-lined takiab beach with beach bar and sunbeds. A private beach front and 25 meter swimming pool provide for carefree relaxation in the sun. Beach bar and terrace offer soothing view of the sea.

          Daily Rates:
                  Standard Room (at Annex Bldg)         Baht 2880 to 3600
                  Junior Suites                                        Baht 5520 to 6900
                  Deluxe Poolside  Rooms                     Baht 4880 to 6100
                  One bedroom apartment                      Baht 4080 to 5100             
                  Pool villas                                            Baht 10500

                  Anantasila Villa by the Sea
                  33/17 Soi Moonban Huadon
                  Petchkasem Road
                  Hua Hin Prachuab Khirikhan 771100, Thailand
                  Tel. +66 (0) 32 536364 
                  www.anantasila.com 

6. Aleenta Hua Hin - Pranburi  Resort and SPA - (recommended by a friend, Anna Olsen) each suite is located within steps to the beach and offers a commanding views of the sunset.

            Daily Rates:


            Location (for GPS users) Latitude/Longitude - 12degrees 20'52'67"N,
                                                                                        99 degrees 59'51.21"E

           Reservations: rsvn.hhg@aleenta.com
                                  +66 2 514 8112

           Daily Rates:
                       Palm poolside suite         Baht 5800  
                       Ocean view suite             Baht 5700 - 6840
                       Beach house suite           Baht 6500

HOW TO GO TO HUA HIN

1. Private car - 3.50 hours
2, Public Transportation - there is a 12 seater mini- van that runs every 30 minutes to and from Victory Monument for a standard fee of Baht 180 ($6.00) on way.

                           June and Jams Transports Co. Ltd.
                           From  Bangkok, Victory Monument (in front of the hospital Ratchawithi)
                                 Ratchawithi Soi 13, Tel 086 307 0533, 08 633 0609 (open 5am to 2030pm)
          
                           Rama 2 set opposite Central Rama 2 next to the Chaba restaurant
                                  Tel. 086 307 0544

                          From Hua Hin right beside Royal Pavilion Hotel
                                  Tel. 086 992 7422 (open 4:00am to 20:30 pm)

WANT TO BRING HOME FRESH CRABS, SEAFOOD AND FRUITS?

Go to Cha-am public market (located 20 kilometers from Hua Hin) along your way home.  Fresh seafood, vegetables and fruits are abundant at very low prices (e.g. fresh big crabs at Baht 250 per kilo, shrimps at Baht 300 per kilo, fresh scallops at Baht 150 per kilo).  Sellers can cook your seafoods (at Baht 20 per kilo) in 17- 20 minutes. Thereafter, they can put them in  styrofoam buckets (Baht 60-120 for the bucket) , pack them on ice and seal them neat. Happy eating!

April 13, 2013