Hua Hin

Only three hours by car from Bangkok this tranquil fishing village, with its five mile long beach and fantastic local seafood, provides an ideal getaway from the sticky metropolis. One of Thailand's oldest resorts, Hua Hin was discovered in the early 1920s by King Rama VII and soon became a favourite of the Royal family and Thailand's aristocracy. Many of Bangkok's elite built beachfront summer homes along this curving sandy bay, contributing to the resort's prestige.

While Hua Hin remains a Royal and high society favourite, it has developed in recent years by deftly combining the attractions of an international destination with its distinctive charm. The hectic development based largely on tourist dollars has been avoided, and the town still has a flourishing fishing port. Easy access from Bangkok by train has ensured Hua Hin's growth with Thais as well as foreign tourists. It's a place to relax, take a stroll, eat great seafood and chill out...

If interested in a stay here, check out our Hua Hin site

Using the first-hand knowledge of our editorial staff we've created a guide to help you with the enviable task of choosing Where to Stay in Hua Hin. It can be a tough balancing act finding somewhere that satisfies your requirements, be it style, location, facilities or price that's most important. No longer. Brief descriptions giving a flavour of each of Hua Hin's areas accompany succinct, informative hotel descriptions designed to help you find your idea of paradise. Learn about each hotel's unique selling point, that special something that marks it out from the crowd. They're split into the following sections: Hua Hin, Cha-am and Pranburi.

Read our Hua Hin Where to Stay section

Accommodation in Hua Hin ranges from beach-straddling five-stars, to luxury boutique spaces that resemble indigenous huts, to cheaper high-rise establishments that rein in the frills but don't dent your pocket. Pretty much all afford you the luxury of a pool where you can bask in solitude and sunshine.

We have negotiated some great deals across the board, and you can find these by heading to our main Hua Hin Hotels page. Alternatively you can see the full list of hotels in each area - Hua Hin, Cha-am, Pranburi - or search by name or by price. If looking to really spoil yourself, then see our luxury hotels page.

Learn more about Hua Hin's Hotels

With plenty of fabulous beaches in and around Hua Hin, everyone can find their own strip of paradise...

While fairly narrow, there's always plenty of space to relax on Hua Hin Beach. Stretching from the main town to the rocky promontory at Khao Takiap, beach umbrellas and deckchairs are available. As are watersports and beach activities like jet-skiing, paragliding, banana boats and horse-riding. Nearby are the beaches of Hat Takiap, Suan Son and Khao Tao; each quieter, more isolated and fronted by hotels and resorts.

Nearby Cha-am is a resort town with a more local vibe than Hua-Hin. At weekends its beach - the longest in Thailand - is teeming with Thai day-trippers, who come to enjoy snacks, play in the water, take a pony ride along the sand, or hire a tandem bicycle and explore with friends. There are several luxury resorts here, as well as lots of smaller guesthouses.

Found 30km south of Hua Hin, Pranburi is an up-and-coming beach. Whisper quiet and ideal for relaxation, its strip is home to growing numbers of eye-catching boutique resorts.

Find out more in our dedicated Beaches section

Nights are quieter and more wholesome than in Bangkok or Pattaya... but still eminently satisfying. When you've done the vibrant night market, quaff cheap beers in one of many beer bars that feature sports TVs, pool tables, scantily clad hostesses and an arsenal of cheap alcohol.

Better suited to families and couples are the al fresco-style pubs and bars scattered across town, many of them rather charming. There are also one or two lively discos, alot of live music, and - because no self-respecting Thai beach resort can be without one - even a ladyboy cabaret called Blue Angel. This small-scale production is big on transgender beauty, glitz and glam.

Read our Hua Hin Nightlife section for more

Hua Hin was, and still is, a fishing port at heart. Each day offshore boats haul in nets teeming with fresh catch. No surprise then that the town is literally swimming in good seafood restaurants. Naturally, this being Thailand, Thai cuisine also plays big, served everywhere from street corners to the beachfront and the well-known Night Market. But, with its tourism influx, so too does Western, Indian and Japanese. All hotels here have a fancy restaurant or two, but, with so much on offer, you'll miss out if you don't eat around.

See Hua Hin Dining section for more info

Natural attractions still reign in Hua Hin. An incredibly long and wide sandy beach plus national parks, caves and waterfalls shape the surrounding area. Leisure activities for the whole family abound, and range from golf to watersports.

Golf facilities have expanded over recent years and added to the resort's cachet. Hua Hin now boasts the highest density of world class golf courses anywhere in Thailand. Green-fees and other costs are still among the lowest in the world, while course maintenance and services are superb. These can be enjoyed with a stress-free tour.

The official royal residence Klai Kangwon, built in 1928 by King Rama VII, is still frequently used by members of the royal family and is open to the public for visits. In the evenings you can enjoy Hua Hin's nightlife, go for a stroll or eat out at local restaurants built on stilts over the sea.

On a tour you experience all the beauty of your chosen destination and none of the stress involved in getting there. There are plenty available in Hua Hin, each typically involving visits to several attractions as opposed to just one.

There are adventure tours taking in nearby national parks, waterfalls, kayaking, elephant rides or snorkeling; trips focusing on the cultural aspects of Phetchaburi province, including Hua Hin and Cha-am; or golf trips to one of the many world-class courses found in the vicinity. These come in half-day or full-day packages. For those who want to discover this resort town after the sun wanes, there are a few night tours available that include spectacular sunsets, night markets and glittering cabaret shows.

See our Tours section for more information and to book

A few tour highlights:

Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park ('300 mountain peaks') Tour
This package offers an unforgettable experience at Samroi Yod National Park, located about 50 kilometres south of Hua Hin. A shelter for seamen during storms and home to various kinds of local and migrating birds, the park is covered with limestone mountains, savanna-like plains, mangrove swamps, steep limestone cliffs and beaches. Drive along pineapple plantations to an unspoiled fishing village before taking a short boat trip to Sam Phraya beach and Tham Phraya Nakhon cave.

Kaeng Krachan National Park Tour

Occupying the total area of 2,915 square kilometres, Kaeng Krajarn is Thailand's largest unspoiled national park. Rich in flora and fauna, the park features a reservoir and year-round green jungle in the Tanaosri Mountain Ranges. Spot animals in their natural habitat and make a splash at the 18-level waterfall, Namtok Tho Thip. Following that is a one-hour boat trip around the scenic Kaeng Krachan Dam. Lunch and hotel transfers are also included.

Pa La-U Waterfall Tour
This full-day tour features an exciting visit to Pa La-U Waterfall, the impressive eleven-tiered waterfall located in the densely verdant forest in the area of Kaeng Krachan National Park. Enjoy unspoiled scenery along the trekking trail parallel to the stream, and look out for several species of rare birds and butterflies. After lunch, you'll get to relax or swim by the waterfall so don't forget to bring swimwear, towel and sunscreen lotion along!