How to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok and Pattaya: all the ways. Hua Hin is the safest resort in Thailand! Holidays in Hua Hin

The Malacca Peninsula, located in the south of Thailand, was chosen by the king for vacation at the beginning of the 20th century. In the former fishing village, the Klai Gangwon Palace grew up, which translated means “secluded, far from the bustle,” and after that the village itself grew to the size of a town now known as Hua resort-Hin.

And although the area of ​​the city and its population have increased, Hua Hin has not lost its privacy, turning into a cozy place for family vacation. It is famous for its beauty sandy beaches, and also security: since the royal couple still comes here on vacation, the city police are taking enhanced measures to maintain law and order.

If you choose to holiday with children in Hua Hin, freedom from worries, peace and several pleasant discoveries await you. Why this is so, read our review.

Hua Hin on the map of Thailand

The city of Hua Hin is one of the oldest resorts in Thailand. It is located in the north of the Malay Peninsula, on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 220 km from Bangkok. Hua Hin is the administrative center of a municipal district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

The location of Hua Hin is very convenient for tourists. If you want to take a break from the whirlwind of everyday life, you can sunbathe on quiet beaches and swim in the sea. But as soon as boredom begins to creep in, it’s worth taking the bus and in a couple of hours you’ll be in Bangkok, where there are amusement parks, play centers and children’s museums.

Holidays with children

Holidays in Hua Hin are valued by both Thais and tourists. And this is not surprising: a calm, safe resort near the capital is good in many respects. Firstly, Hua Hin is easily accessible by plane, train or bus from Bangkok. Traveling to a vacation spot will not tire your child, which means that immediately after arrival you can leave your things in the room and go to the sea.

Secondly, Hua Hin is a reputable resort. In terms of respectability, it is often compared to Pattaya, but Hua Hin is more suitable for families with children due to the silence and lack of noisy nightlife. Life here flows calmly and peacefully, so you can truly relax with your child.

Thirdly, the town has an excellent tourist infrastructure. There are many luxury hotels here, although you can find apartments or guesthouses for relatively little money.

One of the advantages of traveling to Hua Hin with children is family hotels. They take upon themselves the decision of what to feed the children, how to organize their leisure time and how to provide parents with the opportunity to relax. In such hotels you can relax even with an infant.

In terms of entertainment, we can recommend Hua Hin for preschoolers and primary schoolchildren. They will enjoy riding elephants, visiting game centers and water parks. If you are going on holiday with teenagers, we recommend visiting Bangkok, where there are many more interesting places.

When is the best time to go?

The weather forecast seems to clearly indicate when is the best time to travel to Hua Hin. The optimal time to relax on the beach is from December to March, when there is no rain, stupefying heat and high humidity.

In winter and early spring, it is easiest for children to adapt to a new climate, which means that most of their vacation can be devoted to beaches, walks and excursions.

The high season in Hua Hin starts in November, and the maximum number of tourists flock to the resort in the winter months. It is advisable to book accommodation for this time in the summer, as best options sorted out long before the start of the season.

It must be said that there are several reasons to visit the resort before the opening of the season in Hua Hin or after it closes. For example, in November, Thais celebrate Loy Krathong.

The main event of the holiday is the launching of flower boats with candles. But besides this, ceremonial processions and theatrical performances are organized in cities.

In April, Thailand welcomes New Year. There are fun celebrations in the streets, and be prepared to be doused with water - for good luck.

Weather and climate

Winter in Hua Hin is summer. And summer is also summer. And the hottest summer is spring. Jokes aside, Hua Hin's tropical climate means constant heat and high humidity.

The most pleasant weather without rain and intense heat lasts at the resort from December to March.

In December-January the temperature is +30ºС, but already in February it begins to rise and by March reaches +33ºС. The nights are relatively cool, around +24-25ºС. Have a better holiday in Hua Hin with children, you can’t think of anything better to do than relax in winter and early spring.

It starts to rain in May. First - at night, without leaving a single puddle by morning. But the closer to autumn, the longer the showers last. In September-October, precipitation does not stop for several days.

And since the air temperature remains at +32-33ºС, the heat seems unbearable due to high humidity. And if you can still choose summer for a holiday with a child, then autumn is absolutely not suitable for a trip.

Vacations in Hua Hin should be planned no earlier than November. There is significantly less rain, clear days prevail, and the air temperature is +30-32ºС. To travel with a baby to Hua Hin, we recommend choosing winter months with stable dry weather.

Sea water temperature

The sea temperature in Hua Hin differs little from the air temperature. If the resort is hot at +33ºС, the water warms up to +30ºС. If the air cools to +30ºС, as happens in winter, the water temperature in Hua Hin drops to +27ºС. In any case, the water is never colder than +25ºС.

Detailed information is unnecessary - but how it pleases the heart:

• December - +27.8ºС
• January - +27ºС
• February - +27.6ºС
• March - +28.9ºС
• April - +30ºС

Nutrition

In most hotels in Hua Hin, the cost of accommodation includes breakfast according to the " buffet" You can also have lunch and dinner in hotel restaurants, where the cuisine is tailored to the needs of tourists. The menu includes dishes of European and Thai cuisine, so a child who eats from an adult table will not go hungry.

When choosing the best place to travel with children, some tourists prefer to rent a room with a kitchen or an apartment so they can cook on their own. In Hua Hin there are no problems with buying groceries: everything you need is sold in supermarkets, small shops and markets.

If you decide to dedicate independent holiday in Hua Hin with children to get the most complete acquaintance with Thailand, then you will definitely be interested in Thai cuisine. Local dishes are mostly spicy, so young children should order food without spices.

Transport

Public transport in Hua Hin consists of songthaews, popular throughout Thailand, that is, pickup trucks converted to carry passengers. There are no soft seats, no air conditioning, or even windows in the songthaew, but travel costs only 10-40 TNV (tickets for children cost the same).

Songthaews do not have numbers, but the route can be identified by color. Green songthaews go through the center, along the coast, and can take you to the bus station and airport. It’s convenient to get to the white ones railway station, supermarkets and markets. Orange ones drive through secondary streets.

The songthaew does not have a schedule as such, but from morning to 18-19 hours they run every 15-30 minutes.

Intercity transport in Hua Hin is somewhat more comfortable. There are old, but quite functional buses going to Cha-Am, the fare for which costs about 60 TNV. You can get to Phuket and Krabi by air-conditioned buses, but the fare will cost 450 TVN.

The most expensive option for getting around Hua Hin is a taxi. A short trip will cost at least 200 TNV, and you need to bargain for this price. If you prefer travel rather than walking, you can rent a car. Car rental companies operate in both Hua Hin and Bangkok.

Hua Hin Thailand resort is the safest and most expensive holiday destination in the Kingdom. The reason is increased police security. Hua Hin is located near the border of the king's residence. This coastal town with a population of 81,000 people is located 200 kilometers from Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand.

Holidays at the resort of Hua Hin in Thailand

In Hua Hin there are quite a few places for tourists to visit and spend time with interest and benefit.

List of popular attractions in Hua Hin Thailand:

The cheapest tickets from Moscow to Hua Hin this month

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		2 transfers
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The Royal Palace is open to tourists every day from 8am to 4pm. The cost of visiting is 60 baht. There is a strict dress code on the territory of the palace: you cannot walk around the palace in shorts or short skirts, and you will also have to take off your shoes; a fabric bag is given at the entrance especially for shoes.

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Beaches on Hua Hin in Thailand

The beaches of this resort are conventionally divided into three parts: central, northern and southern.

Central Hua Beach The Chin is noisier and has large number entertainment for tourists, as well as with accommodation there are fewer problems here, since there are quite a lot of hotels in the central part. The northern and southern parts are more suitable for fans of a relaxing holiday

Central city beach area

The central beach starts from the Hilton Hotel, the length of the beach is more than two kilometers, the easiest way to find the beach is along Damnernkasen Rd. People hang out on the beach around the clock, because the beach infrastructure here is developed at the highest level. There are shops, cafes and other entertainment.

South City Beach Zone

The beach area originates from the foot of Mount Khao Takiab (there is a temple and an observation deck on the mountain). The beach is quite narrow, and there are not so many people here, unlike the central beach; in some places you can get straight from the steps of the hotels straight into the water. The beach is designed for a relaxing holiday.

North City Beach Area

Zone north beach starts from the fishing pier and ends near the airport. This is a clean, spacious and uncrowded beach, an excellent place for a relaxing holiday. The Royal Palace of Hua Hin is located next to the beach. Every evening soldiers march in formation near the beach, and military boats keep watch at sea, thanks to which the beach is considered the safest in Hua Hin.

Popular beaches in Hua Hin Thailand:

1. Khao Takiab
2. Xuan Son
3. Cha Am
4. San Noi

Hotels on Hua Hin in Thailand

Here you can see hotel prices and book

Hotel	Stardom	Discount	Price per night, from	Select dates
Hua Hin Marriott Resort and Spa	★★★★★		11 967 10 108
Centara Grand Beach Resort& Villas Hua Hin	★★★★★		13 110 9 128
	★★★★		5 861 5 126
Anantara Hua Hin Resort	★★★★★		9 251 8 536

• The Hotel Cha Am de La Phe – the hotel is located right on the seashore, among green lawns, palm trees, a personal swimming pool with an umbrella and a sun lounger, the place is ideal for privacy, each room has a sea view.
• Aka Resort and Spa Hum Hin – the luxury hotel is located on the seashore, bathrooms and living rooms are right under the hotel open air, the hotel has everything for a comfortable stay. For its clients, the hotel provides vehicles in the form of bicycles and parking completely free of charge.
• Yaiya Hua Hin – the hotel is located on sea ​​coast, and is surrounded by a tropical garden, in the center of which grows (the symbol) “a large nutmeg tree.” The furniture in the rooms is made exclusively of wood. The hotel has everything for a comfortable stay ( private beach, swimming pools, spas and other amenities).
• The Regent Cha Am Beach Resort – a hotel for elite tourists, royals like to relax in the hotel, the hotel is located in the middle of a tropical garden, the apartments attract with their comfort and high-quality service.
• Hilton Him Resort and Spa – the hotel is located right on the sea coast, just a couple of meters from the sea, the hotel has a private beach. The hotel has special amenities for tourists: a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a fitness room, a spa salon, a massage salon, a room for children, darts, tennis and more...

WITH current prices for hotel accommodation and their location can be found on the interactive map:

Video: Royal Residence Hua Hin Thailand

The first organized settlements on the site of Hua Hin appeared not so long ago - at the beginning of the 19th century. This happened when drought forced some of the Thai peasants who lived closer to the island to move to more fertile lands. This is how the village of Samore Riang appeared, which means “Row of Stones”. Later it was renamed several times, but the “stone” was present in each new name.

In 1911, a railway line was built here, which caused an influx of local wealthy residents wanting to buy bungalows on the seashore. And the beginning of the tourist history of Hua Hin dates back to 1920, when this city attracted the attention of King Rama VI himself. The monarch decided to establish his summer residence here, which entailed the construction of two luxurious palaces, as well as ensuring a high level of security. And today in Hua Hin there is almost no crime, there is always order on the streets and an almost European atmosphere.

Entertainment and attractions

Since the city of Hua Hin is relatively young and small - only 911 square kilometers, there are almost no historical attractions within its borders, except for the royal palaces. But there are a lot of them in the surrounding area, and each one is easy to get to.

Review of Hua Hin sights

• - summer royal palace with the unpronounceable name Marukhataiwan appeared in 1923. This elegant, airy building made of yew wood is located 15 kilometers from the city - on the way to Cha-Am.

• - main royal residence With beautiful name“Far from worries”, located 2 kilometers from Hua Hin. Unlike the previous palace, this one is still used by the royal family.

• Royal Pavilion at the railway station- a waiting room built in 1920, intended for royal family. It is practically not used for its intended purpose, but thanks to beautiful architecture has become a popular tourist attraction.

• - not too high (only 272 meters), but noticeable from almost anywhere in Hua Hin, it is interesting for its temple and observation deck at the top. It is believed that tens and hundreds of monkeys live on Khao Takiab, but, according to tourists, usually on the way up you can meet a maximum of 2-3 monkeys. But you will see a large Buddha statue, and also get a wonderful overview of the surrounding area.

• Bat Cave- is located in a low mountain located 30 kilometers from Hua Hin. Hundreds of bats fly out of the karst cave every evening just after sunset, forming a real swarm. You can get here along Petchakasem Road, driving about 5 kilometers after Cha-Am and turning right at the overpass.
• Three caves- Kailon Cave, Dao Cave and Laplae Cave are located about 30 kilometers from the city, next to the Palau Falls. In one of them, in Kailon Cave, a hermit monk once lived. The other two are interesting with their bizarre stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the ubiquitous Buddha statues.
• Hua Hin Zoo- a new zoological garden was built in Hua Hin recently, in 2016. It is located approximately 20 minutes by car northwest of the Market Village shopping center. You shouldn’t expect a wide variety of animals here, but there are deer, a white lion cub, crocodiles, tigers, and peacocks.
• - part of the large and beautiful Forest Park national park, where routes are laid out for tourists along light suspension bridges.

• Palau Falls (Pala-U)- Located in Kaeng Krachan National Park, it is approximately 60 kilometers from Hua Hin. This 16-step waterfall is the highest in Thailand, so the viewpoint at the top offers magnificent views.

• - an original attraction near Pak Tien Beach near the city of Cha-Am. It is a 6-meter statue of a black woman - a demon who beckons the Thai prince with her finger.

• - a temple dedicated to a legendary monk named Luang Pro Tuad, who, according to legend, could perform miracles. The dominant feature of the temple is an 11-meter statue of a monk on a high pedestal, surrounded by beautiful park with ponds. And you can get here by moving along the Soi 70 highway in a western direction (about 20 kilometers from the city).

• Rock temple Wat Cha Am- this unusual sanctuary is located in the Cha-Am area, 40 kilometers from Hua Hin. Its main part is a cave where a statue of a reclining Buddha is kept. Also here you can find a number of small figurines and a stone sculpture in which the temple caretakers see the head of a snake.
• Elephant Village- There are several elephant villages in Hua Hin, but the most popular of them is located near the Wat Khao Itisukato temple. Here you can ride elephants, take pictures with them, or feed the animals with specially purchased bananas.
• - an adventure park located in the jungle about 12 kilometers from the city. It offers entertainment such as snake and elephant shows, elephant rides, and ATV rides. It is believed that the most interesting elephant show is shown in Hua Hin Safari & Adventure Park.

Of course that's not all interesting places Hua Hina. There are several colorful Buddhist sanctuaries and even one Orthodox Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers. Other attractions include the Vana Nava water park, an artists' village and vineyards. In short, even if you come for a month or more, you will find what to see and what excursions to fill your free time with.

Interesting fact: It is believed that the wooden statues of elephants in the Temple of the Black Monk can make wishes come true - you just need to walk around any of them 9 times, passing under the belly, and put a small coin in the statue’s mouth.

Download the Hua Hin attractions map.

Entertainment in Hua Hin

Train station address: (intersection of Soi 67 and Prapokklao).

Official website railways : .

Hua Hin has an airport, but it is only one runway and is usually used for private flights.

How to get there from Moscow:

Option 1 - via Bangkok

Airplane: Direct flights to Bangkok are offered by Gulf Air and Aeroflot. With one transfer - Turkish Airlines. Travel time is from 12 to 32 hours, depending on the flight.

Option 2 - via Pattaya

Airplane: Aeroflot has direct flights to Pattaya, Qatar Airways offers transfer options, Etihad Airways, Emirates. You can spend from 5 to 30 hours or more on a flight.

Option 1 - via Bangkok

Airplane: There are no direct flights, but you can fly to Bangkok with 1 transfer Turkish airlines Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Aeroflot. The journey takes from 13 to 40 or more hours.

Option 2 - via Pattaya

Airplane: there are flights with only 1-2 transfers from Turkish Airlines, Hainan Airlines, S7, Aeroflot and others. On the way - from 14 hours or more.

How to get there from Bangkok:

You can also leave from the Southern and Northern bus stations, but this will not be the most convenient transfer.

How to get there from Pattaya:

Interesting: At Bangkok airport you can get a free SIM card from Thai operators DTAC and TRUE. In Bangkok itself, it is better to use TRUE, but in other areas of Thailand, DTAC will have a more stable connection and faster Internet.

Transport - how to get around the city

Hua Hin has a fairly wide public transport network:

• - a fast and inexpensive way to move around the city if you are traveling alone and without luggage. All drivers wear bright red and crimson vests; it is difficult to confuse them with anyone else.

• Songthaew- Thai pick-up minibuses, in which benches are placed for passengers in the rear of the car. This is the most cheap look transport, fare averages from 15 ( ~30 rub. ) up to 40 baht ( ~81 rub. ). They vary in color:
  — green ones go from Khao Takiab through the center of Hua Hin to the airport and back;
  - white with a red stripe - go along the ring from Thanon Phetkasem Street to Soi Hua Hin 41;
  — white people can take you from the railway station to the Market Village shopping center and to floating markets;
  - orange - will help you get to the hospital and to the Tesco Lotus shopping center.

• - another type of transport familiar to Thailand. Three-wheeled carts operate like taxis and usually wait for passengers near interesting tourist spots.

• Pedicabs- not so much transport as entertainment and attraction. They can usually be seen near the central beach, but travel is expensive.
• Taxi- in Hua Hin you can order a taxi that will pick you up from Bangkok airport or the railway station, but you shouldn’t count on a car with air conditioning, there are very few of them.

Rent a car, motorbike or scooter

Tourists who want to travel on their own can use car rental at Bangkok Airport. There are also rental offices in the center of Hua Hin, but the choice of cars is not so great.

There will be no problems renting a bike or scooter either - rental points operate at large hotels and right on the street. Please note: driving without a helmet can result in a fine! And good news: almost all parking in Hua Hin is free.

Restaurants and cafes - where to eat

There are plenty of options for delicious food in Hua Hin - from expensive restaurants to street food. There are budget establishments on the territory of the Market Village shopping center - several cafes and a food court. Also inexpensive option are BBQ buffets that offer a raw food buffet and soft drinks. You can prepare a portion for yourself there, on the coals.

As for restaurants, you can expect a small check for lunch or dinner at Yayoi chain establishments - here Japanese cuisine is adapted for Europeans. Italian dishes, including pizza, can be tried at the La Grappa restaurant, where the chef is from (by the way, they also serve real delicious grappa), as well as at Andreas Italian Restaurant. European cuisine in Hua Hin is represented at All in Hua Hin - a restaurant and deli under one roof. National food is deliciously prepared at Livanto Lifestyle, Moon Smile & Platoo, Chao Lay. And for those who miss borscht, dumplings and other traditional Russian dishes, there is the Sadko restaurant.

Where to buy products

Tourists who want to eat on their own can purchase food from small 7Eleven chain stores, which are located throughout the city. In addition, you can make purchases in Big C, Market Village, Tesco Lotus supermarkets, and traditional domestic food is available in Villa Market.

And a few words about the food markets of Hua Hin. Seafood is worth buying at the fish market on Khao Takiab, fruit - at the market across the bridge near the Tesco Lotus store (open from 15:00). And, of course, almost any delicacy can be found at the Chat Chai day market and Night Bazaar.

Average prices for products:

• Rice - 40 baht ( ~81 rub. );
• Bottle of water - 8-9 baht ( ~18 rub. );
• Milk - 45 baht (1 liter) ( ~91 rub. );
• Bread - 35 baht (0.5 baht) ( ~71 rub. );
• Bananas - 30 baht ( ~61 rub. );
• Potatoes - 33 baht ( ~67 rub. );
• Chicken - 185 baht ( ~374 rub. ).

Interesting fact: in Hua Hin there is chocolate factory, where a wide range of Thai sweets are made. The store can be found near the Cicada market.

Weather

The climate of Hua Hin as a whole is not much different from the weather typical of most Thai resorts. However, the humidity here is still not as high as, for example, in Bangkok. The dry but cool season lasts from late November to late February, fairly dry and hot from March to early June, and the rainy season from June to November.

Despite the fact that prolonged rains of many days are rare for this place, moving around the city in bad weather is very problematic. Alas, the drainage system cannot cope even with half a day's rain.

Many tourists are interested in: should they be afraid of a tsunami in Hua Hin? After all, such disasters have happened more than once on the coast of Thailand. But this city is located deep in the Gulf of Thailand and is protected from weather surprises.

Where to stay

Since Hua Hin is resort town, there are many housing options here: hotels, apartments, guesthouses, apartments and condominiums. Among the best beach hotels can be called Marriott Resort and Spa, Cape Nidhra Hotel, Hilton Hua Hin, Hyatt Regency are all 5-star hotels within walking distance from the sea. Luxury villas near the royal summer residence are offered by the V Villas Hua Hin complex. More affordable accommodation options can be found in inexpensive hotels Sofia Hotel, Giulietta e Romeo, as well as in the Chada Guesthouse.

It is possible to rent a house on your own, but it is unlikely that you will be able to do this quickly and without intermediaries - there are few rental offers on the streets. Typically, those who come here for a long time book a hotel room for 3-4 days and during this time look for where to stay, systematically driving around the city. But you shouldn’t expect that you will certainly find something suitable during this time. It’s better to find housing in advance - for example, using the service. This is the optimal solution for those who travel for a long time and with children.

If you want to live right by the beach, most likely it will be an apartment in a condominium. Almost along the entire coastline, the 1st line is occupied by condos, and a little further you can find townhouses and houses in the private sector. For a trip of several months or a winter stay, it is more profitable to rent a townhouse, although condominiums usually have more comfortable conditions.

Beaches of Hua Hin on video

Despite its high cost, the Hua Hin resort is a great place both for trips to long time, and for short-term tours. It is believed that it is especially suitable for families with small children and for those who do not like noisy “party” places, preferring cleanliness and safety. However, active tourists will be able to find entertainment to their liking here, especially since it is easy to get on excursions to Bangkok, Pattaya and other busy places from here.

At a distance of 25 kilometers from a place called Cha Am there is the resort of Hua Hin. It is famous for its five-kilometer white sand beach and countless golf courses. There are several hotels here, built in the English style, full of grace, which are in perfect harmony with the splendor of the resort’s nature. You should definitely choose a holiday in Hua Hin, Thailand.

This resort can be considered one of the oldest resorts in the country. A hundred years ago, construction of a palace began here, which later became summer residence king of the country. This palace is still one of the favorite vacation spots of the royal family. In Hua Hin, all hotels are upscale. Basically they all have 4 or 5 stars. We can say that tourists relax here, preferring a comfortable, quiet holiday, secluded from the bustle of the city. The absence of noisy parties at night attracts couples with children to these places.

This place is very easy to get to from Bangkok. The journey by car usually takes approximately 3.5 hours. You can also take the train or bus. Both types of transport are usually equipped with air conditioning. The journey takes the same 3.5 hours, and the ticket will cost you 250 baht.

From Hua Hin bus station there are flights to many cities in the country. You can go to Phetchaburi, Cha-Am, Chumphon, Phuket and other cities. In addition, several people pass through the resort at night. regular buses traveling from Baghkok to Koh Samui or Phuket. If you have the means, you can book a private jet.

Where is the best place to stay?

In the city area, more than 400 hotels, inns and guest houses have been built to serve vacationers for a wide variety of tastes. Among the most famous and most popular hotels are the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, located in the central part of the city, Devasom Hua Hin Resort, which is located on a private beach, Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, more suitable for families and children, and Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, which is also located in the central part of the resort. The price of a room in these comfortable hotels ranges from 3,000 baht to 5,000 baht per night.

There are also budget hotels in the city with air conditioning and hot water. Rooms in such hotels will cost you from 300 baht per day. The cost of accommodation in guesthouses for two starts from 700 baht per night.

The tropical climate affects how much a holiday in Hua Hin costs. Therefore, there is a rainy season, a cool season and a hot season. Better weather for recreation it stands in this place from the beginning of winter until the beginning of April. But you must understand that a holiday here during the high season will cost you a lot. Therefore, you should not refuse a holiday in Hua Hin during the rainy season. The rains here at this time of year are short and only fall at night.

What to take with you?

Packing your luggage for a holiday abroad is a very responsible matter. The most important thing is to prepare everything necessary documents, as well as several copies of photocopies. It is best to place copies in different places, but so that they are always at hand. Other required documents include health insurance. It is better not to save on its cost. Anything can happen on a trip. Do the same with air tickets. You need to print them out and make several copies, placing them in different parts of your luggage.

Be sure to pack a first aid kit. Stock up on medications to reduce body temperature and medications that relieve food poisoning. Don't forget to bring your camera, flash drive, charger, batteries, etc.

What to see?

The first thing a tourist should visit in Hau Hin is the palace of the Klai Kwong royal family, as well as a religious temple called Wat Neranchararama. This temple is famous for having the largest statue depicting Buddha with six arms.

Natural attractions and places of interest include waterfalls and national parks and the city of Phet Buri, where excursions go to visit temples, palaces and the Khao Luang cave, where there are almost two hundred Buddha statues.

If you prefer active recreation, then on the beaches you will be offered to ride a yacht or water scooter, windsurf or go horseback riding. Golf is actively developing in this region. There are several golf clubs, many golf courses, and training courses on this game are organized.

Other activities include eco-tours, fishing, elephant riding, kiteboarding, a variety of resort water activities, karting and more.

Those who like to relax and spend time at the spa will also like it here. The question of how much this entertainment costs should not worry vacationers. Prices for spa services here are very affordable. At the same time, you will be offered both regular Thai massage and more modern procedures, detox courses, alternative medicine, and skin cleansing procedures. There is also a special international hotel in Hua Hin, Chiva-Som International Health Resort, where the main focus is fitness. Everything here is subordinated to health - fitness, spa, food, various procedures, and yoga.

Beaches

The entire beach area of ​​this resort can be divided into three different zones. In the northern and southern parts Tourists with families and small children prefer to relax on the beach. It's calm and peaceful here. But in the central part, mostly young people and partygoers gather.

The city beach of Hua Hin originates from a landmark called “Stone Head” and stretches for several kilometers. Here you can buy souvenirs at an inexpensive price. This beach is always crowded, you can find entertainment for every taste.

The southern zone of the beach begins at Mount Khao Takiab. This beach is very narrow. In many places you can go straight into the water from the steps. Therefore, there are few people in this part, and when it rains, it is completely empty. Khao Takiab beach is always clean, as the beach area is cleaned every weekend. Here you can inexpensively rent a sun lounger and go water skiing.

Suan Son Beach can be called a continuation of Khao Takiab. Entry into its territory is paid and costs 10 baht. This is very picturesque place with dense thickets of shady vegetation.

In the northern part is Sai Noi Beach. You can reach it at public transport. Tourists recognize this beach as one of the best. There is no special infrastructure, shops or tents.

The wide but uncrowded Tao Beach begins at the mountain of the same name. This beach is suitable for children and those who have never learned to swim well. Its feature is shallow water. There is an observation deck of the famous Turtle Temple on Mount Tao.

To the north of Hua Hin, near Mount Cha Am, the beach of the same name originates. It’s very inexpensive to rent a house here, which is attractive large number tourists. For this reason, there are always a lot of people on the beach. In addition, there is a highway next to the beach, which leads to this beach a huge number of tourists.

If you follow us on Instagram, you know that it’s already the third month since we arrived in Bali, and for now we plan to stay here until the end of summer 2017 at least (and maybe longer).

But before that, we spent 2 wonderful winter months in Thailand - we were passing through Bangkok several times, and the rest of the time we lived mainly on the coast - in Hua Hin.

It is this resort that this article is dedicated to, in it I will tell you about Hua Hin, its pros and cons, why we decided to spend this winter there, and I will share my conclusions. I’ll warn you right away - the article is long, there are a lot of photographs, just other articles about Hua Hin, about beaches, everyday attractions, etc. We won’t have it, so we had to fit everything into one =)

If you had told me 3 years ago that we would come to Hua Hin to spend 2 months here, I would have laughed and would never have believed it)) Exactly 3 years ago we lived here for a month and left thinking that we would never return to this the most boring resort! After all, Thailand is full of the most interesting and beautiful places, and even then we fell endlessly in love with Phangan, and to this day this island is our most favorite place in Tai.

And at the same time, we went to Hua Hin for this winter, since it ideally suited all our current needs! Yes, there were some fears that I would get very bored, because the resort has a reputation as a “retirement”, not very expressive place, but to our own surprise, this did not happen, and we discovered that we liked it here as we grew older. Looking ahead, I can even say with confidence that we will return here again.

If you are interested in Thailand in terms of wintering (not a 2-week vacation, when bright emotions, azure sea and other delights of the tropics are important), and you are simply looking for a place for a calm, measured life, including with a small child, or comfortable place for remote work, then Hua Hin is very suitable for this.

Below I will explain what exactly attracted us to this resort now, but I’ll immediately make a reservation once again: we were not going for impressions and eventful trips. We chose a place to live, not a place to vacation. If we were talking about a vacation, we would go to Phangan, Koh Chang, Phuket or Krabi. So, if you are planning a vacation in Thailand, then Hua Hin is not the place that I will recommend to you!

Why am I paying attention to this again? The fact is that many of our readers, impressed by the photographs and stories about the same thing, go on vacation in our footsteps and remain delighted, but there are also those who follow us on Instagram and think, well, since we love such cool places, then Hua Hin is clearly one of them, they come here for 1-2 weeks and are disappointed, they regret that they had already booked accommodation for the entire period or left ahead of time from another pleasant place, etc..

I agree, some photos of Hua Hin and the beach can be very beautiful, for example, the sea at noon can be quite turquoise,

and the beach at dawn is softly pink and deserted in places,

these photos convey the mood/atmosphere at a particular moment in time, but do not provide any information, for example, that in Hua Hin in winter the sea is quite cool, and there are also a lot of simply giant jellyfish ((

5 other places in Thailand that are better for a two-week getaway

Therefore, if we are talking about a short-term vacation, then it is better to go to one that is still relatively wild and, or already a little poppy and overloaded with tourists, but still not devoid of its charm, and at the same time quite developed and comfortable in terms of infrastructure. On Koh Samui, as well as on Koh Phangan, there are beautiful bays with palm trees, warm turquoise water, and also a huge selection of cool hotels and villas for every taste.

One should not exclude a wonderful one with a well-developed infrastructure, a lot of different beaches, hundreds of hotels and condominiums. Even if during the peak season it is crowded with tourists, then at the end of the season it is very pleasant there.

Or go to the province of Krabi with numerous beauties in the area - karst mountains, famous islands and bays. In my opinion this is one of the the most beautiful resorts in Thailand (though not without its drawbacks), by the way, this is where our journey began, we spent the first month in Krabi!

If the sea is not important, and you want to get acquainted with the culture of the country, undergo training in massage or cultural events, comfort and good Internet for remote work are important, and you also do not tolerate heat, high humidity and crowds of tourists, but still want to go on vacation in winter, then we recommend going to the north of Thailand, at this time of year the climate there is wonderful!

Among the disadvantages of the sea, I would like to note that in winter there are a lot of jellyfish here, and they are all gigantic, I didn’t want to meet one while swimming... and at the same time, many tourists and expats swam in the sea anyway.

Infrastructure in Hua Hin

There are no problems with this in Hua Hin, the city and resort are well developed, there are all the popular Thai supermarkets and hypermarkets - Tesco, BigSi, Macro, 7/11 and FamilyMart convenience stores on almost every corner.

Food markets are also present in all areas of the city, as are visiting vendors from cars.

It was convenient for us to purchase fresh products - both vegetables/fruits and fish/seafood right next to our house. Literally a 5-minute walk from us, 2 times a week (on Tuesdays and Saturdays) there was a market with fresh products. Most of the traders there are from the villages, both expats and locals shopped at the market, which is a good sign, and the prices were really low. After some time, some merchants remembered us, recognized us and gave us discounts.

There are several in Hua Hin shopping complexes and shopping malls, the most popular is probably Market Village, and the newest and most stylish is Blue Port, in addition to boutiques and trendy cafes and coffee shops, there is a supermarket with all sorts of gourmet products - from imported Korean and European delicacies to superfood (chia seeds, quinoa and others useful things).

On the way out of the city, towards Bangkok, there are a couple of outlets with boutiques and cafes.

Hua Hin has a large number of pharmacies and hospitals, both public and private, all located on the main main street. This time, fortunately, we didn’t go there, but on the last visit I was, and I was satisfied with the service provided at Bangkok Hospital.

Hua Hin has both trendy restaurants/coffee shops and small-town cafes, most of them are concentrated in the central part of the city.

For example, we are fans of Indian cuisine, and on our first visit 3 years ago we noticed an Indian restaurant run by an Indian family, their food is really delicious, and the tables are all outdoors in a pleasant garden, so we stopped by them this time too repeatedly!

By the way, in Hua Hin you can even try Moroccan cuisine in the Marrakech restaurant, at the hotel of the same name Marrakesh Hua Hin Resort & Spa

And what unusual desserts are served with Moroccan tea?

Mmmm, delicious!

And it’s also photogenic (by the way, the blue and red tea sets are edible), I don’t know how I missed the moment and didn’t even post anything on Instagram =)

One of the fashionable stylish places was right in our seemingly residential area, Takiaba - Air space, we even wrote separately about this restaurant/pastry shop -

The establishment opened just recently, and has already gained popularity; live music is played here in the evenings.

And of course, since this is a seaside resort, you can have dinner with a sea view :)

Hua Hin has a cinema, a water park and a zoo, so if you get really bored, you can go there too)

And in Hua Hin there are night markets and food courts, with entertainment program on weekends. Most often we visited Tamarind night market and Cicada, they are right on Takiab, at the latter, in addition to bread and circuses, you can also buy all sorts of non-standard handmade souvenirs,

Both markets are open from Friday to Sunday from 5 pm.

There is also a central night market, but it was far from us, and we had never been there during this visit. There are daily food courts in shopping malls.

There is an immigration center in Hua Hin (large resorts have them almost everywhere except Phangan), this is important for those who want to stay in Thailand and extend their stay, and also if they need a certificate, for example, from the police (Lesha decided to get Thai in Hua Hin car license and pass for a motorbike license). By the way, he did all this successfully :)

Prices in Hua Hin

Hua Hin is considered a royal resort,

and this leaves its mark on the formation of prices, but fortunately not on everything, and again, depending on what you compare with.

Housing here, yes, is more expensive than in Chiang Mai, Pattaya and the center of Phuket. But there are also acceptable options. Yes, there are not many of them, they are either in the central part of Hua Hin, but a couple of kilometers from the sea, or just on Takiab, where we lived.

If we talk about housing not on the shore, but within walking distance from the sea (5-7 minutes), then prices start from $500-600 for a studio apartment, single-bedroom apartments with a separate living room-kitchen and double-bedroom apartments cost more - from $800.

Separate comfortable houses from $1000. If we talk about apartments, the cost does not include the cost of electricity and water, and sometimes the Internet (which is another $50-100 on top). I wrote specifically about comfortable housing of the European level, with a swimming pool, security and other amenities, we did not consider options for very cheap housing, probably such housing also exists, but not everyone will find it comfortable.

All apartments, as a rule, are in condominiums, where there is a nice large swimming pool with sun loungers and a gym, some kind of common recreation area with free wi-fi, 24-hour security, parking, well-groomed territory. The new condominiums are especially cool and stylish, for example our pool,

and this is the entrance.

It’s hard for me to imagine that in St. Petersburg we would find an ordinary house with such an interior next to an elevator.

And this is the view from the window!

Apartments on the shore are significantly more expensive, but they have their advantages!

As for food prices, they are lower than on the islands; it seemed to us more profitable to buy fruits, vegetables and fish in markets than in stores.

Mangoes were 50 baht per 1 kg, dragonfruits 40, young coconuts 20, longans and jackfruit 60, chompa 30, passionfruit 70, grapes 90-110, avocados - 120, cucumbers/tomatoes 10-15 baht, eggplants /zucchini/zucchini - 15-25, sweet corn - 20. These are prices for 1 kg, and if individually, then small watermelons 15-20, papaya 12-15, pomelo 25-35, pineapples 5-15, heads broccoli, cauliflower, pumpkin quarters for 10-15 baht, bunches of greens for 10-15, lettuce leaves - 15-25, asparagus - 30.

They took fish for 50-100 baht per kilogram, shrimp 120-180, and they even cleaned it all for us for free.

Milk - 40 baht, yoghurts - 18-25 per 200 ml jar, we often cooked curry at home with coconut milk (30 baht for 0.5 liter).

Massage in local salons - from 250-350 baht.

Laundries (automated washing machines and dryers) 20-30 baht per wash, 20 per dryer if needed. There are such automatic laundries on every corner, they have one drawback, washing in cold water + you need to come with your own powder. There are also standard laundries, where everything is washed in hot water and returned neatly folded and ironed within a day - 25-30 baht per 1 kg.

Public transport is cheap - songthaew costs 10-30 baht, depending on the distance of the trip. The proximity to Bangkok is good (buses and minibuses cost 155-180 baht one way, travel time 3 hours), there is a railway station. Taxis are about the same as on the islands, but if compared to Bangkok, they are expensive, they don’t go according to the meter, there are no Uber or Grabtaxi here. There is a car rental, we only rented a motorbike (200 baht per day).

Places of inspiration, nature in Hua Hin

Hua Hin is not without places that are pleasing to the eye! Place #1 for me is definitely the beach!!

I really love the sea - and just looking at it, and walking along the seashore, and listening to the sound of the surf.

Oddly enough, the temples of Hua Hin are also charming,

they primarily attract not with their architecture, decoration and other Buddhist regalia,

and the views from their territory!

It’s really amazingly nice that the Thais choose truly magical places for their temples,

for example, somewhere on a mountain with a stunning view of the sunrise or sunset,

There are even separate viewing terraces right on the temple grounds.

And hurray, there were three such temples in our Takiab district! So, when strong tides were raging at sea, going up to the site of such a temple at dawn or sunset was just the thing! There are parks observation decks and in other parts of the city,

We were there sometimes too.

Hua Hin is also popular among golf lovers - there are quite a lot of courses of different levels.

Neighborhoods of Hua Hin

If you are tired of the beaches of Hua Hin, you can always get on a bike and go either inland to the waterfalls, or along the sea to a couple of national parks and other beaches.

The closest to our area (Takiab is located in the south of the city) is national park Pranburi Forest Park is notable for its mangroves and a small path through them. You can also take a boat ride in the mangroves; we were once in a mangrove reserve in Lembongan (Indonesia) and there we were just making our way through the thickets on a small boat. We came here just for a walk :)

In general, mangroves with paths were right next to our house, literally a 5-minute walk, that’s quite new park, and alas, you won’t find such lush greenery there

or a dramatic picture, as in Pranburi.

In the Takiab mangroves, there are mostly very young bushes, but all the paths are circular, so we often used these urban thickets for morning jogs/walks, which was especially important during periods of strong tides.

this is an incredibly pleasant place, quiet and peaceful with a jogging/biking path along the beach and a few resorts.

And next is one of my favorite parks in all of Thailand – Khao Sam Roi Yot,

I'm not kidding, he's just amazing

and also not crowded. There are small mountains and trekking routes with picturesque views

and observation decks,

my favorite viewpoint is Khao Daeng View Point!

There is also a lake with lotuses and unique caves, one of them is an absolute “must visit”, this is the royal cave of Phraya Nakon, it has several halls,

and the most stunning attraction here is the "Golden Pavilion" (Kuha Karuhas pavillon).

At noon, the sun's rays turn the gazebo dazzlingly golden, alas, we were in the park twice and each time at the wrong time((

On the way to this cave you can meet funny langurs :)

Other caves are also quite spectacular, and most of them also lead to trekking, we visited a couple.

Also, in Sam Roi Yot Park there are several beaches - Bang Pu

V picturesque bay, which you can look at from above

and Laem Sala beach

There is also a river in the park where you can ride in a bamboo boat.

There is a place for camping, you can rent a house or rent a tent, foam, sleeping bags, a place for a barbecue and have a great weekend, but you can just go for a day, from Hua Hin it’s only about 50 km one way, and from our Takiab it’s even closer.

Well, in the north, towards Bangkok, 25 km away, there is the resort village of Cha Am.

The beach there is not that remarkable, except that it can’t be called very urban, like in Hua Hin,

There is still a more relaxed resort atmosphere here, with cafes and hotels stretching across the road along the beach.

Cha-Am has various types of entertainment - a sheep farm, a camel republic, a couple of amusement parks and a water park.

There are also temples, but what we remember most in Cha-Am is the Khao Nang Panthurat National Park with very expressive rocks on which you can walk.

There are several short, but good in terms of morning physical activity, routes,

we were in this park a couple of times and each time early in the morning, we arrived at dawn, otherwise it would be very hot to walk around later.

In general, the nature of Cha-Am in the surrounding area is very different from Hua Hin; in addition to the rocks, there are green rice fields.

But this is already quite far, and it is better to combine such trips, for example, with a trip to Bangkok, by the way, that’s what we did.

I will also definitely write about Bangkok; every time we come to Thailand, we somehow spend a couple of days, and sometimes more, in its capital. I already wrote that we are not fans of this large metropolis, but we love it much more, we were there three times a week and would gladly return there, even when I look for air tickets to Asia, the first thing I look for is connections through Hong Kong :)

Well, in Bangkok we always have forced connections, as it is a major hub, and at the same time, we always try to use the time profitably, find interesting places, cool hotels, observation decks, trendy cafes and amazing rooftop restaurants. All the interesting things about Bangkok, as you understand, is a topic for a separate article :)

Finally, some Thai children's smiles for you! Bye bye!

Would you come to live in Hua Hin? I’m not asking about vacations, although I know there are tourists who would probably like to spend their vacation here :)