Hua Hin Thailand: how to get to Hua Hin from Bangkok, what to see. How Hua Hin Became Thailand's Most Civilized Resort Sam Roi Yot National Park

Not many tourists know that the first official seaside resort in Thailand was once a quiet town on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand called Hua Hin. Today it is a favorite vacation spot of the royal couple with a beautiful beach, surrounded by lush tropical forests, some of which have been declared protected areas.

General information

In 1922, King Rama VI decided to build himself a country residence. To do this, he chose a quiet fishing village, which in those days was called Samore Riang, which means "Rocky Line". The new palace was given the name Klai Kangwon (Klai Kangwon - Far from the bustle), which fully justified its serenity and solitude. Following the king, his nobility followed him to the village, and soon the provincial town turned into a prestigious area designed for a relaxing and respectable holiday. In 1934, the fishing village and adjacent resort was renamed Hua Hin, which means "Stone Head".

Climate

The mild climate of Hua Hin allows you to enjoy holidays in this region, almost all year round.

As in all of Thailand, there are three seasons in Hua Hin:

1. Rainy (June - October). Compared to other regions, the rainy season here is the least pronounced, while September is the wettest month of the year. Usually these are rare short showers, sometimes with thunderstorms, which only please with their appearance and do not interfere with rest at all.
2. Cool (November - February). At the same time, January is characterized by the “coldest” weather in Hua Hin. At this time, the temperature sometimes drops as much as +18°С, and the largest tourist flow is observed in the region.
3. Hot (March - May). The peak temperature is in May (+ 39°С).

Geography

Hua Hin is a district in the western province of Thailand, Prachuab Khiri Khan. The city is located on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand, 240 kilometers from Bangkok, and covers an area of ​​86 km², and its surroundings - 839 km². On a magnificent high-speed road, the journey from the capital to the resort takes no more than 2.5 hours.

Population

The population of Hua Hin is about 100 thousand people. Among them, you can often meet expats from all over the world and tourists - more often Europeans, there are also Russians, but very few. The basis of the local residents are Thais who profess Buddhism. Also here you can meet Burmese who come to Hua Hin to work.

Nature and landscape

It was not in vain that the king chose Hua Hin for his country residence. The beautiful beach and clear sea, surrounded by picturesque jungle-covered hills, create an idyllic picture of a heavenly place where you can enjoy a relaxing holiday all day long.

Time in Hua Hin

Difference with Moscow: + 3 hours

UTC in Hua Hin, as in Bangkok: UTC +7

Language

The main language in Hua Hin is Thai. Due to the large number of tourists from Europe, you can often hear English, German, French speech here, but locals use English to communicate with tourists. There are few Russian tourists in Hua Hin, so the Russian language is rarely heard. Without knowledge of English, it will be difficult to communicate with anyone here.

Orientation

Geographically, the resort is divided by the main streets:

• Petchkasem Road is the main urban highway that runs along the coast.
• Damnoenkasem Road crosses Pechkasem Road in the city center and leads directly to Hua Hin's main beach.

Recreation features

Although the official residence of the king is the Royal Palace in Bangkok, Rama IX prefers Klai Kangwon's apartment in Hua Hin to him. Today, this city is a quiet and peaceful place where wealthy Thais and respectable foreigners rest.

Hua Hin traditionally competes with Pattaya for the right to be the best beach resort near Bangkok. Although it would be wrong to compare these two cities, they are so strikingly different from each other. Hua Hin has a relatively clean sea and beach, although not the same as on the islands, but much cleaner than in Pattaya. People come here for a relaxing beach holiday with their families, away from the bustle and noise of the capital. There is no such vibrant nightlife as in Pattaya, and therefore lovers of such entertainment will be bored here.

Features of life in Hua Hin

The infrastructure of Hua Hin is somewhat less developed than, for example, in Phuket or Pattaya. However, the relative proximity to Bangkok completely solves some of the problems. There is a large selection of accommodation, including many options for long-term residence of foreigners, but it is better to rent it until August, since the holidays for Europeans begin in October, and all the best options are booked until January.

There are quite a lot of kindergartens, schools and universities in Hua Hin where you can get a good education, the only thing that is required for this is a good knowledge of the English language.

Transport

Public transport in the city is represented primarily by songteo. They follow certain routes. The cost of the trip is 10 baht. It is better to negotiate the fare in a tuk-tuk in advance. However, sometimes a songthaew can ride like a taxi and then the minimum fare can be 100-200 baht.

Regardless of the distance, the cost of a taxi ride in Hua Hin will start from 200 baht. There are no classic taxi meters there, and the price must be negotiated in advance. A cheaper, but less comfortable alternative to taxi rides can be motorcycle or bicycle taxis.

And yet it is most convenient and cheapest to travel around Hua Hin on your own transport. The city has a large number of offices for renting motorbikes or bicycles.

Beaches

The only beach of the city, Hat Hua Hin, stretches for 5 kilometers from the south to the rocky cape. The sea is relatively clean and the sand is white, however, during high tides, most of the beach tends to be completely hidden under water.

Near the city, but officially outside of it, there is another great beach overlooking the Khao Takiab rock. Even further away is the Thai army beach, Suan Son, it is also open to everyone.

There are always a lot of sunbeds and umbrellas on the city beach. Sometimes they charge a fee of 100 baht. Some sunbeds belong to coastal cafes, which provide them free of charge only to their customers.

Food

Hua Hin has a lot of cafes and restaurants. Establishments located on the beach or on Khao Takiap are mainly focused on tourists, and accordingly, have higher prices. On the Pechkasem highway you can find more democratic cafes. For example, on Naresdamri Road there are several restaurants with good prices and beautiful sea views.

In addition to traditional Thai, city restaurants offer a wide selection of European, Japanese and Indian cuisine.

You can have a cheap meal in the 24-hour markets or in the Tesco shopping complex. There, having given about 25-45 bases per serving, you can have a wonderful and satisfying lunch. In addition, there are 119 establishments in Hua Hin, they are also BBQ Thai buffet, which are a huge buffet of ready-made meals or semi-finished products. The cost of one serving is 119 baht.

Accommodation in Hua Hin

The city has a large selection of hotels and guesthouses, especially in the central part of the city. Due to the fact that the resort is preferred mainly by the wealthy public, it is dominated by the offer of medium and high-class accommodation, costing from 2000 baht per night. It is possible to stay cheap (within 300 baht / day) here, but every year it becomes more and more difficult, especially in the high season.

In addition to hotel accommodation in Hua Hin, there is a large offer of individual housing of various levels. It can be condos (apartments), and large houses with their own garden and swimming pool. Renting a house by the sea is usually from 20,000 baht per month. But, basically, here you can rent a small house for 15,000 baht per month, with one bedroom and a kitchen, 15-30 minutes walk from the sea.

The offer of condos in Hua Hin is also very diverse, but compared to Pattaya, it is very small. Here you can rent both studios for 15,000-20,000 baht, and large apartments with several bedrooms in a high-rise condominium on the beach. Such accommodation can cost from 30,000 baht per month.

Attractions

In addition to the main beach, there are several other interesting sights in Hua Hin and its environs. The surrounding areas are rich in natural parks, offering breathtaking views of sea cliffs, picturesque hills and emerald jungles. Among them, the eleven-tiered Palau Falls carries its waters through the rainforest, which is home to many beautiful birds and butterflies. Or Sam Roi Yot National Park is famous for its mangrove swamps and limestone mountains. Rare species of birds live here. The natural attractions of the city are complemented by various architectural monuments, the largest of which are the Temple of the Big Buddha and, of course, the summer Royal Palace.

Entertainment

The sea, the beach and the tropical sun are the number one attraction in Hua Hin, as numerous travel brochures keep talking about. But in addition to a beach holiday, the city offers its guests a wide range of activities and entertainment that can diversify their vacation. Separately, it is worth noting that the nightlife of the resort is quiet and serene. Therefore, lovers of noisy parties will obviously be bored here. This place is more suitable for tourists who want a relaxing holiday or couples with children.

Golf

This game is very popular in Hua Hin, where there are several excellent world-class golf courses. Most golf clubs offer free shuttle service to their clients.

SPA and massage

Due to the specifics of the public visiting Hua Hin, the beauty industry is well developed here. There are many salons in the city offering high-quality spa treatments and massages for the most demanding taste. Masters use both traditional Thai techniques and the achievements of modern science.

walks

Hiking and cycling are also quite popular in Hua Hin. Quiet traffic, smooth urban landscape are conducive to leisurely and leisurely travel.

Training courses

Lessons in silk weaving, basket weaving, pottery and embroidery are offered in abundance in the city. Also, everyone can comprehend the secrets of Thai cuisine at numerous culinary courses.

Prices in Hua Hin

If we compare prices in Hua Hin with the prices of other tourist regions of Thailand, then, on average, they are slightly higher, but relative to Europe, they remain moderate.

The cost of renting housing here is also higher, as the offer of high-level apartments prevails. For example, a double room for two weeks at the beginning of the high season in a five-star hotel will cost from 80,000 baht. The lowest price level is within 2000 baht per day for a single room.

The shops

• Hypermarket Makro Cash&Carry - wholesale and retail trade. It is located in the northern part of the city at the intersection of Petchkasem Road and Soi 4.
• market village. A large shopping complex uniting under its roof many shops of various kinds. There is underground parking and a children's room where you can leave your child. It is located in the central part of the city, at the intersection of Pechkasem and Soi 88/2. All floors of the center are occupied by shoe, clothing, perfumery stores, restaurants, a food court, small eateries, bank branches and currency exchangers. On the 1st floor there is Tesco Lotus (there is another Tesco in the south of the city on Pechkasem, opposite Soi 112) and pharmacies. On the 2nd and 3rd floors - Home Pro hypermarket, children's shops, bowling, cinema.
• POWER BUY - A large shopping center for home appliances and electronics. Address: junction of Pechkasem Road and Soi 88.
• Iindex living mall - a chain store similar to Ikea. Located on Pechkasem between Soi 23 and 25.

How to get there

Hua Hin is located on the Thai mainland, so getting to it is not that difficult, especially from Bangkok. You can choose the most convenient option for yourself. If you are traveling to Hua Hin from other cities in Thailand, read all about intercity communication and domestic flights Old railway station in Hua Hin

The train station is located right in the center of the city, so getting here by train is very convenient. A significant disadvantage is the slow trains from Bangkok, which is why a relatively short distance is covered in 5 or 6 hours. Compensates for the slowness of the train cheap tickets - from 44 to 100 baht.

By bus

To Hua Hin, buses from Bangkok depart every 20 minutes from the Sai Tai Mai terminal. Ticket price from 175 baht. The journey will take approximately 3.5 hours.

Taxi

From the capital to the resort of Hua Hin can be reached by taxi. The cost of the trip should be negotiated in advance. With the ability to bargain, you can bring down the price to 2500 baht. From the Airport, the price of the trip will be higher. A taxi from Pattaya will cost a little more - 3000-3500 baht.

Cellular and Internet

In Hua Hin, as well as throughout Thailand, it is better and cheaper to use the services of local operators, which are represented here by three companies: 1-2-Call, TrueMove and DACT Happy. The city has access points to the Internet via ADSL and wi-fi, although most tourists complain about the actual low speed.

Medicine

Thailand has long been famous for its high level of medicine and Hua Hin is no exception. Many tourists even come here specifically to improve their health, and some women choose Hua Hin clinics for childbirth. The city has three large international hospitals.

1. San Paulo, located on Pechkasem Road, near the Grand Market store.

This hospital is under the patronage of Her Highness the Queen. You can communicate with the staff here in English. The cost of admission is from 800 baht. The clinic cooperates with a large number of insurance companies, so you can apply here for insurance.

Branches:

• pediatrics;
• maternity hospital;
• surgery (including plastic);
• traumatology;

2. Hua Hin Hospital is also located on Pechkasem Road, but at the beginning of the city.

This is a general clinic with a large number of departments. English is not spoken here, but a free translator is provided. The cost of admission starts from 500 baht. Long lines in the morning.

3. Bangkok International Hua Hin Hospital (Bangkok International Hua Hin Hospital), located at the intersection of Pechkasem Road and Soi 94. It is distinguished by increased prices (the cost of admission is from 1000 baht). The staff speaks English.

In addition to three large clinics in the suburbs of Hua Hin, there are several other small hospitals:

• Petcharat Hospital - Famous for the excellent quality of services provided. They usually come here for serious problems.
• Tranarat Hospital (Tranarat-Hospital). Military hospital, distinguished by highly qualified specialists. The staff only speaks Thai. There are no translators. The cost of admission is from 50 baht.

In addition to hospitals, Hua Hin has many private practitioners of a wide variety of profiles. The cost of admission they start from 300 baht.

Safety

Perhaps Hua Hin is one of the safest resorts in Thailand. This is largely due to the fact that the royal couple spends a lot of time here, and with them all the nobility of Thailand. Therefore, the police are keeping order with special care. There is practically no prostitution and noisy bars with drunken tourists. Most visitors are guests from Europe of venerable age. However, this is not a reason to lose vigilance and leave your belongings, money and documents unattended.

There are no particular natural hazards in Hua Hin. Here, as elsewhere in the kingdom, you can meet a jellyfish in the sea or an unpleasant insect in the jungle. Therefore, the understanding that Thailand is a country with a tropical nature, which can sometimes present an unpleasant surprise to an inattentive tourist, will definitely not hurt anyone.

Some visitors to Hua Hin note the large number of dogs in the region. Basically, the animals sleep imposingly stretched out in the shade, but sometimes they can bark at pedestrians passing by. Some people find this annoying, but it shouldn't be shown. It is better to calmly, not paying attention to the insolent dogs, follow your own path.

Hotels in Hua Hin, where to stay?

The map below contains accommodation options from all major booking services, so you can easily find the right hotel for yourself and book it online right there.

2013-08-14 Max

general information

After the royal family left Bangpain, Thailand's oldest seaside resort became the summer residence of King Bhumibol. The most attractive thing in this quiet town is the 3 km long beach with the finest white sand.

The heyday of Hua Hin is closely connected with the construction in 1910 of a railway line going to the south of Thailand. From that moment on, the inconspicuous town fell into the field of view of the Bangkok nobility, and above all, Prince Naret, the son of King Chul-longkorn, who built the first summer residence of Sansamran here. Subsequent princes and princesses added new parks and bungalows to it. In the residence of Rama VII, both living quarters and a park are open to visitors, but the palace of King Bhumibol on the western exit from the city is closed to the public.

This is where King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit spend their summer holidays. You can see the king up close while sailing. He did not refuse this hobby even in old age. Of course, it is unacceptable to get too close to the monarch, but is it not enough to say: “But the king of Thailand is sailing on that yacht”?

What to see

Fish market

In the morning, you should definitely go to the lively fish market in the northern part of the city. Thailand's second largest fishing fleet is based in Hua Hin. In the morning, many tons of fish are unloaded here and transferred for further processing.

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace was built in the style of European country residences. King Prachatipok (Rama VII) named him "Klaik-langwan" ("Away from worries"). The palace, built in 1910, is surrounded by a magnificent park stretching all the way to the sea. At the southern end of the sandy beach rises the head-like cliff that gives the city its name.

Wat Khao Lat

Wat Khau Lat stands on a cliff very close, offering a beautiful view of the sea, the mountains in the east and the village of Khautakiap. True, for this you need to overcome a steep climb on many steps. From Hua Hin here every 20 minutes. buses run.

Night market

The Night Market on Dechanuchit Road is worth a visit. In addition to stalls, there are many open-air cafes and eateries.

Railway station

There is a restored steam locomotive at Hua Hin's small railway station. On the Thailand State Railway (SRT, State Railway of Thailand), steam locomotives were used until 1975. Then it was transferred to diesel locomotives, and now some sections are electrified. A very elegant house that serves as a waiting room for the royal family.

Neighborhood Hua Hin

caves

There are plenty of caves to visit in the surrounding limestone mountains (worth a half-day dedication), including Dau Cave Temple, Mylaple Grotto, and Kaylon and Kaifa with beautiful but not very artistically interesting Buddha statues.

Khautakiap bay

Khautakiap Bay, 6 km south of Hua Hin, has especially fine sand and excellent fish restaurants. The snow-white Buddha statue on the mountain looks impressive. A large flock of wild monkeys lives in the temple behind it.

Khausamroyyot National Park

On the way to the city of Pranburi, located 25 km from Hua Hin, the traveler first passes through several quiet bays, convenient for swimming. To the south of Pranburi along the coast rises a powerful limestone massif, nicknamed for the numerous sharp teeth of Samroyyot (Ridge of 300 peaks). These mountains are the central part of the 130 sq. km. They are replete with caves and gorges, representing part of a mountain range that stretches from northern Thailand to the Malay Peninsula itself. The most spectacular geological formations are bizarrely shaped limestone towers over 600 m high, towering over a wide plain.

If it is easy and pleasant to travel through this part of the national park, then further to the west its territory, covered with dense and lush vegetation, is not very hospitable. There are no marked hiking trails, so self-guided tours are not recommended. But to the west of Pranburi, a road passes through the park, there are also several paths laid by foresters. Sometimes you can see a variety of birds here. Numerous shrimp farms on the plain, arranged in the 1980s, do not adorn the national park. This is a visible evidence of the defeat of environmentalists in the fight against businessmen.

How to get there

• By car:
  from Bangkok take National Highway 4 or 35 via Samutsongk Temple.
• By bus:
  from Bangkok from the South Bus Station. Travel time is about 3 hours.
• By train:
  station on the main line Bangkok-Malacca Peninsula (229 km from Bangkok). Travel time is about 6 hours.
• By plane:
  Daily from Bangkok and Koh Samui.

Story

Although the tourist history of Hua Hin goes back hundreds of years, there are no heaps of hotels and clubs here, as, for example, in Pattaya. The resort does not claim to be the best and most modern. He does not need this, since his fame thundered long before the first tourists appeared in Pattaya, Phuket or Koh Samui. Back in 1868, King Rama IV came here with his foreign guests to observe a solar eclipse. But the Europeans did not look at the sun, but at the magnificent landscapes that appeared before their eyes. Soon they returned here with their families to spend time in this picturesque place. The popularity of Hua Hin in Thailand began to grow and soon the first houses built for tourists appeared here.

About 100 years ago, a railway was built here and in November 1911, the Hua Hin railway station was built. It is still here and is active. A few years later, by order of Rama V, the residence of the King was arranged in the city. In 1921, Rama VI erected another palace, which still exists today. It houses the residence of the present.

With the opening of the railway station, rich aristocracy from all over the world rushed here, the resort began to develop rapidly - in 1924 a railway hotel was built, the next year a golf club appeared, one of the first in all of Thailand.

In the 70s of the last century, with the development of Pattaya, the popularity of Hua Hin decreased somewhat. But in the mid-80s, the resort received a rebirth, tourists began to come here who did not like the noisy and "crazy" Pattaya. A new round of construction began, modern hotels, restaurants and bars, supermarkets and banks appeared. But despite this, the resort has not lost its ancient charm, many buildings of the past are constantly reminding of this. Currently, this is one of the most popular places for Bangkok residents who come to Hua Hin for the weekend to get away from the bustle of the capital and relax in a pleasant and calm atmosphere on the coast.

How to get there

Hua Hin is close to Bangkok - 2 - 2.5 hours drive by land. From Russia, Ukraine and other countries, the easiest way is to fly to Suvarnabhumi Airport and then proceed from the time of arrival and financial possibilities.

Cheap flights to Bangkok

You can buy tickets to Thailand as profitably as possible with the help of special search engines that collect data from all airlines.

By far the most convenient way from Bangkok is by taxi. You can either arrange it at the taxi stand at the airport. You can also catch it right at the exit in the arrivals area.

A more budget option is public transport that runs from, from or from Khaosan Road. The train also leaves several times a day.

Hua Hin has a direct bus service to and from. In addition, travel agencies throughout Thailand offer flights with transfers.

Transport

From Suvarnabhumi Airport can be reached by taxi and bus. Similarly, return there or to any other part of Bangkok. For travel from other parts of Thailand.

The main public transport in Hua Hin is the colorful songteos. For individual short distances we recommend using motorcycle taxis, for longer distances - tuk-tuk taxis, they are also good for a company and if you have luggage. A bus route from Cha Am to Petburi passes through the city, linking all the main tourist sites.

Climate

Hua Hin is one of the most favorable resorts in terms of climate. Average annual daily temperatures are in the range of 29-33 degrees. The coldest time of the year by Thai standards is from November to February. The least amount of precipitation is from December to April. In general, there is little rain here - one of the best places in Thailand for this indicator. True, it is worth considering in the rainy season - the sky will still be covered with clouds.

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

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

This article is dedicated to this resort, in it I will talk about Hua Hin, about its pros and cons, about why we decided to spend this winter there, and share my findings. I’ll warn you right away - the article is large, there were a lot of photos, just other articles about Hua Hin, about beaches, sights, life, etc. we won’t, so I had to fit everything into one =)

Tell me 3 years ago that we will 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 with the thought that we would never return to this the most boring resort! After all, Thailand is full of interesting and beautiful places, besides, even then we fell in love with Phangan endlessly, and to this day this island is our favorite place in Thailand.

And at the same time, we went to Hua Hin for this winter, because it was ideal for all our current requests! Yes, there were some fears that I would be very bored, because the resort has the glory of a "pensioner", not a very expressive place, but to our own surprise, this did not happen, and we found that we liked it here as we got older. Looking ahead, I can even say with confidence that we will be back here again.

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

Below I will explain what exactly this resort hooked us on now, but I will immediately make a reservation again, we did not go for impressions and eventful trips. We chose a place to live, not a vacation. If we were talking about a vacation, then we would go to Koh 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 bringing this up again? The fact is that many of our readers, impressed by the photos and stories about the same and, 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, regret that they have 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 - in soft pink and sometimes deserted,

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

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

Therefore, if we are talking about a short vacation, then it is better to go to the still relatively wild and, or already a little pop and overloaded with tourists, but still not without 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 a huge selection of classy hotels and villas for every taste.

It should not be ruled out that it is wonderful with well-developed infrastructure, a lot of various beaches, hundreds of hotels and condominiums, if at the peak of the season it is crowded with tourists, then at the end of the season it is very pleasant there.

Or head 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 most beautiful resorts in Thailand (though not without its drawbacks), by the way, it was with him that ours 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, get massage training or cultural events are interesting, comfort and good Internet are important for remote work, besides, you do not tolerate heat, high humidity and crowds of tourists, but at the same time you want to go on vacation in winter, then we recommend going to the north of Thailand, at this time of the year the climate is wonderful there!

Of the minuses of the sea, I 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 absolutely no problems with this in Hua Hin, the city and the resort are well developed, there are all the popular Thai supermarkets and hypermarkets - Tesco, BigCi, Macro, 7/11 convenience stores and FamilyMart on almost every corner.

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

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

Hua Hin has several malls 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 (seeds chia, quinoa and other useful things).

On the outskirts 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 central street. This time, fortunately, we did not go there, but on the last visit, it was me, and I was satisfied with the service provided at Bangkok Hospital.

Hua Hin has both trendy restaurants / coffee houses 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 even on our first visit 3 years ago we noticed an Indian restaurant run by an Indian family, they have really delicious food, and the tables are all outdoors in a pleasant garden, so we looked at them this time too repeatedly!

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

And what kind of unusual desserts are served with Moroccan tea,

Mmmm, food!

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

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

The institution opened just recently, and has already gained popularity; live music plays here in the evenings.

And of course, since this is a seaside resort, you can dine with a sea view 🙂

In Hua Hin there is a cinema, a water park and a zoo, so if you get completely bored, you can look there too)

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

both bazaars are open from Friday to Sunday from 5 pm.

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

There is an immigration center in Hua Hin (in large resorts they are almost everywhere, except for Koh Phangan), this is important for those who want to stay in Thailand and extend their stay, and also if you need help, for example, to the police (Lyosha decided to get Thai driving license and pass on the rights for a motorbike). 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 far, not on everything, and again, depending on what to compare.

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 few 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 coast, but within walking distance from the sea (5-7 minutes), then prices start at $ 500-600 for studio apartments, one-bedroom apartments with a separate living room-kitchen and two-bed apartments are more expensive - from $ 800.

Separate comfortable houses from $1000. If we talk about apartments, then the cost does not include the cost of electricity and water, and sometimes the Internet (and this is another $ 50-100 on top). I wrote about comfortable European-level housing, with a swimming pool, security and other benefits, we did not consider options for very cheap housing at all, 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, like our pool,

and this is the entrance.

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

And this is the view from the window!

Apartments on the beach are much more expensive, but they have their pluses!

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

Mango was taken at 50 baht per 1 kg, dragon fruit 40 baht, young coconuts 20, longans and jackfruit 60 baht, chompoo 30 baht, passionfruit 70 baht, grapes 90-110, avocados 120, cucumbers/tomatoes 10-15 baht, eggplant / zucchini / zucchini - 15-25, sweet corn - 20. These are prices for 1 kg, and if by the piece, then small-sized watermelons at 15-20, papaya 12-15, pomelo 25-35, pineapples at 5-15, heads broccoli, cauliflower, pumpkin quarters for 10-15 baht, bunches of greens for 10-15, lettuce leaves - 15-25, asparagus - 30.

Fish was taken at 50-100 baht per kilogram, shrimp 120-180, and all this was even cleaned for us for free.

Milk - 40 baht, yogurt - 18-25 for a jar of 200 ml, we often cooked curries with coconut milk at home (30 baht for 0.5 liters).

Massage in local salons - from 250-350 baht.

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

Public transport is cheap - songteo for 10-30 baht, depending on the distance of the trip. Pleased with the proximity to Bangkok (buses and minibuses for 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 with Bangkok, they are expensive, they don’t go according to the meter, there are no uber and grab taxis here. There is a car rental, we took only a motorbike (200 baht per day).

Places of inspiration, nature in Hua Hin

Not without Hua Hin and places that are pleasing to the eye! The #1 place for me is definitely the beach!!

I love the sea very much - and just look at it, and walk along the seashore, and listen to the sound of the surf.

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

they are primarily attracted not by their architecture, decoration and other Buddhist regalia,

and opening views from their territory!

It's really surprisingly nice that the Thais choose really magical places for their temples,

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

there are even separate viewing terraces right on the territory of the temple.

And hooray, there were three such temples in our Takiab area! So, when strong tides raged on the sea, climbing to the site of such a temple at dawn or sunset was the most it! There are parks, viewing platforms in other parts of the city,

We used to go there sometimes too.

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

Neighborhood Hua Hin

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

Closest to our area (Takiab is located in the south of the city) is the Pranburi Forest Park, it is notable for its mangroves and a small path through them. You can also ride a boat in the mangroves, we have already been to the mangrove reserve on Lembongan (Indonesia) and there we were just making our way through the thickets in a small boat. And they came here just to take a walk 🙂

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

or a dramatic picture, as in Pranburi.

In the Takiab mangroves, 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 high tides.

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

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

I'm not kidding, he's just amazing

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

and viewing platforms

my favorite viewpoint is Khao Daeng View Point!

There is also a lake with lotuses and unique caves, one of them is absolutely "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 sunbeams of the gazebo become dazzling gold, 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 are also trekking, we were in a couple.

And yet, in the park Sam Roi Yot there are several beaches - Bang Pu (Bang Pu)

in a picturesque bay, which can be seen 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 barbecue and have a great weekend, but you can just drive for a day, from Hua Hin it’s only about 50 km one way, and even closer from our Takiab.

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

The beach there is not so remarkable, well, except that it is very urban, as in Hua Hin, you cannot call it,

here, all the same, a more relaxed resort atmosphere, cafes and hotels stretch across the road along the beach.

In Cha-Am there are various kinds of entertainment - a sheep farm, a camel republic, a couple of amusement parks and a water park.

There are also temples, but we in Cha-Am most of all remember 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 later.

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

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

I will also write about Bangkok, every time we come to Thailand, we somehow spend a couple of, and sometimes more days in its capital. I already wrote that we are not fans of this large metropolis, we love the same one much more, we were there three times a week and we will return there with pleasure, even when I look for flights to Asia, the first thing I look for is connections through Hong Kong 🙂

Well, in Bangkok, we always have forced connections, after all, a large hub, and at the same time, we always try to use the time with benefit, find interesting places, cool hotels, viewing platforms, trendy cafes and amazing rooftop restaurants. All the interesting things of Bangkok, as you know, this is the topic of a separate article 🙂

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

Would you come to live in Hua Hin? I don’t ask about holidays, although I know there are tourists who will surely like it and spend their holidays here 🙂

Hua Hin is a city 150 km south of Bangkok. Hua Hin is an ennobled royal resort, there are few Russian tourists, the sea is cleaner than in Pattaya, and Hua Hin also has a large selection of housing. We saw Hua Hin from different sides and today we will write our reviews, talk about the positive and negative qualities of the resort.

Hua Hin: reviews and our observations

The first thing that catches your eye is that Hua Hin is a really clean city. The streets are not full of rubbish. Bad smells are not in the air. For all the time the rat was seen only once. In the central areas of the city there are sidewalks, but not everywhere. For example, it will be inconvenient to walk here with a stroller, because it used to be difficult to walk on the roads on your own two feet, dodging cars and bypassing bikes.

Hotels in Hua Hin

• Wansabai Place
• Hua Hin Star Hotel
• Smile Hua-Hin Resort
• Centara Grand Beach Resort
• Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa

All hotels in Hua Hin

Traffic jams in Hua Hin

The second thing you immediately notice is traffic jams. During rush hours, in the morning and in the evening, the central Pechkasem Road rises tightly, and the rest of the streets are filled with cars and motorbikes. Especially on weekends and holidays. This is some kind of mix of Moscow traffic jams and Vietnamese mopeds. Feeling like you're in Ho Chi Minh City, not Thailand

• Read:

Being a pedestrian in the XX is not very convenient, but sometimes it's better than wasting time in traffic jams

More cars than motorbikes

The number of cars in the city is clearly over the top. Unusual to see this in Thailand. We only observed this non-standard ratio of cars and bikes in Bangkok, but Bangkok is adapted for car traffic, there are wide streets and flyovers. And Hua Hin's narrow streets were not designed for such a chaotic car traffic, where two cars on a collision course could not part.

• Car rental in Hua Hin >

Is there public transportation in Hua Hin?

There are several songthaew routes that run around the city. The most popular is the green songteo Airport - Takiab, which runs along Pechkasem Road through the city. Fares are democratic - 10 baht during the day and 15 baht after 19 hours. Read more about minibuses in the article:

Hua Hin beaches

The next point I want to designate the beach, which we were very pleased with. We expected the worst, but the expectations were not justified again. I won’t say that it is impeccably clean there, but even the most picky persons will find sand and water very suitable. The beach is much better than in Pattaya. Read more in the article:

• About city beaches:
• About the beach outside the city:

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
Ordered a taxi online, paid by card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You have already talked about your experience In this article

What to see in Hua Hin: sights we visited

There are not so many sights and entertainments in the 20th century. We visited some of them. We started from the railway station, then went to the Takiab Monkey Mountain, where, by the way, there is a good observation deck. We visited the Venice complex, where we looked at the museum of 3D paintings. We also went to the observation deck. Read more about each location in the respective articles:

View of the coast from Khao Takiab

Rental of property

It is not clear why, but in Hua Hin the cost of renting housing is 2 times higher than in Bangkok or Pattaya. If in Pattaya you can in a condo near the sea for 10-15 thousand baht, then in Hua Hin housing prices of the same level start at 25 thousand baht. When renting for a long time, there is practically no discount anywhere. Renting a house is cheaper than apartments. Also, most condominiums are rented only through agencies, the reception does not rent apartments. Read more about finding housing in Hua Hin:

There are few Russians in Hua Hin

For those who, for their own reasons, do not want to live and relax surrounded by compatriots, Hua Hin is an ideal place. There are very few Russians here. We heard Russian speech only on the third day of our stay, when we went to. And the Russian cafe saw only one and then not working.

Mostly Russians in Hua Hin are winterers and other "long-livers" who have moved. The main audience is Europeans, wealthy Thais from Bangkok and the Chinese, where without them.

Food in Hua Hin: macarons, cafes, restaurants and bars for every taste

In the center of Hua Hin there are many European establishments, cozy bars and restaurants. Also in the center you can find at least mid-level cafes for locals and tourists. There are some really trashy dirty eateries only for locals. And, of course, there are macarons, especially in the evening, when the heat subsides, there are a lot of them. As a last resort, you can always eat at 7-Eleven. You will definitely not stay hungry in the twentieth century.

Food in such cafes for locals is quite inexpensive.


I eat soup with shrimp for 40 baht ($ 1.2)

Not many shemales and "old farangs" with thai girls

Contrary to our expectations, anxious grandfathers with their Thai "fairies" do not sit out their panties in Hua Hin catering establishments. Although, such couples also have a place to be, but rather, at a later time, when the local Walking Street and other red light streets begin their work. One of these streets of "love" is located not far from, and we have already passed through it several times. This street is 10 times smaller than Pattaya, and not so depraved. Trances are at a minimum, and moths modestly sit in bars and wait for customers.

• Read also:

Safety

If Pattaya can be called a city of the young and energetic, then life in Hua Hin will be, on the contrary, measured and unhurried. There are fewer boozes, parties, debauchery and swagger, and the audience is more decent. All this gives the resort the title of almost the safest city in all of Thailand.

• Read:

In the 20th century, I did not feel that celebration of life that is in Pattaya or the tireless and vibrant rhythm of Bangkok

Here, as in a recreation center, where you came for 3 days to relax in peace, and then you want to go home again. This is how it is with Hua Hin. And everything seems to be here for life, with the exception of some features (and they are in any city), but still the soul is now asking for something else.

Features of Hua Hin

• Road congestion, more cars than bikes
• Increased rental cost. Renting a house is cheaper than an apartment
• Horses on the beach
• Few street food in non-central areas. Makashnits are only on the main streets, and if you go a little deeper, then finding a mobile cart is extremely difficult. For example, from our first one, we walked to Market Village and did not find a single macaroon.
• Hua Hin loves cats. If in other cities of Tai dogs roam the streets, then in Hua Hin there are cats in the same numbers, and there are almost no dogs.