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Updated: 10 March 2024
Hua Hin is a beautiful beach town only a few hours from Bangkok. It was one of the first resort to be established in Thailand and has masses of old world charm, wide white sand beaches, great seafood restaurants and markets to explore. If have a few days off it’s my favourite place to go to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.
There are so many options open to you. You can use a private car or taxi, if your budget goes that far, a public mini-van, local bus or train. Using the train is my choice for many reasons. The ticket price for a one way trip is just over 400 Baht and for that you get an air con carriage, free snacks just after departing and Thai food lunch. The seats are airplane type with a fold down table and big window so you can take in the views along the way. The train departs the main train station, Hua Lamphong just after 8am and takes about 4 hours to arrive in Hua Hin. Not the fastest way to get there, but it’s comfortable and relaxing. You can watch the urban landscapes change into a rural landscape dotted with small towns and villages along the way.
The only downside for me is that the return train leaves Hua Hin at 4.30pm as it comes from Surat Thani, in the far south. Because of this, I splash out on a taxi that drops me right at my front door, not bad for around 1,600 Baht. They can be booked from many places in the old town.
It is advised to book the train a week or so ahead as the tickets tend to sell out quickly.
The choice is only limited by your budget. There are small guest houses built on the piers, midrange hotels to 5 start resorts further out of town. I like being in the old town near the pier restaurants and the beach so go for one of the pleasant guest houses that are located throughout the old town.
Explore online to find the perfect accommodation for you. You are spoilt for choice.
There are a few taxis, but tuk tuks are the best way to get around. You can book one for an tour or just a short hop to a shopping mall. They are more expensive than here in Bangkok and you really need to negotiate the price before jumping in.
If you can, going during the week is the best option as it can get quite crowded on the weekends with many Thais escaping Bangkok.
The seafood pier based restaurants are great for the food and the atmosphere on the end of a pier with the water lapping underneath you.
All the major western franchises are here, but explore the local Thai restaurants and markets.
Hua Hin is the perfect getaway location whatever your interests or budget.
