Palatial, pristine and oh so pretty, Hua Hin is the epitome of an emerging hot spot. Unlike other better-known beach destinations in Thailand, this up and coming coastal region is located along a scenic route just three hours outside of Bangkok by car. Set along the sparkling shores of the Gulf of Thailand, once arrived, there’s a myriad of must-see, -do and -eat adding to the casual charm of the city that is ‘far from worries’. We didn’t wait to get acquainted as well.
SEE
Hua Hin is the high-end hideaway for Thai royals. And it’s not hard to see why. The Klaikangwon Palace, which means exactly that – ‘far from worries’ – is the palace of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikitt. And while tourists aren’t able to visit the summer palace (yes, there’s even a no-fly zone), they can in fact get a glimpse into royal life at the Maruekatayawan Palace, just north of Hua Hin. Originally built in 1923 by His Majesty King Rama VI, the royal abode is also the longest golden teak palace in the world.
Aside from sightseeing, Hua Hin is known for its golf. Over ten international, award winning and championship courses are littered around the lush green hilly hot spot.
Another attraction is the effervescent Vana Nava, touted as Asia’s first water jungle and named one of the top 10 attractions in Thailand for 2015. The bustling park, with 19 rides is a frenzied and fun day out with family and friends. It’s definitely one for the diary.
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Quiet and charming Hua Hin, Thailand |
During our time in Hua Hin we stayed at the picture perfect, InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, with its stunning white-shuttered exteriors, grand gold fish greeting sculptures, sea-facing rooms and frangipani-lined paths that lead effortlessly to the centrally located tiered pool with views of the ocean vista.
It’s also the perfect place for practicing the art of tai chi and yoga, complimentary activities offered to guests, which we took full advantage of. Another resort, which is reminiscent of resort royalty is the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin. An oasis on the beach, this hotel is more on the pulse for families; think a giant jaw-dropping slide, water activities, fish feeding and Camp Hyatt for the little ones.
The Anantara Hua Hin, designed in the style of an ancient Thai village right beside the beach, is one of the most luxurious places to stay in Hua Hin. Lush tropical gardens surround the hotel, there is a cookery school on ground and a stunning beachside pool.
SPA
The word impressive doesn’t even come close to the reaction you’ll experience walking into the Hyatt Regency Spa. A seemingly standard spa on the outside, is nothing but awe-inspiring on the inside. Designed by Thai architect, Lek Bunnag, The Barai is a paradise of indulgent proportions. We highly recommend the traditional Thai herbal compress massage. The Spa at the InterContinental too offers a delicious and diverse menu of signature treatments. We booked in for the rebalancing massage, an hour-long Swedish-aromatherapy reliever. But their biggest draw perhaps is the Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio by Bastien Gonzalez.
SHOP
Hua Hin’s soiree of shop-‘til-you-drop types centre solely on night markets. Buzzing, brightly lit and brimming with fashion, art, trinkets, gadgets, souvenirs and food, it’s best to visit during rush hour when locals and tourists alike cram the shopping districts. Hua Hin Night Market is a corridor of cheap and chic and the first stop on our shopping list. There are other markets in the area too including the arts-inspired Cicada Market and the Wednesday-only Cha-Am Night Market.
SAVOUR
Seafood, next to Thai staples, seems to be the food of choice in Hua Hin. For an upmarket experience we ate at Azure, the InterContinental’s signature seaside restaurant. The fresh catch experience was dinner at Saeng Thai Seafood. Set on a wide jetty that looks out to sea, simply select your catch then have it served straight to your plate. Popular local restaurants that fry up fabulous flavours are Rua Rimtarn, which overlooks a tiny fishing village and Baan Issara, which backs onto a white sandy beach. However, it wouldn’t be a Thai trip without succulent street food. While it’s not always easy to select a tourist-friendly trailer, the Hua Hin Night Market has a smorgasbord of mouth-watering eats including pad thai and oyster omelettes.
SURGERY
Thailand is renowned for its medical tourism and Hua Hin is now touting its spot in the hospital chain. In particular, the Bangkok Hospital in Hua Hin, with state-of-the-art facilities and expert doctors, has become the go-to place for those looking for professional practice and a little recuperating post operation. And while they’re still on the lookout for a plastic surgeon, this department isn’t too far behind launching. We took a tour of the practice, from the emergency room to the couldn’t-be-cuter maternity ward; this place is a haven for some.
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How to get there
Direct trains connect Bangkok to Hua Hin daily but the journey can take anything between four to six hours, so we recommend going by car, which reduces travel time to two to three hours. To fly to Hua Hin in an hour book through SGA Airlines’ Nok Air. Tickets cost Dh327 ($90) one way.
By Shannon Wylie