Thailand is one of the world’s top holiday destinations because of its great climate, kind hospitality and exceptional islands.
However, Hua Hin has more or less been one of its hidden jewels… well, that’s what I thought until I visited a month ago!
It’s actually really popular with tourists from Europe, especially the Swiss for some reason – there’s even a Swiss village! So if you are also a fan of German beers and Swiss cheese fondue (without actually having to visit Switzerland), then Hua Hin should definitely be on your list.
Hua Hin is where the Thai Royal Family and Bangkok residents vacation; it’s 3-4 hours drive away from Bangkok and neighboured by Cha-am. Both Hua Hin and Cha-am have white sand beach shores, whilst its coastal structure makes it THE place for kite-boarding, which you’ll see a lot of at the beach.
It’s not famous for the smoothness of its sands, nor is it a good place to take a dive (beware of jellyfish!), but it does have some specialties. It has quite a few special theme parks – Vana Nava Water Jungle, Camel Republic camel farm, Hua Hin Hills Vineyard, Santorini Village, and The Venezia.
Vana Nava Water Jungle
Markets in Hua Hin
Many big-name hotels have resorts at Hua Hin; after some thorough research (as usual!), I chose to stay at The Nidhra, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group. Every room there is a suite with a small private pool of its own; their smallest room is xx, so you can stretch your arms and legs all you want in the privacy of your own room, or head to the pool and get tanned even faster!
(Note: There are no private beaches in Hua Hin, so you’ll get people walking around the beach next to you if you do sunbathe there. The Nidhra does provide umbrellas and beds on the beach, but I preferred to stay on the grass next to the pool, which is a much higher level than the beach so less likely to get disturbed by walkers, runners and horse riders.)
The Nidhra is the type of resort that you will always find relaxing and comforting no matter where you are. The resort’s general manager and staff are always attentive and greet everyone at breakfast; they remember your name and preferences, and are happy to offer their recommendations for cool places to hang out in Hua Hin. (I mostly chatted with the General Manager and another member of staff, who were both from Switzerland.)
There is only one restaurant and one bar but more importantly, they have the real essentials you need for a good holiday – a spa and gym! They even have a stunning reading room that’s packed with classic novels and the latest magazines from across the globe.
Later, I realised The Nidhra is part of a luxury Thai hotel group that has many resorts scattered around the country. If this is the level of quality they usually provide, I will definitely be sure to visit another of their resorts during my next trip to Thailand – somewhere I haven’t properly explored yet… Hmmm, so where to next?!
The Hua Hin Railway Stations – the most beautiful railway station in Thailand.
Breakfast at The Nidhra – I highly recommend the grilled coconut drink! Such a refreshing way to start the day.
A peek of my room at the Nidhra.
Spa at the Nidhra
My sort of night time entertainment on the beach.
Tags: asia, beach, boutique, hotels, Hua Hin, luxury, resorts, reviews, Thailand, travel, 亞洲, 旅行, 泰國, 海灘, 精品酒店, 華欣
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