Hua Hin Information...

Hua Hin is Thailand's oldest beach town resort. Situated on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand and only 200 kilometers from the capital, Bangkok, it offers the ultimate getaway destination for the city's elite. Hua Hin became popular with the Royal Family following the construction of the southern railway in the 1920's, travel became more accessible and a demand for luxury resorts and hotels grew. The first of these was the Railway Hotel which is now the Sofitel Central, still one of Hua Hin's most popular hotels.

Today Hua Hin is undergoing rapid expansion as Bangkokians and Westerners look this way for a second home, be it a quaint house nestled in the hills or an upmarket condominum with ocean views. Over the past few years, the town has seen countless housing developments spring up, new golf courses constructed, a brand new shopping complex and movie theatre and a boom in local businesses. The charm of Hua Hin is that it still retains its fishing village serenity which is now side by side with the bustling center of a modern luxury beach resort.

For many visitors to Thailand and to Hua Hin in particular, the expectation is of lazy days spent around a pool or on the beach, maybe a bit of swimming with the evenings spent dining out on good food with a few drinks. Overall, the emphasis is on relaxation and "sanuk" - fun.

If this is what you're looking for, then you won't be disappointed, but there is more to do during the day and the opportunities for keeping fit and playing sport are plentiful.

As Hua Hin is a Royal town and also the oldest beach resort in Thailand, it's not suprising that the town is steeped in history and full of attractions.

If you take the time out to hunt some of these down, you will better understand the country, the people and the culture.

The first thing to bear in mind is that Hua Hin does not have the wild nightlife that you can find in Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket. The town has been promoted by The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and local offices as a destination for families or for those seeking a quieter style holiday. In the main, TAT's efforts have succeeded and the sleazy nightlife areas that are evident in other resorts do not feature in Hua Hin.

Another major factor that has influenced the town's development over the past few years is that His Majesty The King of Thailand resides in Hua Hin most of the time now and so it has been important that expansion has not taken place at the expense of destroying Hua Hin's heritage as a Royal town.

Having said all that, there are plenty of bars in Hua Hin, most of which can be found contained within a few blocks of the centre of town. Some can get quite loud later at night, but in the afternoons and early evenings they are "family friendly" and you should not be put off from visiting some during your stay. Most are now far better equipped than they were with decent bathroom facilities and amenities, you can find bars with a good atmosphere around town in which to watch sporting events or just for general conversation. Some are fully air conditioned and others provide really good bar food and more extensive menus. There are also a number of watering holes where local expats are known to frequent, these are a great source of local knowledge should you wish to extend your stay.