Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok’s main airport, a few options are available to continue your journey, hop aboard a flight to Hua Hin’s little domestic airport, which will take about 45 minutes, hire a car and plunge yourself head first into the adventure that is driving in Thailand or opt for a more relaxing taxi ride to reach your final destination, both of which should take you roughly 3 hours. If you are as lucky as I am, you will have some very close friends and loved one’s to be able to collect you from the airport and take you on the rest of your journey, but having already spent 12 hours on a flight from the chaos of London’s Heathrow, the latter of the three will always be the prevailing choice for me. As long as it is a good size taxi with working air conditioning, you will find it comfortable way to introduce yourself to the Thai traffic system. This will also give a great opportunity to take in the scenery as you pass from town to town along the long and winding highways and byways on your way to picturesque Hua Hin.
As you head south into the city along Phetkasem Road, a sense of space and relaxation begins to fill you. The city stretches along kilometres of unspoilt sandy beach from the far north near the airport to the south and Khao Takiab Hill. The many large condominium structures dotting the landscape are spread far enough apart not to clutter the natural beauty of the coastline. Mountains loom imposingly along the skyline to the west, but give a safe, sheltered feeling as you head further in to the main area of the city. Many of the larger hotels are located in the southern area of the town, with The Hilton and the Sofitel Centara Grand being situated beach front along Naresdamri Road, right in the heart of the main tourist area. There are many other smaller hotels as well as guest houses and private accommodation available to rent across the length of the city, with varying levels of quality and comfort to suit all budgets.
Staying at the Sofitel Centara Grand was nothing short of pure tranquillity. On arrival you proceed down a beautifully well maintained drive way, with lush foliage and palm trees along either side, to what could only be described as one of the most historic and magnificent buildings in the city. Originally the Old Station Hotel, built in the early part of the 20th Century, this marvel of colonial style Architecture is truly breathtaking, with surrounding landscaped gardens to match. 5 stars, 154 rooms and some of the best facilities in a hotel available anywhere in the world, from fully air conditioned rooms, a baby sitting service, 4 restaurants & bars, to sports facilities that would give a small British leisure centre feelings of inadequacy. With such a huge selection of activities within the confines of the hotel you will be tempted to never venture any further afield, but don’t let the opportunity to explore the surrounding city slip you by.
Pungent aromas begin to fill the air from very early on, not all of which can be associated with the delicious food that you find here, but as the many local restaurants begin to prepare themselves for the daily trade, hints of chilli and ginger and many other wonderfully aromatic scents begin to waft around and you soon find yourself thinking about what tasty morsel will be on the menu for breakfast and with a great selection of cuisine from all over the world available, you will certainly be spoilt for choice. The streets around you begin to explode into life, street vendors pushing or riding their carts around, selling everything from Ice Cream to Chicken Satay to edible Ants (if you are feeling bold enough to try them) mopeds zip around, many of which may seem to be on the wrong side of the road, but is perfectly acceptable behaviour here, so you will need to be extra careful when crossing roads, and generally the traffic is quite heavy in the main town, with the majority of the shops spread across the length of Phetkasem Road and the highest concentration being around the main tourist area. Market Village is only a short Tuk Tuk ride away, and you will find a large European supermarket there as well as many fine fashion outlets and restaurant chains from around the world. Those with an appetite for something more adventurous can take a trip into the mountains to visit many of the breathtaking caves and local waterfalls, or go for a trek on an elephant to see the awe inspiring view from a different perspective. But for those after a more leisurely day, simply relax somewhere along the 5 miles of beach or pick up your clubs and head for the links.
Golf is one of the most popular pastimes in the area and it’s not hard to see why, as there are no fewer than 7 world class courses to play on here, and the green fees are among the most reasonable anywhere in the world. Lush rolling fairways surrounded by the natural beauty of Thailand’s local flora and forna and expertly maintained greens all provide for an enjoyable round whether you are a professional or an amateur, you can’t help but feel relaxed as you play.As the sun begins to fade over Hua Hin, the local bars, which were previously rather quiet and sleepy, begin to fill with girls trying to entice visiting gentlemen in to drink with them and party and the whole town seems to shift up a gear. The maze of little back streets filled with massage parlours and bars become frantic with life, and it can be great fun walking around and taking in the atmosphere.
Adventure and excitement, all combined with the relaxation, tranquility and beauty of Thailand makes Hua Hin such an appealing city, that once you settle into the lifestyle here you will never want to leave.
Written by Gary Hills 2008
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