Hua Hin hotels - comparison
 

I spent the last five nights of my Thailand/Laos trip in Hua Hin. I spent a week in Hua Hin last year at this time after a week in Cambodia. Here's my comparison of the two hotels I stayed at: the Anantara last year, the Hyatt this year.<BR><BR>Beaches: The beach at the Hyatt wins this one easily, longer, wider than the beach at the Anantara. However, I have to admit that I was surprised at just how much refuse ended up on the shore - mostly plastic soft drink or juice bottles, but other types of plastic refuse as well. The hotels kept the beaches groomed, but I was still repulsed when I walked the beach early in the morning. The water looked clear.<BR><BR>Rooms: I stayed in a Lagoon room at the Anantara and in a Regency Club room at the Hyatt. The Anantara's rooms were larger, better decorated, more luxurious. The bath at the Anantara had a huge Japanese soaking tub, while the Hyatt had a regular bathtub. The Anantara's rooms had Thai decor, the Hyatt was very modern and rather cold for my tastes. The Anantara had a cd player in the room, the Hyatt did not.<BR><BR>Amenities: Staying in the Regency Club has some nice perks, like breakfast in the club and evening drinks and hors d'ouvres (which were excellent). At the Hyatt, we also got 10% off masssage prices and laundry prices because we were staying in the Regency Club.<BR><BR>Service: excellent at both places.<BR><BR>Other facilities: The Anantara has a full spa (wonderful!), while the Hyatt has only massage and steam and a health club. On the other hand, the Hyatt has the Chiva-Som just a 5 minute walk down the beach. The Hyatt set up spa appointments for us at the Chiva Som - it's reputation as the best destination spa in the world is well-deserved.<BR><BR>These are both excellent properties.

Oops! I forgot to write about the swimming pools: Both resorts have a small, quieter, more private, separate swimming pool for their Lagoon (Anantara) or Regency Club (Hyatt) rooms. Both of these pools are nice. The Hyatt wins though, on their big pool with winding streams and a huge water slide with dragon sides to it.

What is there to do in the evenings in Hua Hin? We had 2 weeks in Phuket but were warned that there is very little if anything in the way of entertainment in Hua Hin, is this so? We are not into discotheques but we love the Thai cabaret and other shows, are there many there.<BR>Great report on the 2 hotels, sad about the beach at the Hyatt though.

Hua Hin isn't a place for nightlife. I go there because it's pretty quiet.

Are there any shows to see or cabaret in Hua Hin?

There is no cabaret that I know of. The Bali-Thai has a dance show. I think Sara Rey listed nightspots in a previous post - seach on Hua Hin.

The Bali-Thai had a superb cabaret show but it has 'sadly' now closed but the performers now do the show in the center of town. Note that bars close at 12 pm 'on the dot'.

Another hotel worth mentioning is the Marriott Resort in Hua Hin. I stayed there for 4 nights and found the rooms and gardens to be very soothing. <BR><BR>The beach was relatively clean compared to that of the Sofitel. Also, it had a great location - just close enough to town for dining and visiting markets, but just far enough to be isolated from the noise. We enjoyed the Meekaruna Restaurant with a view of the fishing pier (only $40 with 6 fresh seafood entrees and drinks for 6 people). Shortcomings of the Marriott include (1) the exercise facility was surprisingly small and (2) the prevalence of mosquitos. <BR><BR>The Hyatt Hotel seemed a bit too far away to walk into town. It's down the road south from Hua Hin, past several condotels and a shantytown - which was a stark contrast to the luxurious Chiva-Som and Hyatt across the street. This may be unimportant if you don't mind doing everything at the resort. Has anyone stayed at the Sofitel?

Sarah, if that place has closed down is there anything else to do at all? any other shows, I am getting worried that it will be boring from posts I have read elsewhere. Do the hotels have regular entertainment, beach parties or similar.

Sorry, one more question. Someone said that the bars close at 12 pm. Is that just the hotel bars? What about cocktail bars and places in the town, what time do they close?

Yes, 12 midnight and that's it. But you will often find the centre of town 'dead' by 9.30 or 10 at night. The only place I know which is open late is Grand Plaza where there is a disco and some late bars. There were a few good shows in town but have closed down now. I read that the Bali-Thai has moved back to Phuket.

No beach parties that I ever heard of. Some hotels have a pianist and maybe a singer but that is about it. A good book and a passion for Tv late at night is probably the only option. It certainly was a great deal quieter on my visit last month than ever before, especially since the early closing hours were introduced. Dare I say maybe now a bit too quiet. Bars elsewhere in Thailand close about 2 am.

If you are looking for nightlife, Hua Hin is not the place to go. Personally, I go to the beach to relax, enjoy the setting, get pampered at a spa... If that's your idea of spending time at the beach, you'll love Hua Hin. If your idea of beach time includes bars and partying, I'd recommend you consdier other Thai beaches, like Phuket.

Phuket has exciting beaches and also plenty of charming and pleasant beaches with peace and quiet. Hua Hin is a scruffy provincial town with a fishing harbour and nothing else. If you have seen the brochures of the great Thai beaches and islands and white beaches with blue waters, then you would be sadly upset at being in Hua Hin. The Chedi in Phuket is the tops, also the Boathouse at Kata beach or the Meridiens, one between Patong and Karon and the other down south at Nai Harn beach, paradise. The Phi Phi Holiday Inn or the Phi Phi Cabana were both super. Our Hua Hin experience was the Marriott. The beaches are not on the same level as Samet, Samui, Krabi, Phuket etc.

Tania<BR>am getting depressed about Hua Hin. We plan to mainly go on trips and relax in the evening( going for one week). We are staying at the Marriott. Have you anything positive to say about it? Is it really quiet in the town in the evening?

Dear Judith: I went to Hua Hin last year in March. We stayed at the Anantara. I think Kathie described it very well. We went to the Marriot for dinner one night. We had a wonderful dinner looking out over the ocean. The beach was much nicer than the beach at the Anantara. In fact, I never went into the ocean once that trip because the water was murky and there was stuff that washed up every morning. Ugh. Having been to Phuket twice and Koh Samui once there was no comparison. That said, I loved the Lagoon room, the small private pool, the wonderful spa and the excellent Italian (yes, Italian restuarant) at the Anantara. At night there was a singer in the lounge. We went to town two nights. We were disappointed in the quality of the restaurants in general. We went to the night market for a couple hours. Went to the Bali-Thai show but never even went in because it didn't feel right as we entered. Had a magical dinner at the Chiva-Som. An okay dinner at the Sofitel and otherwise stayed at the Anantara. We are glad we went. Probably wouldn't go back. Not because there wasn't much night life but because the beach wasn't as nice as others. It is all an adventure. Safe traveling.<BR>Sue<BR>

I think places are what you make of them. If you make the effort you will be fine. primlai across the railway has nightime golf range, great fun especially if there is a group of you, you can then fish rom boardwalks for prawns and have them cooked. Get a few other people together, it is 100% Thai place but incredible fun, shoot some golf balls, fish for your dinner, some karaoke, dinner and some beers, great!<BR>Your hotel will not promote this, but just ask one of the bell-boys or concierge for 'Primlai'. There is Thai boxing in town twice a week and Saturdays at Grand Plaza. If you are bored go to a bar on Soi Bintabat opposite the Hilton, music and pool. Also opposite the Hilton is Ken Diamond Travel, they have great tours and excursions and trips not offered by others. See if the Hot Springs tour is going to Myanmar/Burma, day or overnight trip, no visa necessary.<BR>Bang Saphan day trip to Koh Talu island and snorkeling. You can also fish for prawns, get cheap food and drinks opposite the entrance to the Marriott.<BR>A 2 day 1 night excursion to Koh Samui including transfers, return flight, accommodtion is about $80.

&quot;Stepz&quot; at Grand Plaza goes from about 10 pm to 2 a.m, good lives bands and dancers, mix of Thai and Western pop music, $2.50 includes free drink, walking distance from the Marriott. Saturdays I would avoid as gets packed out, weekdays ok for a drink and to see some very very good Thai bands. Normal drinks cost $1.50-$2

Anantara has great rooms and excellent spa, better I would say than most. You can get Thai Baht rates using local agents.<BR><BR>Link:<BR>http://www.huahinguide.homestead.com

If you are looking for pure R&amp;R, then I would really recommend getting out of the beaten path and go down to Pranburi, a small fishing village just 20 min south of Hua Hin. From there, you can go trekking in national park, golfing, sailing, etc. Aleenta Resort &amp; Spa is a new hotel that just opened there. The beach is miles and miles long with no people selling things, clean, and quite. The hotel itself is one of the HIP designed hotel, small and luxurious. We enjoyed our private &quot;house&quot; on the beach with our own varanda and plunge pool. The hotel has only 10 rooms, and all the rooms are different. The restaurant is superb and features Franco Thai fusion cusine - product of 2 chefs, 1 Thai and 1 Western...that's a lot of chefs for a 25 seats resto. It's exclusive but relaxed. The bar is great, with lounge feel, lots of cushions and candles. Romantic!