Looking for a resort not far from BKK to chill-out for a few days after we arrive in BKK Dec 2005. We'll head far south but will need a place to regroup after 3 days intensive shopping in BKK. Thinking Hua Hin. What's so special about the area? Anything? What's the ritziest place to stay? Thinking we might splurge! Gosh, wot's come over me?HELP!

JamesA has posted fairly often re Hua Hin - pull up his earlier posts. Hotel options I like are the Aleenta (very boutique), Chiva Som, The Sofitel (old world), the Anantara and the Hyatt. Take a look and think about what is important to you - location, old world charm, spa facilities, etc. For a major splurge and intensive destressing consider booking a spa package at Chiva Som.

hobbes-I did a search, however wanted current opinions as I know regulars have been recently i.e. Bob. I really respect JamesA's opinion and did take on board a number of his suggestions. Thanks for your input! It does not have to be Hua Hin either! Thanks, again!

hobbes- Chiva Som looks fabulous but maybe a bigger splurge than I was planning-holy cow, what huge room rates!

OK, let's say US200 a night & in the middle of the action! There, so whaddya think now? All your suggestions look good, but which one has the best beds, best food, & is closest to shops, restaurants, bars etc. Spa treatments in Thailand are cheap most places, so the hotel spa is not so important. My sister is a masseuse so I get freebies, anytime. Thanks again!

The Sofitel if you want 1920's Raffles style place, very good service( USD 78 to 190 ), excellent restaurants, however I still stick with the view that the Hyatt is a bargain in the USD 105 region and you can get the Regency Club rooms for about USD 150 ( I saw someone posted somewhere that it is a 50 minute walk to town, yes, it would be, why walk for 50 minutes when a tuk-tuk does it in about 4 or 5 ! ) Anyway I veer off the point, for a few days lux I think the Hyatt provides, however, having said that, there are a lot of smaller places more boutique in style where you can splash out on the top rooms, like the Supatra resort, down from the Hyatt, Pool Villa USD 150-180 ).
Another place is the Central Village, now this is owned by same group as Sofitel and Sofitel pretty much runs the place, they are next to eachother, these are low rise bungalows, USD 75 a night all in, this is if you want to stay right in town, but on the beach and want to avoid large resorts or high rise, the Hilton is a huge massive high rise.

If you want to walk out of your hotel right into shops, street stalls, restaurants, bars etc then the Sofitel or the Central Village, probably the Sofitel meets all you need. You can also elephant and horse ride, take a horse and buggy around temples, play golf etc

You will have read all the posts I am sure and searched thru so won't go into what to see and do, restaurants etc as you can find those easily.

Now, places within 2-3 hours, well that is Hua hin or Cha Am ( Cha Am 15-20 minutes north, Dusit Resort top place but these are on their own and I would really not bother with Cha Am ).

If you head south east you have Pattaya and Jomtien beach, Jomtien has Royal Cliff resort, new Sheraton etc., but these are south 'east' so you either go back to Bangkok or you can fly from pattaya to either Koh Samui or Phuket.

Now, you say you are heading south, well, this is a big andantage to going for Hua Hin, as it puts you 180 km/120 miles south already, you really don't have to think about heading back to bangkok because the easiest and most pleasant by the way is to take a nice large Sedan with Driver or Station Wagon with driver and travel south by road. I not only do the trip often but am half way down that road today in Chumphon.

When you think of the 2.45 to 3 hours to go back to Bangkok, arrive at airport say 1.30 before flight, take a flight, taxi at other end simply not worth it time or cost wise.

Easy relaxed drive time from Hua Hin:-

Surat Thani ferry point for Koh Samui = 5 hrs

Krabi = 7 hrs

Phuket = 8 hrs

That is allowing for a couple of stops. You see some scenary and it's easy going. Coast for the vehicle and driver including the fuel about USD 150 for all of you.

If you want to break the journey you can take a car and driver 3 hours from Hua Hin to the Chumphon Cabana for a night, then they will arrange another car+driver onwards to Krabi or Phuket, taking between 4 and 5 hours. Those drive times are all easy going, I cannot get more than 120 km ( about 70 mph ) from my loaded s/wagon so it's no fast rush. Actual mileafe Hua Hin to Phuket is about 660 km / 400 miles total.

You can find lots of Hua Hin places on www.huahin.20m.com ( ignore the annoying pop-up ) or just click this for the list and photos of everywhere

http://r24.org/huahin.20m.com/huahin/hotels/

Don't forget to look at Sofitel and Central Village, Hyatt, Supatra and if you want cheaper the Baan Talay Dao is good value.

If you wanted to split that journey south the Chumphon Cabana is 3 star and perfectly ok, very get away from it all but right on the beach. About USD 30-60

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/ch...bana/pictures/

Another advantage of heading south from Hua hin to krabi/Phuket area is that the kindly porter pickps up your bags from your Hua hin hotel room and you won't have to touch them until the friendly porter at your Phuket or Krabi hotel delivers them you your room, and wow it also removes all that airport/flight hassles etc, wonderful way to travel! If you want to check out some other lux places down south a charming site is www.phuket-luxury-hotels.com and they have all the south area.

I just saw on the news yeaterday that there is an airline that flyi's to bangkok too hou hin..

SGA airlines has daily service for about 5200 R/t

The Chiva Som has the most wonderful spa, but there accommodations are so-so, especially for the price. Frankly, I wouldn't stay there. If you want to visit the Chiva Som, stay at the Hyatt and book a spa day at the Chiva Som - it's a 5 minute walk via the beach. The Hyatt is very nice, beautiful grounds, etc.

The Anantara is on the other side of Hua Hin from the Hyatt and the Chiva Som. The Deluxe Lagoon Rooms are simply stunning. They also have a wonderful spa (it's not the world-class spa of the Chiva Som, but it is idyllic).

Neither of these places are in the middle of Hua Hin. If you want the middle of Hua Hin, I think there is really only great one choice, the Sofitel.

my choice wouold be the hyatt....it is beautifully situated and you could not go wrong with it...the sofitel is also very nice and right in town...the la mer restaurant up on the cliff above the hyatt is excellent and not to be missed one nite for dinner...

there is nothing special about HH...it is just an old fashioned sea side resort...the downtown is so so...there are some decent restaurants there and a boring night market...it is a good vedge place...you can get there easily and i think you would enjoy it..

We stayed at the Sofitel and loved it. It's a 2 block walk into the center of things. The pool is nice, as is the spa. If you go to Hua Hin, I'd recommend it highly. However, if you're not already going to a beach in the south, you might think about hopping on a plane and going to Krabi or Phuket. The flight is about an hour, so the total travel time is not much longer than road to Hua Hin. The beach is definitely better further south.

Wow you folks come up with the goods, every time! Thanks all of you, it's info much appreciated.

We've decided on the Sofitel and after 3 days, we'll be heading for Turatao.

James, is it feasible to hire a car from Bangkok and drive down south? Would you do it? We love motoring holidays and have driven in Thailand before.

Thanks again everyone, for the great input. All the best.

lyndie---are you crazy...drive out of bkk?? you can drive once you are down there but i cannot think you would make it easily there...poor road signs among other things...once there driving is a breeze and avis has offices in hua hin

Lyndie the way to do it would be to take a taxi, bus, train to Hua hin and pick up a Budget or Avis car ( Budget have the most locations ), you can then drive south, it's dual highway for 440 km to Surat Thani, then single road windy and a little hilly for about 120 km and turn left to Krabi, then south past the Koh lanta area. I always park in shopping mall car parks on the outer areas of Bangkok and then cab it.
The problem though is that if you are staying on an island in Turatao you would have to leave the car on the mainland ( a 'trick' is to book 1 night in a Trang Hotel and then leave in their car park whilst you head to the island, but of course you are 'paying' for the rental, one ways are expensive, but you can sometimes get a one way deal after renting certain number of days.
On driving...I honestly would take a car+driver, the logistics of having the rental with you are a bind and also after days on the beach it's easier to fly back as opposed to driving all back. I personaly restrict even my own driving these days and whenever a relation is with us I chuck him the keys! You will see more havinga driver with you and life is easier and it costs no more.
Your nearest Budget location in the south would be Krabi.

Bob & James-thanks a lot for the input. You both make a lotta sense!

The idea of having our own wheels is very appealing and we only plan to stay out on the islands for a couple of days. We have around 10 days to drive down & back as we are hoping to fly to India or Budapest (what a choice!)& meet a Yankee aunt for 10 days or so then back to BKK for Xmas/New year period. I appreciate both of you taking the time to give us the benefit of your wonderful experience in Thailand travel logistics. Have fun guys!