Hua
Hin
Thailand’s Royal Beach and the perfect Bangkok getaway
Hua Hin is Thailand’s oldest and most traditional attractions as a holiday destination with the charm and fascination of still active fishing port. While most other Thai holiday destinations cater mainly to foreign tourists, Hua Hin is a holiday resort for both foreigners and Thais alike.
Hua Hin was
discovered in the early 1920s by King Rama VII as an ideal getaway from the
sultry metropolis of Bangkok. The tranquil fishing village was turned into
the Royal Resort and consequently became popular among Siam’s nobility and
upper-class. The construction of a railway line from Bangkok ensured its
accessibility and popularity with a wider part of the Thai public, but it
was the resort’s royal endorsement which has given Hua Hin a special
character of its own. In 1928, King Rama VII built Klai Kangwon (Far From
Worries) Palace which remains until this today an official royal residence.
It is still frequently used by members of the royal family and is open to
the public for visits. Hua Hin continued to develop in its own leisurely
way, both as an aristocratic resort with the attraction of an 18-hole golf
course, and as a fishing port. The Railway Hotel, today’s Sofitel Central
Hua Hin,
was built by the State Railways of Thailand in 1923 in the
architectural style of
old Siam.
Many of Bangkok’s rich and famous built their own beachfront summer homes to
the north and south along the curving sandy bay, enjoying leisurely family
weekends in a resort which is maintained its unique identity.
Charming City
Today’s visitor to Hua Hin will still sense this special atmosphere and old
world charm. The quiet, winding streets of the town
give the place an
atmosphere of calm and sophistication, as found in Europe in the
traditional, exclusive resorts in the Riviera
and the Cote d ‘Azure.In the
evening the winding roads with great variety of shops make a great stroll,
and the restaurants built
on stilts into the sea offer superb seafood in the
legendary and unsurpassed preparation of the Thai cuisine.
Hua Hin is
glamorous, but not at al snobbish.The Thais in Hua Hin have no arrogance
towards foreigners as it has unfortunately become the case at other
destinations. Possibly because the majority of the population in Hua Hin are engaged in small business, trade, crafts and fishing. So there is a Thai
market, where housewives buy daily needs, and a fishing fleet that runs
every night to catch all sorts of sea creatures.
The lovely weather
In June, Hua Hin’s rainy
season officially begins. Paradoxically, this is when Bangkok’s expat
community prefers to visit
Hua Hin. The place is quiet, the prices are low
and an occasional warm shower is not only pleasant, it also turns the place
into an ever-green tropical garden.In September the term “rainy season” may
actually make sense. Some days this month,
the rain can start in the
afternoon and continuing long into the night. Mid-December to February is
when Hua Hin has its
coldest time. The maximum daily temperatures barely
reach 30 degrees and at night it can be quiet chilly, s o a jacket or
sweater
is advisable. These months, a fresh breeze blows in from the sea and the day
on the beach is very pleasant.
The wind conditions in winter are ideal for
windsurfing and kite boarding; the wind is blowing onshore, wind speeds of
4-6.
This is a real insider tip. From February, temperatures start rising until April and May daytime; temperatures reach 32-35
degrees. The stay at
the beach is still pleasant, as a fresh wind is blowing; and at night it
cools down considerably and the
silky evening air is ideal for a stroll.
Clean Beach
The beach in Hua Hin is one of the cleanest in Thailand. The public beach is
just over 8 kilometers long and an average of
about 150 meters wide at low
tide. It is therefore ideal for long walks.In recent years the Government
has created an exemplary sanitation of international standards, together with an efficient and modern sewage treatment plant. The local authorities
pay great attention
to the cleanliness of the beach and the water quality
and continuously carry out checks.The jellyfish problem in Hua Hin
during
the rainy season should not be overlooked; on rainy days during the rainy
season (and only then); jellyfish may
appear near the beach. The touch of
the tentacles can cause painful skin irritation. During these month;
swimming in the
sea should be avoided or exercised with caution.If stung,
the important trick is to apply plenty of vinegar and carefully lift
off –
not brush! –any tentacles left on the skin. Families with children who like
to play in the water should pack a bottle
of vinegar in their beach bag just
in case.
Near Hua Hin, there are other
attractive beaches which are mainly used by local Thais. Particularly
noteworthy here is Suan Son,
about 10 km south of Hua Hin, with relatively
high waves and casuarinas. The water temperature is about 27 to 30 degrees
depending on the season.
Family Holidays or Long Stay
The clean beach, the quiet streets
and excellent recreational facilities make Hua Hin a perfect destination for
family vacations.
There are plenty of water sports and horse fans are riding
horses and ponies for rent. A musical school and other educational
institutions are available if you not only come to stay in the sun.
Golf is a popular sport and Hua Hin
provides the highest density of world class golf courses anywhere in
Thailand while it’s yet
virtually undiscovered as an international Golf
destination. Green- fees and other costs are currently among the lowest in
the
world while course maintenance and services are superb.
A key advantage of Hua Hin is that
you can safely move about as pedestrian. There are foot paths along all
major roads and
smaller sois are used only by few vehicles. Hua Hin has all
the ingredients for a very special Holiday or a Long Stay experience.
WELCOME; I see you on the beach!
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