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The twin resorts of Hua Hin and Cha Am are popular destinations for package holiday-makers and Thai tourists alike. Of the two, Hua Hin has more to offer in terms of attractions and things to do, but both resorts have their own appeal. Hua Hin has long been a favourite of the Thai Royal Family and the King has a palace here. The area also offers some of the best golf courses in Thailand. Cha Am is said to have the longest beach in Thailand and the town is very popular with Thai visitors attracted by its proximity to Bangkok. Cha Am is 25kms north of Hua Hin with regular buses taking 30 minutes to travel the distance.

Formerly a small fishing village, Hua Hin has grown with the rise in tourism but the fishermen can still be seen plying their trade and no trip to Hua Hin is complete without sampling the day’s catch at one of the array of wonderful seafood restaurants.

Getting To Hua Hin & Cha Am

From Bangkok, it is 3 hours by road to Cha Am with the trip to Hua Hin taking an additional 30 minutes. Trains to Hua Hin take a leisurely 4 hours and services depart from both Hualamphong and Bangkok Noi (Thonburi). There are frequent buses between Cha Am and Hua Hin (journey time 30 minutes).

Where to Stay in Hua Hin

Hua Hin has some very atmospheric budget accommodation in the form of guest houses built on the jetties jutting out into the sea. For those with a larger wallet, try the historic and beautiful Railway Hotel, built in the 1920’s and now known as the Sofitel Central Hua Hin. In between these two extremes there are hotels to suit all tastes and budgets.
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Where to Stay in Cha Am

The choice of accommodation in Cha Am is far more restricted than that in Hua Hin. Cha Am is extremely popular with Thai visitors, many of whom visit from Bangkok on the weekend and public holidays. This means that accommodation can soon be booked up for Friday-Sunday, but it also means large discounts are often available for stays from Monday-Thursday.
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What to See

The royal residence, Klai Kangwon Palace (’Far From Worries’) was built in the 1920’s and although it remains in use as a royal residence, it is also open to the public for visits.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park (’Three Hundred Mountain Peaks’) is a highly recommended day trip. It isn’t easy to get to by public transport and an organized tour is probably the best option.

The area is home to a number of high class golf courses. Royal Hua Hin is the oldest public course in Thailand and the more recent Springfield Royal Country was designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Package Tours

The area is very popular with European tourists, particularly those from Germany and Scandinavia (and increasingly from Britain). Package holiday companies tend to use accommodation on the coastline in between Cha Am and Hua Hin. This means that visitors tend to be a bit out of the way from both Cha Am and Hua Hin, but it does provide the benefit of each hotel effectively having their own private beach for their guests. All hotels in these areas will be able to arrange transport for those wishing to travel to either central Cha Am or Hua Hin.

Hua Hin Weather

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