3 days 2 nights Hua Hin Every experience is a form of exploration

“Here’s to freedom, cheers to art. Here’s to having an excellent adventure and may the stopping never start.”
― Jason Mraz

Hua Hin, Thailand

Every year we will make a trip to Bangkok – Thailand. This time we explored Hua Hin a seaside resort on the Gulf of Thailand, located in the southern Thai province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Known as quiet fishing village, it grew into a fashionable escape for residents of Bangkok after the 1920s, when the Thai royal family built summer palaces there.

Hua Hin Beach, popular for kitesurfing and other water sports, is the main stretch of sand, lined with high-end hotels and seafood shacks.

How to go to Hua Hin

Many blogs had indicated that there are mini vans to Hua Hin from Bangkok's Victory monument. Do note that, Since September 2016, these mini vans to Hua Hin had relocated to the Southern Terminal Bus Station no longer can be found at Victory monument. We couldn't get much information till we reach Bangkok city on how to go to Hua Hin as there were new changes. To the Southern Bus terminal is rather far from the busy city area and busy traffic. There are also Trains from Bangkok to Hua Hin, do check the schedules
http://www.train36.com/train-from-bangkok-to-hua-hin.html

The journey to Hua Hin from Bangkok will take about 4hours depending on the traffic conditions.

To avoid the traffic to go to the southern Bus Terminal, we decided to take a 24 seater comfortable coach with a clean build-in toilet that cost $269B per pax from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hua Hin. The coach counter can be easily located at level 1, Gate 1 at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Coach to Hua Hin from Counter from Suvarnabhumi Airport Level 1

24 seater coach air conditioned with a clean build-in toilet

Inside the coach

Counter with timing from Hua Hin Bus terminal to Suvarnabhumi Airport

Tip: If you want a specific time to return back to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. You may want to buy the return ticket to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport after you reach Hua Hin bus terminal.

How to go around in Hua Hin

Several ways to travel around Hua Hin, Songthaews (literally means “two rows”) are covered pick-up trucks with two rows of seating in the back for passengers. They function like local buses in Hua Hin. Although there are many other transport options in Hua Hin, such as taxis and tuk-tuks, they tend to charge very inflated prices. The songthaew is the cheapest form of public transport. We go around by renting a car and self drive, when we were there the temperature was about 35-40 degrees in December. The sun was too strong and hot to explore by bike.

Car & motor bike rentals are popular in Hua Hin. Its right hand drive, similar to Singapore, do get your mobile device with GPS equipped with an unlimited 7 days data plan for $299B, as there are no GPS device in the rented car.

If you had decided to explore more further places and want to self drive. Do book the car online before you reach Hua Hin to avoid disappointments. There are few car rentals companies to choose from.

Petrol are easily spotted around Cha Am and Hua Hin city, our car didn't come to us with a full tank, if you would like to be safe like what we did was to pump at Esso petrol station located near the night market from the map shown below. They have 91, and 95 for petrol and you can top up $300B or $500B. We top up only $600B for the 3 days 2 nights based on the places we went is sufficient.

As for speed when driving do follow the speed limit indicated along the road as there are traffic police. There are usually 2 to 3 lanes on the road, do not hog on first lane which is on the extreme right (right hand drive rule). :) First lane is for overtaking vehicles. hee hee just a gentle reminder for ourselves, when we travel on self drive we want everyone to enjoy the drive trip and safety is always first priority, follow the local traffic rules and not speed :)

Our rented car in Hua Hin

Map of Hua Hin

What to do in Hua Hin?

We had planned so much things to do and explore in Hua Hin but so little time as we were there only 3 days 2 nights and we wanted to do it at our own time with no rush and selectively.

We took the coach in the morning from Bangkok to Hua Hin, reached Hua Hin at 1pm in the afternoon. Check in to our hotel and collected the car till about 4pm.

Our Day 1  Hua Hin Adventure

"Plearnwan Eco Vintage Village"

Vintage collections and displays of the 50s -80s, bring back childhood memories on some of the toys we used to play in Singapore during the Kampong days. Fun place for posing and taking pictures.

Address: Petchkasem Rd (between Hua Hin Sois 38 and 40)
GPS: 12.594108, 99.949245
Opening Hours: Sun to Thu – 9am to 9pm; Fri & Sat – 8am to 11pm
Admission: Free

Do check on the opening hours on Public holidays

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"The Venezia Hua Hin"

The Venezia, a replica of 'Venice, Italy'.The place is quiet, great for Photos. There are other activities include riding the iconic Venetian Gondolas, Horse Carriage, 3D Art Gallery, etc. All these will be at an additional cost and is cheaper if you take the package at the entrance.

Address: 1899 Petchkasem Rd, Sai Tai, Cha Am, Phetchaburi 76120
GPS: 12.650217, 99.951183
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri – 11am to 10pm; Sat & Sun – 9am to 8pm
Admission: Free

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"Night Market and Chatsila Night market in Hua Hin"

There are alot of vendors in this Night market selling clothings, souvenirs and snacks, there are many street food and fruits stalls and seafood restaurants selling seafood at a competitive price. Tip: Don't rush to settle on the first seafood stall u see, look around first, if you don't want to waste your stomach space for lousy food.  We were disappointed with the seafood except the Tom Yam Goong, we were hungry and too quick to settle on the first seafood place we saw. We had point at the picture showing Stir Fried Oyster omelette (Thai style) to the person whom took our orders and it came oysters stir fried with tomatoes and vegetables. We ask the waitress and they insisted it is what we order!! :(  That's why we didn't show any seafood pictures.

Don’t miss out Chatsila Night Market which is just beside the night market.

Address: 1 Soi Sa Song, Hua Hin 72 Rd., Hua Hin, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khirikhan 77110
GPS: 12.570356, 99.957039
Opening Hours: Daily – 6pm to 11pm
Admission: Free

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Our Day 2  Hua Hin Adventure

We had a wonderful breakfast buffet at our hotel and decided to do some walking at the Khao Hin Lek Fai Mountain view point.

"Khao lek Fai View point"

Khao Hin Lek Fai well known as “Flintstone Hill”, the hill is the best view point in Hua Hin. On Khao Hin Lek Fai provides a panoramic view of Hua Hin overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

On the way to the hill the road to the top is very steep. Vehicle transport is recommended.

Note: There are alot of monkeys perhaps its not advisable to bring food with you. Not sure about the monkey's behaviour towards humans. The monkeys appeared while on our way to the car.

Khao lek Fai View point

Address: Hua Hin, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand

Hours: 6AM–8PM

Phone: +66 32 511 047

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FN Factory Outlet HuaHin

On the way to Santorini park at Cha Am, we passed by a FN outlet. There are brands from Adidas, Polo Ralph Lauren, to SuperDry and other brands at a discounted price.

A must visit is the toilet at this FN outlet. The toilet cubicle is so luxurious, vast space, feels like a private resort room all by yourself.

FN Factory Outlet HuaHin

Address: 1999/99 ถ.เพชรเกษม(ทรายใต้), ชะอำ, Phetchaburi 76120, Thailand

Phone: +66 32 406 222

Operation Hours : 9am -8pm

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Santorini Park

The Santorini Park in Cha Am is a 43 minutes drive away from Hua Hin. It's Greek inspired an amusement park with alot of shops, food and art are integrated. Its is a nice Greek theme for Photos. We had paid $150B each to enter this Santorini Park for photos and the shops not much rides and not operating during our visit. Additional fee is needed for the rides and attractions for example 7D Dark Ride, The Cage, Trick Art Museum, 4D X Ride, Ferris Wheel, etc.The floors are cemented and painted white to create the stone like effect, very creative. The best place is again the toilet. Other then the shops that is Air conditioned, this toilet is beautiful, air conditioned and worth a visit too.

Swiss Sheep Farm is located just opposite of Santorini Park. We had skip the Swiss Sheep Farm :)

Santorini Park

Address: 76120 PhetchaburiCha-am DistrictKao Yai, Thailand

Phone: +66 32 772 999

Operation Hours : 10am -7pm (Time changes on Public Holidays)

Admission Fee: $150B per pax
(this is the amount we paid during our visit on 27th Dec 2016)

Swiss Sheep Farm

Address: Kao Yai, Cha-am District, Phetchaburi 76120, Thailand

Operation Hours : 10am -7pm (Time changes on Public Holidays)

Phone: +66 32 772 494

Admission Fee: $120B per pax

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Hua Hin Hills Vineyard

We took about 53mins to drive from Santorini Park at Cha Am to Hua Hin Hills Vineyard. The drive was enjoyable, and interesting site of farms.

Hua Hin Hills Vineyard

Address: 204 Moo 9, Baan Khork Chang Patana, Nong Plup, Hua Hin, Prachuab Khiri Khan, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand

Phone: +66 81 701 0222

Hours: 10AM–6PM

If you like our photos, the photos can be purchased at https://www.shutterstock.com/g/bellytubby

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