Just booked the annual trip to LOS.

Rather than follow to wife around meeting all the relatives and the 1000's of Aunties, I have managed to grab a few days spare.

I am unsure which is best to go to Cha Am or Hua Hin. I looking for a decent beach with amenities with in easy access (Beer & Food). Also a few places to sight see and a nice bar with in walking distance of the hotel where I can sit and watch the world go round !

Any advice or info on the pros and cons would be great.
Also any recomendations for hotels up to £50 per room. As I will be paying for 2 rooms, Chalets or 2 room suites would be good too.

Ivan,

We have done both and I definately prefer HH as although C-AM has some good hotels on the outskirts the rest of the town and the beach looked a tip!

We are due back in HH end of March 2007 and usually stay at the Grand Plaza:-

5 mins walk to beach/town centre
Night market in car park
Pub with live music opposite
Thai boxing arena in shopping area next door

Hope this helps
Regards
colin 244

Hi Ivan Colin has got it correct with his reply.I spent most of last yr ,in between Huahin,Cha-am,in a village called Bangqwi (prob not spelt correct)Do a search on (the regent hotel Cha-am to get more info)The village is within easy walk of the Regent,plus beach gdn hotel is a few hundred metrs away .then there is the Tipviman hotel.at the other end of the Village. Or I can get you a 2bed hse nr the beach for 15,000 baht a month(very quite). Plenty of places to eat, drink(If you dont mind the odd Mafia or police officer. Im planning a trip back 19th Jan and if i can help in anything let me know . Stevem

Hua Hin without a doubt!!!!!

For a good central hotel, at less than 1000b a night, good pool but no brekky, stumble out and turn right you're at the beach in 200 metres, go down the Soi opposite and you hit the Hilton, turn left and you are in the main drag of 2/3 full of bars.

Wander around and find Suger Cane, Johny Walkers and Crawfords, or just about anywhere really and you'll find friendly places to have a beer.

Agree with Colin about the Grand, which I have also stayed at, but this place is more central, My wife liked it as well:

ppvillahotel@hotmail.com

Ot look at the sponsors on HHAD.

Hi Ivan,
Have to agree with caller on this one, i just got back from HH stayed at Noodles hotel in Naresdamri Road just round the corner from ppvilla hotel, Noodles is ok 8oo bht for one nice clean aircon room breafast extra, but after walking round and checking out ppvilla little bit more 1,500 bht per night or you can stay in the hotel part that's 1,200bht but hotel is more central, what i liked most is the lobby where you can sit and sup a beer or two and watch the world go by.

Having been to both areas I've gotta say I was dissapointed with what both had to offer on the beachs. I like Phuket...so maybe my expectations were too high. As for things to do...Hua Hin certainly has more going for it but again after a few days I found it to be rather borring. This is probably more a 'me' thing than the town itself. If you just want some peace & rest then both will provide you with that but I would certainly opt for Hua Hin over Cha-am. The hotel we stayed at in Hua Hin was certainly very nice & we had a two roomed 'junior suite' ( http://r24.org/hotels.thailand-uk.com/huahin/majesticbeach/ ) & is next to the Royal Palace.

Ivan
For local info and a good place to find contacts I can reccommend Peter at the Lord Nelson Bar and Guesthouse, 20 Selakam Rd. Hua Hin.
Soi Selakam and Soi Bintabat are two parrallel streets which are basically the the nightlife area centre, just across the road from the Hilton Hotel.
Don't expect too much, Hua Hin although quite large size wise is very much a small town place and very much a place for relaxation, in my experience apart from a few karaoke bars the place pretty much shuts down soon after midnight.
A big plus IMHO is that there are very few beggars, street/beach vendors etc. Being the kings town of residence it has a very safe and secure feel and great for kids.
If you like seafood then food is excellent, otherwise nothing special.
If you are comfortable riding a motorbike I would reccomend hiring one as getting about otherwise is not that easy and most places to see are not within walking distance.

These are without the best maps of the area and gives you details of all the places you need to know about!

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/hua-hin-map.htm

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/hua-hin-area-map.htm

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/map.htm

Asairooms are offering the takiab beach resort hotel in Hua Hin at £15 per night for a double with brekkie - just about to book when I saw this thread. Hotel seems ok, any reason why it has not been recommended, never been to HH before.

Peter

quote:

Rather than follow to wife around meeting all the relatives and the 1000's of Aunties, I have managed to grab a few days spare.

How the hell did you manage to do that???

Please tell.

We are going next month and I can't even get a couple of hours.... it looks like being an endless round of all the family, none of whom speak english of course.

Still after that going down to Koh Phangan to recover.. and only taking one sister and one friend with us....

Peter

Khao Takiab is a bit of a distance from central Hua Hin. It might be suitable for some however I prefer to stay in Hua Hin itself and take a short trip to Khao Takiab for the view.

Conrad

quote:

How the hell did you manage to do that???

We agreed ages ago that it was my holiday as well, so I spend a few days being polite to the family, the rest of the trip I do what I want to do. No problem!
I actually get on well with the family but I do not want to spend all my time with them and in fact it is easier for the wife if I am not there to be looked after all the time.