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Published: December 26th 2011
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We took a minibus from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin. Expecting it to be full of backpackers heading for the coast, we were surprised to find it was full of Thai families. We wonder if they paid a little less than we did as it was a bit on the pricey side at 400 Baht (£8) each. Some agencies wanted to charge us extra for our bags too!
It wasn't a bad journey but the driver had no idea where to drop us off and we didn't know where we wanted to be dropped off! A recipe for disaster perhaps, but he stopped at a major intersection, pointed one way and said "Beach". That was enough information for us to sort ourselves out.
Our initial impression was that we had arrived in Thailands version of Magaluf, a Spanish resort we don't really like and have no desire to go back to - we're far too old now!!! Things didn't really pick up as we wandered around looking for somewhere to stay and passed many bars which looked a bit on the sleazy side. We looked in on one guest house where the rooms are on stilts above the water. It
sounds nice but the rooms had no windows and the sound of the waves lapping beneath your bed would be enough to have anyone scurrying to the loo too often during the night! Instead we opted for a place a street back fromthe stilt houses which was plain, unassuming, friendly and quiet. In our opining, the
Memory Guest House wasn't as bad as the reviews here! Ok, so the staff were not too friendly but we had a room on the first floor (ie not the ground floor!) which was quiet and comfortable if a little small. We even had a tiny terrace at the back where, if you craned your neck, you could see the sea!!!!
By the time we had checked in we had already decided it would just be a one night stop. We had to hunt around for somewhere to do our laundry then we stopped at a bar near the fishing pier for a beer. Just before we got there we heard a loud explosion. With our track record of near misses and revolutions, it was a bit worrying. It turned out to be a small electrical substation on top of a telegraph pole shorting out.
That meant no power in the bar, but the draught beer wasn't affected.
We had a wander through the maze of streets and found the town didn't grow on us at all. When we got to the landmark Hilton hotel we saw the beach for the first time. The old fishing cottages which are now stilted guest houses mean there is no town beach, and the sand in front of the Hilton seemed to be just a few metres wide. We were not impressed and there was a seething mass of oiled flesh beneath the umbrellas that we didn't really wish to get any closer to.
Our wanderings then took us out towards the train station. This is a redeeming feature of Hua Hin, and not just because it was our exit route! It really is a lovely building and at the moment there is a photographic display of the King meeting foreign dignitaries from around the world. Nearby the sky appears to be decorated as a thousand lanterns have been hung from every wire which crosses the street.
Another redeeming feature was the night market. It's cheap, cheerful and fun. It's also full of interesting things
Old railway carriages
Now a school or kindergarden by the looks of it to browse and buy, not just the usual tourist tat. We ate at a restaurant in the middle of the market area. Trish had the sea bass which was delicious and Russ feasted on an enormous grilled pork chop.
That was pretty much it for us and Hua Hin. I'm sure if you like the nightlife there a bit more than we did then you would probably stay longer. There are places to visit from there but we were just as keen to leave in the morning as we were when we first arrived. That's never a good sign!
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Starlet
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Hua Hin
I disagree with your blog. Hua Hin is an amazing place for young and old. We have visited many times and have had a great time on every vist. If your not willing to pay for decent accommodation then why bother to go on holiday (you get what you pay for). The bars are no more seedy than any other place in Thailand and the restaurants have some of the best food we have ever had, and we have travelling far and wide. Hua Hin is not classed as Thailands version of Magaluf as you have out it. You were expecting it to be full of back packers but then say you felt too old for the place. Majority of back packers are young so dont understand your point there. My experience is the complete opposite to yours as is many of ours friends who have visited. Its best not to have expectations then you wont be disappointed.