Like every other developing city, the neighborhoods in Hua Hin are different as each has a different feel and caters to different lifestyles, which can be seen in communities, restaurants, farmer’s markets, and amenities. Picking a suitable location to settle in is vital, and as such, we bring you a thorough review of the different neighborhoods of Hua Hin, hoping you make the right choice.
Where Should I Live in Hua Hin?
Choosing a suitable location will depend on your preferences and expectations. If you are all about the nightlife, shopping, clubbing, and eating out, you’d want to live in Central Hua Hin, while other neighborhoods in the North, South, and West Hua Hin are quieter, less busy, and more reserved.
Below are the neighborhoods of Hua Hin and their highlights to help you make the right choice.
Central Hua Hin
Central Hua Hin has some of the best shopping malls, such as Market Village and Bluport, and also offers the best nightlife in Hua Hin. Resorts, bars, clubs, and a handful of restaurants, are all highlights of this neighborhood. Being in the heart of Hua Hin and a business district, this neighborhood is often crowded and busy. Compared to some areas in this list, accommodation and land prices are slightly more expensive.
South Hua Hin
The area of focus is the Khao Tao area, about seven to eight kilometers from Central Hua Hin. Compared to Central Hua Hin, this neighborhood is quieter and could be home to people looking to escape the chaos of major cities. South Hua Hin (Khao Tao) also has a variety of excellent cafes to choose from, including a beach with beautiful scenery and top-notch restaurants. Leaving this town nearby is as easy as getting in as it is easily accessible with suitable transportation.
West Hua Hin
This neighborhood is quite significant in terms of size as compared to others. West Hua Hin has a lot of amenities, and here is where you’ll find golf courses in Banyan, Majestic, and Black Mountain areas; the lakeside also has a few options, all of which are part of the highlights of this region. It has Pala-U Road as the center of attraction as there are a variety of restaurants, shops, cafes, the famous Artists Village, and an elephant sanctuary. Accommodation and land prices in West Hua Hin are relatively affordable, making it a prolific residential area in Hua Hin.
North Hua Hin
Northern Hua Hin is home to the Hua Hin international airport, which makes it easily accessible. It also boasts many other amenities such as parks, a shopping mall (Index Living Shopping Mall), and restaurants. Living in a neighborhood like this would be convenient for people with ties to Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, because of its proximity.
What You Need To Know Before Settling In Hua Hin
It would be in your best interest to know all there is to know about any particular place before you even think of settling in. Below is everything you need to know before relocating to Hua Hin, from the lifestyle to climatic conditions and the cost of living.
Cost Of Living in the City of Hua Hin
This greatly depends on your lifestyle, just like other places worldwide. With $2000 a month, most couples can comfortably live in Hua Hin as accommodation, feeding, and other necessities fit into this budget.
Couples can afford to live very comfortably with $5000 a month, being able to travel, import goods, and dine out frequently.
Most residential areas are situated near the beach; some can be seen close to convenience stores, restaurants, and the main streets. The average listing price for houses in Hua Hin is 11 million Thai Baht, while commercials could go for 113 million Thai Baht. Most apartments for rent begin with an average cost of 10,000 – 20,000 Thai Baht, approximately 272.1 USD – 544.2 USD. In some areas, you can find outstanding deals offering around 250 USD a month.
The accommodation options in Hua Hin are plenty to choose from. You can either go for affordable or luxurious accommodation.
Climatic Condition
Hua Hin has two major seasons, which are dry and rainy. Dry season begins in November and ends in April, with an average temperature of about 26 degrees Celsius. At night, it is often more relaxed. The dry season is the ideal time to visit Hua Hin.
However, it is always hotter around Hua Hin from March to April, with an increased temperature of around 29 to 35 degrees Celsius. Even at night, the weather temperature remains the same, but this time the heat is reduced by the breeze from the ocean. The month of June is when the rainy season begins in moderation. However, the weather temperature during this period remains the same as in March and April and runs through July – October. Highlights of the season are the evenings as they are always pleasant and relaxed. Sometimes in the afternoons, you can experience moderate and heavy rainfall.
Getting Around Hua Hin
There are different types of transportation mediums to choose from in Hua Hin as it is one of the major cities in Thailand. Getting around is easy as you can find motorcycle taxis, songthaews, vehicles, etc. these are all major transportation systems suitable for moving around and can be easily accessible. When you find one hail and hop in and you are on the move. Do be advised they have no specific stops as they follow their usual routes, when you get to your stop you have to ring a bell to signify a drop-off.
The Health Care System in Hua Hin
The healthcare system in Hua Hin is exceptional. Every year there’s a steady influx of medical tourists, and Hua Hin has numerous hospitals filled with modern-day equipment and well-trained professionals. From premium check-ups to cardiac surgery, dental, and pediatrics, alongside others, are treatments that can be gotten in Hua Hin.
The Hua Hin Hospital is the central public hospital in Hua Hin. Although it gets bustling, it remains effective at providing essential healthcare services. The Bangkok Hospital in Hua Hin is an extension of The Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Group which offers a variety of healthcare services ranging from surgery to dental services, including emergency and accidents, rehabilitation, cardiology, etc. If you prefer getting admitted into a private hospital, you’d want to check out the San Paolo Hospital of Hua Hin. This San Paolo hospital in Hua Hin is equipped with modern-day facilities, and it is situated in Petchkasem Rd, Hua Hin district.
For other healthcare services such as eye examinations, skin treatments, dental care, etc. there are specialist clinics and smaller surgery centers dotted all over Hua Hin. The healthcare services in these clinics are quite affordable.
The Lifestyle in Hua Hin
In one word, the Hua Hin lifestyle can be described as “exciting”. You can always find places that aren’t overcrowded and still quiet to relax, swim, and clear your head daily. A variety of restaurants serving really good dishes can be found along beaches, the majority of them mainly serve food. However, they also serve other words. Alongside the shopping experience, you can decide to sign up for physical therapy, which includes different types of massages, even the Thai massage, which is excellent for staying healthy.
If you love playing golf, that’s a bonus as Hua Hin is home to Thailand’s most famous golf courses, like the Black Mountain Golf Club, which is of a high standard.
Most people who love hiking often find their way to the top of Khao Takiab mountain to enjoy the panoramic views of the city of Hua Hin, which also features the closest lengthy beach. Although this could be a fun activity, people are often advised to be careful as this spot is home to many macaque monkeys. To the locals, Khao Takiba mountain is often called the “Monkey Mountain”. You can sign up for experiences such as yoga classes, spas, badminton, tennis, Mua Thai, and also exploring national parks that are nearby.
When it comes to shopping, Hua Hin offers some of the best experiences. You could visit the Hua Hin Market village which is a community mall having lots of shops to buy groceries and other items and restaurants to eat from as well. The famous Tesco Lotus can also be found here. There is also the Villa Supermarket which is a good alternative for Hua Hin Market Village; here is where you can find many imported products. There’s a chance you will find whatever you miss back home.
Food
There are several dining choices to pick from, and you can find street stalls selling grilled fresh seafood, trendy cafes, and restaurants serving cuisines inspired by the royal court. If you fancy casual dining and street bites, then the night markets are where you’d want to be, and one of the markets best known for these features is the Hua Hin Night Market. There you can find a variety of mouthwatering street food, like mango sticky rice, pad Thai, and Thai ice cream for dessert. You’d want to go to night markets for Hua Hin’s freshest seafood.
If you don’t fancy the crowd, Cicada Market can be an alternative. Aside from being famous for handmade merchandise, one can find some of the best Thai and international dishes there, including delicious sidewalk bites, from rice and juicy pork with red barbeque pork and skewers to the rice porridge and savory noodles.
A handful of bars and restaurants all lined up along the beaches of Hua Hin, serving the best dishes and drinks while enjoying its environs. Beaches are some of the best locations you can go to for relaxation and fun, and still pay attention to your tummy from picture-perfect restaurants and stylish modern-day bars.
How Can I Arrive at Hua Hin?
Arriving at Hua Hin is accessible from Bangkok and has to be the easiest travel route, approximately 90 miles away; this is due to the proximity and good transport connections between Hua Hin and the capital.
Below are the four best ways to arrive at Hua Hin from Bangkok.
Traveling to Hua Hin by Bus
If you find yourself in Bangkok or have just arrived at the Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi Airport), boarding a bus from there is easy. You can find modern 24-seater buses available at the airport, with ticket prices sold at the service counter for 340 Thai Baht each, which can be bargained.
From the International Airport
The operational hours of these buses begin at 9 am and depart for Hua Hin 8 times a day. It takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to get to Hua Hin from the Bangkok International Airport. However, it may take longer when there’s heavy traffic.
Do note that these buses are comfortably equipped for longer journeys. There all have strong air-conditioning systems and as such, you may want to bring a sweater or light blanket for maximum comfort.
It would be in your best interest to note that you may be charged for extra luggage. You could attract additional fees if you have more than just a 20 kg piece of luggage and a handbag that can fit into the overhead luggage compartment.
From the City Center in Bangkok
In the city center of Bangkok, you can find buses in the southern bus terminal (Sai Tai Mai) heading to Hua Hin. This is where the buses are kept. Compared to the buses at the International Airport, these are slow, with an average travel time of 5 to 6 hours.
Because the southern bus terminal isn’t on the main MRT or BTS station, getting there may be a little bit challenging and as such using a taxi is recommended. On arrival, expect to pay a ticket fee of about 200 – 300 Thai Baht. Tip – Booking in advance during peak times will save you a seat.
One can find shops, ATMs, restaurants, a food court, and banks at the southern bus terminal. So if you are not in a rush you can visit some of these places for their services. A clinic can be found there too.
Traveling to Hua Hin by Train
Compare to minivans and buses, traveling by train to Hua Hin is slower with an average journey time of 4 hours even though they don’t get stuck in traffic, however, can still be enjoyed as its routes are scenic. The Hua Lamphong railway station is where you can find trains departing to Hua Hin from Bangkok regularly, with departure times beginning from 8 am to 11 pm.
At the Lamphong railway station, there are three classes of tickets you can choose from, each with their distinctive fares varying from the other. A first-class ticket costs approximately 600 Thai Baht, while that of the second class cost about 400 Thai Baht, and that of the third class 150 Thai Baht.
Unlike traveling by bus, using a train will not require pre-booking at peak times as tickets are always readily available at the counter.
Traveling to Hua Hin by Taxi
Are you choosing comfort and convenience over expenses? Then you can travel to Hua Hin by taxi from the airport in the city center. However, the cost of traveling to Hua Hin by taxi is usually high, and you can expect to pay around 3,000 Thai Baht. Cabs are seen at the airport typically have fixed prices, while others around the city center can be slightly bargained.
Traveling to Hua Hin by taxi will take approximately 3 hours to arrive at the destination. Also, there are private car companies for hire but one can expect to pay around 3,000 to 3,500 Thai Baht.
Traveling to Hua Hin by Plane
Despite the airport in Hua Hin, commercial flights from Bangkok aren’t regular. However, if you own or can afford a private jet traveling by plane is an option. This is the fastest way to arrive at Hua Hin as the travel time would be just 35 minutes.
Conclusion
Where should you live in Hua Hin? The answer to this question depends on your capabilities and preferences as you can find good residential settlements scattered across the city of Hua Hin and meant for people of different classes and interests.
There are also certain factors to consider before relocating to Hua Hin. Some of these factors such as the cost of living, healthcare systems, transportation, accommodation, feeding, and others are all vital and have been analyzed as seen above.
