Thailand - Land of Smiles & Surprises! - Part 1

This blog will cover three different visits for bachelorette in Phuket to fun in Krabi to relaxation in Hua Hin and Bangkok in 2 years between 2016 and 2017.

Thailand – beyond party and fun and cheap shopping, it has lot more to offer. Friendly and exotic, cultured and historic, Thailand showcases its golden hue from its glittering temples and tropical beaches to the ever-comforting Thai smile... 

 Gulf of Thailand – Geographical vastness

*Places marked in the red are the ones we have travelled; Places marked in black are the ones I am keen to visit in future.

Historically, Thailand is probably only country in south-east Asia to be not ruled by any colonial power. Three pillars have seen the growth and shaping up of this country culturally and religiously. Three important pillars being - largely following Buddhism, governed by very efficient King with strong military existence.

The military has ruled for most of the period since 1947, with a few interludes in which the country had a democratically elected government. Since 2001, Thai politics have been dominated by the irreconcilable split between supporters and detractors of Thaksin Shinawatra, who served as prime minister until he was ousted by the military in 2006. Thaksin's sister Yingluck became prime minister following the 2011 election but was in her turn ousted by a military coup in 2014.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. Maha Vajiralongkorn, the 10th Thai monarch of the Chakri dynasty, was proclaimed king in December 2016. He succeeded former King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, who died on 13 October 2016. He has been active in the military.

For the travel lover, Thailand looks place for partying and cheap massages and stay and shopping and probably a mandatory visit to coral island - but its way beyond that myth. Thailand is vast and varied with different flora and fauna and some of the most picturesque tropical sights, it promises good times to most of the crowd visiting Thailand. If one looks at it beyond Mecca of partying it has lot to offer to all age groups.

Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand covers a total area of approximately 513,000 square kilometers (198,000 square miles) and is the 50th largest country in the world and the 12th largest in Asia!

The north of the country borders Myanmar and Laos. The northernmost point is Amphoe Mae Sai, Chiang Rai Province, with tourist attractions like Mae Sai Market, Golden Triangle, Wat Phra That Doi Wao, and Wat Thampla (locally known as Money Temple).

The south of the country is next to Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand. The southernmost point is Amphoe Betong, Yala Province, which contains tourist attractions like La-ong Rung Waterfall (Rainbow Waterfall), Chaloem Phrakiat Waterfall (I-yer Khem Waterfall), Bala-Hala Forest, the sea of fog at Microwave Mountain, and Betong Hot Spring.

The east of the country borders Cambodia and Laos. The easternmost point is Amphoe Si Mueang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani Province, with tourist attractions like Sai Rung Waterfall (Rainbow Waterfall), Kaeng Chu Kan, and Hin Huai Soob Stone Yard.

The west of the country is next to Myanmar and the Andaman Sea. The westernmost point is Amphoe Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son Province, with tourist attractions like Wat Phra That Chom Thong, Wat Phra That Chom Chaeng, Wat Phra That Chom Kitti, Salawin National Park, Bua Tong Field at Doi Mae Ho, and Mae Sawan Noi Waterfall.

Thailand is divided into six regions: North, Northeast, Central, South, East, and West.

The North is the country’s highlands. Vast mountain ranges dominate the landscape and are the source of many rivers. Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s tallest peak, is famous among tourists during the cool season for the Mae Kha Ning (frost flower) phenomenon as well as a sea of fog, nature trails, waterfalls, and botanical scenes.

The Northeast features some of the beautiful northern highlands but also gorgeous plateaus. Hom Mali Rice (Thai Jasmine Rice) is grown here and exported all over the world. The Mekong River is a very prominent river that runs through the area. Popular places along the Mekong River include Amphoe Chiang Khan of Loei Province, Tha Sadet Market in Nong Khai Province, Indochina Market in Mukdahan Province, and Sam Pan Bok Grand Canyon in Ubon Ratchathani Province.

Central Thailand is mainly plains and is a huge area of rice farming and agriculture. The Chao Phraya River is very important to Thailand’s history. Interesting places to visit are ancient historical temples, Bang Pa-in Royal Palace and Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center in Ayutthaya Province, and Koh Kret in Nonthaburi Province. And if you like shopping, there are plenty of local markets in Bangkok for you to explore such as Wang Lang Market, Tha Phra Chan Market, Saphan Phut (Memorial Bridge) Night Market, and Asiatique Night Market. There are also Chao Phraya boat tours from Bangkok to Ayutthaya every day.

The South contains many beautiful beaches and islands in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Well-known tourist destinations are Phuket Province, Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe, and Koh Tao.

Eastern Thailand is half mountain, half ocean. Although there aren’t many provinces here, it still has a lot of amazing sights and stunning locations to visit just like the rest of Thailand such as Koh Samed, Koh Chang, Koh Mak, Koh Lan, Koh Si Chang, Bang Saen Beach, Pattaya, Jomtien Beach, Laem Mae Phim Beach, and Mae Ram Phueng Beach.

The West is mountainous with many woodlands, waterfalls, and dams, which is why there are a number of national parks in the area. Due to its geographical variation, there is a lot of incredible Thai nature to see in this western region. Tourist attractions include Thong Pha Phum National Park, Srinakharin Dam, Vajiralongkorn Dam, Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, Sai Yok Yai Waterfall, Erawan Waterfall, Mon Bridge, Mueang Sing Historical Park, Three Pagodas Pass, Wat Wang Wiwekaram, Underwater City, The Bridge of the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, and World War II Museum and Art Gallery.

Source: tourismthailand.org

Thailand has three seasons: wet, cool, and hot. Depending on where and when you travel Thailand, it is always good to check the weather before visiting as some areas are better in certain seasons.

However, considering the fact that it’s impossible to cover all, my most favorite top picks are – Phuket (Koh Phi phi, Phang Nga), Krabi (Hong Islands), Koh Samui (Full moon party), Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Bangkok (Delightful temples, Safari), Hua Hin (Relaxation), Rayong (Relaxation), Kanchanburi (Culture)

Quick travel facts about Thailand

Capital City	Bangkok
Official language	Thai (English is very popular and widely spoken too)
Currency	Thai Baht ( 1 USD = Approx 33.26 Baht as on 30.10.2017) (Tip: 100 USD notes fetches higher rate than smaller currency notes)
Time Zone	UTC + 7
Calling code	+66
Drives on the	Left
VISA	30 days Visa on Arrival for Indian passport holders( THB 1,000 Charges) Quick Tip: You can avoid long que by taking visa earlier if your entry point in Bangkok. Rest of the ports like Krabi, Phuket are relatively easier and faster.
Calling	Generally, airport sells some good and quick deals for 400 THB for 7 days Quick tip – If you buy from Phuket / Krabi its as cheap as 100 THB
Seasons	There are typically three seasons like any Asian country, however best to my experience there is nothing like best time. I thoroughly enjoyed weather in July better than January.
Quick Pick	We discovered James Bond Island , Similand Island, 4 Hong Island, Phi Phi island, Wat Chalong, Big Buddha, Hua Hin beach, Cha-am beach, Patong beach, Bangla street, Santorini Park, Swiss farm, Wat phrae temple, Red sky bar,

03.11.2017

Key Takeaway for travelers from Hong Kong: HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines and Air Asia often comes up with major discounts and you may take away your return flight for not more than 1200 HKD. Keep an eye on these websites or best keep screening sky scanner in incognito mode. Also, the flight generally is overnight and one can save time on travelling J  however, we do not prefer night travelling, so we take late night flight and reach little after midnight and prefer to sleep well to start our day with lot of enthusiasm.

For travelers from Mumbai, Phuket is reachable from Mumbai to Bangkok to Phuket or Mumbai to Kuala lampur to Phuket.

It’s a beach place so obviously carry your swim suits, sandals and sun screen lotions especially for island tours.

PHUKET – Paradise of blue seas and limestone karsts! 

Phuket – land on Phuket airport by air with bundle of smiles and welcoming oceans till far far away. Phuket airport is approximately one hour away from the heart of city – Patong beach. Arrive here to spend days by the seas and beaches and night by the crazy Bangla street. If you are one who want to have time with your own self and relax – go to Kata beach, Kamala beach and Karon beach for some nice laid back life. If you're thinking of making Phuket your next holiday destination, it is important to pick the right part of it for your stay. There are dozens of beaches around the island, but each of the main resort areas has a very different character. If you choose the right one to match your needs and preferences, you would have a fantastic holiday. Pick the wrong place, though, and it could make your stay miserable.

We stayed near Patong beach in two different occasions – For bachelorette it was obvious choice and other time it was a group visit and call of majority to be around Patong. Be it romantic time, luxury or for family or be it crazy party animal – Patong serves something to everyone. However it’s famous for being notorious and 2^nd time visit to same place felt a bit too much of it to digest smoothly. This west-coast resort town is best known for just one street – Bangla Road – which is the densest concentration of bars and clubs anywhere in Phuket and is the island’s primary nightlife destination. This is surrounded by a large number of hotels, ranging from budget guesthouses to small resorts. The picturesque coast road heading north towards Kamala takes advantage of the great sunset views by offering a more luxurious experience, but at the cost of being further from the party.

If given an opportunity to travel again to Phuket, I would prefer to be in Karon beach which is third longest beach on Phuket Island. Located on the west coast, between Patong to the north and Kata (with which it shares a common municipality) to the south, Karon Beach is the second favorite holiday destination in Phuket. The beach itself has excellent snorkeling (and even diving) spots at its southern end and is wide enough for beachgoers to never feel crowded. It features three main areas, each with their own assets: Karon Centre is a lively small city in which visitors can find a good choice of dining, shopping, and nightlife entertainment opportunities as well as a beautiful Buddhist temple hosting a weekly market. Karon Beach Road is ideal for taking an evening stroll and is mostly occupied by large resorts and restaurants and shops (including the popular Karon Bazaar). The third main area of Karon is centred around Luang Poh Chuan Road, towards the southern end of the beach, which houses excellent restaurants and the more raucous nightlife spot of the resort town.

Key Takeaway: Be near Patong beach only if you are a party animal otherwise prefer to b at Karon or Kata beach and you can spend a evening at Patong beach where there are lot of options for Indian food and some nice shopping. Don’t miss out on Bangla road, that’s the heart of Patong beach and Phuket for party animals. It’s a long street of may be a kilometer or two and you can take a walk and enjoy the vibe of the place but be careful of pickpockets. One can also off course have fun shopping and eating around this beach and posing for some must take jazzy pictures!

Patong Beach – Bangla Road                                                               

July 2016

So we were in Phuket for 3 Nights in one occasion in Jan 2016 with Esvee and Mansi and 3 nights in another occasion in July 2016 with Jimit, Mitul-Jharna, Nakul-Simoni. Of all the 6 nights we spent in Phuket we did 3 island tours and one day road trip to temples of south Phuket…

How this island tours work?

So, Phuket is major travel destination for days by the beaches and islands and night by the pubs and clubs and some loud loud music in form of entertainment tours! There are en-number of day trips that can be booked from lot of tour service agents available almost on each road and also from your hotel. We picked 1) James Bond Island tour, 2)Similan Island tour and 3) Phi Phi Island tour and 4) Road trip to Big Buddha and Wat pho temple.

There are other options like adventure day tour which includes rafting and elephant ride and zipling, etc and then there are several other island tours as well but the ones mentioned above are the top picks.

Island Tours

James Bond Island(Recommended), Phi Phi Islands (Recommended), Coral Island, Khai Island, Krabi Islands (Recommended), Phang Nga Bay (Recommended), Similan Island tour (Recommended), Surin Island (Recommended), Tachai Island

Adventure Tours

ATV (quad bike), Elephant trekking, Flying Hanuman (Zipline), Jungle Safari, White water rafting. Entertainment Tours Fantasea show, Simon Cabaret, Siam Nirmit Show

You have to pick one tour service agent and generally all are trustworthy. You can either pay them partial amount to book your tour or just say that you will pay everything after the tour and they are mostly ok with it.

Key takeaway: One can either wear swimsuit and then just wear on short tshirts or sarong on the top and carry extra pair of clothes, towel, sun screen, glares and lots of safety plastic bags for your phones and other valuables. You can buy a waterproof cylindrical bag beforehand so that your valuables remain safe from water.

If you plan to spend 3 nights in Phuket than its advisable to head for 1 or 2 tours in 3 days since these tours are quite taxing. Especially Island tours and adventure tours. So, one can plan on day for relaxing around local beach and taking a look at other beautiful offers of Phuket like sunset points , Big Buddha, etc.

Phang Nga Bay Island Tour

Joining a Phang Nga Bay tour is the second most popular activity in the region (as quoted by Phuket tours). Phang Nga Bay is situated 25 km north-east of Phuket. It consists of numerous dramatic limestone cliffs rising sheer out of the waters. Discover a unique and hidden world canoeing through a network of brilliant crystalline limestone caves, to reveal the mysterious hidden world of the "Hongs".

James Bond Island                                                              Kayaking and on cruise

July 2016

Key Takeaway: there are different options to pick while you select any island tour like cruise ship, speed boat or long tail boat. Speed boats are crazy speeds and for me personally it tosses my stomach upside down which runs at the speed of 80 kms per hour however for mediocre risk to your nervous system, Cruise ships are good. Don’t judge them by its name… there are basically simple double decker boats with nice sun deck. The pier from where the actual tour begins is quite far away. Let’s say you are staying in patong and your pick up time is 8.00 A.M. then the actual tour will begin only by 10 or 10.30 A.M. because these piers are really far away and generally takes an hour drive to reach. Once you board the cruise you will be delighted to see free water and food included in price. Enjoy the picturesque limestone mountains and canoeing through some mesmerizing caves.

It surely is tiring day and you will return not before 7.00 P.M to your hotel room but have some refreshing shower and head for party kingdom, one can spend night by the beach shores.

Similan Island Tour

Similan Islands are located just 84 km northwest of the bustling crowds of Phuket. Koh Similan is one of the best-known island groups in the Andaman Sea, largely because of the wonders that wait beneath the clear blue waters that surround it. Generally counted among the 10 most interesting dive areas in the world, this little archipelago has also become a favorite destination for yachts and tour boats. The moment you step in the prisitine blue water of this island and the white sand all you can feel and feel more is how blissful nature is so varied, so unique, so extravagant and beautiful. But as a human to enjoy this all you need is best of health and little wealth ;)

Glimpse of Similan Island

January 2016

Key Takeaway: Again the day from Patong starts at 6.00 A.M and you will be driven for another hour and half to reach the pier and further an hour of furious speed boat ride to reach Similan Island. Please mind these speed boat rides are definitely for elderly and light hearted people. Its quite bumpy and crazy in true terms. However, if one do not drink tea like we did then maybe you are far better off without having to puke that out! Following is tentative guideline of how would you day look like-

06.00-07.00 - Pick-up from your hotel in Phuket by minibus ; 08.30 - Arrival at Pakarang Beach for tour information. 09.00 - Departure by speedboat for a 70 minutes trip to Similan Islands. Snorkeling for 45 minutes at Koh Payu (Island #7), Swimming and relaxing at Koh Miang (Island #4). Buffet lunch and time on the beach (vegetarian meal available but not jain) Snorkeling for 45 minutes at Koh Bangu (Island #9) (or at Island #8 depending on tide). Swimming and relaxing at Koh Similan (Island #8) and trek to the famous "Sail Rock Viewpoint". 16.45 - Arrival at Pakarang Beach. 18.00-19.00 - Arrival at your hotel in Phuket.

This is one of the by far best island I have seen and it is must visit but only if you are in best of your health. This is one of the most expensive tour I have done in Thailand it costs approx. 2500 THB per head.

Please note: 16 May - 14 October: Similan Islands are closed for tours

Phi Phi Island Tour

Phi Phi Island is Thailand's island-superstar. It's been in the movies. It's the topic of conversation for travelers all over Thailand. For some, it's the only reason to touchdown in Phuket. Even with all the hype, it doesn't disappoint. Though the hustle and bustle is on rise there given its popularity but Phi Phi's beauty is a large chunk of the allure. The islands, when approached by boat, rise from the sea like a castle. Sheer cliffs tower overhead, then give way to beach-fronted jungle. It’s must visit for one and all. If you are not fan of speed boat you also have option of cruise and long tail boats to reach here. When we visited last in July’17 there were lot of constructions of hotels and noise around but nothing can block your vision for beauty of pristine blue water mesmerizing your eyes. /we had some nice cool Ice creams from home mart and just laid back for some time to relax. Though it was scorching hot and sun was playing complete spoiler but the beauty of place beholds fresh in eyes forever.

Glimpse of Phi Phi Island

January 2016

Key Takeaway: Do carry small umbrella for the tours in Thailand, it could either drizzle or sun may be so cruel that you are definitely going to pat your back for that umbrella or hat and strong sun screen. Generally the tour guys provides one with snorkel gears, lunch, fruits, water, etc. If you are someone like me who faces sea sickness please take sea sickness tablet beforehand to not spoil your mood of enjoying such amazing islands. We had booked cruise ship and the schedule was as follows, but I would strongly recommend to book speed boat since they can take you to other beautiful islands whereas cruise ship can’t anchor near shores and hence will show you stuff from far away from the boat itself.

Pick up from hotel by 7.30 AM, Depart from Rassada Harbor by 8.30 A.M. Arriving at Phi Phi Leh by 10.30 A.M. Sightseeing at Phi Phi Leh Island including Maya Bay, featured in the movie "The Beach", Loh Samah Bay, Pileh Cove and Viking Cave. Lunch is served in boat (Vegetarian meal provided but ot recommended to eat and no or limited Jain food options) 12.30 go for snorkeling spot and return hotel by 5.00 P.M. This trip had costed us approx. 1200 THB.

Road trip in Phuket

Phuket is beautiful with its outlying islands, its agreed point blank. But within Phuket surrounds this amazing length of beaches and sun rise / sun set points on top of the hill to the serene looking Big Buddha giving aerial view of Phuket and many other temples at the surface like Wat Chalong which is absolutely must see.

Big Buddha was my personal favorite. The Big Buddha is partially completed and they were asking for donations by means of selling tiles and metal leaves when we visited in 2016. The Buddha statue is huge but not as big as the one in Hong Kong. The view where the Buddha was facing was also very nice, view of the bay and the seas. While on the way down the Big Buddha statue, there is a small area for ATV bike ride and Elephant feeding and Tour on Elephant. Its quite inhuman to see how Elephants are treated for personal profit sake. Otherwise its always pleasant to see this huge Jungle animal so close to you.

Phuket Big Buddha          

January 2016

Key Takeaway: The Big Buddha Phuket temple opens at 8.00 A.M to 19.30 P.M. If you want to catch the sunset from one of Thailand's best spots, try to be there before 18:30.

Located at Nakkerd Hills, between Kata and Chalong, It is advisable to dress conservatively.

How to get there: The road leading up to the Big Buddha is off Chao Fa Road East near Chalong. There are many red-and-white signs indicating where it is. Turn down Soi Yodsane and simply follow the indications for the next 6 km up the hill. You can’t miss it.

We had made car booking near Bangla Street and paid for 6 hours trip approximately 800 THB. In peak season they may take upto 1200 THB. However, we had skipped going to sunset viewpoints given very long journeys throughout our trip but if is staying for long and have plenty of time then one must visit Promthep cape or at least Karon view point.

In one of the bad experience during our second time in Phuket was when we hired car for one day, car broke down in between and then they didn’t give any appropriate replacement and instead sent the Tuk Tuk which off course was not viable to travel on hilly roads there… so we had to cut short our day and just return mid way. Thanfully we had not paid any kcharges upfront so it didn’t pinch us hard in pocket but still we had to pay the car owner for half day and pay spritely to Tuk Tuk guy and facing harassment and waiting at unknown place wasn’t real fun at all :p So, my simple advice here would be, ensure that the petrol is full, the driver looks reliable, you don’t pay all the money in advance and do not bargain too hard to avoid such disruption from angry drivers.

KRABI – Most soothing island of Thailand!

Krabi is a very relaxed southern island of Thailand. It is relatively less popular than Phuket and not that hyped but its good for people who wish to sit by sea side and just enjoy the nature. Top destinations in Krabi being Railay beach, Ao Nanag Beach, Ko Phi phi national park and Phi Phi island.

I & Jimit visited in July 2016, it was quite a lot raining then so we did not go to Railay beach which has to be accessed only by long tail boats and it looked quite dangerous to travel in during rains. However I am sure it must be great to visit those areas full of serenity.

The very famous Phi phi island which is must do in List to visit Thailand can be both travelled from Phuket and Karbi, its like in mid way of both. Railay beach has some of the exotic resorts and completely laid back place. One has to hire boat from Ao Nanag to reach here. There are no road ways to reach Railay which may be makes it noise free and very relax as it’s not too touristy. However Railay is also rock climbing Mecca, a craggy peninsula with several small beaches.

Glimpse of Ao Nang Beach and Deevana Plaza resort, Krabi.

January 2016

Key Takeaway: Krabi Island is quite small and laid back so if you are one of those who want to check in fast and leave quickly to another place than better not to be here. There are many one day island trips that can booked from shops near Ao Nang they are not really expensive. O yes! Its small paradise for beach shopping. If you are flying directly to Krabi, you can get small minivans from airport to drop till hotel and its damn cheap (illustration of one has been put up above). Also, one can take shuttles between Phuket and Krabi for 600 THB but they are shared shuttles and may take 4 to 5 hours for whole journey. For us we loved Krabi anytime better than Phuket and felt 2 days were too less to spend some good time in this place. Vegetarian food was no issues as there were lot of Indian restaurants. But yes pure vegetarian restaurant is a tough fight. It’s a small beautiful town and selection of any resort will be pleasant because it looked like they do best for keeping their customers happy.

Hong Island Tour

Since we stayed in Krabi just for 2 Nights and 3 Days, we could go only for one island tour that was called 4 island tours from Krabi. Actually all the island tours from Phuket and Krabi are same like James bond tour, white water rafting tour, phi phi island tour, etc. But this 4 island tour which included Hong Island is different and too far from Phuket hence we opted for this tour.

Few capture from - Hong Island Tour

January 2016

Island of the beautiful Lagoon and the origin of the island. Take pictures of the emerald sea water, play a beautiful diving coral.

Island Buffet Dining on the Beach after eating, relax. And see the nature of the forest of the Andaman Islands. The island is a bit big. Watch the fish closely. Take a walk on the white sandy beach and soft powder. Relax with the wind and wave.

Lading Island (Paradise Island), the island is concealed by nature, but hidden by the beauty of the beach and quiet private.

Island Take a walk on the white sandy beach and watch the quaint stone sculptures.

This price includes transfer - hotel - pier - hotel in krabi town and Ao Nang area, Klong Muang beach and Tubkaak beach, ** not pick up rai ley beach ** ,buffet lunch, drinking water, fruit, life jacket, diving mask, local guide, marine accident insurance. Thai National Park Fee This price does not include Foreign Park Fee

These tours are typically pick up in morning and drop back by 5.30.

Some more scenic capture of Hong Island

24 Dec 2016

Key Takeaway: Krabi one day tours can be booked from the market near Ao Nang beach or from concierge of your hotel. Beware don’t pay all money in advance. One of the most popular tours that visitors to Krabi go on is the Four Island Tour, It takes you on a tour of four different islands, and they are usually Tup Island, Phra Nang Cave, Chicken Island and Hong Island. The tour is on a long boat or fast boat and will stop at each location giving you time to swim, sunbathe, explore and stop for lunch. The boats usually house up to about forty people and a tour guide will stand at the front pointing everything out in English whilst making sure everyone has enough water for the trip. Jains need not worry for food as they provide enough fruits and trust me after so much of sun and water snorkel food is last thing on mind…so we thoroughly enjoyed relying on fruits and water during day time. For vegetarians these tour operators have some options like Rice and chips and noodles. But eat at your own risk and best is to carry some dry snacks on your own. Another important thing to possess during these island tours is water proof bags in which you can keep all your valuables and be assured about it not getting wet. You can buy from Thailand for 200 THB for 10Lts Bag and it’s very useful for any island tours, so must possess. Don’t forget to pack some sandals because slippers can easily wash away in water when you have to get off little far from island in water to reach till beach.

There are many other places in Krabi like Tiger cave temple, Island tours, massaging parlors, SPA, etc. So its justified to spend all your time in Krabi. I would personally recommend a nice 4N5D kind of break in Krabi.

HUA HIN

Hua Hin is an exemplifying, quiet, serene and sea side resort paradise yet not too far from bustling city of Bangkok. Its just 3 hours or 195kms beautiful drive away from Bangkok towards south and is famous amongst local Thais as weekend getaway. We found this to be easily reachable place which can also keep pockets happy! Although developing rapidly, there is a commitment by the local and provincial authorities to avoid the kind of overheated blight that has affected other beach resorts in Thailand.

How to reach Hua Hin:

So we were literally lost for around hour in Bangkok to figure out how can we go Hua Hin on budget. So bus was not an option and direct cabs were too expensive. All we knew was there are shuttle services by minivan which are very famous in Thailand. So we wanted to opt for this option but unfortunately we just read some random blog which said we can get minivan from Victory monument which was absolutely wrong atleast as on 2016. Hence this one wrong information made us take some local bus to Sai mai tai from where all the min vans proceed to different locations. So we wasted almost 2 precious hours in figuring out places. For you to make life easy, please find the detail below about how to get minivan from where. Also for return journey all you to do is tell the hotel you are residing at to book for you the mini van and they do it, easy!

From bk.asia-city.com (we found this bit late after lot of effort to reach right place)

From Oct 25, all Victory Monument passenger van services—around 4,000 of them—have been relocated to three other Bangkok bus terminals. Ending the area's decades-long position as a hub for commuter transport, the junta goverment has made the order in a bid to clear up the space around Victory Monument in the hope of relieving traffic.While in the past, if you wanted to go to Hua Hin, all you had to do was jump on the BTS to Victory Monument and catch the van from there, now you have to catch the van at Pinklao bus terminal on Sirindhorn Road. If you're wondering where that is, it's on the other side of the river, past Dusit Zoo and across Krung Thon Bridge amid Ratchawithi Road's notoriously heavy traffic. 

With that in mind, look carefully at the below list of destinations previously serviced by Victory Monument below to discover which bus terminals those vans have been relocated to. 

Please note this list refers to passenger mini vans only and not bus services.

Ekkamai bus terminal

Chachoengsao (Panom Sarakarm), Chanthaburi, Chonburi (Srirajah), Prachinburi, Rayong (includling Ban Pe and Klaeng), Srakaew (including the Thailand-Cambodia boarder market)

Mochit bus terminal

Ang Thong, Ayuthaya, Chachoengsao, Chai Nah, Chantaburi, Chonburi (including Pattaya), Lopburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Patom, Nakhon Ratchasrima aka Korat (including Pakchong), Nakhon Sawan, Pichit, Pitsanulok, Prachinburi, Rayong, Saraburi, Singburi, Supanburi, Trat (including Koh Chang), Uthai Thani

 

Pinklao bus terminal

Ayuthaya, Nakhon Patom (including Nakhon Chaisri), Kanchanaburi, Petchburi (including Cha-Am and Kaeng Krachan), Prachuap Khiri Khan (including Hua-Hin), Pranburi, Ratchburi (including Damnern Saduak floating market and Suan Phueng), Samut Sakhorn, Samut Songkhram, Supanburi

Key Takeaway: P.S. Direct car to Hua Hin costs about 3000 to 3500 THB, and if you are in group of 4 then this makes atmost sense. Mini van costs about 800 THB for 2 but it takes 3.5 hours and you may reach bit faster by own car. Its all about what suits best to your pocket. Also, we reached Bangkok in night and booked a hotel away from airport near Victory monument with assumption that mini van station would be closer but again it wasn’t a great thing to do. We should have stayed close to airport since there are lot of buses and car services directly from airport to reach Hua Hin. Take this note seriously to avoid mistake that we did! Here is further link for more fun around Hua Hin:  https://thailand.tripcanvas.co/hua-hin/things-to-do-hua-hin-petchaburi/

Broader map of Hua Hin                                                      Our Abode for 2N - Radisson Blu      

July 2017

Hua Hin is sea side resort destination off late famous amongst lot of people across globe to have destination weddings here. One of the key reason also being that these place has many 5 star properties an at throw away prices. We selected to stay in Radisson Blu Hua Hin for major reason like, a) that it’s a beach resort off course J, b) its value for money (we paid approx. INR 4000 per night), c) Its next to Sheraton which has restaurant serving Indian Jain food and lastly d) it was very far away from hustle and bustle yet nearby from Cha-Am beach, Santorini park, etc (travelled by bike)

We rented out bike for 200 THB per day and it was perfect to go around places. There is also family mart nearby from Radisson blu which one can go and pick up water, fruits bread and milk, etc. The best part about hotel was it buggy service which was just call away. It has everything in blend to spoil you during your vacation as how ideally it should be.

Key Takeaway: We planned to stay in Hua Hin only for 2 nights and 3 days however I strongly suggest stay of atleast 3 nights or more if one needs more relaxed holiday. Why? Check out the fun around Hua Hin in following photos(Do not forget to take Hua Hin pocket guide, its absolutely useful small handbook for places to enjoy in Hua Hin) Also if one is more keen on good night life and some pubs and noise around them you can opt to stay near Hua Hin Beach. We were looking for some quiet and secluded place and hence Radisson was best suited which was located in between Hua hin beach and Cha-am beach. Near Hua Hin beach there are many more options to stay, shop, eat, spa, relax but yes, depends on your priority of choice.

Hua Hin has lot to offer from North to South to East and West…

  

Jul 2017

Radisson Blu Resort, Santorini Park, swiss sheep farm

July 2017