　Living free and easy in Hua Hin

Hua Hin? That's a common reaction when this lovely town is mentioned, and it is certainly less famous than Phuket or Koh Samui, especially in Japan. However, it is better known in Europe and the West, particularly with family travellers and long-term visitors from Scandinavian countries. What's more, the number of returning visitors is very high, so what is it that brings these people here so often and so regularly?

From a historical perspective, Hua Hin was Thailand's first real seaside resort. Back in the 1920's, King Rama VII brought the royal family to Hua Hin to escape the heat of Bangkok -- something many other 'Bangkokians' continue to do every year! However, the only way of getting here in those 1900s was by canal boat and bullock cart -- not for the fainthearted! One thing that may have influenced the King when he chose Hua Hin, therefore, may have been the construction of the 'Southern Railway line' just after the First World War. During its construction, the railway surveyors were very surprised to find lovely beaches around a sleepy fishing village known as Baan Laem Him (Stony Point Village). Anticipating future interest, they built a suitably grand station here which opened on November 25th 1911. Shortly after this, Prince Nares, a son of Thailand's famous King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V), built a holiday palace by the beach and renamed the village, Hua Hin (Stone Head). Other members of the Royal family soon followed him down here and as you can imagine, such Royal patronage made the town fashionable with the Bangkok elite. This popularity increased when Prince Purachatra, Director General of the State Railways, decided to build a prestigious hotel here. Sadly, with the usual imagination of railway companies the world over, this new hotel was called ‘The Railway Hotel’, opening in 1923. (Now called the Sofitel Central (yet another wonderfully lacklustre name!), you can still stroll around its grand colonial style buildings or even stay in one of the large airy rooms with magnificent verandahs today. You might have seen this hotel already, as it was used as the Phnom Penh hotel in the 1983 film ‘The Killing Fields’!)

Not surprisingly, being a royal resort has helped Hua Hin in many ways. For example, one no longer needs to choose between a train or a bullock cart to get here now! Ongoing improvements to the highway from Bangkok mean that the capital is just 3 - 3? hours away, depending on city traffic. There is also a regular plane service (yes, Hua Hin does have an airport), which can get you here in just 40 minutes. What with this convenience, plus the sea and the backdrop of verdant mountains, it isn't difficult to see why this town is becoming more and more popular with non-Thais as a long-term destination and even permanent residence.

Please refer to our Hua Hin Guide.

Furthermore, the Hua Hin municipality is striving to improve their town, promoting the ambitiously entitled "Paradise City" project. This programme's goal is to continually enhance Hua Hin's environment, be it cleaner beaches, better parking, more user-friendly officialdom, and a lot more. Such a project is bound to make Hua Hin even more popular with foreign visitors.

Our company began with the goal of sharing the charms of Hua Hin with the Japanese, and expats in Japan who are still less than common amongst this town's visitors. This included advising and helping with immigration procedures, plus inside information on Hua Hin, advice on the residential possibilities here, and practical assistance after arrival here, and this has kept us pretty busy. However, we soon realised that there was no reason we should limit ourselves to Japan, as Hua Hin's charms are just as valid for people from other countries as well.

But why should anyone consider Hua Hin as a long-term place to stay? Well, here are just "six basic reasons" which we recommend our town.

Climate and environment.

Hua Hin is one of the driest places in Thailand, but gets plenty of warmth and sunshine! What's more, Hua Hin is small enough to be friendly (around 65,000 residents) but big enough to be convenient, and access from Bangkok is continually improving.
Safety

A few years ago, His Majesty the King moved from Bangkok to Hua Hin, turning it from a royal resort to a royal resident. He presently spends most of the year here, and this has naturally led to increased security and a consequential increase in police patrols, etc. This has attracted more and more retirees, as Hua Hin has become more and more liveable. Flashy and over exciting it might not be, but relaxed, friendly and quiet, it certainly is.
Convenience

Although still far from large, Hua Hin has plenty of supermarkets and convenience stores, all selling everything you need for daily life. In addition, in line with its growing popularity, there is a large new shopping mall being constructed in the southern part of Hua Hin, scheduled to open in 2006. Furthermore, there are French, Italian, Japanese and other foreign restaurants all over town, plus some of the best seafood in Thailand.

Please refer to our Hua Hin dailylife page
Cost of living

Compared with Bangkok and Phuket, the cost of living, be it daily necessities or property, is pretty low here. Admittedly, Hua Hin's increasing popularity has led to a recent rise in property prices, but this hasn't yet reached Bangkok levels, and even palatial residences here are still less than a regular suburban home in most western countries!

Please refer to our Hua Hin cost of living page
Golf

Hua Hin has the oldest golf course in Thailand, The Royal Hua Hin, originally designed by a Scottish railway engineer by the name of O.A. Robins in 1924. However, there are several golf resorts within an easy distance of the town centre, including one designed by Jack Nicklaus. What's more, green fees and caddy costs are remarkably cheap and there is rarely any need to book or wait -- just turn up and play!
The beach

Hua Hin's beautiful Shirahama beach runs for a beautiful 5 kilometres, including a stretch that is literally a few metres from downtown. What's more, there are several quieter, more secluded beaches nearby, for those seeking a more restful beach experience. Some beaches have cheap but excellent restaurants and shops nearby, but for those who really want to get away from it all, there are plenty where you can expect nothing more than the sea, the sun and your own shadow!

Please refer to our page on Hua Hin beaches

Notice

With this site, whilst this company seeks to provide up-to-date information, it can in no way be held responsible for any changes that may occur. We recommend you verify relevant information closer to the time of your arrival in Hua Hin. In addition, much of the information may be of a subjective nature and so personal judgement may vary, which is beyond our control.All articles and graphics on this site may be subject to Copyright, and may not be used for more than "private utilization" without permission.