I like Hua Hin, but its the getting there that's the hassle, - a long road journey, or an even longer train journey.

A shame no flights directly in from overseas!!

A flight to Don Muang then a coupla hours road trip. Not too shabby!

not sure about times now but a few years ago , you could get the first flight out of Udon about 7 am/ish i think it was " Nok air " to Don Muang get down to Victory monument then the " crazy " mini bus ride " at 170 baht " to Chan am then Hua hin , getting there around 12 lunch time .

Vlad....good info from Lone Star.

That area will do fine for your interests and budget. HH beach is total crap, and I won't even walk on it barefooted. Unless you enjoy the smell of horse piss, as that's all you smell entering the beach of 61. Southern end is OK, at big Buddha, but without transport, you won't bother, and the taxi mafia is a rip. Limited time any way, as building a huge resort there now.

Anyone else familiar with HH, the crap vendors (smile / moon, etc) that use to offer overpriced bland local fare have finally been move out from behind Wat HH, on Poon Suk

Cha Am if entertaining any beach time, though if coming over soon, wrong season. Water is not clear, and jellies are starting to appear along the whole Gulf. Not sure what the nightlife is there though, and HH would be good choice for that. Very low key compared to Patts and Patong, but a good thing.

No hotel recommendations on that side of town, as I used to avoid, but plenty to choose from. Train would be my choice to get there, or limo van. Taxi is a few thousand baht, not a fan of buses, which leave from southern terminal, along with most limo vans, which can be a right pain in the arse to get to and from in bkk. Why I would take the train.

Once there, HH, everything is in walking distance or baht buses, I think. New Bluport Mall has nice food court, but that's about it, and down a ways.

ENJOY

The Thais opt for Cha'am as a favourite seaside spot

Laan Yaa Mo wrote: ↑

August 18, 2017, 1:19 pm

The Thais opt for Cha'am as a favourite seaside spot

AND THAT as they say is the problem.

Cha Am years ago I really liked, but now Its virtually all familys sitting under trees, eat till bloated , drink. shout and argue till annoying everyone else within 100 metres let kids get up to anything they want as long as its out of parents sight and then all get in the sea wearing old T Shirts and Jeans/shorts when the sun goes down. Then it's all back in the pick up and away leaving beer and Blend bottles ciggy buts food wrapping and plenty of half eaten grub for the soi dogs to spend the next hour or so picking through, and the public to have to walk over the following morning.
At least they cant blame farang for ruining the place, the Thais have done it all by themselves.

OOps nearly forgot ......... have to take dozens of pics doing "star jumps" at the waters edge to put on Linr/Facebook

MMMM beginning to wonder if it's for me as I am in recovery from Triple Heart Bypass can't be doing with a ------ smelling beach but pay your money and take your chance 747 knows me im up for a challenge and as I now know you only get 1 shot at life so it's still HH for me thanks for the info.

I am not going to get into a 'it was great ten years ago' debate, but merely wish to give advice on a suitable way to travel from Udon Thani to Hua Hin.

If you fly Thai Smile to Suwannaphumi you can take a very comfortable bus from that airport to Hua Hin. You get the bus from the lowest level - a little bit further along from the taxi rank. By taking the Eastern Ring Road the bus avoids all Bangkok traffic.

Vlad, good luck in your recovery. I had quadruple heart bypass last September, and everything is fine so far.

goodison wrote: ↑

August 18, 2017, 5:30 am

A flight to Don Muang then a coupla hours road trip. Not too shabby!

I find it easier and quicker to fly into Swampy then taxi or bus to HH - just use the southern ring road

Billy, Cha Am has a few (20 ish) beer bars (most near bus station by the beach) with a few low to middle range "hostesses" The last time I visited the one Go Go there, it had ONE dancer, who immediately got on her phone to call for back up .......10 mins later a second dancer arrived
Perhaps the "slower" pace may suit your current medical condition.

Plenty of bars in HH although earlier this year when I there, it was VERY quiet with lots of bars shut.
You can get a Taxi/Tuk Tuk to a nice beach about 20 min South of HH if you get up early enough to see daylight.

Link to Cha Am map, and tab for map of HH

http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/hua_hin ... ha_am.html

I am flying into Swampy so will prob get the bus down to hua hin then a week later ill fly up to Udon with NOK or Air Asia.

Cha Am c2007 Cha Am c2007 Ch Am c2012 Beach at HH (20 min south) May 2017

vlad wrote: ↑

August 18, 2017, 5:15 pm

I am flying into Swampy so will prob get the bus down to hua hin then a week later ill fly up to Udon with NOK or Air Asia.

Don't suppose you have thought about a week in HH and then a week in Cha Am and cancelling the Udon bit :-"

lol nah want to catch up with friends in udon been a long time since ive seen them

caducus wrote: ↑

August 18, 2017, 4:24 pm

If you fly Thai Smile to Suwannaphumi you can take a very comfortable bus from that airport to Hua Hin. You get the bus from the lowest level - a little bit further along from the taxi rank. By taking the Eastern Ring Road the bus avoids all Bangkok traffic.

Caducus, thanks, that's useful to know.

About how long on the bus (from Swampy) and does it have a toilet onboard?
What about getting back?
Any hotel recommendations?

Fly Udon to U-Tapao (2 flights daily at 08:55 and 16:20), take the bus/taxi/van into Pattaya, take the ferry to Hua Hin (2 sailings daily at 10:00 and 15:30). Offers a choice of a 'straight-through', lunch or an overniter in Pattaya.

Coming back, the ferry leaves HH at 10:30 or 12:30 and the flights leave U-Tapao at 07:20 or 14:40 which offers a 'straight-through' or an overniter (sorry, no time for lunch).

arjay wrote: ↑

August 18, 2017, 11:16 pm

Any hotel recommendations?

On which end of the jaunt?

If I'm staying just overnight in BKK and flying, I usually stay at the Grand Pinnacle. Fast service to the airport. Nice, clean hotel with restaurants nearby. Excellent for one night when getting in or out of the airport is your focus.

https://www.agoda.com/grand-pinnacle-ho ... ok-th.html

Lone Star wrote: ↑

August 19, 2017, 10:45 am

arjay wrote: ↑

August 18, 2017, 11:16 pm

Any hotel recommendations?

On which end of the jaunt?

If I'm staying just overnight in BKK and flying, I usually stay at the Grand Pinnacle. Fast service to the airport. Nice, clean hotel with restaurants nearby. Excellent for one night when getting in or out of the airport is your focus.

https://www.agoda.com/grand-pinnacle-ho ... ok-th.html

Sorry, (hotels) at the Hua Hin end of the jaunt.

I get sea sick and travel sick easily, so like to keep my journeys straight and level with minimum hassle. Direct connections from Swampy sounded a good idea.

I have stayed at the Wannara Hotel. Very nice. Easy walking distance to the nightlife, but far enough away not to hear any of it when it's time to sleep. Easy walk to restaurants and to the beach, too.

https://www.google.co.th/maps/place/Wan ... authuser=0

https://www.agoda.com/wannara-hotel-hua ... am-th.html