This beach town is a favorite among locals and since the early 1990s has increasingly become a destination for international tourists from Europe. If you’re arriving by train, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the train station: Built in the 1920s under King Rama VI, the small, elaborately decorated buildings are a cross between Victorian gingerbread houses and Thai salas (sitting areas).
The town of Hua Hin is a laid-back, charming beach town, but it is not visually remarkable aside from the fact that it’s on the coast. There’s plenty of concrete development in addition to the typical guesthouses, coffee shops, and motorbike rental stores that you’d expect. Most of your time will be best spent on or right near the beach.
The beach, Klai Kangwon Palace (if you can get in), and a couple of scenic mountains are Hua Hin’s main attractions. The town also serves as a good base for visiting some of Thailand’s most beautiful national parks, such as Kaeng Krachan National Park and Sam Roi Yot National Park [1]. These parks, at less than an hour’s drive away, are easily accessible and can make a great side trip if you’re spending more than a couple of days on the beach.
These are two small mountains just adjacent to Hua Hin Beach, about four kilometers from the center of the beach. On Khao Takiab you’ll find a small Buddhist monastery, a 60-foot golden Buddha, and a collection of hungry monkeys happy to take whatever they can get from you. Khoa Krailat is less developed, but there are some trails you can hike to the top. The view from the top (305 meters) is beautiful—you can see not only the beach below and Ko Singto, but the ethereal peaks of Khao Sam Roi Yot off in the distance.
The best way to visit is simply to walk from the beach and then climb the mountain, as the road is paved and some parts even have steps. The whole trip there and back should only take a few hours. Otherwise, you can take a local bus heading south from Hua Hin Town and ask the driver to let you off at Khao Takiab. (You’ll walk a few minutes from the main road once you get off the bus.)
The most fun way to go is to hire one of the many horses on the shore to take you up. Even if you are a beginner, the guide will walk along with you. Prices are entirely negotiable, but expect to pay around 500 baht for an hour; the ride to Khao Takiab and back will be a couple of hours. There are a handful of small, casual restaurants at the base of the mountain.
Klai Kangwon means “far from worries,” and it’s easy to understand why King Rama VII gave such a name to this palace (Petchkasem Rd., 03/251-1155, daily when unoccupied 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 20B). Originally built as a summer home just north of Hua Hin, the palace is far less palatial and immense than the royal family’s official residence in Bangkok. It looks more like a large, comfortable seaside mansion, devoid of any pomp and circumstance. The palace is technically open for visitors when the royal family is not there, but King Bhumibol spends much of his time in Hua Hin, making it unlikely that you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the family’s living quarters. Call ahead, though, and you might get lucky.
This floating weekend market is a popular draw among tourists. These days the market probably makes more money selling souvenirs to tourists than selling fruits and vegetables, but there’s still something fun about climbing into a boat to be guided through narrow canals and watching merchants (mostly older women) paddling gracefully on small wooden boats piled high with fresh produce and other items for sale.
The best time to visit the market is early in the morning. By 11:30 a.m. all you’ll find are a few boats and a lot of tourists. If you’re heading down the west coast of the gulf to visit Hua Hin, this is a great place to stop since it’s on the way.
The floating market is in Ratchaburi Province, about 95 kilometers outside of Bangkok [2]. Any tour agency can arrange an early-morning pickup from your hotel (for anywhere from 1,000B and up), or you can hire a taxi to take you and return. If you want to get there on your own, take bus 78 or 996 from the Southern Bus Terminal. The ride will take under two hours, but you’ll need to catch one of the first ones (they start running at 6 a.m.) if you want to see the market. Once you arrive, you’ll need to hire a longtail boat to tour the market by water. Expect to pay 200-500 baht for the tour.
Hua Hin Beach is a wide, open swath of sand backed by high-end resorts and the town of Hua Hin itself. Although you won’t find palm trees in abundance and there are a few tall buildings, there isn’t the same rampant development here as you’ll see in places like Phuket or Pattaya. Most of the year, the water is relatively calm and flat, making it difficult to do many water sports but great if you’re with small kids.
Water quality in and around Hua Hin is generally good, although there is not enough visibility or coral to do anything more than very casual snorkeling. The beach can sometimes be plagued by stinging jellyfish, especially during rainy season, in numbers plentiful enough to ruin an otherwise perfect day at the beach.
Despite the thousands of foreign tourists who visit every year, the beach remains relatively relaxed and laid-back. There are beachside bar-restaurants offering inexpensive Thai food, drinks, and lawn chairs and towels for rent (expect to pay about 200B for the day). Horses and their keepers trot up and down the beach, offering rides and lessons. Families with small children are some of the most frequent visitors. Although there are some bars where you might not want to take your mother, for the most part there’s nothing going on in Hua Hin that isn’t appropriate for all ages.
Less than half a kilometer off the coast is the small Ko Singto, a nice diversion if you want to get off Hua Hin Beach but don’t want to venture too far. The rocky outcropping resembles a crouching tiger, hence the name singto. There’s no real beach here and no accommodations, but you can arrange a group tour from any travel agency in town and head out to the island for a day of fishing, rock climbing, or swimming. The day trips usually last about five hours and cost under 1,000 baht per person including lunch.
Because of the largely European clientele, Hua Hin probably has more Italian and German restaurants than casual Thai cuisine. But if you look past the multitude of Western restaurants (most of these have Thai menus also), especially on Thanon Naresdamri, you’ll find some nice local restaurants catering mostly to Thai vacationers. As Hua Hin is a seaside town and there are active fishing villages all around, the big star on menus is fresh seafood. Most of the restaurants listed here serve excellent seafood, but they all also have chicken, pork, and beef dishes, should you be looking for something different.
All of the nicer hotels have upscale Thai restaurants, often with excellent locations right on the beach. They’re not listed here as they’re easy to find, but if you are looking to splash out a little on a special dinner, they are a great option, although Thai cuisine aficionados may complain that the dishes are “dumbed down” for Western palates.
Chatachai Market (Petchkasem Rd., daily 5 a.m.-5 p.m.), like the local markets in all parts of Thailand, is where you are likely to find the freshest, cheapest, and most fun eating experience. You may have to eat your fried squid standing up or on a plastic chair amidst crowds of shoppers, but it’s worth it. Hua Hin Town can get a little confusing once you get off the beach, so the best way to get here is to take Dechanuchit Road east (away from the water) until you get to Petchkasem Road. Take a left, and keep walking until you see all the stalls. The walk from the beach is about 1.6 kilometers and should take about 15 minutes.
In the evening, the Night Market on Dechanuchit Road, which runs perpendicular to the water from the northern part of town, not only has souvenirs, pirated DVDs, and other tourist stuff, but many food stalls as well.
Sara Jane’s (28/1 Poonsuk Rd., 03/253-2990, daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 400B) is the kind of restaurant every beach town should have. It’s pretty, comfortable, foreigner-friendly, and offers a variety of Thai and Italian dishes (for travelers who want some comfort food). There is a small, very casual open-air dining room and a garden in the back with plenty of seating. The restaurant is very popular and though nothing there is going to knock your socks off, it’s a smart choice if you’re looking for something relatively easy that will satisfy everyone.
Baan Itsara (7 Naeb Kehardt Rd., 03/253-0574, daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 500B) has a well-deserved reputation among locals and returning vacationers as a favorite spot for dinner. The restaurant, sometimes called “Baan Issara” or “Baan Isara” is set in a charming old wooden house, and there’s indoor and outdoor seating available. The menu is full of seafood choices, including favorites such as steamed whole sea bass and stir-fried mussels. Baan Itsara isn’t as fancy as some of the hotel restaurants in the area, but you might still be uncomfortable if you show up in shorts and a T-shirt. If you want a table on a weekend night or during a local holiday, make sure to book in advance. The restaurant can fill up quickly.
For an authentic Hua Hin-style meal and an authentic dining experience, head to Chao Talay Seafood (15 Naresdamri Rd., 03/251-3436, daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m., 500B). Set right out on the water, the casual restaurant has an extensive menu, and you can pick your fish or crustacean from the tanks out front. The restaurant feels a little run down on the edges, but don’t be bothered—just take in the view of the water or the food on your plate. Servers may not speak fluent English, but there’s a picture menu available.
Just across the street from Sara Jane’s is the wonderfully-named Moon Smile & Platoo (23 Poonsuk Rd., 03/251-1664, daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 400B), a very homey, Thai-style open-air restaurant. Thai and Thai-Chinese dishes are reliable and fresh even if a little uninspired. Lately Moon Smile & Platoo has become a European tourist magnet, so be prepared to wait for a table for dinner.
If you are looking for local seafood with European flavor, the Belgian-run Brasserie de Paris (3 Naresdamri Rd., 03/253-0637, daily 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-10 p.m., 700B) is a nice, elegant choice. Although there is plenty of fish on the menu, such as the bouillabaisse made with local catch, you can also find steaks. Located near the pier in Hua Hin Town, the restaurant is also easy to get to.
If you are craving well-made pasta, Peppino (214 Petchkasem Rd., 03/251-1664, daily 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., 500B) has an extensive selection of Italian dishes, including standard Italian fare. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant serves excellent Italian food and is a great value, especially if you stick to the inexpensive wine.
Maharaja Restaurant (25 Naresdamri Rd., 03/253-1122, daily 10 a.m.-11 p.m., 150B) offers typical northern Indian cuisine, including favorites such as chicken tikka masala and tandoori shrimp, as well as a good selection of curries. The food here is well prepared, and the service is attentive. The restaurant is located past the large Hilton Hotel, toward the fishing pier on the main road.
For the most part, Hua Hin lacks the debauched nightlife that other beach areas seem to attract. What you will find are hotel and resort bars, a handful of outdoor bars where people congregate for cocktails, and a few hidden hole-in-the-wall joints. So far, there are no real discos in this beach town and no big bar scene either, though there is a small sprinkling of bars with names such as Lolita’s, Octopussy, and Romantic Bar that seem to attract working women and potential customers.
Along Naresdamri Road are a handful of open-air bars serving cocktails and playing pop music. At the end of the street is the Hua Hin Brewing Company (Hilton Hotel, 33 Naresdamri Rd., Hua Hin, 03/25-8999, daily 6 p.m.-1 a.m.), which has the best selection of bottled and draught beer in the area and has live music every night. The atmosphere is a little on the generic side despite the Thai fishing decorations, but it’s a nice relaxed place to enjoy a beer.
The indoor/outdoor Johnnie Walkers Pub & Restaurant (Soi Selakam, Hua Hin, daily 9 a.m.-1 a.m.) has just about everything you could want in a bar—live music, casual atmosphere, pool, inexpensive drinks, and a mix of local and expat customers.
The Hua Hin area has a number of established golf courses catering to local and international visitors. Greens fees are reasonable, especially compared to Phuket, and the courses are generally well maintained. At nearly all of the courses, rental clubs are available and you’ll be required to hire a caddy for the day. Many tour companies offer golf packages, but you may be able to save money by just calling yourself to schedule time.
Opened in 1924, The Royal Hua Hin Golf Club (Damnernkasem Rd., 03/251-2475, daily 5 a.m.-6 p.m., 1,500B) is the country’s first golf course. The course is right by the railway station and offers some nice views of the Gulf of Thailand. Some of the wide fairways are lined with topiaries shaped like animals and creatures from Thai mythology.
Surrounded on three sides by hilly forest, the Hua Hin Seoul Country Club (200 Mu 1, Praknampran, Pranburi, 03/257-2500, daily 5 a.m.-6 p.m., 1,500B) has a compact, challenging 18-hole course. The club is located in Pranburi [3], about 20 minutes by car from the center of Hua Hin. When you call to reserve a time, the club can also arrange transportation for you.
At the center of Hua Hin Beach you’ll find horses and their keepers, who will let you go out on your own if you are an experienced rider or escort you up and down the beach (or even as far as Khao Takiab). Prices are negotiable, but they generally run about 500 baht per hour—a little less if you are renting a horse for more time.
Hua Hin and the coast near Sam Roi Yot National Park are one of the few areas in Thailand with good conditions for kiteboarding (sometimes called kitesurfing). More and more schools seem to be opening up. As the sport can be a little dangerous and very challenging for beginners, it’s best to stick with a teacher who’s been at it for a while. Kiteboarding Asia (08/1591-4593, www.kiteboardingasia.com [4]) offers lessons in Hua Hin between November and June for about 4,000 baht per day. They also rent equipment to experienced boarders.
If you’re interested in seeing how elephants navigate through the forest or want to hitch a ride on one yourself, the Elephant Village (38/47 Khaonoi Village behind Wat Etisukatow, Hua Hin, 03/251-6181, www.thaielephant-village.com [5], daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 500B) has daily shows and offers guided rides on the friendly beasts. Mahouts (elephant trainers) will take you around a little circuit, which goes through some forest and even a small lake, while you sit on your elephant’s head. It’s not quite a wild ride, as the animals are well trained and the mahouts keep a careful eye on them. Still, for all but the most jaded traveler, it’s a fun, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Although you won’t find any one-of-a-kind objects at the Hua Hin Market (Dechanuchit Rd., which runs perpendicular to the ocean in the northern part of town), it’s a vibrant, fun place to wander around or do some souvenir shopping. Every night crowds of shoppers and eaters gather at the market to check out the wares (mostly inexpensive Thai household items, kitschy T-shirts, and knockoff designer goods) and sample the food at the many street stalls.
Although most of the cheaper options are found away from the beach, there are a handful of hotels on and around the fishing pier just north of the main beach. The location can’t be beat if you are looking for something on the water for cheap, the rooms tend to be bleak: very small and bare bones, with simple bedding and fans instead of air-conditioning. If you are looking for something really cheap or want to experience sleeping on a pier, they are worth a night (at most) of your time. If you’re looking for something comfortable or spacious, you need to go elsewhere. One pier guesthouse is Karoon Hut (80 Naresdamri Rd., 03/253-0242, 500B), typical of the choices you’ll find here.
If you’re looking for something inexpensive but well-kept and comfortable, the Citin Loft Hua Hin (20/22 Soi Huahin 78, Petchkasem Rd., 03/253-3778, www.royalasiahuahin.com [6], 1,100B) is a good compromise. The midsize hotel has clean, large rooms decorated in a contemporary Thai style with televisions, free Wi-Fi, and balconies. There’s also a small swimming pool on the roof and a café. The best deals are in the court wing rooms; other rooms can run more than twice as much.
If staying right on the beach isn’t a priority, Narawan Hotel (250/131 Soi Hua Hin 94, Petchkasem Rd., 03/252-6390, www.narawan.com [7], 1,300B) is a good value. The property doesn’t offer a lot of bells and whistles, but the basic rooms are clean and modern, and there is a pretty, small swimming pool. The property has only been open since 2009, so although it’s not fancy or trendy, everything is in very good condition.
The clean, basic, and inexpensive Thipurai City Hotel (8/5-7 Soi Kanjanomai Poonsuk Rd., 03/253-3555, www.thipuraicityhotel.com [8], 1,400B) has all the necessities—clean rooms, modern bathrooms, a decent buffet breakfast, swimming pool, and an urban location in walking distance from the beach. It’s not the most stylish hotel in Thailand, but it’s a good value property in the price range.
Sirin Hotel (6/3 Damnernkasem Rd., 03/251-1150, www.sirinhuahin.com [9], 1,500B) is a reliable, friendly property with comfortable standard hotel rooms, a central location just a few minutes from the beach, and a small swimming pool. This is another good-value property; though there’s not much personality here, the price, cleanliness, and location make up for it.
Fresh Inn Hotel (132 Naresdamri Rd., 03/251-1389, 1,700B) is one of the best values in midrange hotels in Hua Hin. It’s located just across from the Hilton and only a few minutes from the beach. The property is less than 10 years old and the rooms are all stylishly decorated, with an abundance of dark wood and colorful Thai silk, as well as modern bathrooms. Common areas are also well designed and clean. Rooms can be a little small, but you won’t find a nicer hotel for the money and location.
Staying at the The Bee & B (226/32 Petchkasem Rd., 08/7089-0606, www.beeandb.com [10], 1,800B) is more like staying in someone’s home than in a large hotel or a typical guesthouse. There are only a handful of rooms, but each is fitted with a very comfortable bed and a funky, nicely designed en-suite bathroom. Rooms and common areas are spotlessly clean and there’s even a whirlpool tub (no swimming pool) in the small garden. The property is just a couple of blocks from the beach and the center of town. In fact, there’s not much you’ll miss compared to staying in a guesthouse, except the anonymity.
Doodi Guest House (256/10-11 Petchkasem Rd., 03/251-2501, www.doodiguesthouse.com [11], 2,000B) is a small, basic guesthouse with clean rooms that have televisions and balconies. Although the property won’t win any awards in the style category (think wicker and bedspreads), it is a good place to stay if you are looking for something that’s not quite in the middle of everything but easily accessible from the beach or town.
If you are looking for something that’s comfortable, well maintained, and in a good location, the Prinz Garden Villa (8/30 Soi Hua Hin 98, 03/251-1720, http://en.prinz-garden-villa.de [12], 2,100B) is a good option. It is located just south of the center of Hua Hin and a few minutes away from the beach. The rooms are basic but comfortable and have televisions, DVD players, and some even come with kitchens. There’s also a pool and a small area for eating and hanging out. This property is particularly family friendly, as there are apartments and larger suites available. There is also a small restaurant on the premises serving Thai and Western dishes.
Although the size, layout, and design of the rooms at Anantasila by the Sea (Khao Takiab, 03/251-1879, www.anantasila.com [13], 3,500B) vary within the property from large and homey to typically sized and modern, this is of the few places directly on the beach where you’ll be able to find rooms for under 4,000 baht per night. The grounds are well maintained and include a 25-meter swimming pool and a dining area overlooking the ocean. There are also larger, apartment-style rooms with kitchen facilities for families and larger groups. The Anantasila is located just outside Hua Hin, past Khao Takiab.
The Anantara Resort & Spa (43/1 Petchkasem Rd., 03/252-0250, www.huahin.anantara.com [14], 4,500B) combines luxury, excellent service, a great location, and unmistakable Thai style. Guest rooms are spacious and have modern amenities, though are full of traditional Thai detailing. The surrounding gardens are lush and private, and some rooms have direct beach views.
The Rock Hua Hin (4/44 Mu Baan Takiab Rd., 03/253-7100, www.therockhuahin.com [15], 5,500B) is a luxury boutique hotel on the beach just south of the main area. Although the property itself is small, containing fewer than 40 rooms, the guest rooms stand out as some of the largest and best equipped in the area. Minimalist and modern with an Asian flavor, each guest room has an enormous bathroom with a soaking tub, and most have direct views of the ocean. There is a nice outdoor lounging area and infinity pool, but that is the extent of the communal amenities. It’s a great weekend spot for couples.
Although it’s sometimes hard to distinguish among the beachfront international resorts in the area, the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin (91 Hua Hin-Khao Takiab Rd., 03/252-1234, http://huahin.regency.hyatt.com [16], 5,800B) is a favorite among international travelers because of the airy, modern rooms, extra-large pool, and long stretch of beach in front of the hotel. This is a large property with more than 100 guest rooms and suites, so there will be plenty of activities, restaurants, and places to hang out without having to leave the compound. The spa, set on more than four acres of land, is stunning.
The Hua Hin Marriott (107/1 Petchkasem Rd., 03/251-1881, www.marriott.com [17], 5,900B) is a comfortable resort right near the center of the beach, with large grounds fronting on the ocean. The property does not have a private beach, but there are deck chairs set up in front of the hotel for guests. As is typical among the international resorts in the country, the buildings housing the guest rooms are set up around a central common area that has a swimming pool, restaurants, and plenty of lush, green spaces to create a secluded feeling. The most inexpensive guest rooms can feel a little small, but all have balconies and are well equipped and furnished with dark wood and Thai detailing. There are also tennis courts and a beautiful spa with open-air treatment rooms. This property is very popular with European tourists and families with small children. Although it may be a little worn around the edges, it is a good value if you are not paying the rack rates.
Built in the 1920s, the Sofitel Centara (1 Damnernkasem Rd., 03/251-2021, www.sofitel.com [18], 7,000B) is the hotel that started it all for Hua Hin. Originally the railway hotel, and the only place to stay on the beach, the magnificent, two-story colonial-style property has been thoroughly modernized, with all of the facilities you would expect in a five-star hotel. It still maintains such details as verandas that open out onto the lush gardens and wooden shutters and ceiling fans in the rooms. The massive grounds include multiple restaurants and swimming pools as well as a spa. The area has really developed around this hotel: It is right in the center of the beach and just on the edge of Hua Hin Town.
Stunningly modern but undoubtedly Thai, the Intercontinental Resort (33/33 Petchkasem Rd., 03/261-6999, www.ichotelsgroup.com [19], 6,000B) is Hua Hin’s newest and nicest five-star resort. Rooms have everything one would expect from an international five-star hotel—plenty of space, flat screen televisions, DVD players, and iPod docks. Some rooms have spacious balconies overlooking the grounds and gulf. Common areas have a minimalist feel to them but still offer lots of soft, comfortable places to relax.
The urban, modern design at Let’s Sea Al Fresco Hua Hin Resort (83/188 Soi Talay 12, Khao Takiab, 03/253-6888, www.letussea.com [20], 9,000B) can’t be ignored, but the main attraction is the narrow, 100-meter swimming pool in the center of the property. The rooms are ultra-hip and fitted with modern, minimalist furnishings as well as large bathrooms with extra-large bathtubs. There’s a spa, restaurant, and bar on the premises. All of the common spaces are tranquil and chilled out, as are the guests and the attentive staff. Since it’s located south of the center of the beach toward Khao Takiab, you’ll have to walk a few kilometers or take a hotel shuttle if you are looking for activities, such as horseback riding or getting a massage on the beach. This is not a very family-friendly place, and the manager gently suggests that it may not be suitable for children under 12. It is a good choice for couples looking for a chic, quiet retreat.
Trust-fund babies, movie stars, and everyday folks willing to spend a substantial amount of money to relax and rejuvenate on the beach should head for the Chiva-Som (73/4 Petchkasem Rd., 03/253-6536, www.chivasom.com [21], about 50,000B for three nights, additional nights 16,000B per night). There are seven acres of perfectly manicured grounds and large, sunny guest rooms with light, modern Thai furnishings. Perhaps the nicest property in the area, the Chiva-Som is also an amazing holistic spa. You’ll start your stay with a wellness evaluation where health consultants will design a personalized program for you, which may include fitness, yoga, tai chi, meditation, and massage, depending on your goals and physical condition. Although it’s a pricey place to stay, all meals and a daily massage are included, as are scheduled classes. You can also take spa cooking classes and have private lessons. The staff-to-guest ratio is nearly three-to-one, so expect a lot of personal attention.
The closest official TAT office is in Cha-Am (500/51 Petchkasem Rd., Cha-Am, 03/247-1005, daily 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), not particularly convenient nor worth the trek unless there’s something you need to find out that you cannot get from them over the telephone. If you’re just looking for maps and bus or train tickets, there’s a tourist information center in Hua Hin (corner of Petchkasem and Damnoen Kasem Rds., 03/251-1047, daily 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). But as it’s not an official TAT office, the information you get may not be totally unbiased.
If you’re a fan of the rails and coming from Bangkok, Hua Hin is the perfect destination by train. The ride from Hua Lamphong Station takes 3-4 hours (depending on whether you get an express train), and there are 12 departures throughout the day, starting at 7:45 a.m. The second-class express train that leaves first thing in the morning has comfortable air-conditioned cars, and you’ll even get breakfast and lunch served (not with silver cutlery, mind you—meals come in styrofoam containers), all for around 200 baht (third-class tickets on other trains run around 95 baht per person). The train station is about half a kilometer out of town on Damnoen Kasem Road, which runs perpendicular to the beach. It’s an easy walk without heavy bags; otherwise, there are plenty of tuk tuks to cart you to your hotel.
There are frequent buses from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal to Hua Hin, which cost around 150 baht and take about three hours depending on traffic. The government buses run at least hourly throughout the day. If you do not have hours to kill, make sure you get on an express bus and not a local bus (nearly all the air-conditioned buses are express buses). The bus drops you off on Sra Song Road, near the corner of Dechanunit Road, less than half a kilometer from the northern part of the beach. When you’re returning from Hua Hin to Bangkok, you can take a government bus. Many tour companies also offer shared minibus service that goes directly from the beach to Bangkok. You’ll have to wait until the minibus is full before it departs (or, on very busy nights, wait in line for an available bus), and the cost is around 300 baht per person.
Hua Hin is about 275 kilometers from Bangkok, right off Highway 4, which runs north-south. Although you can take Highway 4 directly, it’s faster to take Route 35 out of Bangkok, through Samut Songkhram before getting onto Highway 4 heading south. The journey should take about three hours if there’s not too much traffic.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/bangkok/excursions-bangkok/khao-sam-roi-yot-national-park
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/bangkok
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/bangkok/excursions-bangkok/pranburi
[4] http://www.kiteboardingasia.com
[5] http://www.thaielephant-village.com
[6] http://www.royalasiahuahin.com
[7] http://www.narawan.com
[8] http://www.thipuraicityhotel.com
[9] http://www.sirinhuahin.com
[10] http://www.beeandb.com
[11] http://www.doodiguesthouse.com
[12] http://en.prinz-garden-villa.de
[13] http://www.anantasila.com
[14] http://www.huahin.anantara.com
[15] http://www.therockhuahin.com
[16] http://huahin.regency.hyatt.com
[17] http://www.marriott.com
[18] http://www.sofitel.com
[19] http://www.ichotelsgroup.com
[20] http://www.letussea.com
[21] http://www.chivasom.com