Travel Thailand: Hua Hin | Bangkok Mothers & Babies International

March 20, 2019

A holiday in Hua Hin is sure to please your whole family. Jenny Rephaeli shares what’s on offer for all ages, plus a hidden gem that keeps her family wanting to return again and again.By Jenny RephaeliYou have probably heard of Hua Hin and maybe even visited this beach resort town situated around 140 kilometers from Bangkok. Not only is it heaven for adults who enjoy water sports like kitesurfing, the nightlife, and designer clothes shopping, but also for parents of young children who would like to enjoy some time away.

How to get there

This resort town on the Gulf of Thailand is around 3-hours drive from Bangkok. There are options to travel there by train, bus, or van and some resorts also offer transportation from pick up points in Bangkok. If you prefer to drive, there are many places to stop along to stretch your legs. I recommend the restrooms and shopping mall on Phet Karen Road where they have a variety of restaurants and an arcade for children on the top floor.

Places to explore

Must-see attractions are Hua Hin Railway station and Maruekhathaiyawan Palace where you can see the beautiful and unique teak wood architecture of the area. The Palace is located halfway between Cha-am and Hua Hin towns so you can book a day tour or explore on your own if you have transport.
The Cicada Market is an open-air location where Hua Hin’s artistic talents sell handmade crafts and art. You will also find a small Thai history museum and beer gardens with live music for all the family to enjoy.
The famous night market is situated in the center of town. It has a vast selection of seafood restaurants and street food. You can find basically anything at the market including clothes, jewelry, and souvenirs.
Another big hit with families traveling to Hua Hin is Black Mountain Water Park. It features nine different water slides, a wave pool, beach pool, lazy river, and kids pool. This attraction can be a whole day of fun and is only 15 minutes from the town center.
Santorini Park Cha-am is a Greek-influenced amusement park with enough activities for kids to enjoy in an afternoon. It also has an outdoor playground, quite a few shops, and restaurants. The place has an open area creating the opportunity for kids to run around and stretch their legs.
The Venezia Hua Hin is another delightful place for all the family to enjoy. This Venice-themed shopping village has a small canal allowing you to soak up the atmosphere with a gondola cruise just like in Venice.

There is also an amazing 3D Art Gallery to get some fun family photographs. Kids and parents can have a relaxing stroll or run around the gardens at the Music Park. Or simply take the time to feed and pat the animals at the Mini Zoo. The Venezia has something for everyone to do and can easily fill a whole day of family time.

Where to stay

So where would be a good place to stay in Hua Hin that won't break the bank? We found a hidden gem just 45 kilometers from Hua Hin and only 20 kilometers away from nearby Pranburi. Dolphin Bay Resort is a 3.5-star beachfront resort which is well known to some of the expat community in Bangkok.The resort is owned by a French woman, Agathe Verge, who has been running the resort successfully for the last 17 years. This high-standard, affordable resort has 59 rooms to offer including joint and family suites. There are also private villas for larger families or small groups with a private pool.The layout of the resort is what gives this place a secure feeling allowing children to run around or wander around the garden and playground freely while parents can watch from the balcony, restaurant, or swimming pool. This place really cannot be mistaken for anything other than an extremely child-friendly resort, it even has a mini soccer field next to a fun playground with swings. Other facilities to enjoy include:

Two large swimming pools including a kids pool with a slide.
Badminton can be played anytime as the resort has rackets and shuttlecocks at no extra charge.
There are also ping pong and foosball tables under shelter so kids can enjoy playing in any weather condition.
The resort has a small air-conditioned clubhouse filled with toys and has age-appropriate movies showing all day long allowing kids to chill out between outdoor play and swimming.
The spa is available for both children and adults seeking a massage or a mani-pedi.

If your children are in different age ranges, you will appreciate having activities that the whole family can enjoy together.At Dolphin Bay Resort, you can rent bicycles for the whole family, including baby seats and stabilizers so that you can take full advantage of the bicycle lanes in the area to take a family ride along the beachfront.There is also a public golf course 2.5 kilometers away and adrenaline junkies and older children can wakeboard and kitesurf in Pranburi.We asked Agathe which places she recommends visiting while staying at the resort."Sam Roi Yot National Park is beautiful especially Phraya Nakhon, which is one of the most beautiful caves ever. My second favorite is Thong Sam Roi Yot, the largest freshwater marsh in Thailand. It is home to over 300 species of birds. If you go early in the morning, you can see all the lotus flowers widely open. We also organize a 40-minute trip on a flat wooden boat pushed by hand."The resort’s restaurant, Cafe Loma, has a good selection of western and Thai food and a kids menu with a wide range of dishes at affordable prices. The staff are extremely friendly and very accustomed to children going around the resort on roller blades, bikes, and scooters.So if you too, would like to enjoy your holidays as much as the little ones, then Dolphin Bay Resort is a convenient place to stay and enjoy drinks while children explore the grounds.Many families over the years have made this their "go to" holiday place so booking in advance is recommended. We personally have been visiting Dolphin Bay Resort for years and each time is as fun as the last!See you there!

About the Author

Jenny has been an expat in Asia for the last 10 years, and is married and a full-time mother of two. She is an NLP practitioner and studying to become a counseling practitioner with a focus on CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). Her goal is to work with children to overcome behavioral and development problems to lead them on a path to emotional stability, confidence, and independence.

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