This small Gulf town would have little to distinguish it from any other fishing village in Prachuap Khiri Khan province had King Rama VI not built his summer palace here in 1926. Its royal legacy and the town's proximity to Bangkok have made it an enduring beach destination, mostly free from frenetic development, pollution and the other negative aspects of Patong and Pattaya.
Hua Hin's five kilometers of beaches are its biggest draw, though the often murky water and jellyfish (numerous during monsoons) deter swimmers. Weekends can get overcrowded, compounded by vendors hawking everything from pony rides to corn on the cob around the Thanon Damnoen Kasem beach. So strike south to the beach fronting the Sofitel and beyond to the relatively tranquil sands of Had Khao Takiap and Khao Tao. The new Hua Hin Butterfly Garden opposite is a delight. The quaint half-timbered railway station provides a great photo opportunity.
Khao Takiab, a hill overlooking Takiab beach four kilometers outside Hua Hin, offers sweeping views from an unexceptional temple. Far better is Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, a fast 58 kilometers  to the south. Named `300 peaks', the park features broken-tooth karsts soaring out of wetlands ideal for sea-kayaking and has a diverse bird population. More arduous exploration awaits at the World Heritage rainforest of Kaeng Krachan National Park to the north-west

Hin, on the way to Cha-am; the Jack-Nicklaus designed Springfield 1Z Country Club is a few kilometers further north, just to the south of Cha-am itself, and the 27-hole Imperial Lake View on the northern side of Cha-am. Half an hour's drive west of Hua Hin, is the Majestic Creek Country Club and 25 minutes' south of Hua Hin is the Bangkok Golf Milford

Hua Hin has some of the world's most exclusive resort spas. Chiva Som International Health Resort , attracts celebrities with its upscale, traditional villas and strict holistic treatments, while the new Evason Hua Hin is a tastefully minimalist beachfront property. Or there's the village-like Anantara Resort & Spa and the classy Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort (.
If you're on a budget, Ban Somboon is a Thai home with cosy rooms, art and antiques.