2 Best Hotels in Hua Hin, The Gulf Coast Beaches

The spacious lobby at this hotel between Hua Hin and Cha-am serves as a lounge for afternoon tea and evening cocktails, sipped to the soft melodies of traditional Thai music. Just past an ornamental lily pond is the swimming pool, complete with bubbling fountains, and the beach is just beyond that. All rooms have private balconies with ocean views and are decorated with local furnishings and modern touches. Since it's essentially in Cha-am, there's a shuttle service to Hua Hin and car service to Bangkok.

Surrounded by a 10-foot-tall terra-cotta wall, this luxurious beach resort looks like an ancient Thai village. Flowers and artworks decorate the lobby and much of the resort, and the furniture throughout is well made. Rooms are within two-story brown-and-burnt-orange structures surrounded by five distinct gardens and a lagoon; the color scheme is so complementary and the grounds so beautiful you could spend a whole day taking pictures. When you need actual rest, you can always head back to your room and collapse on the huge, comfortable balcony sofa. At night tiki torches light up the walkways that connect the rooms with the restaurants. Activities include tennis and cooking classes.