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Located an easy
three-hour drive from Bangkok, the resorts of
Cha-am and Hua Hin are just 25 kilometers apart and
present a choice of beach venues characterized
by the broad sweep of a casuarina-fringed shore,
Cha am is the smaller of the two but it is
nearly all beach. Facing the sea is a wide
choice of hotel accommodation, ranging from
deluxe resort style, with full recreational and
entertainment amenities, to inexpensive but
comfortable bungalows.
Larger and more
luxuriously developed, Hua Hin is similarly
renowned for a magnificent beach which,
separated at one end from a still active fishing
village by a rocky headland, curves gently for
some 3 kilometrs to its southern point where Buddhist
temples cling to the cliffs. Beyond lies
another, more secluded beach, Hat Khao Tao. Hua
Hin is further distinguished as Thailand's
oldest beach resort, coming into vogue in the
1920s as the retreat for the elite of Bangkok
society, a status that was enhanced when King
Rama VII chose the site for a summer palace,
which he named 'Klai Kangwon', meaning 'Far From
Worries'. A fine hotel and Thailand's first
18-hole golf course, both still existing,
further established Hua Hin's reputation.
In spite of moving
with the times to offer all modern amenities,
Cha-am and Hua Hin have retained their own
enduring Thai identity, and thus offer an
appealing sense of place. Ideal for families,
the main attraction of both resorts is a
peaceful time lazing on the beach soaking up the
tropical sunshine.
However, there is
also plenty to do away from the beach; such as
golfing at a choice of courses, shopping at Hua
Hin's renowned Night Bazaar, sightseeing in the
nearby historic town of Phetchaburi and
exploring Khao Sam Roi Yot (Mountain of 300
Peaks) National Park. All have their own
attraction.
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