For those who’re uninterested in purchasing and the hectic tempo of Bangkok in Thailand, Hua Hin has turn out to be one of many extra in style locations for a soothing coastal getaway. When SO Sofitel Hua Hin invited me up to take a look at their area, I used to be fairly excited to revisit Hua Hin and in addition try what the encircling Cha am district needed to provide. Right here’s my detailed resort assessment of SO Sofitel Hua Hin so that you can plan your subsequent Thailand seashore getaway.
My keep was sponsored by SO Sofitel Hua Hin however the views expressed listed here are all my very own. You may try their official web site or head over to reserving.com [affiliate link] for extra data.
Location: Charming Cha am
Whereas Hua Hin is in its identify, SO Sofitel Hua Hin is definitely situated 30 minutes drive north of downtown Hua Hin the place the prepare station and different points of interest are. This space is called Cha am, the quieter and extra relaxed cousin of Hua Hin which has turn out to be extra well-known on the international vacationer radar in recent times. Cha am is the Thai locals fast getaway vacation spot for stunning seashores and low-cost good seafood.
The excellent news is that you just save half-hour attending to Cha am from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport as in comparison with Hua Hin. The unhealthy information is that it’s nonetheless going to take a minimal of three hours to drive from the airport to SO Sofitel Hua Hin, which is longer than it takes to fly from Singapore to Bangkok, however hey you need to do some bit of labor if you need an actual getaway from everybody proper?
Getting from Bangkok to Cha am
SO Sofitel in fact supplies airport transfers from both Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to get you to the resort comfortably. Extra on their companies right here.
In case you are planning to spend extra time in Thailand, the resort may prepare a Bangkok-Hua Hin bundle that permits you to keep in each SO Sofitel properties over 4 nights and shuttles you in between Bangkok, Cha am and airport.
In case you are planning to self drive so you may discover the world round Cha am extra simply, you may cease over at Samut Songkhram which is about midway between to stretch your legs. You may see the Tha Kha Floating Market or the well-known Maeklong Practice Market earlier than persevering with your journey. Learn my Amphawa information for extra.
What I did was request to stopover in Petchaburi alongside the best way (about 45 minutes away from the resort) to see the palace and temples on the hill of Phra Nakhon Khiri Historic Park (Khao Wang), in addition to the cave temple Tham Khao Luang.
First impressions
SO Sofitel Hua Hin feels at first blush like idyllic palace gardens as you flip into its driveway, after which abruptly you’re dropped into a recent artwork museum with its expansive marble stairs greeting you on the entrance. Test in is finished towards the backdrop of an extended pond function that I solely realised later truly sits atop a large stone-covered wall that cuts by way of the guts of the resort.
One fascinating observe upon checking in – the resort asks that you just obtain the Handigo app to your telephone. At first look it appeared like an actual trouble to try this only for a brief keep, however this pocket concierge app is definitely very helpful and saves you the effort of calling reception for all the things you want. There’s a chat perform the place you may ask questions on amenities or name for buggy service, and it listed the varied facility opening hours and shuttle bus timings and you may make a reserving instantly by way of the app. This may all be executed in English with much less of the language barrier that may occur whereas speaking on the telephone.
SO Studio Room Evaluate
I stayed in a SO Studio Room with a pool view and balcony – these are situated on the 2nd and third storeys of the buildings surrounding the Signature pool. Regardless of the fashionable museum-like facades and hallways, the rooms are fairly heat, welcoming and cozy with a nature theme.
I favored the spacious open format, which is as a result of they’ve eradicated a lot of the partitions inside the room – you may cordon off the lavatory space from the bed room/residing space with thick curtains for a little bit of privateness. The bathroom and the bathe are on separate sides of the room – helpful as a result of two folks can prepare without delay, however should you’re somebody who likes to swan across the lavatory like a unadorned queen, simply know that the primary doorway is true in the course of the 2.
There’s a separate cute spherical bathtub and bathe with a bench, and proper within the centre of the lavatory space is a multi-functional wardrobe + TV console that may swivel round so you may watch TV from the bath or the bed room space. I solely want that there have been extra hooks across the room, however that’s as a result of I don’t like preserving my garments tucked away in a cabinet.
The mattress itself is giant and cozy – I fairly just like the picket posts that added some design with out blocking any mild, and I additionally respect there being each energy factors and USB ports on either side of the mattress. There was additionally a pleasant sofa and balcony seats for chilling out, and a handy rack to dry moist swimwear on.
We had been up on the third stage so slightly stair climbing again to the room (no lifts!) however a bit extra privateness since we had been increased up, and a terrific view of the Signature pool and the large Wibit inflatable impediment course under. I assumed it’d get a bit noisy nevertheless it was surprisingly chill, even on the weekends.
There are many different room choices out there at SO Sofitel Hua Hin particularly catered in the direction of households – pool entry rooms, rooms with hooked up child’s home and enjoyable bunk beds and even a slide from the higher stage. For individuals who need extra privateness, there are villas with non-public swimming pools near the seashore for some exclusivity as nicely.
Services in SO Sofitel Hua Hin
3 Swimming Swimming pools
SO Sofitel Hua Hin has 3 swimming pools to select from for all of your swimming wants. The primary Signature pool has a big inflatable impediment course operating down the center and is the preferred with visitors, and particularly these trying to have a little bit of enjoyable pretending they’re doing a Bodily 100 course. A lot of the seating and the shallow portion is at SO SUNDAE and there aren’t many deckchairs right here until you might have a pool entry room.
In order for you a bit extra quiet, the Solarium Pool is adults-only and situated between the partitions of the resort. The Spa and Recreation Rooms are additionally situated right here. There are deckchairs for sunning right here.
And for the sound of the waves, there’s the SO pool in between White Oven restaurant and the seashore space with extra daybeds, deckchairs and the place you may take a dip.
1 cosy Seashore
SO Sofitel Hua Hin is technically a beachfront property they usually do have a cute little seashore space with deckchairs, swings and an enormous tree for some shade that’s good to relax out. Nonetheless as a result of the waves right here might be fairly sturdy and to stop additional erosion, there’s a seashore wall separating the resort’s seashore from the decrease seashore space. You may stroll all the way down to this decrease seashore space and alongside the coast when the tide is low, however hold an eye fixed out do you don’t get stranded!
Spa
SO Sofitel Hua Hin has its personal spa and we indulged in a very good Thai therapeutic massage after a strenuous morning of mountain climbing. That is the primary spa I’ve been to that permits you to choose your individual music to get massaged to! We had a Thai therapeutic massage, although total this Thai therapeutic massage is extra stress-free and never as physique contorting as what I’ve skilled prior to now the place the masseuses will actually manoeuvre your physique into all types of positions.
One thing a bit uncommon on this spa is that this cocoon deep leisure space that you’re escorted to after your therapeutic massage. There are two beds within the cocoon the place you may simply lie down for awhile and benefit from the twinkling lights till you’re prepared to vary and exit.
Eating at SO Sofitel Hua Hin
SO Sofitel Hua Hin is residence to 2 eating places – White Oven and Seashore Society. Additionally they have slightly cafe of types referred to as SO Sundae subsequent to the Signature pool the place you may get a drink, snacks and ice cream.
White Oven
White Oven is the place you get can get breakfast within the mornings. There may be fairly a considerable buffet unfold arrange each within the indoor space and out of doors space. There are stations for rice, noodle soup, western meals, Thai meals, salad stuff, yoghurts, breads, cereals, eggs, fruits and even a bagel bar. It actually is sort of a variety!
Within the afternoons and evenings, you may get each Thai meals and Western meals right here. The restaurant is open till 11pm so it’s not a foul choice for supper as nicely – I favored their Thai-style crab truffles and moo ping pork skewers. We additionally tried their premium Thai BBQ set for dinner on our first night the place a grill is about up on the desk and you may cook dinner your individual meat and seafood proper there. Since we had been in Thailand I used to be half anticipating a Mookata grill, however that is simply an peculiar desk high grill with a soup pot within the center. Fairly filling dinner although I hoped for extra Thai seasoning total.
On weekends you may choose your alternative of reside seafood as they’ve fishermen carry their wares on to the resort within the late afternoon for visitors.
Seashore Society
Nearer to the seashore is SO Sofitel’s different restaurant often called Seashore Society the place you may dine on the sand if you wish to. There may be additionally a bar space right here for drinks. The atmosphere right here is a bit more chill and the menu options western-style delicacies like steak, pizza and pasta.
We ate lunch right here throughout their weekend brunch time the place the meals was arrange buffet fashion with an extra roast beef and raclette cheese station. There may be additionally a good quantity of seafood which is the spotlight of Cha am.
For dinner we tried out among the cocktails and surf and turf dishes. Cocktails may in all probability do with a heavier pour and once more I actually loved the seafood – the salt-crusted fish was very plump and contemporary. The Surf and Turf was a fairly substantial dish for sharing with lobster, prawns and steak – we had been so stuffed after that although there was nonetheless room for dessert – like the lovable coconut creme brulee served in an precise coconut.
Issues to do round SO Sofitel Hua Hin
You may simply spend your whole vacation simply chilling within the resort, however Cha am does have some fascinating sights to see, and SO Sofitel Hua Hin has an Explorer program that will help you simply discover among the sights round Cha am and/or Hua Hin even should you don’t have your individual automobile.
Sundown cocktails at Nayang Bat cave
Simply 10 minutes away from SO Sofitel Hua Hin is a spot often called Nayang Bat Cave. Amidst the village is a non-public home which arrange a viewing platform that you may go to to see a pure nightly phenomenon the place over 2 million tiny fruit bats had been emerge from the cave searching for dinner.
You will have your individual transport there, so the resort does organise an explorer tour to see this which comes with 2-way shuttle switch in addition to snacks and drinks to devour whilst you watch for the solar to go down and the bats to emerge. Discover out extra.
That is a kind of issues that’s rather a lot much less thrilling in footage however a complete lot of wow once you see it in individual. Whereas it’s not a batman scenario the place the bats all emerge without delay and blanket the sky, watching them stream out of their cave like smoke looks like watching NatGeo in actual life. Hawks circle the bats as nicely and dive in to catch them, making the stream weave together with the wind. The bats finally disperse and can even flit by you as they go searching for fruit bushes.
Morning hike at Khao Nang Phanthurat Forest Park
Khao Nang Phanthurat is a forest park discovered on the slopes of two mountains Khao Chaolai and Khao Chomprasart which apparently seems like a giantess mendacity on her aspect from afar and maybe how this park received its identify. Nang Phanthurat is from a Thai folktale referred to as Sang Thong, a giantess who may disguise as a human and adopted a human son who she hid her giantness from. Lots of the viewpoints and sights round listed here are named after Nang Phanthurat.
The park itself is a stunning place to hike, fairly nicely maintained total particularly on the decrease ranges, although it’s best to put on good sneakers once you climb increased because the paved trails turn out to be sharp rocks the upper you go. Climbing sticks are additionally a good suggestion should you can to navigate the uneven terrain. The foliage adjustments as you climb increased, and the viewpoints of the encircling countryside are fairly good, all in all it’s a pleasant and vigorous to spend a morning.
SO Sofitel Hua Hin gives a shuttle service to Khao Nang Phanthurat the place you may discover by yourself, but in addition can organise a morning group or non-public tour with a information that comes with water and mountain climbing sticks, an ice chilly contemporary coconut drink and towel after the hike and even spa reductions so you may rub these aching muscle tissues down after. Study extra in regards to the Khao Nang Phanthurat Explorer Tour.
common Shuttles to hua Hin/Cha am
SO Sofitel Hua Hin has common shuttles all the way down to downtown Hua Hin (30-40 minutes away) and Cha am Seashore (10 minutes away) so you may discover the world for 50-90 THB every approach. You may e-book this shuttle by way of the Concierge app or on the entrance desk. That is additionally helpful within the evenings should you plan to go to the evening markets – Hua Hin has a day by day evening market whereas Cha am has one each Wednesday evening. Study extra about their shuttle companies.
Try my information to Hua Hin to see what else you may discover within the space and keep tuned for my Cha am information.
Biking across the resort
One fascinating factor I famous as we became the resort was the presence of biking tracks alongside the primary street that regarded even newer than the precise street. Seems that there are plans to spice up tourism to this space and biking tracks are part of that bigger plan.
You may lease bicycles at SO Sofitel Hua Hin to cycle round Cha Am, and the resort has even deliberate out a biking route that takes you north of the resort – nonetheless the top level of the route is about 17km away and takes roughly 2 hours to cycle in accordance with the bike rental desk. Additionally, a lot of the sights to see are solely after that first 10km so chances are you’ll need to examine whether or not it’s attainable to rearrange for a automobile/van to get you previous that first bit so it’s much less arduous.
I wakened vivid and early to see how far I may push – I made it so far as what’s marked because the ‘Shrimp Pond’ on the map which is about 3km from the resort. Determined to show off the street and discover this mysterious wanting lake of types and located it rather a lot smaller than marked out (may have dried up slightly? My map markers had me in the course of the lake lol). These roads had been additionally sandy and unpaved in order that wore me out, and it was beginning to get actually sizzling (no cloud cowl in any respect!)
SO Sofitel does have it personal biking paths inside the compound should you aren’t so formidable and simply need to get some train, or you might have little ones having a go on the mini vehicles/bikes that additionally they lease out. There’s a good backyard simply reverse the doorway that you may cycle in as ewll.
Total ideas
SO Sofitel Hua Hin is a very pretty resort if you need a restful trip someplace quieter and don’t thoughts that it takes a little bit of effort to get right here. It’s a property that you may simply spend all of your time in should you had been feeling lazy – good fashionable design and the resort grounds are expansive sufficient that it by no means felt too crowded even on the weekends.
I stayed on the resort for 3 nights with a gaggle of lady pals and we had lots of enjoyable. It’s not someplace I’d keep by myself as an indie traveller nevertheless it’s undoubtedly appropriate for {couples}, pal teams and households. The vibe and amenities are all fairly household pleasant with sufficient actions to entertain each children and adults across the resort.
Cha am city will not be on the resort’s doorstep should you’re somebody who likes to stroll round by yourself, however the day by day shuttle companies to close by Cha am and the extra full of life Hua Hin give some exploration choices, or you may at all times prepare for an tour or a driver to carry you round.
My keep was sponsored by SO Sofitel Hua Hin however the views expressed listed here are all my very own. You may try their official web site or head over to reserving.com [affiliate link] for extra data.
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