what's all the fuss about hua hin

[stickylies]

To cater for the 60 and 70 year olds dressed as hells angels, which, quite frankly, looks pathetic.

geriatric angels. hilarious clowns indeed but harmless.

[wileycoyote]

Hua Hin is nice to visit

[loxley99]

I tend to think that what it has least of is what makes it a very pleasant town in which to retire ...ie the girlie bars. Happy to leave these to Pattaya and Phuket as these like 'fly paper' attracts the undisirables - we have enough to keep the few happy who cannot live without the sleeze but not enough to attract the masses and the crime that follows...long may it last !!

[leggo]

Personally I find HH refreshing after Pattaya but that's about it -not exactly a recommendation then ! Without doubt some of the most expensive real estate to rent or buy outside Bangkok, the sea is not worth swimming in unless ypu like jellies and pooh, the beaches are filthy and the restaurants totally overpriced. Market Village is all that is good about the place and that is hardly a reason for moving there. I am a bit prejudiced as I first came to Thailand 30 years ago arriving at Karon beach in Phuket where there were only beach huts - now the place is totally f.......d. I then went to Jomtien beach, there were two hotels Sugar Hut and Cocacabana, both beautiful, teak and wood cabins on the beach. You could'nt pay me a million dollars a year to live there now! My prediction is that one of these days tourism is going for a burton in Thailand and that'll be the end of it. The same greed happened in southern Spain and it's now a concrete ghetto full of Russian mafia and English pubs -same thing is happening here . Is that why people come to Thailand - God help us!!!

[hanno]

I like HH for a weekend getaway. But then I stay in a nice resort that I only leave for the nightmarket.

I have been considering going to live in the Philippines or Vietnam, or even Cambodia, and as soon as I make my mind up, I am off, never to return.

I have lived in Vietnam (15 years) and Cambodia (5 years) and I would love to find a job in Thailand. Grass, the other side, and all that.

Somebody mentioned Vientiane??? I like Laos but live there? No way. Everything moves at a snails place and I cannot deal with the communist bureaucracy.

[khunPer]

I was told similar recommendations about Hua Hin, when I looked for the right place (for me) to settle in Thailand. After visiting the place – and as I do not play golf – I decided that Hua Hin was not for me; some of the same considerations that’s mentioned by OP.

[Tazwa]

I guess it really comes down to personal tastes and also time frames. I once spent a week in Hua Hin at age 35 and found it was great for playing golf and lazing by the pool during the day. There were plenty of nice restaurants and there were also enough establishments for a reasonably fun night out. At the same time, I remember thinking how the main road through town seemed to be overshadowed by concrete and there was no real beauty to the place. I couldn't say the beach was particularly outstanding; it was difficult to access (especially if you go there by car, but from a nearby hotel or by scooter it would be ok), there was very little beach at high tide and many of the restaurants are built over sections of the sand. It was January and I recall looking out from my balcony and commenting on how bad the pollution looked over the town. I'm not sure that I would want to live there for longer periods but I can see some reasons why others would.

Forward seven years and my wife and I have a house a little south of Hua Hin. I like that the beaches are quiet, there is plenty of greenery and some nice restaurants. Hua Hin is within easy reach if we need the additional services that a bigger town offers.

Does it get boring? Well I guess you make your own fun. If you don't have any hobbies then I suppose just about anywhere could be boring. If your idea of not being bored is going to fun parks, shopping malls and girlie bars every day then Hua Hin probably won't top any excitement lists (but it does have these). Then again, you'd be going through some serious cash if you were doing these things every day- fine for a holiday but I don't know about for living long term.

[Crazy chef 1]

There are large communities of several nations there.

So for the retired it is attractive, because they can have their coffee break with their own countrymen and enjoy life.

For the non retired it is one of the many options for beach holidays if you also want huge choice regarding food and entertainment.

I have always found it an OK place to stay for a few days until recently when I found that it had lost its charm was overbuilt and gridlocked. How about Cha Am as a place to retire to/bring up a family?

for me it is the place where i wanna stay for the rest of my life

[Hugh Jarse]

To cater for the 60 and 70 year olds dressed as hells angels, which, quite frankly, looks pathetic.

geriatric angels. hilarious clowns indeed but harmless.

Dont you mean Saga louts!

[hhfarang]

I've been here 10 years, and let's face it, Thailand is boring after that much time unless you're here for the sex with a much younger girl. It's all hot wet tropical jungle and beaches and once you've seen one of each of those, you've pretty much seen them all. I've been married (to a Thai) for 18 years and wish I never moved to Thailand but I retired, burned my bridges, and moved here lock, stock, and barrel dissolving all business or assets in the U.S. It's too late now to go back as I'm in my mid 60's and can't afford to live in the U.S. any longer, but if I have to live in Thailand, Hua Hin is no worse than, or better than, much of the rest of the country... Thailand is boring, period (after a few years). I wouldn't just lay it all on Hua Hin.

[leggo]

I've been here 10 years, and let's face it, Thailand is boring after that much time unless you're here for the sex with a much younger girl. It's all hot wet tropical jungle and beaches and once you've seen one of each of those, you've pretty much seen them all. I've been married (to a Thai) for 18 years and wish I never moved to Thailand but I retired, burned my bridges, and moved here lock, stock, and barrel dissolving all business or assets in the U.S. It's too late now to go back as I'm in my mid 60's and can't afford to live in the U.S. any longer, but if I have to live in Thailand, Hua Hin is no worse than, or better than, much of the rest of the country... Thailand is boring, period (after a few years). I wouldn't just lay it all on Hua Hin.

I think your comments are very valid - but as you've burnt your bridges as you say -you don't have any other choice.Personally I'm just a fraction older than you and I'm free to go where I like so I have multiple choices - also being European there are endless possibilities -all of Europe and several overseas departments and my English wife teaches English so we can go just about anywhere in the world. To be honest if I had to live in Hua Hin for the rest of my life I would die of boredom !

[xylophone]

Visited Hua Hin a few years ago with friends and we thought it was quite a lovely place, and as I am not a beach person, it wasn't something that particularly appealed to me, however exploring the place was interesting and the restaurants were good. Didn't really look for the nightlife but was told that some existed?

The one thing that keeps coming through on the posts is that the place is "boring", however that surely is a mindset thing, because there is a lot to do in and around Hua Hin, not to mention taking some lovely long drives and exploring the countryside.

As one poster has said, "you can get bored anywhere", and that is true, imagine being back in the UK, where you finished work, had your meal and popped down to the local pub for a few pints, or stayed in watching the television every night........... and that was it. As we have gotten older the "boredom factor" can get bigger, and at my age, in my home country I would be watching television most nights, wandering aimlessly around shopping malls during the daytime looking for something to do, because most of my friends would still be working (I am retired).

I didn't move to Hua Hin, but to Patong, which unfortunately has become the "Sh-t-hole" that most people have quite aptly described because of the farce that has become two-year roadworks, not to mention the influx of bogans and cheap tourists, and the crime and corruption.

Having said that, it is still better than wandering aimlessly around in my home country, because here at least there is excitement and nightlife if I want it; some good restaurants; good friends and the chance to fly out of Phuket to a number of other Asian destinations very cheaply indeed to do some exploring.

Just remember, anywhere can be boring unless you decide to do something about it, as boredom is more often than not a state of mind.

[thelongshoot]

Visited Hua Hin a few years ago with friends and we thought it was quite a lovely place, and as I am not a beach person, it wasn't something that particularly appealed to me, however exploring the place was interesting and the restaurants were good. Didn't really look for the nightlife but was told that some existed?

The one thing that keeps coming through on the posts is that the place is "boring", however that surely is a mindset thing, because there is a lot to do in and around Hua Hin, not to mention taking some lovely long drives and exploring the countryside.

As one poster has said, "you can get bored anywhere", and that is true, imagine being back in the UK, where you finished work, had your meal and popped down to the local pub for a few pints, or stayed in watching the television every night........... and that was it. As we have gotten older the "boredom factor" can get bigger, and at my age, in my home country I would be watching television most nights, wandering aimlessly around shopping malls during the daytime looking for something to do, because most of my friends would still be working (I am retired).

I didn't move to Hua Hin, but to Patong, which unfortunately has become the "Sh-t-hole" that most people have quite aptly described because of the farce that has become two-year roadworks, not to mention the influx of bogans and cheap tourists, and the crime and corruption.

Having said that, it is still better than wandering aimlessly around in my home country, because here at least there is excitement and nightlife if I want it; some good restaurants; good friends and the chance to fly out of Phuket to a number of other Asian destinations very cheaply indeed to do some exploring.

Just remember, anywhere can be boring unless you decide to do something about it, as boredom is more often than not a state of mind.

Very well said

[john fogerty]

Have been living in Hua Hin for 3 years now. The more farangs that piss off back home, the happier I will be.

[Crazy chef 1]

Have been living in Hua Hin for 3 years now. The more farangs that piss off back home, the happier I will be.

nice to see that we farangs are a real community and support each other like Thais when abroad.

[Wanderlust]

While I understand hhfarang's position and agree with most of what he says, I think xylophone hits the nail on the head as regards how people perceive their situation and the location they live in. The people who are saying Hua Hin is boring do not really define what makes another place more interesting from their perspective. I'm sure none of them would say that Bangkok is boring, but I don't want to live there because of a number of other reasons - poor air quality and congestion are the main ones, and I got very fed up with both when I did live there. But what makes Bangkok, or Pattaya, or Phuket, or Samui more interesting? If it is the larger number of bars, nightclubs or other nightlife that you will find there then, yes, I agree that they do have more of them than Hua Hin does, and probably a wider range to cater for more tastes, but that is changing as Hua Hin continues to grow; however I don't regard nightlife as what defines anywhere as a great place to live. If the definition of what makes somewhere interesting is the amount of local attractions or events, I think Hua Hin stacks up pretty well in comparison to other beach resorts - for nature lovers there are plenty of places to go in and around the city (Pala U waterfall, Sam Roi Yod, Hutsadin Elephant Foundation, Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand etc), for family fun there will soon be two water parks, plus the Santorini amusement park, the Venezia (which includes a number of attractions for kids - petting zoo, outdoor playground, indoor amusements, rides on a miniature train, gondolas and pony and trap), Market Village (which despite its faults families enjoy) and sometime in the next 18 - 24 months an enormous new mall called Bluport which might finally mean Hua Hin gets a multiplex cinema that regularly shows original soundtrack movies, and there is a host of festivals that occur throughout the year (Jazz, Car Rally,several food festivals, Bike Week etc). As far as sports goes I also believe Hua Hin is fairly well provided for - obviously golf, but also a number of small artificial football pitches, tennis courts (plus an annual exhibition match featuring the top female professional players), and fewer but still available other facilities squash, badminton and table tennis. There are also now many gyms, martial arts and boxing facilities, plus for less active sports people a plethora of places to play snooker, pool and darts , with a number of active leagues that have Thai and farang players at a pretty good standard.

I would agree that the area of beach in the immediate centre of Hua Hin is unpleasant but it doesn't take long to walk (or drive) south along the beach to find clean sand; the sea is what it is partly because of natural causes (what can you do about jellyfish?) but also the habits and attitudes of the Thai fishermen who work not far off shore, and I also believe the inadequate infrastructure in place to deal with what goes into and comes out of the drains. I don't think there are many places in Thailand where this isn't an issue, and the ones where it isn't will have other problems that outweigh this, such as crime. Given the easy access to better beaches and sea not far south of Hua Hin I don't see it as a major issue although it would be great if an official effort was made to improve things, although there is a private group who have been trying to take this on with a monthly clean up (https://www.facebook.com/iLikeHuaHin).

I have only responded to some of the issues here, but there is a lot more to the Hua Hin area than a lot of posters realise, and I do believe there is a genuine effort by the authorities to tackle some of the infrastructure issues, but of course these are hampered by the usual problems of the, ahem, 'bidding process' for public works.

I should end by making sure readers are aware that I do have a vested interest in Hua Hin - I have lived here for ten years, and for five of those have been producing the weekly newspaper AWOL. In that time I have seen and heard a lot, both good and bad, so I don't have a rose tinted view of the town, but I also believe that the problems here are relatively minor compared to other places in Thailand one might choose to live, and the benefits far outweigh them as it stands.

[hhfarang]

Wanderlust, I agree with you about Hua Hin. The last line I wrote was:

Thailand is boring, period (after a few years). I wouldn't just lay it all on Hua Hin.

What I was saying was, if you have to live in Thailand, it may as well be Hua Hin as most other places in S.E. Asia are even worse.

My problem (after ten years of living here also) is that I am bored with Thailand ,compared to anywhere outside S.E. Asia, like the U.S., Europe, Australia/New Zealand, or even Canada. Just about all the attractions you mentioned in Hua Hin are second or third rate or plastic imitations of real attractions elsewhere or in another era. Even the national parks (I've been to around 20 of them all over Thailand are boring as once you've seen one tropical park, you've pretty much seem them all. The problem is the location and size of the country itself. There is not enough variety of climate, terrain, or nature to be interesting beyond a few years imho. I do not participate at all in the nightlife and I believe that mostly those who do are the ones happy living in Thailand. I can tell you that if I could afford to go back to my home country I would go and would be happy to leave this "tropical paradise", and my Thai wife feels the same way...

Edited November 28, 2013 by hhfarang

[Aforek]

Just remember, anywhere can be boring unless you decide to do something about it, as boredom is more often than not a state of mind.

very good : boredom is in your head; I will never be tired of Thailand ; if you are interested in nothing, your head is empty , if you are curious ( for me, I love thai language, thai culture and other things .. ), you are never bored ; solution is inside , not outside your mind

as for me, I think Hua hin is not a bad place to live

[iSabai]

Too many folks come to Thailand unprepared for the reality of what it is. It's a 'developing country', often without adequate infrastructure, adequate planning for such, and more willing to cash in for the short term gain rather than plan for a more stable future. Possibly a combination of human nature and poor leadership (yes, i.e. corruption). Trying to fully understand and explain the reasons is certainly outside my area of expertise.

Why so many have come here so unprepared for this reality is anyone's guess. Maybe some thinking life here is a everyday lifelong holiday experience? Maybe some with a holiday fling with a fine lass that they thought they couldn't live without? You are the only one that can answer that question - if you're honest enough to answer yourself honestly!

For those (of us) that aren't bored here, maybe we're just better able to accept the reality that is Thailand for what it is. Sure there's plenty of things that would frustrate anyone here. But to be frustrated to the point of being miserable, says more about that person than it does about the country. If I ever get to that point, I'll simply pack up and go elsewhere. Mai pen rai.

[johnnyk]

Sometimes people leave their home country expecting to find a more interesting and stimulating life. Then they discover they are still the same person and their dissatisfaction is within themselves.

[maccaroni man]

Golf

[hhfarang]

Thailand is fun for a holiday trip and I enjoyed visiting it for twenty five years and living here full time for the first three or four years, but after that there is not much more to do or see. That's all I'm saying. As a long term place to live it gets repetitive and boring to some who are used to living in a much more diverse physical environment, climate, and culture.

Over the last few years, most of my better friends that I have met here have come to the same conclusion and have moved away to another country (Singapore) or back to their home country. This includes 3 Americans, 2 people from the UK, 2 Scandinavians, and 2 Canadians, so it's not just me who's bored after living here many years. I'm looking to possibly go back too but I'm waiting until the current health care mess (new law) is settled in my country so I can accurately calculate our cost of living.

Lots of people love it here for different reasons. They love the hot climate as they were escaping a cold or grey rainy environment, or they like the availability of younger Thai women that wouldn't be possible in their home country, but if you are a retired couple you can quickly cover all the bases this country has to offer and become bored with it. It happens all the time.

You guys act as if I'm trashing the place. I'm not. I've always loved the people and the culture but it's tough to stay entertained for many years here if you are not employed and are not a barstool sitter.

And yes, Maccaroni Man, I have a Swedish friend who plays golf six days a week and he reckons he has spent around 80k per month (playing, practicing, equipment, lessons, transport, food and drink at the courses, caddy fees and tips, green fees at non member courses, etc.) on that sport over the past couple of years as it is not cheap here. He can afford that, I can't. I used to play but it's becoming more difficult as I get older in this heat and too expensive to do more than a couple of times per month.

Edited December 1, 2013 by hhfarang

[colinp]

Over the last few years, most of my better friends that I have met here have come to the same conclusion and have moved away to another country (Singapore) or back to their home country. This includes 3 Americans, 2 people from the UK, 2 Scandinavians, and 2 Canadians, so it's not just me who's bored after living here many years.

Misery loves company

[hhfarang]

Misery loves company

Yeah, and rose colored glasses are very cheap in this country...

[iSabai]

Sometimes people leave their home country expecting to find a more interesting and stimulating life. Then they discover they are still the same person and their dissatisfaction is within themselves.

Pretty well sums it up. The old saying, "No matter where you go, you take yourself with you."

[Pescator]

Hua Hin is also not too far from Bangkok. This is also a little bit the problem at the weekends, when the Bangkok middle and upper class arrives for vacation. But this - together with the presence of the Royal Couple - has also a good influence on the city.

Yes, the presence of the Royal Couple has kept the beer bars at bay..

[Pescator]

And please, do not forget about the sandflies on the "Beach".

[Pescator]

Sometimes people leave their home country expecting to find a more interesting and stimulating life. Then they discover they are still the same person and their dissatisfaction is within themselves.

You are a true philosopher!

Well, said.

[thelongshoot]

Sometimes people leave their home country expecting to find a more interesting and stimulating life. Then they discover they are still the same person and their dissatisfaction is within themselves.

I think your missing the point a little. At least with regards to some peoples replies here. I didnt leave my home country to escape anything or anyone. I was simply looking to travel, at aged 30, before too late.

I liked it here, and settled. I didnt 'plan' anything and I never put a shelf life on how long I figured I would stay here. I just went with the flow.

More to the point, I didnt wake up after 6 months of 'escapism' and realize with shock and horror that I was the same guy. I had a fantastic time in Thailand for a good 5 or 6 years and i must point out, before anyone jumps all over this, that the first 5 or 6 years was not getting steaming drunk and banging girls every night. It was varied. I had a couple of years on a tropical island partying like crazy, and loved it. I grew out of that, and had a couple of years in a small Thai town (the only ferang there) close to Kanchanaburi and loved every aspect of the 'real Thailand', completley slowed down and started to appreciate Thai culture more. Loved it. Then I had a couple of years in Kanchanaburi, and loved that also.

I think it was my 6th or 7th year that I started to get bored and it was around that time that I moved to Hua Hin. I sort of liked it, but never loved it here. Im not sure why Im still here but I cant think of anywhere else to go. I dont really hate it of course (who in there right mind would ever HATE living in a small town, on a beach, in a tropical country?) but I am bored. I have no idea why i started to feel like this, but I there you have it.

I can only say that it has bugger all to do with me 'being the same me' or anything quite as deep as that. Im just bored of the place.

HH ferang hits the nail on the head I think. Its normal now. After a while, all of those things that you first appreciate like crazy just become the norm so after that, then what?

Dare i say that those people accusing 'we bored ones' of tryign to escape ourselves are missing the point entirley - maybe you guys who have lived here a long time and never, ever, feel even reotley bored are easily ammused?

[TCA]

Sometimes people leave their home country expecting to find a more interesting and stimulating life. Then they discover they are still the same person and their dissatisfaction is within themselves.

I think the first part is true. New language, people, food, culture, etc....Some people maybe don't like it right away or can't or won't adapt, but there seem to be plenty who after several years in Thailand, now find they prefer life back in their own country. I am one.

I don't think it's anything to do with dissatisfaction within themselves/ourselves. For me, a lot of the things I liked about Thailand in the start, were the things I didn't like so much in the end.

I used to enjoy the constant heat, now I like cooler weather and four seasons. I find I can now do a lot more (and can set foot outside at night without insect repellent on!). I used to be amused by the fact that laws were continually ignored (involving anything from driving offences to noise pollution to corruption), but in the end I found (and experienced) more danger than amusement and certain aspects just became simply annoying.

So after nearly 6 years I'd had enough and left. I had my time, enjoyed it but it's not where I want to end my days. I'm happier now surrounded by my full complement of friends and family and enjoy being back in a country where the rule of law is respected (a bit), politicians are less corrupt (just a little) and where I don't feel like a second class citizen, have a constant visa battle to remain, and feel that every other person wants to rip me off.

It's different strokes for different folks but as someone nowhere near retirement age, it wasn't a long term solution for me. Didn't think that when I arrived but you see how it goes and react as you see fit.

I'll be back. Just for a holiday! But that's after I've seen a bit more on what's on my own doorstep and around Europe. Weather permitting of course......