How's life in Hua Hin?

[Chuckles78]

Are you a westener living in Hua Hin with children? How is it going? The good/the bad? How is the contact with other westeners with families? The children loving it?

I'm looking to relocate in Thailand possible Hua Hin with my wife and 15month son. We are looking at renting a place for 6 months before deciding about buying.

[ebean001]

I had the same decision to make. Where? I chose Chiang Mai. Why?

No traffic - you can actually get around on your own motorcycle, great nightlife (we own the LOLLIPOP Bar in Loi Kroh Entertainment area), good private schools, housing much cheaper (but the rest is not necessarily cheaper - but for sure housing is significantly cheaper), great golf, very nice gated communities, cooler weather (I think it is really cooler all of the time compared to the rest of Thailand), many more cultural sites (great zoo, night safari, tiger kingdom, elephant rides/park), mountains, strawberry farms (many), nice get away resorts, monkeys kingdom, etc.

If you have a family I cannot believe there is a better place. If you come to Chiang Mai to check it out stop at the Lollipop (in the same building as Thai boxing) and ask for Ed. I will give you the low down on Chiang Mai from a single mans point of view and from a family view. I have a family but was single.

[hhfarang]

^ What about the 3 month burn from February to May? We love Chaing Mai and were considering living there but I have asthma and the air quality, at least during the spring is deadly, so we chose Hua Hin which has some of the cleanest air in Thailand. At that time there were no quality schools in Hua Hin so we left our 15 year old daughter to live with another (Thai/foreigner) family in our home country during the school term until she finished high school. I don't know about that now but many new schools have opened in the last few years so maybe it's better. I still don't think there is a certified international school though.

[pchansmorn]

The Hua Hin Hill winery is a nice place to visit, the wine sucks but it is a beautiful place to go for lunch, but the drive out there has a very rough road, lot's of pot holes, so be careful, I stay out of the tourist area, and live in a Thai condo when am there, with a salt water/ & fresh water pool right on the beach it's very nice and peaceful. Love listening to the ocean at night. Great place to get away from Bangkok.

[USNret]

Not clear to me... Is your wife Thai? Do you & she live or have lived in Thailand? If the answer is no & no, then no amount of advice here would be enough for you to make a decision. Certainly coming to rent is the best idea.

If either answer is yes, then the reply is "Same same but different" to whatever else you have experienced in Thailand.

[csabo]

6 months is a long commitment if your unhappy. When first came here I went from Krabi to Hua Hin to BKK to Chiang Mai for 5 days each. That's all I needed to do to decide I wanted to be in the south, which is where I am and I couldn't be happier. To specifically answer your question about HH, I didnt like it. I'm a beach person and there is no way those mud flats were gonna do. And not having a fully functioning airport is not a plus.

Edited September 8, 2014 by csabo

[NoshowJones]

I had the same decision to make. Where? I chose Chiang Mai. Why?

No traffic - you can actually get around on your own motorcycle, great nightlife (we own the LOLLIPOP Bar in Loi Kroh Entertainment area), good private schools, housing much cheaper (but the rest is not necessarily cheaper - but for sure housing is significantly cheaper), great golf, very nice gated communities, cooler weather (I think it is really cooler all of the time compared to the rest of Thailand), many more cultural sites (great zoo, night safari, tiger kingdom, elephant rides/park), mountains, strawberry farms (many), nice get away resorts, monkeys kingdom, etc.

If you have a family I cannot believe there is a better place. If you come to Chiang Mai to check it out stop at the Lollipop (in the same building as Thai boxing) and ask for Ed. I will give you the low down on Chiang Mai from a single mans point of view and from a family view. I have a family but was single.

That's all very good, I do believe that Chang Mai would be a great place to live, but what may prevent me from ever living in CM is the air for a few months each year, that can't be healthy.

[sawadee1947]

The Hua Hin Hill winery is a nice place to visit, the wine sucks but it is a beautiful place to go for lunch, but the drive out there has a very rough road, lot's of pot holes, so be careful, I stay out of the tourist area, and live in a Thai condo when am there, with a salt water/ & fresh water pool right on the beach it's very nice and peaceful. Love listening to the ocean at night. Great place to get away from Bangkok.

where is it? Sounds good. Would like to see it. Can I have the adress?

[a10ams]

The Hua Hin Hill winery is a nice place to visit, the wine sucks but it is a beautiful place to go for lunch, but the drive out there has a very rough road, lot's of pot holes, so be careful, I stay out of the tourist area, and live in a Thai condo when am there, with a salt water/ & fresh water pool right on the beach it's very nice and peaceful. Love listening to the ocean at night. Great place to get away from Bangkok.

where is it? Sounds good. Would like to see it. Can I have the adress?

Head out the Pala U road up to the bypass. Go straight on as if you were going to Pala U waterfall. The turnoff is long before there though. I thinks it's the second town you pass through, at the end of the town it is signposted left, turn off there and follow the signs.

Don't go on the weekends as it gets busy.

[pinkpanther99]

To answer the OP's question:

yes, I'm a westerner living in Hua Hin - early 30s, married to a Thai wife of the same age and we have a 2 year old daughter.

We moved here in Jan 2014 and are absolutely loving it. Very nice place to live, good restuarants and still very affordable in my opinion. We rent a a very nice 3 bed place for 10k per month! I know that these rental deals are few and far between but for 15-20k per month you can rent a very nice place.

We don't really go out drinking so much so not exactly sure what the bar scene is like but as I said, for restaurants, cafes etc, there is lots of choice and the prices are still pretty good.

Hua Hin is also close enough to BKK if you ever have to go there for one reason or another and there are also many nice spots worth exploring south of Hua Hin and into Prachuap Khiri Khan.

There are a good number of foreign food shops when you fancy a taste of something back home and the large Market Village shopping centre has a good selection of stuff.

Maybe it's because we're still pretty new to the area but I like HH. We're currently looking at kindergartens for our daughter and there a few bi-lingual options available to you when the time comes.

As for the downside, the traffic through town can be lousy at the weekend. And the water situation is a bit of a nightmare. Where we live, sometimes the isn't enough water to fill up our tank, and the only way we can get more water is if we pay the water company an extra 300 Baht for a refill - I'm convinced it's the biggest scam going!

[Strangebrew]

Hua Hin is nice quite place the King spends much of his time there they have a good night market great food train station airport close by short hop to Bangkok And ok cinema Hope you understand Thai all movies in Thai only. Immigration just outside main town no lines Can walk from main road to beach got a Mickey D's

[ggt]

Do you enjoy playing chess...are you the kind of guy that does knitting while sitting on the beach...Hua Hin is the place for you...nothing interesting ever happens there...IMHO

[Poppy Dave]

I had the same decision to make. Where? I chose Chiang Mai. Why?

No traffic - you can actually get around on your own motorcycle, great nightlife (we own the LOLLIPOP Bar in Loi Kroh Entertainment area), good private schools, housing much cheaper (but the rest is not necessarily cheaper - but for sure housing is significantly cheaper), great golf, very nice gated communities, cooler weather (I think it is really cooler all of the time compared to the rest of Thailand), many more cultural sites (great zoo, night safari, tiger kingdom, elephant rides/park), mountains, strawberry farms (many), nice get away resorts, monkeys kingdom, etc.

If you have a family I cannot believe there is a better place. If you come to Chiang Mai to check it out stop at the Lollipop (in the same building as Thai boxing) and ask for Ed. I will give you the low down on Chiang Mai from a single mans point of view and from a family view. I have a family but was single.

From your comments Chiang Mai sounds good but I keep hearing about flooding, land-slides and earthquakes in that area. Is it only certain parts or is the whole area affected?

[RickvanHeijningen]

http://trybeforeyouown.webs.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1411744682370576/ About Real Estate,

Hua-Hin info guide.

http://theitravelchannel.tv/episode-5-hua-hin/

Hin Lek Fai

For spectacular views over Hua Hin head up to Hin Lek Fai, just 3km west of town. The best time to visit is late evening when the sun is going down. You can take a car or bike to the top or walk it if you’re feeling fit. The point has four or five separate look outs and is a popular spot with the locals. The big condos (Condo Chain, Springfield, VIP) also offer a good vantage point for views, just take the elevator to the highest floor!

Pala-U

This waterfall is about 60km west of Hua Hin, towards the mountain ridge that forms a natural border with Burma. The 11 tier waterfall is spectacular, especially in the rainy season. It is set in unspoilt rainforest that's teeming with birds, butterflies and all kinds of other wildlife. The third level offers a refreshing swimming hole after the short jungle trek. Admission is 200 baht for foreigners. You can get there by motorcycle but it’s a long drive, alternatively you can hire a car.

Hua Hin tourist information

Our new Hua Hin tourist information and Hua Hin banks pages give you all the information you need. If you're getting hungry take a look at our Hua Hin restaurants page.

Hua Hin Golf Holidays

If you're coming to Hua Hin to play golf then check our Hua Hin golf holiday and Hua Hin golf tours pages for details and links to our affiliate golf partners.

Hua Hin Fishing

Take a cruise around the beautiful coastline of Hua Hin with a Hua Hin sea cruise with Mermaid Cruises or the Siam Pearl or try Hua Hin fishing at a freshwater lake.

Hua Hin Map

We now have an area map of Hua Hin online, together with the first interactive Google Earth map that details the town in satellite images as well. A Hua Hin travel section contains the train and bus timetables.

The first interactive Google Earth map for Hua Hin is now complete and online. Take a look at the Hua Hin Map to find the Hua Hin attractions listed opposite.

Hua Hin Attractions Guide

Hua Hin beach and Beaches Local to Hua Hin

There are 5 local beaches accessible from Hua Hin town center so you have plenty of choice of where to catch those rays and take a swim in the Gulf of Thailand.

Cha-am beach is around 28 kilometers north of Hua Hin. The beach road is lined on one side with local vendors selling everything from seashells to grilled squid and on the other a row of trees, the beach and ocean. It is very quiet and relaxing during the week and gets busy at weekends with locals from the city enjoying themselves on the beach. You can have a blast on a jet ski, take a ride on a banana boat or simply relax in the shade of a tree by the ocean. Cha-am has retained its traditional ambience and popularity with locals and visitors.

Descriptions of beaches a little further afield can be read here : Hua Hin Beach

Hua Hin beach stretches some 7 kilometers from the town center to Khao Takiab. It has developed considerably, especially over the past 5 years, but you can still find quiet spots away from the main hotels. Tides are high from November to February which tend to make the beach feel more claustrophobic in the high season, but at other times of the year, when the tide is out, you'll feel that you have it to yourself. Its name (Hua Hin – head stone) is derived from the rock formations that can be seen on the beach in front of the Sofitel Central Hotel. For those who are a little more adventurous, pony rides can be taken and for those simply wanting to relax there are plenty of deck chairs, sun loungers and beach umbrellas available for a small hourly charge.

Khao Takiab beach (chopstick hill) can be seen some 7 kilometers south of Hua Hin. The hill has a temple at the top and there are troops of monkeys that can be fed. For this reason it is also often referred to as ‘Monkey Mountain’. The beach at Khao Takiap is actually better behind the hill at Blue Wave where there are big expanses of beach and calm shallow waters ideal for children. Locals sometimes play football, volleyball and takraw on the wide flat sands of Khao Takiap beach. Green songtaews (twin benched pickup with a roof!) run frequently to Khao Takiab from town for 10 Baht, and a motorcycle taxi should cost no more than 150 Baht. More info can be found on the Khao Takiab Guide.

Suan Son is further south of town, approximately 15 kilometers. It is named after the numerous pine trees that fringe the beach. This is a popular spot for locals and you’ll be hard pushed to see other westerners. The beach is wide and uncluttered and the ocean clear and inviting.

Khao Tao has a beautiful, secluded little bay around 20 kilometers south of Hua Hin. Its deserted beach and delightful seaside restaurants make it a great venue for a day out of town where you can relax with good local food and a swim in the ocean. You can take the local bus to the signposted turn off Petchkasem Road, then get a motorcycle taxi or charter a tuk-tuk to take you all the way to the local beaches of Had Sai Yai and Had Sai Noi.

Khao Takiab

Take a green songtaew for 10 baht from town south to Khao Takiab (as mentioned above). The journey is around 7km and will take about 10 – 15 minutes. You’ll pass through the village before stopping at the end of the road at Chopstick hill (Khao Takiab). Walk past the restaurant to the beach and you’ll see the standing Buddha of Khao Takiab, positioned to ward off evil spirits from the sea. You can climb the stairs to the temple complex at the top after making a small donation to the monks. The top will reward you with some spectacular views back across Hua Hin and to Cha-am (on a clear day). There is currently a lot of development occuring on Khao Takiab so you’ll need to find your way through the works to the temples. The hill is also known for its monkeys, or ‘macaques’, that live there. You can feed them but don’t get too close and watch your belongings.

Animals

West of Hua Hin on the road to Pala-U is an elephant village where you can witness these pachyderms in their natural habitat and even go for a ride on one. A butterfly garden is located opposite Klaigungwon Palace, 3km north on town center.

A little known animal park can be found 10km north of Hua Hin. To get there, take Soi Huay Sai on the left about 1km after Palm Hills as you're traveling north. Continue on this soi for some 4km and the park is on your right. Entrance is free. You'll be able to see a number of deer, plenty of birds and monkeys, namely macaques, langurs and gibbons. Some are roaming free. There are decent spots to picnic, but bring your own supplies as there are no shops.

Temples

There are several temples in and around Hua Hin, the main being Wat Hua Hin in the center of town. This large complex is home to the many monks that can be seen collecting alms in the early morning. The temple at Bor Fai (Wat Bor Fai) has some impressive ponds teeming with catfish which you can feed after a small donation to the monks. It's located about 5km north of Hua Hin (turn left after the PTT station opposite Anantara Resort). There are also the previously mentioned temples at Khao Takiab and one or two out to the west of Hua Hin with some impressive Buddha statues.

Royal Palaces

The Kings Palace in Hua Hin – Klaigungwon is now only accessible by invitation. However the residence of Rama VI to the north of Hua Hin is open to the general public. Well worth a look as it boasts some impressive gardens and beach pagodas. It has now been fully restored to its former glory and is the longest golden teak palace in the world.

Hua Hin Railway Station

The Thai Royal Family used to visit Hua Hin regularly by train, so the railway station is steeped in history. It's well worth while taking a look around and seeing The Royal Waiting Room and a fine example of an old steam locomotive. The station is situated at the top (Western) end of Damnoern Kasem Road.

Markets

Hua Hin boasts no shortage of local markets, the most popular one being the night market in the center of town. This opens daily from around 6pm till late and offers all manner of hawker food, some clothing, and a few tourist items such as wooden elephants, trinkets etc. This market is a little touristy and therefore prices are a bit higher that other local markets.

Chat Chai day market is just along from the night market and is mostly undercover. Here you can buy fruit, vegetables, fish, and meat at local prices. It has recently been through a total refurbishment and is no longer as dim and dingy as before. A visit is worth the experience to watch the locals go through their daily shopping routines. Join in as well, you'll enjoy it.

The weekend market at the Grand Hotel runs from Thursday to Sunday and offers something different again. Here you can shop for clothes, books, plants, toys, pets and tropical fish. This is another evening market starting at around 5pm.

In my opinion the best all round and probably the largest market in Hua hin is at Pae Mai on Tuesdays (across the railway next to the driving range). This one gets very busy and is extremely popular with the locals. Here you can get anything; fresh produce, clothing, motorcycle accessories, electrical appliances, tools, household items and much more. Its definitely worth a visit.

Hua Hin Market Village is the town's first major shopping mall. Situated some 2km south of the center on Petchkasem Road, it offers ample parking facilities and a good range of fashion outlets, food courts and smaller local shops and stalls. The big names there include Tesco Lotus, Home Pro, Boots, KFC and Starbucks. There is a bowling alley and Major Cineplex on the top floor. Not many films have English soundtracks.

Arts and Crafts

The Cicada Market (Community of Identity Culture Art and Dynamic Activities) has recently opened on the corner of Soi Moo Ban Nong Kae and Khao Takieb Hua Hin Road in Khao Takieb. Opening times are 3pm-11pm Fridays/Saturdays and 10am-9pm on Sundays. This colourful new addition to the local cultural scene features soft music, an artists' market, good food and drink and plenty of shopping.

Another recent addition to Hua Hin's vibrant arts scene is The Vic Hua Hin Art Complex and Victoria Theatre. Made up of an air conditioned theatre that can seat 320, seperate sections for performing arts, workshops, visual arts exhibitions, film screenings and mini market, this centre is a must to visit for those who wish to expand their artistic experiences of Hua Hin. It is situated a couple of kilometers south of the Khao Takieb flyover on Petchkasem Road, on your right hand side.

Another important location is Plearn Wan Eco Vintage Village. Found north of town on the left hand side of Petchkasem Road, just after the traffic lights at Klaikangwon Palace, this wooden complex is housed on two floors and offers a glimpse back into Hua Hin's past. You can shop for clothes, food and souvenirs while at the weekend there is an open air cinema. Weekends can get very busy with thousands of visitors. There is wheelchair access via an elevator.

Festivals

Hua Hin also has several festivals throughout the year. The Hua Hin International Kite Festival is held every two years in March when the winds are always favourable. In 2010, it was held over the weekend of 13-14th March. After 10 years, the event has become international with competitors coming from all over Thailand, Canada, New Zealand, China, France, India and Singapore. It's a colourful day out for the whole family and other acivities include shopping and eating - there are plenty of food stalls. It takes place at The Rama VI Army Camp just north of Hua Hin.

The annual Hua Hin Jazz Festival is usually held on the first week of June. It has grown rapidly over the years and is now a major international event in Thailand. It can get very crowded, so try to get their early to secure a good vantage point on the beach.

During the months of August and September, Hua Hin and Cha-Am host The Hua Hin Golf Festival. Every day during the month, green fees are heavily discounted - except for any Sunday when official tournaments are being held. Entrance to these is usually 1,200 Baht and there are always some great prizes up for grabs. Participating courses vary from year-to-year, so be sure to check first.

The Hua Hin Regatta also takes place at the end of July/August. In 2011, it was held over three days. It's a colourful spectacle with over 300 competitors taking part in a variety of classes. Spectating is free from the beach. Should you be interested in taking part, further details can be obtained from: The Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, Navy Headquarters, Building No. 5, Royal Thai Navy, Bangkok 10600. Tel: 02 4720852.

The Hua Hin Vintage Car Rally generally takes place in December when the weather is fine. There have been eight events so far and a fine array of motor vehicles make the 225km journey from Bangkok to Hua Hin on the first day. On the second, they parade around Hua Hin following a route that takes in Hua Hin Railway Station to Klaikangwon Palace and back again. Lovers of old cars will find the rally a delight to visit. There is always a fine selection of cars in pristine condition, including E-Type Jaguars, Mercedes, Alfa Romeos, Fiats and many more. The vehicles can be inspected outside the side entrance to The Sofitel Central Hotel on Damnoern Kasem Road.

In addition, there is also an annual food festival in November where local hotels set up stands offering their finest cuisine. Try different foods from South East Asia or just relax by the Singha Tent and take in the entertainment. Every year around April time a huge market is setup along Neabkehardt road offering all kinds of hawker foods, very good value clothing and even a funfare for the kids.

Please read the Hua Hin Events Forum for more on events and festivals in Hua Hin.

Fishing Pier

Most of the fishing fleet has been relocated further south to Paknampran and Prachuabkirikhan, nevertheless a few boats still dock there and it's interesting to see their daily catch. You can also sample some of this fine seafood at the local restaurants in the area. The immediate vicinity is actually the old fishing village that Hua Hin once was. The maze of narrow lanes, containing many of the original wooden houses, is a must for photographers.

Restaurants

There are a few ‘must eats’ when in Hua Hin. Our recommended restaurants can be found on the Hua Hin restaurants page.

1) Issan food. There are several good Issan restaurants in Hua Hin. The best Laab can be had at a little place called "Saddam" near the 7-Eleven across the railway, opposite the right turn towards Pala-U.

2) Seafood. There are many seafood restaurants in town and we can’t list them all, one that stands out is Chao Ley seafood at the end of Dechanuchit Rd. There are also a couple of places where you can catch you own shrimps.

3) Farang/western food. Hua Hin continues to attract ever increasing numbers of visitors, so it's little surprise that there is a great selection of western food on offer. Most of the restaurants are situated in the center of town which can be easily navigated by foot. Many of Hua Hin's western run bars offer extremely good "pub grub" and breakfasts.

4) Korean BBQ. This meal involves a circular barbeque where you cook your own chicken, pork, beef and seafood, Korean style. In Thai its called Moo gatar or moo yang gowlee. There are several moo gatar places north of town on Petchkasem Rd.

5) Thai food. There are hundreds of restaurants serving traditional Thai tucker. It would be impossible to even try and list some of better ones, so the best way to find your favourite is simply to experiment.

Have a read of the Hua Hin Restaurants Forum for more info on places to eat in Hua Hin.

Public Sports

If you want to swim or use the gym there are good facilities at Palm Hills Country Club (7km north) at 200 Baht per person to enjoy the pool and Sport Villa (3km south). Pool use here is 50 baht per person. In addition, some of the major hotels will allow you to use their pool facilities for a small fee, especially in the low season. Hua Hin Grand Sport has a well equipped free-style gym and martial arts training and fighting. Check out Hua Hin Sport for full details on sports and activities in Hua Hin.

Further afield

Khao Sam Roi Yot, Cha-am, Paknampran, Petchaburi, Kaengkrachan, Prachaub, Dolphin Bay and Phu Noi, Ban Krut, Bang Sapan and Chumphon.

http://huahin.tourdeasia.org/ Mountain bike tours

http://www.golfhuahin.com/

http://www.huahinfishing.com/home

http://www.kiteboardingasia.com/locations/hua-hin-central/

http://www.blackmountainwaterpark.com/attraction.php

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/map.h

[roly]

I had the same decision to make. Where? I chose Chiang Mai. Why?

No traffic - you can actually get around on your own motorcycle, great nightlife (we own the LOLLIPOP Bar in Loi Kroh Entertainment area), good private schools, housing much cheaper (but the rest is not necessarily cheaper - but for sure housing is significantly cheaper), great golf, very nice gated communities, cooler weather (I think it is really cooler all of the time compared to the rest of Thailand), many more cultural sites (great zoo, night safari, tiger kingdom, elephant rides/park), mountains, strawberry farms (many), nice get away resorts, monkeys kingdom, etc.

If you have a family I cannot believe there is a better place. If you come to Chiang Mai to check it out stop at the Lollipop (in the same building as Thai boxing) and ask for Ed. I will give you the low down on Chiang Mai from a single mans point of view and from a family view. I have a family but was single.

That's all very good, I do believe that Chang Mai would be a great place to live, but what may prevent me from ever living in CM is the air for a few months each year, that can't be healthy.

Plus the fact that it's freezing as hell (compared to Hua Hin) in the winter months. Last time I was there I had to invest in woolies....

[roly]

http://trybeforeyouown.webs.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1411744682370576/ About Real Estate,

Hua-Hin info guide.

http://theitravelchannel.tv/episode-5-hua-hin/

There's no need to spam us all with a million pages of links and content!! :-)

[HerbalEd]

I had the same decision to make. Where? I chose Chiang Mai. Why?

No traffic - you can actually get around on your own motorcycle, great nightlife (we own the LOLLIPOP Bar in Loi Kroh Entertainment area), good private schools, housing much cheaper (but the rest is not necessarily cheaper - but for sure housing is significantly cheaper), great golf, very nice gated communities, cooler weather (I think it is really cooler all of the time compared to the rest of Thailand), many more cultural sites (great zoo, night safari, tiger kingdom, elephant rides/park), mountains, strawberry farms (many), nice get away resorts, monkeys kingdom, etc.

If you have a family I cannot believe there is a better place. If you come to Chiang Mai to check it out stop at the Lollipop (in the same building as Thai boxing) and ask for Ed. I will give you the low down on Chiang Mai from a single mans point of view and from a family view. I have a family but was single.

For sure CM has a lot going for it, but you're dead wrong about CM's traffic. It's terrible in both rush hours ... and is much, much worse than HH. Granted HH traffic can get bad on weekends when the Thai tourists arrive, but that's when I lay low at home ... and then go out during the week.

Edited September 8, 2014 by HerbalEd

[roly]

I had the same decision to make. Where? I chose Chiang Mai. Why?

No traffic - you can actually get around on your own motorcycle, great nightlife (we own the LOLLIPOP Bar in Loi Kroh Entertainment area), good private schools, housing much cheaper (but the rest is not necessarily cheaper - but for sure housing is significantly cheaper), great golf, very nice gated communities, cooler weather (I think it is really cooler all of the time compared to the rest of Thailand), many more cultural sites (great zoo, night safari, tiger kingdom, elephant rides/park), mountains, strawberry farms (many), nice get away resorts, monkeys kingdom, etc.

If you have a family I cannot believe there is a better place. If you come to Chiang Mai to check it out stop at the Lollipop (in the same building as Thai boxing) and ask for Ed. I will give you the low down on Chiang Mai from a single mans point of view and from a family view. I have a family but was single.

For sure CM has a lot going for it, but you're dead wrong about CM's traffic. It's terrible in both rush hours ... and is much, much worse than HH. Granted HH traffic can get bad on weekends when the Thai tourists arrive, but that's when I lay low at home ... and then go out during the week.

Last time I was in Chiang Mai (December), the traffic at rush hour *was* absolutely terrible, much worse than I've ever seen in Hua Hin. Granted, that was in the centre of town around the old walls, but still...also in Hua Hin, I usually avoid rush hour (which can be bad), but I reckon the traffic here is nowhere near as bas as CM. Even as a seasoned motorcyclist, I still felt slightly uneasy driving shoulder to shoulder through the traffic jams in CM. Probably out of town it is quiet though (just like here - where I live 12 km from Hua Hin city centre, it's pretty much all country lanes).

[Chuckles78]

Thanks for the replies. I will take note of the tips offered for when we arrive.

To answer some questions, My wife is Thai and we have lived in Switzerland for 12+ years but now want to escape the hectic lifestyle in europe. We want to find a nice place to bring up our son... not in the city and not in the bush. Hua Hin seems like a quiet yet developing community from what I hear.

Near the beach would be nice... not too far from airport as I need to fly out a lot for work. Close to markets and in a safe neighbourhood. I'm looking at rentals with my wife now.

We haven't seen CM yet but may drive up for a look.

[hhfarang]

Hua Hin is nearly fully developed into a small city now though the infrastructure is sadly lagging behind. Forget near the beach close to markets in Hua Hin unless you are a millionaire or want to possibly rent a small condo or townhouse on an older soi. As far as an airport, yes Hua Hin has one and I think one airline is running right now to some other small city in the south. The only real airport is 3 hours away in Bangkok. Several airlines have tried to do the Hua Hin/Bangkok run in the 10+ years I've been here and have all failed to get enough customers to make it viable because of the ease and lower cost of going by bus or van.

Chaing Mai is much bigger, but you can live in the suburbs in a nice community that has shopping nearby. The problem with Chaing Mai is air quality. While Hua Hin has some of the best air quality here generally, Chaing Mai has some of the worst outside Bangkok because of the burning off of fields that lasts from late winter to early summer.

I suggest you come here when you have some time to really look around, time to check the schools, the cost of renting a house in a neighborhood where you would be happy and the drive time and distance to and from the Bangkok airport. Before you up sticks completely and cut your lifeline to Switzerland (wish I could live there!) you need to spend a month or two here to make sure you are making the right decision.

[Stargeezr]

Hua Hin is great, with lots to see and do. It has good beaches south of the Hilton

for miles and miles, or kms, if you are metric. For older folk, like me, there are two Bangkok Hospitals and

another one for less serious injuries.

From Hua Hin you can take local buses north or south to other nearby towns.

I hope to retire to this City as it is close to BKK, and just a train , bus or plane ride to other places around the country.

Stargeezer

[Chuckles78]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts... I appreciate it.

[hhfarang]

There is a new small airline running flights between Hua Hin and Chiang Mai a couple of days per week. Maybe that would make it easier to check out both cities in one exploratory trip.

[Stradavarius37]

Always amazed at how some "leave" their children places - different levels of attachment I guess...

[hhfarang]

Always amazed at how some "leave" their children places - different levels of attachment I guess...

Yes, if you're talking about the comment I made, you're right. I feel the same way but many Thais feel differently. A lot of Thai children are raised by relatives, friends, or "the village". I wanted to stay in the U.S. until she was 18 and could be on her own but I got caught between her Mother wanting to move back to Thailand, and both her and her daughter (my step daughter) wanting the daughter to stay in the U.S. to get a better education than she could get here and have better opportunities in life afterwards. So, we left her with our best friends who were also an American/Thai couple who had a child of their own and we visited once a year during the school year and she came here for a couple of months during summer. Not ideal, but she is living in the U.S. now, 25 years old making decent money and enjoying life in a beautiful southern California beach town, so it turned out good for her. Who knows what would have happened to her if we had dragged her here against her will and forced her into the then only Thai school system. She'd probably still be living with us, unhappy, with little or not prospects for the future.

Edited September 18, 2014 by hhfarang

[longballlarry]

Lots of for's and against's you will find on hundreds of threads throughout Thai Visa. I'd say........

As a single man go for it.

With a family, I'd say stay where you are and just come for holidays. Yes the way of life is so much slower, but so is the education and that will effect your kid long term. As much as Thais love their country, its no coincidence that any Thai with real money will send their kids to Europe/US for their education if given the opportunity.

[sfokevin]

I had the same decision to make. Where? I chose Chiang Mai. Why?

No traffic - you can actually get around on your own motorcycle, great nightlife (we own the LOLLIPOP Bar in Loi Kroh Entertainment area), good private schools, housing much cheaper (but the rest is not necessarily cheaper - but for sure housing is significantly cheaper), great golf, very nice gated communities, cooler weather (I think it is really cooler all of the time compared to the rest of Thailand), many more cultural sites (great zoo, night safari, tiger kingdom, elephant rides/park), mountains, strawberry farms (many), nice get away resorts, monkeys kingdom, etc.

If you have a family I cannot believe there is a better place. If you come to Chiang Mai to check it out stop at the Lollipop (in the same building as Thai boxing) and ask for Ed. I will give you the low down on Chiang Mai from a single mans point of view and from a family view. I have a family but was single.

From your comments Chiang Mai sounds good but I keep hearing about flooding, land-slides and earthquakes in that area. Is it only certain parts or is the whole area affected?

Yes... Chiang Mai is a dangerous and inhospitable place... Better to go somewhere else...

Sent from my iPad in Chiang Mai...

[thailandwhere]

I had the same decision to make. Where? I chose Chiang Mai. Why?

No traffic - you can actually get around on your own motorcycle, great nightlife (we own the LOLLIPOP Bar in Loi Kroh Entertainment area), good private schools, housing much cheaper (but the rest is not necessarily cheaper - but for sure housing is significantly cheaper), great golf, very nice gated communities, cooler weather (I think it is really cooler all of the time compared to the rest of Thailand), many more cultural sites (great zoo, night safari, tiger kingdom, elephant rides/park), mountains, strawberry farms (many), nice get away resorts, monkeys kingdom, etc.

If you have a family I cannot believe there is a better place. If you come to Chiang Mai to check it out stop at the Lollipop (in the same building as Thai boxing) and ask for Ed. I will give you the low down on Chiang Mai from a single mans point of view and from a family view. I have a family but was single.

Yep. I really agree with you

Edited September 23, 2014 by thailandwhere

[hhfarang]

I love Chiang Mai, but how can you live with the spring burn off every year? I was all set to live there until I heard about that.

[guzzi850m2]

Me too regarding Chang Mai, with a kid in school we can't move away when it's bad and wearing a face mask isn't my plan of living "the dream".

OP don't rule out Pattaya, yes it got the red light districts but also many many other things suited for a family.

Many schools to choose from and we live in a nice quirt village and life is good.