If you want a change from the bustling
urban Bangkok, then Hua Hin is it. It’s approximately 144 kilometres (90
miles) from Bangkok to Hua Hin, and the beach resort is a popular place
of weekend escape for the middle and upper classes of Bangkok society.
This doesn’t make the area especially expensive; the local transport is
relatively cheap, and perfect for doing some beach hopping. What it does
mean, is that you get the all the benefits of the beach, with the
amenities you would expect from city life.Hua Hin is a beautiful place
to spend some quality time, which is why it was so enticing to Thai
royalty who began to build summer residences in the area in the 1920s.
From the Airport:-If you are travelling directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hua Hin, you can do so on a modern 24 seat coach. There are six departure times for these coaches each day, starting at 7a.m. Tickets for the coach can be booked at the counter on level 1 at gate 8. This is also the gathering point for anyone travelling on the bus. The cost of a seat on the Bangkok to Hua Hin bus is 305 baht.It’s important to note that there are restrictions to the amount of baggage you can take on the Hua Hin bus. You are allowed to take on board one piece of hand luggage that will fit into the overhead compartments. You are also allowed one other piece of luggage which weighs 20kgs or less. You are permitted to pay 50 baht for one additional piece of luggage weighing up to 20kgs. If you have any more luggage than this you need to speak to one of the members of staff onsite before you make any bookings. It’s also worth mentioning that if you have larger items of baggage, such as a bicycle, you can be charged 200 baht per item.The travel time from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hua Hin is estimated at 3-4 hours but it can take longer at peak times. Traffic can become congested so you need to make sure you allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
From the City Centre:-Sometimes the most challenging aspect of travelling from the centre of Bangkok to Hua Hin can be getting to the Southern Bus Terminal, or Sai Tai Mai. The terminus is located close to the Chao Phraya River and can be awkward to locate for visitors who are not familiar with the local public transport system. It’s often easier to get a metered taxi to take you there; this costs approximately 120 baht from the old town. If you are staying in the Sukhumvit area it’s possible to take the 515 line bus from Victory monument which costs just a few baht. The 511 bus line also runs from areas of the city centre, such as Petchaburi Road, to the Southern Bus Terminal.Once you have reached the terminal you can purchase a ticket for your journey. The price of the journey is approximately 200 baht and it’s not normally necessary to book in advance. If you are travelling during a national holiday, or at other peak times it may be an idea to check if you should book before you travel. The Bangkok to Hua Hin bus departs every 20 minutes and the journey takes approximately 3.5 hours, although this can again depend on the amount of traffic congestion.
Travelling on the Bangkok to Hua Hin Train:-It’s easy to travel by train from Bangkok to Hua Hin, with trains leaving the city’s Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue railway stations on a regular basis during the day at periods between 8.05am to 22.50pm. It’s not a quick journey though; even on an express train it takes approximately 4 hours. On a rapid train it takes approximately 4 hours 15 minutes. There is also one ordinary service per day which appears to take the same length of time as the rapid service. One of the main positives of travelling by train is arriving at Hua Hin station. It is one of the oldest in Thailand, and features the Royal Waiting Room where the King and his court used to be welcomed. The room was relocated from its original site at Sanamchan Palace in Nakom Pathom.The fare structure for the Bangkok to Hua Hin train is a little complicated as there are three different classes. Fares vary greatly from 44 baht for third class to 202 baht for first class. You also have the option of paying extra for facilities such as an air-conditioned First Class Day & Night Coach which costs 1,522 baht if you want to pay for the entire room, and are travelling alone. Of course there are cheaper options if you are travelling overnight such as an air-conditioned Second Class Day & Night Coach which costs 572 baht for an upper bed. If you are looking to book a bed on a sleeper coach it’s important to note that the top beds are smaller which is why they are always cheaper to book than the lower beds.Third class tickets on the Bangkok to Hua Hin train have their advantages in that they are not pre bookable so should always be able to just turn up at the station and purchase one. Whichever ticket option you decide on it’s recommended that you check prices for the Bangkok to Hua Hin train directly before travel as they are subject to fluctuation.
Travelling from Bangkok to Hua Hin by Plane:-It’s possible to travel from Bangkok to Hua Hin by plane but not on a conventional airline. Currently there are no regular commercial flights between the two destinations. There are airports at both destinations so it is possible to hire a charter flight to travel from Bangkok to Hua Hin by plane. However, as you can probably imagine this is not a cheap option! It costs approximately 2,200 baht to hire a very light jet for up to an hour, and the flight time from Bangkok to Hua Hin is 35 minutes.Unless you are willing to pay a considerable amount of money, the best options for travelling from Bangkok to Hua Hin are bus or train. The Bangkok to Hua Hin bus is the slightly quicker option, and can be cheaper depending on the class of train travel you opt for. The Bangkok to Hua Hin train can take a longer time, and may not be air conditioned, again depending on what class of travel you choose, but you do benefit from arriving at a breathtakingly beautiful station in Hua Hin. You should also remember that, although it may take a while, travelling from Bangkok to Hua Hin by bus or train means you get to see some amazing sights, including rivers, mountains and several Thai temples along the way.
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