Some journeys set the tone before the destination appears. At InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, the escape begins on the rails, aboard the Weekend Express Train by InterContinental, which departs from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station in Bangkok. Guests step off at Nong Kae Station and are met by a transfer to the resort. It is an elegant beginning to a coastal weekend, and a far gentler introduction than the usual road out of the capital.
A beachfront sanctuary
The resort sits directly on the beach, with colonial-style architecture, landscaped gardens and lagoons that open onto views of the Gulf of Thailand. The mood is unhurried and traditional rather than flashy, in keeping with Hua Hin’s long reputation as the royal coast.
The Private Garden Suite
The Private Garden Suite is the kind of room that rewards staying in. Warm wood finishes frame floor-to-ceiling windows, and the suite opens onto a private garden of its own. The marble bathroom is spacious, and the whole space feels calm and well proportioned, a quiet base for a weekend of doing very little.
At the table
Breakfast is a generous buffet that mixes international favourites with Thai dishes. Among the highlights are a Spanish frittata, chicken satay and a chocolate pudding that makes a good case for dessert before noon.
Lunch moves to Azure, the beachfront Italian restaurant led by Sicilian Executive Chef Mario Caramella. The menu runs from calamari and bruschetta to the Mortazza pizza, Spaghetti Assassina and a seafood risotto, with a Charolais beef entrecôte for those who want something heavier. Crème brûlée, chocolate cake and tiramisu close the meal in the classic way.
Club InterContinental
Guests with Club access can settle into the lounge for afternoon tea, then return in the evening for cocktails and canapés. It is a relaxed rhythm that suits the setting, and it gives the day a natural shape without ever feeling scheduled.
The verdict
What lingers most is the service. The staff are attentive without being intrusive, and they seem to anticipate what a guest wants before it is asked. For a refined weekend by the sea, with the journey itself as part of the pleasure, InterContinental Hua Hin Resort is an easy resort to recommend.
Related reading: Azure at InterContinental Hua Hin Gives Italian Dining a Sicilian Accent and Why Holiday Inn Vana Nava Is the Best View in Hua Hin.
