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Showing posts from October, 2021

Bangkok's Hamptons: Huahin vs Pattaya

  A recent article in South China Morning Post about the increasing popularity of Huahin, described the seaside town as offering “sandy beaches and good restaurants, without Pattaya’s sleaze”. Harsh. But fair? It reignites an old debate about the relative merits of Huahin and Pattaya, sitting on opposing shores at the upper end of the Gulf of Thailand.   Before I wade into this debate, let’s set some parameters. Let’s weigh the merits of both towns as a long weekend or vacation retreat for Bangkok residents.   And let’s assume we are talking about the main towns and their immediate surrounds. Your Huahin experience would be very different if you were based in Cha Am or Pranburi. Likewise, you will form a very different view of Pattaya, if you are staying in Jomtien. We will start with the effort required to get there. Granted, it depends on which part of Bangkok you live in. But Pattaya wins this criterion handily.   There are two highway options from Bangkok to ...