Devasom Hua Hin Resort

Arriving at the Devasom Hua Hin Resort is like stumbling onto a classic Mediterranean villa, with its pastel-blue-and-white colonial-style buildings. The small, open-air lobby has a patterned in-laid floor design at the center, a few plush antique armchairs, and vases filled with fresh orchids. But the property's highlights are mainly outdoors, where a lotus pond with small stones and a grassy courtyard leads to the attractive swimming pool and surrounding beach villas. It is a bright and airy hotel, and is quite a contrast to many of the older Thai-style resorts in this region, with their abundance of dark teakwood, and the hotel's checkerboard-floored library is a particularly lovely, book-lined space that's great for relaxing and filled with antiques. The clientele is predominantly young couples, many taking a break from the crowds and traffic of Hua Hin city.

The Devasom Hua Hin Resort sits on a beach along the Gulf of Thailand, about a 20-minute drive from Hua Hin city. In a quiet area that overlooks the ocean, the setting is pretty, although the strip of beach here is rocky, and is prone to wide fluctuations in size due to the tide. The resort has set up its own sandy area with lounge chairs above the beeach for when that tide rolls back in. Located on a dead-end road that's reached via the main Bangkok-Hua Hin highway, there isn't any noise or traffic to disturb the scene here, however, it's not convenient for travelers who want to spend a lot of time in Hua Hin city. There aren't many restaurants, bars, shops, or sights around the resort, and a car or taxi is best for getting around and exploring the surrounding area and beaches further south, like Khao Takiab, a 25-minute drive away. Bangkok, where the closest major airports are located, is about two and a half hours away by car.

The 24 rooms and villas at the Devasom Hua Hin Resort are bright, airy, and large -- perfect for a tropical, seaside escape. Guest rooms are predominantly white -- from wood walls to attractive bedding to furniture with colonial silhouettes -- and is set off by tiled floors and features like the lovely four-poster beds that give Beachfront Villas a romantic air. With tan curtains and wooden blinds to keep out the mid-day sun and framed vintage floral prints on the walls, rooms have a laid-back ambience, and all have balconies that face the sea. Despite the charming antique style, rooms also have modern features like DVD players, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, iPod docks and speakers, electric kettles for tea or coffee, safes, stocked free minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are spacious, with large, standalone bathtubs and separate rainfall showers, along with brass designer sinks and toiletries. Beachfront Villas are particularly chic and resemble quaint country cottages, with king-size beds and private decks.

This hotel has a large, tiered outdoor swimming pool that has almost enough space for laps, with a shallow section that's suitable for kids and lounge chairs arranged on a wooden deck island underneath a tree in the center. Space may be an issue around the pool when the hotel is full, though there are also lounge chairs near the beach. Unfortunately, the beach isn't the best for swimming depending on the time of day, as it is subject to extreme high and low tides, but it is fine for strolling. There's also a charming library on site where guests can gather and relax -- it has a checkerboard floor and is full of vintage items like gramophones, a telescope, and encyclopedias, plus a laptop computer for guests' use and games. For dining, the resort has the open-air Deva Bistro restaurant and bar, which serves the hotel's great free buffet breakfast and serves Thai and European fare for lunch and dinner as well as cocktails throughout the day. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property and the hotel runs a free scheduled shuttle to downtown Hua Hin. The 24-hour front desk can help arrange tours and excursions, including car and motorbike rentals.