Dusit Thani Hua Hin

The upscale Dusit Thani Hua Hin is a massive hotel, one of Hua Hin's largest resorts, with impressive grounds featuring an ornamental lake, soccer field, and red roofed traditional Thai buildings. Guests enter the property off the Bangkok highway and drive past a fountain and palm trees to reach the sprawling, grand lobby, which features marble floors, a chandelier, and a tiled fountain, with armchairs placed throughout. The adjoining Lobby Lounge leads out to views of the rest of the scenic property. The rest of the resort is just as ornate, as Thai teak buildings sit overlooking an ornamental lake, with the large swimming pool next to it making for plenty of water. With its extensive conference facilities, the resort draws just as many business visitors as it does leisure guests, and it is always a busy place, popular with families and tour groups. 

The Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel is located just off the highway north of Hua Hin city, about six miles out of town. While the resort is perfect for a seaside getaway, as it is right on the quiet and well maintained beach, it isn't all that convenient for shopping or nightlife, especially if you don't have your own transport, as there isn't much else around the hotel in terms of restaurants or shops, and the hotel sits off of a very busy stretch of highway. The resort does offer free shuttle service too and from Hua Hin, but it is limited, and the only other option is to take expensive taxis. The hotel is sandwiched between the beach and the highway, with a massive parking lot out on the highway side leading up to the entrance, so guests are well insulated from any noise here. It's a 15-minute drive to the train and bus stations for onward transportation to Bangkok. 

There are 296 rooms at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin, and it is one of the largest resorts in the area. All rooms feature fine wood floors, and even the smallish standard Superior Rooms come with a work desk plus small table and chairs. Beds have control panels with pilot reading lights, and room amenities include stocked minibars, flat-screen TVs with satellite TV, safe deposit boxes, electric kettles, and bathrobes and slippers. Bathrooms feature both tubs and separate showers, plus hairdryers and free toiletries. Additionally, all rooms have large furnished private balconies or terraces to sit on, many of which overlook the pool or out to sea. All rooms also include free Wi-Fi. Club and suite rooms come with DVD players as well as rain showers, and offer Dusit Club privileges that include butler service, private check-in and breakfast facilities, and free cocktail happy hours plus all day refreshments in the club lounge, as well as a few hours of free boardroom use in the business center during one's stay.

The Dusit Thani Hua Hin has some of the most extensive facilities of any hotel in the area, and is a great choice for families. The resort features two swimming pools, one a saltwater pool in the garden and the other an immense lap pool with plenty of sun loungers and a children's section. The resort also has a comprehensive sports complex, where there is a fitness center, a Thai boxing ring, several squash courts, tennis courts, and a soccer field (the only one in the area). There is also a kids' club and playground near the pools, plus a spa for massage and health treatments. 

For dining and drinking, the resort has an excellent array of choices. San Marco restaurant has authentic Italian food with great wood fire oven pizzas and an outstanding buffet, Benjarong restaurant serves traditional Thai in an elegant Thai teak house overlooking the resort's ornamental lake, and the open-air The Restaurant serves scrumptious buffet breakfasts along with all day dining options, with a wide selection of international cuisine, and also features a patisserie. Breakfast is included in most rates. There is also an outdoor sea view Rim Talay bar and grill, which offers seafood barbecues when the weather is good. For drinking, there is a poolside bar as well as the elegant Lobby Lounge.

The Dusit is also renowned for its large meeting and conference facilities, with a ballroom as well as spacious seminar rooms, so plenty of business and group travelers find it extremely convenient. Wi-Fi is free throughout.