Hyatt Regency Hua Hin

The lobby of this five-pearl resort provides a serene welcome, and is housed in a traditional Thai building with a pitched roof, and Khmer Angkor-style carvings. Inside, dark teak wood dominates everything from the floor to the furniture, with large beams holding up the rafters overhead. A marble inlay with a daybed and traditional Thai cushions sits at the center of the space and rice-paper lamps dangle above. The landscaped gardens are just as soothing, full of bridges meandering over carp ponds, and trees and hedges interspersed with fountains. There is even a Zen-style raked sand garden. The labyrinthine Barai Spa, designed by Thai master Lek Bunnag, is situated in its own corner of the resort and is a work of art, with chic touches and gorgeous details throughout. Everything about the Hyatt exudes style and sophistication, drawing couples and families on holiday, but the family-friendly vibe also means it isn't always the most tranquil resort in Thailand, especially around the pool areas. 

The resort is located at the south end of Hua Hin town, just off the main Bangkok Hua Hin highway on the Gulf of Thailand. As much of the traffic turns off before the resort, the Hyatt doesn't deal with the noise and congestion plaguing many other hotels in town. While most Hua Hin restaurants, shops, and malls are a short five-minute drive from the hotel, there's still some eating, drinking, and shopping within walking distance of the property. The Cicada Market, a bustling weekend market with excellent street food and souvenirs, is a five-minute walk from the resort, while the Hua Hin Night Market is a 15-minute drive to the north. Hua Hin's train station and mini van depot to Bangkok both take around 10 minutes to reach by taxi, making the resort one of the best location-wise for Hua Hin. A bit further down the Gulf of Thailand coast (a 10-minute drive) is Chopsticks Hill, an iconic little mountain on the sea that has a huge monkey population and is good for families. Bangkok takes about two and a half hours to reach by road, and as there are no major airport in Hua Hin, Bangkok also provides the closest airports. 

The stylish rooms at the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin all have enclosed furnished balconies, with either garden, lagoon, or pool views. Rooms have tasteful light walls and neutral textiles throughout as well as contemporary furniture in dark and soft pastel tones, tiled or hardwood floors, and marble or hardwood accents. There's a bit of urban chic in the design, especially in higher level bookings, with darker accent walls and furniture. All rooms have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, personal safes, minibars, electric kettles, irons, air-conditioning, and work desks. Rooms are also spacious, starting at 38 square meters (or 409 square feet), with white-linened twin or king beds and Thai-influenced modern art on the walls. Bathrooms feature both bathtubs and separate walk-in showers, with free toiletries and sets of bathrobes and slippers. The Regency Club Rooms are a step up from Standard and Deluxe Rooms and feature a more generous sitting area with a daybed, plus DVD players, and a few even have open-air terraces. The best rooms in the resort are the dazzling Barai Suites, which are housed in the Barai Spa, and offer warm, contemporary Thai decor. These opulent suites have private outdoor pools and indoor hot tubs with windows looking out on the resort's gardens. They are perfect rooms for a honeymoon splurge or romantic escape. All rooms come with free breakfast and Wi-Fi, although guests must pay extra for higher download speeds.

Guests don't really have to leave the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, as it's packed with excellent features. The hotel website boasts of seven swimming pools, but the resort actually only has three main pools, with children's sections in each of these. However, the pools are massive and are all interconnected, forming the largest free-form swimming pool in all of Hua Hin. Additionally, there is a 70-foot waterslide, side canals, and channels coming, making the pool area a virtual water theme park, which is a huge favorite with families and children. There is also a playground as well as a kids' club on site. For adults, the resort has a 24-hour fitness center along with tennis courts, not to mention Barai Spa, a feature that's alone worth visiting this resort (detailed below).

The Hyatt Regency does have the longest beach of any resort in Hua Hin. However, the beach here isn't the greatest in Thailand, as it attracts a lot of people riding horses, and is subject to extreme tidal fluctuations (i.e., when the tide is in, only the seawall is left to be seen). There are some landscaped sandy areas along the sea wall though for sunbathing, with lounge chairs and umbrellas, for guests looking to relax next to the sound of the water.

For dining, the Hyatt Regency also impresses. Figs restaurant does breakfast buffets, which are included with bookings, and serves Italian dishes for lunch and dinner while featuring live music several nights a week. The neighboring Talay Thai focuses on authentic Thai cuisine, while the poolside You & Mee Noodle Bar has Asian noodle dishes as well as western menu items for lunch and early dinner. For fine romantic dining, McFarland House is a restored 19th century wood pavilion adjacent to the beach. It serves tapas-style western and Thai dishes, along with good cocktails and wines, with intimate candlelit tables set up in the open-air pavilion and out front on the sand. Happy hours are available in several on the on-site drinking and dining destinations.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, though there are charges for faster speeds, and the hotel does offer business services, including private car and limousine bookings. Regency Club members are entitled to exclusive use of the Club Lounge and Club Pool, and both the Barai Spa and the resort itself have shops selling gifts and Thai items. The hotel also runs a shuttle from Bangkok with advanced booking and laundry and dry cleaning services are available. Babysitting is available and the dedicated concierge is on hand for local bookings and tours. 

The Barai Spa is a huge labyrinthine health and wellness center designed by noted Thai artist and designer Lek Bunnag. It's a thoroughly modern space that nods to Turkish hamams and traditional Thai design as well. One has to circumvent a large maze complete with narrow passages, hidden chambers, and elegantly carved walls and gateways, before entering a reflecting pool area and then accessing the spa itself, where all of the treatment rooms are fit for royalty. There are stunning details here, from the wall recesses to the raked Zen gardens, and the vibrant mauve and blue walls give the space a depth and vibe that sets it apart from most breezy, wood-lined spas throughout Thailand's mega resorts. The Barai even has its own suites for guests, all of which are as luxurious as the spa itself, though slightly more traditional in terms of decor.