InterContinental Hua Hin Resort

This grand, colonial-style resort makes a distinctive first impression with it's gracefully curving facade lined with tropical plants and louvered shutters along the entryway. Once inside, guests are taken to one of several check-in areas depending on the level of booking. Preferred guests, IHG members, and those in higher category rooms are received in the InterContinental Club Lounge, which has polished wood floors, towering wooden bookcases, and Impressionistic paintings of Thai scenes on the bamboo walls. There are comfortable upholstered chairs here, with wooden tables and plenty of free drinks and snacks available to nibble on while waiting. Other guests check in in the main lobby, which has a marble floor and fine lattice work throughout, especially on the large rectangular windows near the front door. There is a hanging fish mobile under the lights in the center of the attractive room. From here, the resort opens up into spacious, landscaped grounds, with flowing pools surrounding the smart restaurants, and plenty of greenery leading up to the beachfront. In 2016, the hotel added its BluPort wing, which houses 40 rooms, a pool, a restaurant, and meeting rooms. All in all, the InterContinental is a classy, but not stuffy, hotel that is popular across a wide swath of travelers, from business guests and families to wedding parties and couples, though groups can sometimes make things crowded.

The InterContinental Hua Hin Resort is located just south of the center of Hua Hin, and is extremely convenient for accessing restaurants, bars, shops, and any of the tourist sights in town, though most will have to be done by car or taxi. The resort sits between the main road through town and the beach, with the rooms and facilities located in between. The road out front is full of fast and non-stop traffic throughout the day, which is rather unpleasant, but the hotel is insulated from this noise and commotion. The white-sand beach here is nice, but not nearly as special as those fronting the resorts outside of town, and people on horseback often pass through on weekends. The weekend Cicada Market, packed with all sorts of goods and street food, is less than five minutes away by taxi while the Hua Hin night market is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Chopsticks Hill, a scenic mountain next to the sea that's loaded with wild monkeys, is a 10-minute drive down the coast, and it's a five-minute taxi ride to the train station or bus and van terminals for onward transport to Bangkok, which is about two and a half hours from Hua Hin by road and has the closest large airports.

All of the rooms and suites at the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort are palatial -- even the standard Classic Rooms have 45 square meters (or 484 square feet) of space. Rooms combine elegant and contemporary furniture, artsy details (like hanging lamps and damask fabrics), and traditional Thai elements, like wood latticework and fine silks. Large balconies with daybeds look out over the hotel's tropical gardens, the city, or the ocean. All rooms feature 40-inch flat-screen Smart TVs, DVD players, Bose sound systems, free Wi-Fi, and iPod docks as well as safes, minibars, air-conditioning, and electric kettles. Each room also comes with a private butler service, really upping the five-pearl factor here. Luxurious, contemporary bathrooms have bathrobes, marble floors, high-end L'Occitane or Bvlgari toiletries, and both soaking bathtubs and separate walk-in shower units. The suites are even more opulent, with over 100 square meters of living space, with some featuring hot tubs on the balcony, while others have private garden plunge pools. Housekeeping is twice a day, and turndown service is nightly. Cribs, cots, and extra beds area available.

There are plenty of excellent facilities at the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort. The hotel has a large beachfront area, although it can get crowded with horse riders, especially on weekends, and the beach is prone to tidal extremes. However, guests can easily retreat to the large beachside swimming pool, which runs the length of the hotel and has plenty of lounge chairs plus a kids' section. The hotel has a 24-hour fitness center with modern equipment, a gorgeous spa with lovely hardwood accents throughout, and Planet Trekkers kids' club. IHG members and those in the higher category rooms also have access to the snazzy Club Lounge, which serves soft drinks and snacks throughout the day and free evening cocktails in a chic setting.For dining and drinking, the hotel has several top-notch selections. Felicita is an intimate Italian restaurant, and right next to it, Pirom Thai features authentic Thai dishes. Both restaurants have indoor areas, but also have romantic seating outside under wooden trellises, surrounded by pools on all sides. Also attractive is Azure, which is located by the beach and serves Mediterranean fare. There are beachside and poolside bars, along with the more elegant Lee La bar, which has live jazz, premium Scotch whiskies, and both outdoor garden tables and a bright indoor seating area. Le Colonial is a casual all-day spot with an open kitchen. The hotel also has large and comprehensive conference and function facilities, and there is a beautiful old colonial building called La Residence on the beach, which the hotel uses for weddings or other large group events. There are several on-site activities to choose from, including yoga and kickboxing, some of which are free to IHG members and Club bookings. Airport transfer can be arranged and the hotel has a dedicated concierge to address travel and tours concerns. Overnight shoe shines are free, and laundry, dry cleaning, packing, and babysitting services are all available. Wi-Fi is free throughout.