Prachuap Town - what's the story?

[caller]

So what's the deal with this place? It seemed a nice town, well laid out, close to the Petchkasem Rd and has its own station. Its got a nice 'promenade', Ao Manao just to the South and beaches to the North, although there are a couple of hotels on the front, they get bad reviews, whereas a smaller guest house nearer to the air-force base gets good reviews. There's also a nice area immediately south of Ao Manao called Khlong Wan.

So its not really geared up for an influx of farang tourists, but what's the deal with expats? I saw both a German and English food place/bar and a few, what I assumed were expats, floating around, but I guess they're only in small numbers? It even has a Tesco express!

So why hasn't it caught the imagination the same way Hua Hun clearly has and another hour south, even Ban Krut and Bang Saphan have, albeit to a lesser degree?

Okay, Hua Hin is nearer Bkk, had the Railway Hotel and a status as a resort before really taking off, as far as expats are concered, in the last 10 years or so and all the stuff that supports that commiunity then followed. The community has sidled down to Takiap and further on. I understand Pranburi can't be developed much further and Kui Buri (I was warned how I pronounce that) is pretty bland.

So does anyone know what the deal is with the Prachuap Town, expat numbers and so on? Is it destined to be another expat enclave?

More info here from an earlier thread:

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/vi ... 36&t=13373

[caller]

Hmmm, over 150 views and not one reply! Guess next time I'm around I'll have to grab a few nights in that guest house to check the expat scene out.

[STEVE G]

I went there a couple of years ago and it was dead as a dodo!

[HuntingTigers]

I thought about calling in there on a slow trip down to Chumphon but I wasn't too sure of finding cheap accommodation. Looks nice enough place though.

Good photos buksida [see viewtopic.php?f=36&t=13373 ] - it was those pictures that made me wonder about calling in.

HT

[PeteC]

I thought about calling in there on a slow trip down to Chumphon but I wasn't too sure of finding cheap accommodation. Looks nice enough place though.

Good photos buksida [see viewtopic.php?f=36&t=13373 ] - it was those pictures that made me wonder about calling in.HT

Here's the link again HT as yours didn't copy live. Pete

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/vi ... 36&t=13373

[caller]

I went there a couple of years ago and it was dead as a dodo!

Well I knew it wouldn't be the equivalent of Hua Hin! I thought it might have an expat community akin to Bang Saphan? I'd heard of folk living around Khlong Wan but having had a good look around, couldn't see any real evidence of expat life there? Just the couple of places on the seafront in the town itself and those I saw cycling in town.

HT - this place seems to get decent reviews as mentioned in my OP

http://www.sunbeach-guesthouse.com/index.html

[barrys]

We were there a month or 2 ago.
We know a Norwegian and a Swedish guy there, but that's about it. They live in the Khlong Wan area.

There doesn't seem to be an ex-pat community there as such. Maybe a few ex-pats but not really a community!

The Sun Beach Guest House is very nice - owned and run by a pleasant Bavarian guy (though I believe he's now put it up for sale).

There's also another guest house not far from there, in what used to be the regional governor's house - rooms there start at 250 baht if I remember correctly.

Just down from the Sun Beach Guest House, there's a small restaurant run by a French woman and her Thai husband - good home-made pizzas and other dishes, all very good and very cheap compared with Hua Hin.

[charlesh]

Nice peaceful place except for the mountain temple filled with 100's of those hideous monkeys. Ao Manao worth the car ride to get there. Food OK and cheaper than HH. People reasonably friendly towards visitors. Nice w/e market. Some Thai style accomodation facing nice beaches (apparently cheaper than HH). Big Aquarium not far away. I imagine it must be like HH 30 years ago!
No foreigner enclave observed - which could be a good thing.

[STEVE G]

To be honest, I like many of the towns and villages South of Hua Hin and I visit many of them on a regular basis when I'm in Thailand.
Driving to the South is pretty easy going and I prefer to be based in Hua Hin for the facilities and night-life and then go out to these places during the day.

[caller]

Thanks for the reponses all. Like I said I thought it was a very attractive, reasonably prosperous town and enjoyed the few day trips we took there. It seemed a decent place to settle, if after the peaceful life without being stuck in the middle of nowhere, less than an hour away are the stores at Pranburi and obviously Hua Hin for a change of scene.

Although its nice to have a bit of community at hand, which seems the only thing missing!

[Dianachris]

hi guru,please could you give more info re the w/e market you mentioned?is it day or night?presumably very thai ,not like the night market in hh.thanks

[Dianachris]

sorry i mean charlesh,not guru der!!!!!if you know about any good markets day and night south of hh could you let me know.cheers

[charlesh]

"Good markets" few and far between - typically Thai and tend to be organised chaos and a little dirty. The Prachuap 1 I have seen usually mid afternoon and is an eclectic mix of shops selling garden plants, furniture and the usual assortment of stuff found in OTOP areas. If you've seen it once then you've seen it !
Weekends seem to be the favoured times however can't say with certainty as I go to Ao manao every other month. Have a look for the stands with garish lights near wats/parks etc as they also indicate the presence of markets.
I have the feeling unless otherwise noted by signs that their appearance is hit and miss much like Thai train sevices ha, ha.

[Dianachris]

ok thank you.

[BarryJ]

My Thai partner is from Meung Prachuap Khiri Khan. I first visited the town and village in August 2008. At that time I saw a total of 2 westerners in my week in Prachuap. I have since visited twice more and the last visit in March 2010 I saw at least 100 Westerners in 4 days, so the influx of western visitors is underway.

The town is ripe for development and a well managed western style bar along the Prachuap Bay beachfront would be perfect.

There are a range of Hotels and guest houses available - Hadthong Hotel is 20+ years old but still servicable accommodation at about 850 baht for a sea facing room. The newer Prachuap Bay Hotel about 200 metres up the beach is better but the rooms do not face directly to the sea. Rooms there are about 700 or 800 baht per night. Guest house accommodation is sometimes more expensive than these.

In Khlong Wan (the village) there is guest house accommodation for about 500 baht per night, but really the village is for Thai's and the Town would be more what Western visitors would prefer to visit.

Entertainment is limited - there is a night club - thai music only and a few bars that also play only Thai music. No western music to be found and no girlie bars that I have observed during my stays.

Golf - the Airforce base has a golf course which is a bit rustic but at 100 odd baht per round, how could you complain.

Food is cheap and top notch. Ao Manoa beach under the Casurina trees with a cold Heineken or two with food delivered from across the road, is to be recommended.

All in all a beautiful little spot which is Thai centric and if you prefer this to large westernised tourist towns then Prachuap is well worth a visit.