Hi,
I am thinking about moving to Hua Hin within about a month or so. I have lived in Central Bangkok for 2.5 years and would like to know about some things about Hua Hin. I would be very appreciative of any (and all) answers to the following questions:
1. Hua Hin airport - is it open or has it been closed down?
2. Is there a Kasikorn (Thai farmer) Bank with External ATM?
3. Do the Taxis turn on their meters, or do you have nego. price?
4. Many 1 way roads (ie Chiang Mai)?
5. What is the motorcycle traffic density there? Crazy or livable?
6. Is there a major Movie Cinema there? Show current releases? Price?
7. Internet connection(beside 1222222222) any broadband yet?
8. Many internet cafes? What are the price range (bkk is 20baht/hr)
9. Grocery stores? Is there a Tesco, Big C, Tops.. something like that?
10. Is there UBC, what are the rates for gold package?
11. Poverty breakdown. On a central, east, west,etc. where is considered posh and where is poverty? I don't want to get a house on poverty (crime)central.
12. Furniture stores? Index,Koncept.. I need a couch and chair.
13. Is there a good computer part store (hard drive, cases, ram) etc?
14. How are the roads for cycling? Not the drivers... the roads? Would it be a good place for early morning cycling.. any clubs?
15. Local newspapers?
16. When is the "off" season?
17. Typical rental prices for House, serviced apt, and condo 1bedroom. Id like something around 6000 a month?
18. Discos... is there any place with a DJ, lights, and a good soundsystem where you can actually dance? Rather than a bar with a corner and a red flashing light?
19. Type of community? Is it a retirement place? Are there young active expats about? Emphasis on active... not only active in the bar and the bedroom.(grin)
20. Lifestyle. Bkk is laid back, but there is still a grind to it. How is HH? Can you feel the stress when you walk down the streets?
21. Are the people there for a lifetime? Nice thing about BKK is that there are always fresh faces in the crowd. How is HH? See the same people day in a day out? I know about small towns, but is it THAT small?
22. What does the average expat make in salary there? I mean people that have to hold down full-time jobs. Not executives, and owners. In BKK it is about 40K.
23. 40,000 to 50,000 acceptable salary in HH? Easy life, buy most things without having to worry?
Hey thanks for the time you spent answering any of these question. I am sure that i will not be the only one that gets use from your answers. There are many of us that have these questions.
Again thanks!
Questions about Hua Hin???
-
Bamboo Grove
- Moderator
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- Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2003 12:59 pm
- Location: Macau, China
Wow, I'll answer what I can and others can then add the rest.
1. No civil flights at the moment
2. Yes
3. We have no "Taxi Meters" here.
4. No
5. Livable
6. No
7.
8. Yes, the one I'm using now is only 20 b/h and fast
9. The big chains, although Foodland has purchased a piece of land. Some good butcher shops.
10. Yes, UBC, don't know the prices though.
11.
12. Yes
13.
14. I think they are ok, I've seen some people who seem to belong to a biking club.
15. www.observergroup.net www.huahintoday.net
16. April-November
17. With 6000 baht a month you should be able to rent a house or a condo studio
18. Hilton Hotel
19. If you play golf, pool or darts you'll find plenty of people to mix with
20. I lived for almost 13 years in BKK and have now lived 2 down here. I love this. It's very relaxing and easy going.
21. Some yes, but there are always people moving in and out
22.
23. If you're a single, yes, but with children it's of course different.
Hope this was at least somewhat helpful :lol:
1. No civil flights at the moment
2. Yes
3. We have no "Taxi Meters" here.
4. No
5. Livable
6. No
7.
8. Yes, the one I'm using now is only 20 b/h and fast
9. The big chains, although Foodland has purchased a piece of land. Some good butcher shops.
10. Yes, UBC, don't know the prices though.
11.
12. Yes
13.
14. I think they are ok, I've seen some people who seem to belong to a biking club.
15. www.observergroup.net www.huahintoday.net
16. April-November
17. With 6000 baht a month you should be able to rent a house or a condo studio
18. Hilton Hotel
19. If you play golf, pool or darts you'll find plenty of people to mix with
20. I lived for almost 13 years in BKK and have now lived 2 down here. I love this. It's very relaxing and easy going.
21. Some yes, but there are always people moving in and out
22.
23. If you're a single, yes, but with children it's of course different.
Hope this was at least somewhat helpful :lol:
Back in Bamboo Grove
http://bamboogrovestories.blogspot.com/
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-
Bangkokney
- Specialist
- Posts: 217
- Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2003 11:36 am
- Location: Based in Bangers but currently on tour ...
Not wishing to be repsumptious ... but it sounds like you are planning to move to HH without having even visited the place !
Might be worth a visit (it's only 3 hours away after all) and meet up with a few off the board and those they can introduce you to.
You would then answer your own questions first hand before making such a leap.
just a word : If you think Bangers is laid back then HH is positively 6 feet under !
Might be worth a visit (it's only 3 hours away after all) and meet up with a few off the board and those they can introduce you to.
You would then answer your own questions first hand before making such a leap.
just a word : If you think Bangers is laid back then HH is positively 6 feet under !
FORM IS TEMPORARY | CLASS IS PERMANENT
My trip
Hi,
I was thinking about that option (taking a look) for myself after I posted. So, yesterday I went down there and spent the night and looked around. Here is my take on Hua Hin (HH) during my 24 hours there. It is written with a Bangkok perspective of a mid 30 year old.
Of course this is all an opinion, and I am providing it for those readers from Bangkok that are considering moving down to Hua Hin. Everything is open to comment, and the locals are welcome to add, disagree, or anything else they see fit. After all, it's thier town.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''
First thing that I noticed going down to Hua Hin was the thinning of the traffic. Cars started to be replaced by semi trucks. Motorcycles on this route pretty much disappeared. Also seems like people favor pickup trucks in Hua Hin as opposed to cars.
Also the environmental changes. The air was not as polluted. Color schems changed as well. Bangkok is green everywhere, and during the trip down to Hua Hin you pass through some salt flats and an area that has a lot of brown. The ground is dirt like the Arizona desert. Tree are different as well. They are taller and leaner. Look like skinny pine trees standing on their "tippy toes." The weather is also drier. I guess that is why the king vacations there.
1. Coming into town I passed the airport. It appears functional and there are even about a dozen or so motorcycles parked out front. But as you have read here, and I was told upon inquiry in the town. The airport is currently closed. The funny thing is that nobody really knows the reason why. Most referred to some vague political reason, but could not provide any of the specifics. It is not an International airport. So don't try to make direct flight reservations from Denmark to Hua Hin (ha!).
2. During my journeys there I looked for a Kasikorn bank. But was not able to find it. I did see it marked on a map provided in my hotel room. This goes to say that it is not very obvious. Or it is TOO obvious that it becomes invisible. This happens a lot. If you are planning to come to Hua Hin and you can set up a new account I would recommend Bank of Ayudhya. I swear, they have more ATM's in HH then any of the 4 banks combined. If KK does have a bank in HH, it very well may just be one location, and one ATM.?.?
3. Be ready for a shock about transportation in HH. It is NOTHING like Bangkok. You cannot just step out into the street and hail a taxi (car) within a few seconds or minutes. Hua Hin does not have taxis! SHOCK! No taxis. (whenever I go into places like this, I think to myself that someone should open up a taxi company with 12 cars and they would make a fortune!) They have Tuk Tuk's that are in worse shape than the BKK. And they have the Pattaya style Sawng Tawg (open pickup style). There are also the bicycle carrage guys - but they are even worse than Maylasia. There is a lot to be desired in moving about if you are used to the BKK lifestyle. It can be argued that for the most part everything within HH is within walking distance. This is probably close to be true. But it is still nice sometimes to jump in the back of a nice AIR CONDITIONED car on your way to eat out. Yes, there are motorcyle taxis. There are differences here too. They are crooks outright. They over charge tourist hands over fist. What you are used to paying 5 to 10 baht in the city is 20 - 25 baht there. Adjust this figure accordingly. I took a motorcycle taxi from the bus station to my hotel (maybe only about 60meters - unknown to me) and the bill was 20baht! On another occassion, the actual taxi driver asked his boss how much the fare should be and the boss replied "foreigner-20 baht." All of this in Thai of course. Motorcycle taxis in HH seem to be in it to get the most out of foreigners. If you move here you will find yourself in some heated disputes with them for sure. As we are well aware of what prices should be regardless of ones skin. In BKK everyone pays the same period. Or, buy your own motorcycle - which is what I will probably do.
Which brings me to another point. In Hua Hin it seems they are not used to foreigners speaking or understanding Thai. I guess because for the most part, foreigners in HH are tourist and just know how to say hello. I heard local Thais "bad mouthing" tourist right out in the open and in public for all to hear. Something that you never see in Bangkok. It just seemed like Thais in HH, carry on like nobody can understand what they are saying. They are in shock and wide eyed if you turn to them and start speaking Thai. And you have to to repeat yourself a half-dozen times before they get over themselves being in shock and start to actually listen to what you are saying.
4. I didn't see any one way roads. There are a lot of divided roads which results in a lot of U-turn spots.
5. Traffic in general in HH is absolutely sweet compared to BKK. Get ready for some wide open road!! Hhehehehe.
6. No movies anywhere remotely close. Have to go all the way into BKK for this. Wow. I was told there has be plans to build one for the last century.
7. I did see ADSL and SDSL at some internet cafes and businesses. My guess is that it is still too expensive for the average Joe to have at his house.
8. Internet cafes are nice and dont have 113 computers in a 10sq meter space. Many are brand new, only months old.
9. There is ONE Big C about 40 minutes from central HH. I am still wondering how people buy ice cream from there and make it home?!? If you only have a motorcyle, you wont be visiting Big C much. You will have to do with local Thai style shopping and small vendors and Trip Houses.
10. UBC is there. They have an Office about 15 minutes outside of the central district.
11. I couldn't get a grip on this during my short time there.
12. I saw a couple of Koncept stores way out by Big C. They are like the small ones that you find on the outskirts of BKK. Most things can be ordered there though.
13. Look for this but could not find. Where are they?
14. I saw a small pack of about 6 road riders in full gear travelling down PhetKasem. Funny thing was it was 2pm with the full sun on their backs. What the hell? Road conditions are fine, and the traffic conditions are ideal at about 4-5am for some good early moring cycling. ATB will do well here as well. Some nice routes further up north.
15. I saw two local publications. Hua Hin Today and Observer. Observer is more of an advertising magazine. About 75% of its contents are advertisements. It has the magazine stock to it and apperance. The Hua Hin Today was more of a traditional newspaper. More local stores and content. Not as much advertising. Both were OK - but I think are monthy? It would be nice have a weekly deal. Maybe just not enough news in the town. I don't know. Both the English papers of The Bangkok Post and The Nation can be found in HH.
16. Thanks for the answer to this one.
17. Wasn't able to see any properties.
18. Thanks for the answer to this one. Nice to know the cover is only 100 and some change. In BKK most are about 500 with 2 drinks.
19. The expat community I saw in HH is over-the-top skandinavian. Everything is Skandi this and Skandi that. That is a new one to me. Have to see how it goes. Many of the older generation here. 50+ years old. Didn't see many people in the 20's or 30's that were not tourist (Thai excluded.)
20. More stress free than BKK and the attitude of the people is even more Mai pen Rai. Which has both its positive and negative aspects about it.
21. It did seem like there would be certain places where you would see the same faces countless times. And other places where things were more dynamic. Upon spending about 6 months in HH or more, you will have seen 80% of the people that live in HH I think.
22 & 23. Thanks for the answers to these.
Note: Please remember that I was only in Hua Hin for 24 hours. You may think that I am quick to draw conclusions. You are right. I went strictly to do just that. Remember these are one persons opinions. You may see things entirely different. If you didn't, I would start to be scared.
Thanks for the great forum! I will be in touch. Hats off for the answers as well.
I was thinking about that option (taking a look) for myself after I posted. So, yesterday I went down there and spent the night and looked around. Here is my take on Hua Hin (HH) during my 24 hours there. It is written with a Bangkok perspective of a mid 30 year old.
Of course this is all an opinion, and I am providing it for those readers from Bangkok that are considering moving down to Hua Hin. Everything is open to comment, and the locals are welcome to add, disagree, or anything else they see fit. After all, it's thier town.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''
First thing that I noticed going down to Hua Hin was the thinning of the traffic. Cars started to be replaced by semi trucks. Motorcycles on this route pretty much disappeared. Also seems like people favor pickup trucks in Hua Hin as opposed to cars.
Also the environmental changes. The air was not as polluted. Color schems changed as well. Bangkok is green everywhere, and during the trip down to Hua Hin you pass through some salt flats and an area that has a lot of brown. The ground is dirt like the Arizona desert. Tree are different as well. They are taller and leaner. Look like skinny pine trees standing on their "tippy toes." The weather is also drier. I guess that is why the king vacations there.
1. Coming into town I passed the airport. It appears functional and there are even about a dozen or so motorcycles parked out front. But as you have read here, and I was told upon inquiry in the town. The airport is currently closed. The funny thing is that nobody really knows the reason why. Most referred to some vague political reason, but could not provide any of the specifics. It is not an International airport. So don't try to make direct flight reservations from Denmark to Hua Hin (ha!).
2. During my journeys there I looked for a Kasikorn bank. But was not able to find it. I did see it marked on a map provided in my hotel room. This goes to say that it is not very obvious. Or it is TOO obvious that it becomes invisible. This happens a lot. If you are planning to come to Hua Hin and you can set up a new account I would recommend Bank of Ayudhya. I swear, they have more ATM's in HH then any of the 4 banks combined. If KK does have a bank in HH, it very well may just be one location, and one ATM.?.?
3. Be ready for a shock about transportation in HH. It is NOTHING like Bangkok. You cannot just step out into the street and hail a taxi (car) within a few seconds or minutes. Hua Hin does not have taxis! SHOCK! No taxis. (whenever I go into places like this, I think to myself that someone should open up a taxi company with 12 cars and they would make a fortune!) They have Tuk Tuk's that are in worse shape than the BKK. And they have the Pattaya style Sawng Tawg (open pickup style). There are also the bicycle carrage guys - but they are even worse than Maylasia. There is a lot to be desired in moving about if you are used to the BKK lifestyle. It can be argued that for the most part everything within HH is within walking distance. This is probably close to be true. But it is still nice sometimes to jump in the back of a nice AIR CONDITIONED car on your way to eat out. Yes, there are motorcyle taxis. There are differences here too. They are crooks outright. They over charge tourist hands over fist. What you are used to paying 5 to 10 baht in the city is 20 - 25 baht there. Adjust this figure accordingly. I took a motorcycle taxi from the bus station to my hotel (maybe only about 60meters - unknown to me) and the bill was 20baht! On another occassion, the actual taxi driver asked his boss how much the fare should be and the boss replied "foreigner-20 baht." All of this in Thai of course. Motorcycle taxis in HH seem to be in it to get the most out of foreigners. If you move here you will find yourself in some heated disputes with them for sure. As we are well aware of what prices should be regardless of ones skin. In BKK everyone pays the same period. Or, buy your own motorcycle - which is what I will probably do.
Which brings me to another point. In Hua Hin it seems they are not used to foreigners speaking or understanding Thai. I guess because for the most part, foreigners in HH are tourist and just know how to say hello. I heard local Thais "bad mouthing" tourist right out in the open and in public for all to hear. Something that you never see in Bangkok. It just seemed like Thais in HH, carry on like nobody can understand what they are saying. They are in shock and wide eyed if you turn to them and start speaking Thai. And you have to to repeat yourself a half-dozen times before they get over themselves being in shock and start to actually listen to what you are saying.
4. I didn't see any one way roads. There are a lot of divided roads which results in a lot of U-turn spots.
5. Traffic in general in HH is absolutely sweet compared to BKK. Get ready for some wide open road!! Hhehehehe.
6. No movies anywhere remotely close. Have to go all the way into BKK for this. Wow. I was told there has be plans to build one for the last century.
7. I did see ADSL and SDSL at some internet cafes and businesses. My guess is that it is still too expensive for the average Joe to have at his house.
8. Internet cafes are nice and dont have 113 computers in a 10sq meter space. Many are brand new, only months old.
9. There is ONE Big C about 40 minutes from central HH. I am still wondering how people buy ice cream from there and make it home?!? If you only have a motorcyle, you wont be visiting Big C much. You will have to do with local Thai style shopping and small vendors and Trip Houses.
10. UBC is there. They have an Office about 15 minutes outside of the central district.
11. I couldn't get a grip on this during my short time there.
12. I saw a couple of Koncept stores way out by Big C. They are like the small ones that you find on the outskirts of BKK. Most things can be ordered there though.
13. Look for this but could not find. Where are they?
14. I saw a small pack of about 6 road riders in full gear travelling down PhetKasem. Funny thing was it was 2pm with the full sun on their backs. What the hell? Road conditions are fine, and the traffic conditions are ideal at about 4-5am for some good early moring cycling. ATB will do well here as well. Some nice routes further up north.
15. I saw two local publications. Hua Hin Today and Observer. Observer is more of an advertising magazine. About 75% of its contents are advertisements. It has the magazine stock to it and apperance. The Hua Hin Today was more of a traditional newspaper. More local stores and content. Not as much advertising. Both were OK - but I think are monthy? It would be nice have a weekly deal. Maybe just not enough news in the town. I don't know. Both the English papers of The Bangkok Post and The Nation can be found in HH.
16. Thanks for the answer to this one.
17. Wasn't able to see any properties.
18. Thanks for the answer to this one. Nice to know the cover is only 100 and some change. In BKK most are about 500 with 2 drinks.
19. The expat community I saw in HH is over-the-top skandinavian. Everything is Skandi this and Skandi that. That is a new one to me. Have to see how it goes. Many of the older generation here. 50+ years old. Didn't see many people in the 20's or 30's that were not tourist (Thai excluded.)
20. More stress free than BKK and the attitude of the people is even more Mai pen Rai. Which has both its positive and negative aspects about it.
21. It did seem like there would be certain places where you would see the same faces countless times. And other places where things were more dynamic. Upon spending about 6 months in HH or more, you will have seen 80% of the people that live in HH I think.
22 & 23. Thanks for the answers to these.
Note: Please remember that I was only in Hua Hin for 24 hours. You may think that I am quick to draw conclusions. You are right. I went strictly to do just that. Remember these are one persons opinions. You may see things entirely different. If you didn't, I would start to be scared.
Thanks for the great forum! I will be in touch. Hats off for the answers as well.
Nice reply and glad you made it down here. I'll add my bit then see what others have to say, this is a nice thread, good to see an outsiders opinions:
2) Thai Farmers bank is that huge building opposite Bangkok bank before you get to the main traffic lights in town (arriving from north), yes there's only one ATM and its ALWAYS busy in there. May have been difficult to spot at night.
3) As said dont really need taxis as everything is so close here, you can get them (no meter) but have to hunt around. Most residents have their own transport anyway. I agree on the pricing, it is more expensive and you cant argue 20 baht for a moto-taxi is the going rate for most people anywhere within 3-4km area. Its relative, I would rather pay 40baht per day to get to work and back and be there within 5 minutes than 200 baht per day and it takes 3 hours (BKK). Most people in Hua Hin are tourists and therefore wouldnt speak Thai - If your Thai is good enough you'll get understood.
7) ADSL and leased lines available but generally out of the home users budget.
13) You couldnt find it because its next to Thai Farmers Bank! :lol: Theres another one a little further out of town near the Grand Hotel (none in central Hua Hin)
15) Agree on the publications.
17) Most properties are further out.
19) Hua Hin does tend to attract the older expat yes but not just limited to Skandinavians, we have All Nations here
20) Thats why I live here !
All the best.
2) Thai Farmers bank is that huge building opposite Bangkok bank before you get to the main traffic lights in town (arriving from north), yes there's only one ATM and its ALWAYS busy in there. May have been difficult to spot at night.
3) As said dont really need taxis as everything is so close here, you can get them (no meter) but have to hunt around. Most residents have their own transport anyway. I agree on the pricing, it is more expensive and you cant argue 20 baht for a moto-taxi is the going rate for most people anywhere within 3-4km area. Its relative, I would rather pay 40baht per day to get to work and back and be there within 5 minutes than 200 baht per day and it takes 3 hours (BKK). Most people in Hua Hin are tourists and therefore wouldnt speak Thai - If your Thai is good enough you'll get understood.
7) ADSL and leased lines available but generally out of the home users budget.
13) You couldnt find it because its next to Thai Farmers Bank! :lol: Theres another one a little further out of town near the Grand Hotel (none in central Hua Hin)
15) Agree on the publications.
17) Most properties are further out.
19) Hua Hin does tend to attract the older expat yes but not just limited to Skandinavians, we have All Nations here
20) Thats why I live here !
All the best.
-
Bamboo Grove
- Moderator
- Posts: 5292
- Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2003 12:59 pm
- Location: Macau, China
Nice to see that you were willing to give your comments as well, 6 degrees. I'll give some further comments on things I disagree.
3. In Bangkok everyone doesn't pay the same for the motorbike/tuk tuk rides. You may be able to get the correct deals, but not tourists. I work in tourism industry and know this. :lol:
Also, In Big Mango there is a fair amount of loud mouths, i.e. Thais speaking bad about foreigners thinking they don't understand. I can hear this on my every trip and I don't even visit the tourist places except when working.
9. All in Hua Hin, Hua Hin Ham and Bacon and Mr. Burger do stock some nice stuff, nothing to compared to BKK, naturally. We are still hoping for a good supermarket. Something new is coming up on Chomsin Road, just past the railway. Don't know for sure what it will excatly be like, though.
19. Not only Scandies, although quite a lot. I know many Brits, Americans, Aussies, Canucs and Germans as well. Most of us are older than your average Big Mango expat, but then again, that's natural as the entertainment possibilites are much more what younger generations would want to. Know this from my own experience.
3. In Bangkok everyone doesn't pay the same for the motorbike/tuk tuk rides. You may be able to get the correct deals, but not tourists. I work in tourism industry and know this. :lol:
Also, In Big Mango there is a fair amount of loud mouths, i.e. Thais speaking bad about foreigners thinking they don't understand. I can hear this on my every trip and I don't even visit the tourist places except when working.
9. All in Hua Hin, Hua Hin Ham and Bacon and Mr. Burger do stock some nice stuff, nothing to compared to BKK, naturally. We are still hoping for a good supermarket. Something new is coming up on Chomsin Road, just past the railway. Don't know for sure what it will excatly be like, though.
19. Not only Scandies, although quite a lot. I know many Brits, Americans, Aussies, Canucs and Germans as well. Most of us are older than your average Big Mango expat, but then again, that's natural as the entertainment possibilites are much more what younger generations would want to. Know this from my own experience.
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Ok Sounds Good
Ok, following your advice... I am staying in Hua Hin for 1 month. Stay tuned for more perspectives, and I am sure questions as well. I will be in Hua Hin until the end of April - maybe longer if things go well.