Hua Hin Beach Polo 2017

[Big Boy]

Is back again this year on the beach in front of the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort & Spa. Friday 31st March and Saturday 1st April 2017 from 13:00hrs daily.

Free to watch. [Edit] I've just read, "The whole day is a Charity Event for Princess Pa's Nabha Project. A 1,500 baht donation includes both the daytime and nightime events."

Evening events, starting 18:30 hours includes a cocktail dinner, live music, show and Auction.

All Welcome. A colourful spectacle, and usually a few novelty events. Mind you, even if you're not into horses, it can be fun watching ladies wearing their heels on the sand . Seriously, one the the town's very popular, regular events, which many look forward to.

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[caller]

Thanks for this BB, I may have a wander along. I have fond memories of the odd Summer Sunday afternoon spent at Ham polo club with a nice picnic and a drink or two watching the rich boy's enjoy a few chukka's! Same, same, but different!

[Big Boy]

I've just read that early purchase of tickets will save you a third i.e. they are currently available for just 1,000 Baht.

[Big Boy]

A strange one this. I've seen announcements in English stating 1,500 Baht, reduced to 1,000 Baht for advance sales.

I've just seen an announcement in Thai from a very reliable source stating the event is free

ขอเชิญชมการแข่งขันขี่ม้าโปโลบนชายหาด รายการ “อินเตอร์คอนติเนนตัล – บี.กริม เอเชียน บีช โปโล แชมเปี้ยนชิพ 2017” ครั้งที่ 8 (InterContinental – B.Grimm Asian Beach Polo Championship 2017) จัดโดยกลุ่มบริษัท บี.กริม ร่วมกับ พราว เรียล เอสเตท และอินเตอร์คอนติเนนตัล หัวหิน รีสอร์ท ชิงถ้วยประทานพระเจ้าหลานเธอ พระองค์เจ้าพัชรกิติยาภา ในวันเสาร์ที่ 1 เมษายน 2560 ที่ชายหาดบริเวณด้านหน้าโรงแรมอินเตอร์คอนติเนนตัล หัวหิน รีสอร์ท จ.ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ โดยรายได้จะมอบให้มูลนิธิ ณภาฯ ในพระดำริพระเจ้าหลานเธอ พระองค์เจ้าพัชรกิติยาภา
งานนี้ชมฟรีครับ

Whatever, I guess it's for a charitable cause.

[keepitfun]

I'm sure it's just an accident that the English translation says it's 1500 but the Thai says it's free. That happens a lot.

[Big Boy]

Or dual pricing?

Seriously, I've not paid before. I wasn't being a cheap Charlie, and would have given willingly to a charitable cause. I entered from Soi 77, along the beach. Maybe if I'd entered through the Intercontinental, it might have been different. There was no deliberate attempt to avoid donating.

If it is a charity event, there should be ticket booths along the beach i.e. people could still avoid it if they don't want to pay. At the very least, there should be boards advising that it is a pay to view event, and how to make a donation.

[Thistle]

Would it not be beneficial to both the Hua Hin Forum administration and Intercontinental to perhaps discuss the current uncertainties,and resolve any miss-understanding?

[Blacky]

There is definitely no dual pricing! Tickets sell at THB 1,500 and proceeds will be donated to a charitable cause. The text in Thai states that all are invited to join, then gives information that the annual tournament is brought to you by Proud Real Estate and B.Grimm and the last sentence states that all proceeds will go to the charitable cause of the Princess.

Just had it translated by two different Thai colleagues. Sorry, BB, they could not find anything about the event being free, however does not mention a price either.

Cheers,
B.

[Big Boy]

2 translation tools and Mrs BB insist the last line states it's free.

งานนี้ชมฟรีครับ

I don't know, I'm only reporting what I'm told. I will not be going this year anyway.

[Edit] Keep it going, it's good publicity i.e. all publicity is good publicity.

[Blacky]

BB. can I ask where you found the Thai text? I would like to forward it to the Organizer and the PR Agency to go through it and see if it is an official release. Sorry for the trouble.

All in all it is a public beach and people can watch the game. However if you want to take advantage of the food stalls, vendors and Sponsors (Stella Artois, Campari, Evian....), you will need the wrist band to verify you donated. The same counts for the evening event, no wristband - not entry.

My apologies for the confusion, but please believe me, no dual pricing in anyway intended.

Thanks,
B.

[Big Boy]

LOL - the dual pricing thing was meant as a topical joke Hence the emoticon.

In reality, I would think the guy has genuinely posted the event as being free because like me, and many others I know, a charge has never been made before. As for food stall and vendors, I've never used them, but I have friends who have spent quite a lot using them. I honestly thought this was where the charity money was made.

I will PM you the guy's name, but I can assure you, he won't have done anything out of malice. I've been using him as a source of local information for 5 years now, and until now, AFAIK he has never been wrong.

If he is wrong, it will be through custom and practice i.e. he probably avoids going through the hotel to a beach event. He will never have been charged, and I have never seen any notices suggesting a donation should be made.

I have looked up the publicity from last year's event (nothing on this year's polo website that I've found yet), and yes, in the bottom left hand corner it mentions grandstands and meals requiring a donation. There is no mention of just watching the polo costing anything. So maybe the full gambit makes a donation necessary, but just watching the polo (which is what I would do) might be free, and is what my contact is getting at. It could explain the difference.

Last year's publicity.

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[Blacky]

Thank you BB, well appreciated and well understood! This years flyer will be posted in the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort section in the next couple of days.

Cheers,
B.

[Big Boy]

Here we go, the confusion has been cleared viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31282&p=436116#p436116

[Big Boy]

............and now the posters are appearing around town with no mention of admission or tickets/wrist bands. Yes, it's been cleared up on this forum, but as much as we'd like to think everybody reads the forum, they don't. So now, people who have walked along the beach to enjoy the fun in the past are going to think they can do so again this year, and revenue is going to be lost to the charity.