 Hua
Hin and Cha-am Transportation and transfer guide
Situated just 25 km apart, Cha-am and Hua Hin lie
a three-hour drive southwest of Bangkok or 195 kms away.
Several air-conditioned coaches depart Bangkok's Southern
Bus Terminal daily, alternatively there are a number
of daily trains from Bangkok's Hualamphong station to
Hua Hin, the journey taking about four and a half hours.
Below is more information on the various forms of transport
to help you plan your trip better.
Until a few
years ago flights operated in and out of Hua Hin on
a regular basis but the airport was closed for a long
time and its reopening celebrated in May 2001 is a boon
to travellers.
Flights between Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui and Hua
Hin are regular and competitively priced in regards
to other forms of travel. For more information on flight
timetables etc. telephone the department you require
as follows: International Flights: (Bangkok) 5351111,
Domestic Flights:(Bangkok) 5351253, Arrivals: (Bangkok)
5351301 and Departures: (Bangkok) 5351386 or contact
us via our mailbag pages. Information on flights between
other areas in Thailand and Bangkok can be found on
the travel guide pages for the areas themselves.
To reach the seaside resort other than flying one has
to either catch one of the following buses or trains
that run regularly to and from Hua Hin/Bangkok. From
the Bangkok airport you will have to take a taxi to
either the train station or Bangkok’s Southern
Bus Terminal on Pinklao - Nakhon Chaisi Road (in Thonburi).
Trains depart
daily from Bangkok for Cha-Am, Hua Hin. Express Diesel
Railcar leaves Bangkok daily at 9.15 p.m. Express trains
leave Bangkok 5 times daily at 2.00 p.m., 3.15 p.m.,
5.05 p.m. 7.20p.m.and 10.35 p.m. Rapid trains leave
Bangkok 4 times daily at 12.35 p.m., 4 p.m., 5.45 p.m.,
and 6.30 p.m. Diesel Railcars leave Bangkok twice daily
at 9.00 a.m. and 1.40 p.m.
from Bangkok’s
Southern Bus Terminal on Pinklao - Nakhon Chaisi Road
(in Thonburi) run every 30 minutes. Returning buses
also leave half hourly. Air-conitioned buses leave Bangkok's
Southern Bus Terminal Tel. Bangkok 435-5032, 435-5097,
4357455 Non-air-conditioned coaches leave from Bangkok's
Southern Bus terminal on Petkasem Road daily.
, small mini-vans,
are a common mode of transport. These like the rest
of the public transport in the area, can be hailed anywhere
along a particular route. Within the city fares vary
but are never more than a few Baht and generally there
is a set price from one point to another. Outside the
town, the price is negotiable and it’s a good idea
to agree on the fare before you climb in.
taxis are
everywhere. Easy to find, they hang around most of the
busier intersections and along most roadsides in the
area. Again it is wise to sort out the price before
departure.
is reasonably priced and readily available. It is one
of the best ways to see the area. Check that the vehicle
you are hiring is covered by insurance. Unless hiring
from a reliable source you may find it isn’t and
as it is the driver’s responsibility to pay all
damages if there’s an accident, you may be in for
a nasty surprise.
shops
are easy to find and the bikes cheap to hire. Insurance
cover is not available for motorcycles and any damages
incurred along with medical bills are your responsibility.
Renting a bike in Hua Hin or Cha Am may cost you your
life rather than a few Baht though as the accident rate
in Thailand is EXTREME to say the least!
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