Where luxury and style abound, getting away to the beach is a truly all-inclusive, indulgent affair at the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort…
Hua Hin, with its proximity to Bangkok, just a pleasant two-and-a-half-hour, 190km drive away, is a much-loved destination by local and foreign visitors. With pristine sands that stretch as far as the eye can see, charming character and plenty of attractions to amuse and awe, Hua Hin popularity continues to grow, and demand for luxurious beachfront accommodation for both business and leisure is on the rise. Year in year out, people flock in their droves to discover or revisit the charms of this seaside town, famed as a longtime favourite of the Royal Family, and home to the Rama VI Summer Palace.
The InterContinental Hua Hin Resort is perfectly placed to satisfy the expectations and desires of the discerning, comfort-seeking traveller, whatever their purpose in Hua Hin. One could easily be mistaken for thinking that theirs is a brand new resort, since the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort here goes to great pains to ensure regular beautification takes place. Just recently having seen some major renovations and upgrades to services, facilities and exteriors, the resort looks all shiny and new, as if permanently wearing its Sunday best, despite the harsh elements a seaside location can pose. An impressive feat, it is.
Enter the lobby doors, and the outside world simply fades from existence. This colonial-style property stretches picturesquely from the main road down to the beach, with 118 spacious rooms, suites and villas, currently. (There are plans to open a new wing with additional accommodation in the next few months, bringing that total to 158 soon.) The legendary Thai-Victorian, two-storey, two-bedroom La Residence oceanfront villa is also part of this lavish resort, where decadently intimate beach weddings, regular magazine photoshoots, extravagant getaways and high-end dinners are often hosted.
Aside from La Residence and the Club InterContinental Beach Villa, the rooms and suites are divided into two wings. If you book a Club InterContinental upgrade, then after check-in at the brand new VIP Club Lounge at the beach, you will be steered by your butler towards one side, while all other guests check in at the lobby upon arrival and will veer, beach-bound, to the left. Although all guest rooms and suites are incredibly stylish and well-appointed, it is worthwhile considering an upgrade to InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, since there are a whole list of added extras that take an entire side of A4 to explain. This is one piece of literature you really do not mind studying.
The resort has among other visible transformations a relatively new General Manager, the terribly charming Jean-Marc Mocellin, a French national and veteran of the hospitality industry, with a look that belies his 30 plus years in the business. "Guests of the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort are looking for the consummate experience, across every conceivable avenue of their stay. Their fondness for the tastefulness and design of the hotel, their expectations of the flavour and presentation of the cuisine, their confidence in our professional, yet friendly, services have all made this hotel truly an exception in Hua Hin," he sums up masterfully.
With little need to venture outside the resort boundaries at all, there are numerous wining and dining opportunities, a whole network of temperature-controlled pools and Jacuzzis, a tempting signature spa, a luxury beachside firepit, a kids' club, boutiques and facilities for idyllic weddings and productive meetings. Dining highlights include seafood at Azure by the ocean, traditional Thai at Pirom, and authentic Italian at Fecilita. The latest addition to the F&B family is the rooftop Azure Bar, just recently launched. Mixologists are on hand to create the befitting sunset cocktail, while the cool ocean breezes caress the atmosphere and the DJ spins chilled out tunes.
Should you wish to venture out, then the resort can arrange transportation to any attractions, closeby or far and wide. Some of the most sought-after trips include: the nearby Vana Nava Water Jungle Park, suitable for all ages, with a cabana reserved exclusively for InterContinental visitors – take a look at the Water Park Package online for accommodation and entry tickets combined (from Bt7,800++ up per night); Wat Huaymongkol, a revered Buddhist temple; Chatchai Night Market, a stomping ground for souvenir hunters; and Khao Takiab, a local fishermen's village. The launch of the new high-end BluPort Mall has yet to be announced, but is expected towards the end of next year and is being built across the road from the lobby building.
InterContinental Hua Hin regularly welcomes the rich and famous from around the globe, and since Hua Hin is a popular destination for international sporting events, successful athletes are often inclined to call this resort their home-from-home. To name but a few events, there are the Hua Jazz Festival, Hua Hin Beach Polo, Hua Hin Regatta, and the Professional Kiteboarding World Cup. Also coming up soon is the World Tennis Thailand Championship 2016, sponsored by InterContinental Hua Hin, on 31st December 2015 and 1st January 2016, which will feature four of the Top-20-seeded ladies, including Venus Williams. InterContinental is arguably an unrivalled spot for many, if not all, of these events.
If you are in a hurry to get there from Bangkok, then ponder the option of the resort's private jet – the ultimate in luxurious transportation from the city. The eight-seater takes a mere 25 minutes from Don Mueang Airport, and a ten-minute limousine sees you checking in within the hour, for more time spent enjoying your stay, and less time in transit.
New Year's Eve is sure to be a sophisticated and spectacular affair, at InterContinental Hua Hin. The New Year's Eve Gala Dinner is themed as 'The Wonderful Story of the Secret Garden'. With a grand buffet on the beach, romantically decorated in exuberantly elegant colonial style, the stars will pale in comparison, as the largest Hua Hin fireworks display will light up the sky, over the waters and above resort, to the delight of guests at the stroke of midnight. From 7.30pm til late, tickets for the night are available at Bt9,800++ per adult, and Bt4,900++ for children between ages 6-12. As time is rapidly running out, it is advisable to make an immediate booking, should you wish to partake in this sumptuous feast and atmosphere of wonderment, not to be missed.
For further details on the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, call 032 616 999 or visit http://huahin.intercontinental.com Reservations can be made online or by emailing ichh.rsvn@ihg.com.
