Hua Hin Airport | Hua Hin Ferry
With the International Hua Hin Airport & Hua Hin Ferry, we’re no longer a small isolated town in Central Thailand!
International Hua Hin Airport & Hua Hin Ferry | Quick Access To Everything!
By most standards, Hua Hin would be considered a small provincial Thai fishing village…and 10 years ago, no one would have argued any differently. These days, Hua Hin and its southern suburb, Pranburi, are known as resort towns for the recently retired Europeans, the wealthy Chinese and the young Hi-So Thais. Each demographic is looking for something different, but Hua Hin & Pranburi are able cater to everyone’s needs and desires with their varied selection of activities, natural beauty, great dining and shopping options, and now, easy access in and out of town.
Whether you’re looking for a nice, well-deserved house for retirement and an affordable cost of living, or you’re an active sports enthusiast who is still young and working, Hua Hin and its surrounding areas has something to offer all of us. That said, some people never consider living far from a major metropolis. Big cities offer culture, fine arts, excellent dining opportunities, and of course, MEGA shopping malls. While Hua Hin & Pranburi offer many of these amenities, it still doesn’t compare to Bangkok, New York or Paris….yet!
If you’re new to Hua Hin or Pranburi and a little apprehensive about the quiet, small town vibe, don’t fear: Hua Hin & Pranburi are just a hop, skip and a jump from some of the biggest cities in the world thanks to the Hua Hin International Airport and the Hua Hin Ferry Terminal.
AirAsia is currently operating out of the Hua Hin International Airport with daily non-stop flights to Malaysia’s International Airport in Kuala Lumpur, from where you can fly anywhere in the world. Adrienne & I are active Spartan racers, and we are super thankful for easy & direct access to cheap flights throughout Asia (and the rest of the world). You can book any flight directly through AirAsia’s website here: AirAsia. We often fly to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to participate in our Spartan events, and nothing beats flying directly from Hua Hin, rather than the 3+ hour drive to Suvarnabhumi International Airport….especially returning home after a particularly difficult race.
Furthermore, if you’re looking for big city excitement, we find it’s quicker (and possibly cheaper) to fly from Hua Hin to KL for the weekend, rather than driving to Bangkok from Hua Hin….it’s definitely less stressful to relax on a plane reading a book or sleeping, compared to driving and navigating through Bangkok traffic.
Plus, if you’re looking for a break from Thailand, Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia in general, is a nice respite. In some ways, KL is almost like living in the West, where everyone speaks near perfect English, with excellent roads, manageable traffic conditions, and drivers who follow basic traffic laws. Don’t get me wrong, I love living in Thailand, but it’s nice to have a change of scenery every once in a while, and traveling affordably to a new country really hits the spot sometimes! Travel time to KL is approximately 2 hours, and there are daily flights between Hua Hin and Kuala Lumpur.
Hua Hin Airport | Hua Hin Ferry
Hua Hin Ferry Terminal | Take A Relaxing Boat Ride To Thailand’s Version Of Las Vegas!
The Hua Hin Ferry is another great option when you just need to get out of town for a night (or 2) of fun. Pattaya is well-known as an adult playground. However, what is not often mentioned are all the great restaurants, shopping malls and cafés in Pattaya. Yes, there is great nightlife in Pattaya, but don’t forget that this city has a lot more to offer than just nightclubs. There are some great French restaurants (like Casa Pascal), the famous sandy beaches, several yacht clubs, and many, many more amenities. There are also some truly great resorts along the beach, like the Hard Rock Hotel, and Cape Dara Resort.
If you’re thinking about taking the ferry trip from Hua Hin to Pattaya, I highly recommend upgrading to the business class tickets for a few extra Baht. You’ll be seated at the top of the ferry with more comfortable seats and snack service. I usually fall asleep reading a book on the ferry, as the ride is generally gentle and smooth with virtually no sea-sickness-inducing waves. The travel time is approximately 2.5 hours by ferry, as opposed to approximately 5+ hours by car. It’s definitely cheaper & much quicker to take the ferry…and much more enjoyable. The Hua Hin and Pattaya ferries travel daily (currently, once a day) between the cities. Check the departure times beforehand, as the times change seasonally, depending on the tides.