GETTING THERE
Most people coming to Hua Hin travel by bringing their own transportation or by air-conditioned buses leaving Southern Bus Terminal every 40 minutes from 4.00 to 22.20 hrs.  There's another alternative for those who don't wish to go that far.  Private micro buses run from Victory Monument every half an hour, for reservations contact Tel: 0-1633-0609, 0-9163-6086 in Bangkok and Tel: 0-6992-7422 in Hua Hin.  The drop off point is right on Phetkasem Road.

The trip usually takes three hours to reach Cha-am and Hua Hin and three and a half hours to Pranburi estuary.  There is a small 12 seater aircraft leaving domestic terminal with four flights daily.  This is ideal for passengers who are coming from Asia or Europe and want to have breathtaking view of Bangkok and Gulf of Thailand.  Reservations should be made in advance by calling 0-2535-7050-1 in Bangkok and 032-522-300-1 in Hua Hin.  Return Fare is Baht 5,200.  There is airport limousine service availabel at Bangkok International Airport.  One way fare is Baht 3,200.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Don't drink tap water, use bottled water which is readily availabel and is inexpensive.  The sun is strong even during months of December to March, use sunblock and limit your exposure time.  Malaria is no threat but mosquito bites can be a major irritant.  Seafood is mostly caught locally and is of high quality at hotels and good restaurants.  Medicines for minor ailments are readily availabel at many pharmacies and for serious ailments, visit San Paulo Hospital Tel: 032-532-578 or Hua Hin International Polyclinic Tel: 032-516-424.  Both have ambulances.  Avoid encounter with jelly fish in the sea or at the beach, which is in abundance during rainy season.

POST AND TELEPHONE
Hua Hin has fully-fledged postal services next to CAT on Damnern Kasem opposite City Beach Hotel.  International calls can be made from CAT and yellow telephone booths around town.  Internet shops also offer SKYPE.

CLIMATE
The climate of Hua Hin is tropical and therefore warm throughout the year.  There are two hot weather in Hua Hin, the first between April and May when temperature ranges from 32 to 36 °C.  It gets very hot again in October but evenings are pleasant.  This is followed by the best season with beautiful sunny days.  From November till March, laying around your hotel pool or on the beach would clear your mind and batteries are charged.

SAFE HEAVEN
Thailand is one of the friendliest and safe destinations.  However in case of any mishap contact tourist police Tel: 1155 in Hua Hin and main Police Station on Damnern Kasem Road Tel: 032-533-440-1 on duty round the clock everyday.  Both Cha-am and Pranburi are perfectly safe destination as well late at night and there's no mugging reported.

ENTERTAINMENT
Hua Hin is a family destination and doesn't stand close to Bangkok and Pattaya in night life.  However, it has now four discotheques at Hilton, City Beach, Hua Hin Grand and Hin Nam Sai Suay Hotels.  Nightly there is live music at outdoor restaurant next to Hilton, at Oyster's Bar right at the beginning of Naresdamri.  Some hotels do offer trios in the evening over drinks and cocktails.  There's another contemporary bar with live music nightly in the same soi as Hyatt Regency Hotel called Sasi's ba Bar Tel: 032-512-488.  Crawfords Irish Pub has opened on Poolsuk Road, where visitors can enjoy Guinness draught and good pub grub.  Around this area are bars as well as in Soi Bintabhat with pool tables, live sport events.  All entertainment outlets are open till 01:00 a.m.  There is "Torro" grill shop next to Soi Petchkasem 78 playing live band.  There are three nice bars on Narathip Road in Cha-am.  All bars don't sell liquor on Buddhist Holidays.

SHOPPING
Hua Hin is changing fast in terms of shopping.  In front of Central Village, shops are selling merchandise made of sea-shells.  Along Naresdamri road are shops selling fine sunglasses, tailor shops, decorative and antique items, hand made paintings, carpets, then turn left on the Decha Nuchit, selling artifacts for decoration, jewelry shops and plentiful tailors.  There are shops in Hilton Hotel arcade selling Belgian semi-precious items, Jim Thompson Thai silk and fine carpets.  Near Satukarn Square is old time favorite shopping mall with branded clothing and good supermarket.

Now there are three big stores.  Premium Outlet is about 9kms from Cha-am on the way to Bangkok.  The outlet has branded clothes for ladies, men and children of highest quality, lingerie and footwear.  Pick-up point is opposite Night Market, call Tel: 0-1935-7476 to be picked from your hotel.  Round trip is Bht.100 per person.  Living Index Mall is next to Soi 23 and has furniture, bathroom accessories and electrical appliances.  The latest addition is Hua Hin Market Village, five hundred meters down south from Grand Hotel on the same side.  This huge complex has Tesco Lotus, Home Pro selling household accessories of highest standard.  The arcade also has food stalls, imported branded clothing. For entertainment, movie halls and bowling alley are here.  Can you ask for anything more!

Information courtesy of "Inside Hua Hin".