Cha-am
Cha-am is often seen as Hua Hin's little brother and it's main industry is fishing. Indeed the fishing village north of Cha-am town is quite large and thriving. Tourism thrives on Cha-am Beach area though and a big difference from Hua Hin's beach is that Cha-am beach has a true beach road alongside the sea. This is lined with sois and guesthouses and has some similarities to Patong Beach in Phuket.
The bar scene here is starting to grow, little by little. Not quite rivalling Hua Hins but getting there.
Backpackers are almost not to be found here, cheap digs is thin on the ground as the samsonite brigade of tourist couples dominate the shopping areas and venues of Cha-am.
Cha-am Facts Founded: circa 1800s A.D Population: 50,000 (Approx) Size (Metropolitan): 6 Sq. Miles Typical Visa Run Destination: Ranong and then Victoria Point Seasons and Weather. The centrally located Cha-am is, like many of its neighbors, one which is hot and humid. However the coastal geography means it benefits greatly from the westerly winds that blow in from the Gulf of Thailand. The city see's slightly more rain during the wet season but flooding is rarely a problem, especially with the new drainage in place. The wettest part of the year is normally September and the coldest is usually December and January. Cool Season - October to February. Avg Temp - 26 C Hot Season - March to May. Avg Temp - 33 C Wet Season - June to September. Avg Temp - 31 C. Getting to Hua Hin
From Hua Hin it's easy, just follow Petchkasem Road north where it becomes Highway 4. Don't be too ready to open the throttle, it's a nice long straight but U-turners can and do pull out on you. Being about 180 km from Bangkok means about 3 to 4.5 hours drive time to the capital, an airport operates flights out of the city but this is usually on an infrequent basis and Cha-ams nearest airport is in Hua Hin. Minibus' run regular shuttles to Cha-am from Victory monument. |
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