If you ask me, visiting Thailand without seeing the ocean should be a crime. So while I was in Bangkok for some work, I was eager to find a way to include a visit to the beach. Unfortunately, I could only spare a couple of nights which left me with limited options. Luckily, Hua Hin is an easy drive from Bangkok, and I booked the Hilton Hua Hin for a couple of nights.

Booking the Hilton Hua Hin

I booked the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa directly through the Hilton app, largely because I had a Hilton resort credit burning a hole in my virtual wallet. My two-night stay came out to THB 9,014, approximately $275 USD, so this was less an exercise in finding the absolute best rate or property in Hua Hin (I’ve been wanting to check out the Standard…) and more one in extracting maximum value from the increasingly complicated collection of credits bestowed upon us by American Express.

The first $200 of the stay was covered by the $200 Hilton resort credit on my Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Since the room rate was slightly higher than that, I was also able to put another $50 toward the stay using the quarterly Hilton credit on my American Express Business Platinum Card.

That meant a total of $250 in statement credits could be applied toward the stay, leaving me with a relatively modest amount to pay out of pocket. There are worse ways to subsidize a beachfront stay.

I didn’t seriously consider redeeming Hilton Honors points for this stay. I’ve recently depleted quite a bit of my Hilton balance, and, more importantly, I specifically wanted to use the Aspire resort credit.

Sometimes the optimal stay isn’t an elaborate cents-per-point calculation, you simply have a credit and would quite like Amex to pay your hotel bill.

Hilton Hua Hin Location

As I mentioned, the main reason I picked Hua Hin for a quick two-night escape from Bangkok was simple: it’s easy to get to.

Hua Hin is roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Bangkok, traffic permitting. Compare that with escaping to somewhere like Koh Samui or Krabi, which generally means schlepping to one of Bangkok’s airports, dealing with security, taking a domestic flight, and then arranging yet another transfer to your hotel.

Paradise is lovely, but losing half a day to getting there isn’t especially appealing when you only have two nights, particularly when you’re trying to fit the trip around a work schedule rather than simply switching off completely.

I was already in Bangkok on a work trip, staying at The StandardX Bangkok Phra Arthit, so Hua Hin made considerably more sense as a two-night side trip than adding another flight and airport transfer. I booked a private car transfer for around $60, which picked me up on time and took me directly from Bangkok to the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa.

The drive took a bit over 2.5 hours. I spent most of it getting work done from the back seat, which was substantially more productive than spending the same amount of time navigating an airport. It meant I could make the most of the trip without pretending I was entirely off the clock. We pulled up at the Hilton at around 3 p.m.

The hotel itself sits directly on the beach in central Hua Hin, so once you arrive, you’re not marooned at some sprawling resort miles from civilization. Restaurants, bars, shops, and the center of Hua Hin are all within easy reach, while the Gulf of Thailand is quite literally out the back door.

For a short escape from Bangkok, it’s difficult to fault.

Hilton Hua Hin Check In

I arrived at the hotel at around 3 p.m. and made an obligatory first stop at the front desk, where there were no other guests but no shortage of staff.

Since I’m a Hilton Honors Diamond member, another perk of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which includes Club Lounge access at most Hiltons, I was escorted there for my check in experience.

That is unquestionably the better choice. Rather than standing around in the lobby, I settled in the lounge with an espresso and a few snacks from the afternoon tea spread while the formalities happened around me.

The check-in agent brought over a binder with the paperwork for me to sign and took my credit card for the usual guarantee. She thanked me for being a Diamond member and for returning to the hotel (this was my second visit).

More importantly, I was informed that I’d received a double upgrade.

I had booked a standard King Classic Room and received a two-category upgrade, through Premium to a King Premium Plus Room. In Hilton-upgrade arithmetic, that meant Classic to Premium to Premium Plus. Hilton isn’t as generous with upgrades for elite members (particularly with Diamond no longer being the top-tier in the program) but at least this wasn’t an “upgrade” that’s just the same room on the same floor with a marginally more enthusiastic view of a car park.

A letter was also provided with some hotel information.

Once I’d finished my espresso and snacks, I headed upstairs to my room.

Hilton Hua Hin King Premium Plus Room

Thanks to the upgrade, I found myself in Room 902, a King Premium Plus Room. The room is generously sized (advertised by the hotel as 42 square meters, or about 450 square feet) and is laid out in a fairly conventional resort-hotel fashion but plenty of glass.

Immediately inside the entrance, a bank of closets runs along the right-hand side, while the bathroom is on the left along with a full-length mirror. Storage is certainly not an issue in this room.

Past the bathroom, the room opens into a spacious bedroom and living area with handsome dark wood flooring. The king bed sits along the left wall, flanked by two unusually wide bedside tables and plenty of lighting.

There’s ample storage throughout the room.

Alongside the bed is a proper sofa, while closer to the balcony there’s a large round table paired with an office chair. It’s not a conventional desk, but it worked perfectly well as one.

Opposite the bed is a large wall-mounted television. Beneath it runs a particularly long stone-topped bench with drawers and enough surface area for several suitcases. Combined with the closets, this gives the room an almost comical amount of storage compared with many newer hotel designs.

Adjacent to the television area is the minibar and counter, which was stocked with the usual assortment of chargeable temptations along with a kettle for making tea and instant coffee. Hotels that don’t give you a way to make proper coffee definitely make me thankful for executive lounge access…

Two bottles of drinking water were provided.

Waiting on the table was a welcome note recognizing my Hilton Honors status along with a plate of fresh fruit. Nothing revolutionary, but a pleasant bit of Diamond recognition nonetheless.

The best part of the room, however, is at the far end. Double glass doors open onto a large private balcony overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Rather than receiving the two miserable metal chairs that hotels so often deploy outdoors as punishment for wanting fresh air, the balcony has a proper loveseat, armchair and small table.

There’s enough space to sit comfortably (or get work done on your laptop, as the case may be), and from the ninth floor the elevated ocean view is excellent.

The room isn’t going to trouble Bangkok’s latest crop of hyper-designed luxury hotels for architectural awards. The aesthetic is restrained and unmistakably Hilton: light woods, white surfaces, neutral upholstery and very little that might frighten a corporate travel manager. But it’s large, comfortable, extremely functional and blessed with a terrific ocean-facing balcony. For a two-night beach escape, those are rather more useful qualities than having an artisanal turntable and nowhere to put your suitcase.

Also, importantly. The AC worked very well and was already pre-set to a comfortable temperature of 15ºC. After my sleepless night at the Madrid Marriott Airport last month, this was a welcome sight.

Hilton Hua Hin Closet

The closets contain an iron and ironing board, safe, hairdryer, slippers, laundry bag and service information, an umbrella, particularly useful during Thailand’s rainy season, and two bathrobes. There’s plenty of hanging space as well.

The hair dryer is in one of the closet drawers rather than under the vanity (or in the bathroom).

Hilton Hua Hin Bathroom

The bathroom is bright and quite attractive, finished largely in white marble-effect surfaces. There’s a double vanity with two sinks, a large mirror and plenty of counter space. Towels are stored underneath, while the amenities laid out around the sinks included a shower cap, vanity kit and shaving kit.

Curiously, you’ll need to call down if you want a dental kit.

Toiletries are from Crabtree & Evelyn, with hand wash and body lotion at the vanity and larger bottles of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel mounted in the shower.

The walk-in shower itself has both an overhead rainfall shower and a handheld showerhead—the technical term I was searching for, apparently, rather than “the movable flexible thing.”

More interestingly, virtually the entire bathroom is enclosed in glass. There’s a glass door separating the shower from the vanity area, another glass door for the toilet, and an enormous window looking directly from the bedroom into the shower.

This is great news if you’ve reached the level of intimacy with your travel companion at which watching them shampoo is considered entertainment.

If you haven’t quite reached that stage, there’s an electrically operated blind that comes down over the window between the bathroom and bedroom. The switch is on the opposite side of the vanity from the shower and isn’t particularly obvious, so it may take a moment of investigation before discovering that you don’t, in fact, have to shower on stage.

As for me, I was rolling solo on this trip, so I left the blind up and enjoyed the ocean view while I showered.

Hilton Hua Hin Gym

The gym is a weak point of the Hilton Hua Hin. It’s perfectly functional, but the equipment is limited and a bit long in the tooth.

On the cardio side, there are several treadmills, stationary bikes, and ellipticals.

For strength training, there’s a decent rack of dumbbells, several adjustable benches and a handful of Precor weight machines and cable stations.

You’ll also find exercise balls, mats, foam rollers and some suspension-training equipment.

To be fair, everything was well maintained and in good working order. This isn’t one of those resort gyms where the treadmill sounds as though it’s preparing for takeoff. But the equipment isn’t new, and the breadth of equipment leaves a lot to be desired. There’s enough to get a sweat in, particularly for a couple of nights, but not much more.

Hilton Hua Hin Tennis & Squash Courts

The hotel has two tennis courts and squash courts which guests can reserve and use free of charge.

The hotel also offers racket and ball rentals, along with a knocker service (very limited hours). I’m including pricing below.

Since the hotel does not provide coaches, I arranged my own local coach, who was excellent. He works across Hua Hin, not just at the Hilton, and I’m happy to provide his contact information if anyone wants it. For what it’s worth, I was not charged for having a “non-resident guest” join me on the court.

I got in sessions on both mornings, which was still a nice perk to have on property.

Unfortunately, the courts badly need resurfacing. The surface is visibly worn and uneven, and the photos probably undersell just how bumpy it felt.

It rained overnight before my second session, and the staff apparently made no effort to dry the courts. Puddles remained across the surface the next morning, making the existing unevenness even more noticeable.

It’s great to have complimentary courts available, but hopefully the hotel will make a minimal investment to bring them up to standard. The idea is great, but the execution less so.

Hilton Hua Hin Dining

Breakfast at Hilton Hua Hin (Gingerfire Restaurant)

Hilton Honors Diamond members receive complimentary breakfast and can choose between Gingerfire and the Executive Lounge

As far as I’m concerned, Asia is the best place in the world for hotel breakfasts, and Hilton Hua Hin puts up a strong effort in this department. Breakfast at Gingerfire is served from 6 to 10:30 am on weekdays and 6 to 11 am on weekends.

Breakfast is served in the hotel’s main restaurant, where the buffet is spread across multiple stations and is extensive enough that you might want to make a reconnaissance lap before committing to anything.

The selection covers both Asian and Western breakfast staples.

In Asian food, there was plenty, including pots of pad thai, curry, and various types of rice. There was also a made-to-order noodle soup station, a dim sum station with plenty of toppings, and even some basic futomaki sushi rolls.

The egg station handles the usual permutations, including fried and scrambled eggs and omelets with your choice of fillings.

Elsewhere, there are Western hot dishes, pancakes and waffles, breads, pastries, croissants, cereals, fruit, salads and the usual assortment of cold breakfast items.

The bakery selection is extensive as well.

Juices and other breakfast drinks are available from the buffet.

Coffee gets a more civilized treatment. Although there is a coffee station, the hostess asked for my coffee order while seating me and had it prepared by the barista and delivered directly to my table. I asked for a cappuccino with almond milk, which was accommodated without issue.

I also selected a variety of Asian dishes to enjoy, including a bowl of spicy noodle soup from the soup station.

While I usually appreciate a good egg white omelette in the morning, my Asian side definitely comes out in these situations. I simply didn’t have the stomach real estate to allocate to it after filling up on Asian food.

Interestingly, while most guests simply have a plaque saying “reserved” placed on their table, elite Hilton Honors members get a stand indicating their status.

Throughout breakfast, staff would stop by with additional small dishes exclusively for elite members, which is a nice (if slightly awkward) touch.

For me, the main restaurant is unquestionably the way to go. The sheer variety, made-to-order stations and mixture of Thai, Asian, and Western dishes make breakfast one of the hotel’s stronger offerings. Asian hotel breakfasts remain undefeated.

Once you’ve traveled in this part of the world, the sad croissants and a bowl of cornflakes masquerading as a “continental breakfast” won’t cut it.

Hilton Hua Hin Executive Lounge

The executive lounge at the Hilton Hua Hin is open from 6 am to 8 pm daily. Breakfast in the lounge is from 6:30 to 10:30 am, afternoon tea from 2 to 4 pm, and evening cocktails from 5 to 7 pm.

It’s located on the mezzanine level and features a nice view of the lobby below and pools/ocean beyond. It’s a spacious and generally peaceful space and has an expansive feel. There’s coffee available throughout its opening hours, so I found myself stopping in multiple times a day for coffee.

Breakfast at Hilton Hua Hin (Executive Lounge)

As mentioned, Diamond members also have the option of having breakfast in the Executive Lounge. I didn’t bother. With the amount of choice in the restaurant, retreating to the lounge seemed rather like voluntarily limiting myself. However, I did stop by and snap some photos of the spread. Given the paucity of guests in the club, I think most guests shared my assessment.

While the Executive Lounge breakfast selection was more limited, it did still have an egg station.

Hilton Hua Hin Executive Lounge Happy Hour

There’s an evening cocktail hour in the club every evening from 5 to 7. There’s a rotating selection of warm foods on offer along with salad fixings, crudités, and charcuterie items.

There’s a cocktail menu, along with beer and wine.

Chay Had Restaurant

Chay Had is the “Mediterranean” beach and poolside restaurant. You can review the full menu for this restaurant (and other restaurants at the hotel) here. As you can see, despite the branding, the menu is about half pasta and pizza, with the rest filled in with Thai staples as well as salads and burgers/hot dogs.

I had a late lunch here after checking in and ordered the angel hair vongole. It wasn’t anything special, but overall, solidly executed for a restaurant in a small town in Thailand.

I later stopped by and had a couple of gin and tonics at the poolside bar during their 3 to 5 pm two-for-one happy hour. While it’s not listed in the menu, they had Tanqueray at the bar.

Gingerfire Restaurant

Gingerfire is the hotel’s main restaurant and was described to me as “modern Thai”. Located off the lobby, it’s where breakfast is served and then opens for lunch from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm and dinner from 6 to 11 pm.

It’s also the hotel’s main bar.

I had a quick lunch here before checking out on my final day, consisting of Pad See Ew tofu and a dry gin martini with a twist. I enjoyed both. (The purple juice is a welcome drink.)

Deca Coffee

There’s a coffee shop in the lobby from 10 am to 7 pm. Since I was getting my coffee fix in the executive lounge and breakfast, I never ordered here.

White Lotus Restaurant and Rooftop Bar

The hotel has a Szechuan restaurant, White Lotus, and a rooftop bar on the 17th floor.

I had dinner at White Lotus one evening and ordered the mapo tofu.

When I ordered, the waitress specifically asked whether I wanted it spicy. I said yes, which seemed promising.

Unfortunately, what arrived was neither particularly spicy nor especially flavorful. The sauce was surprisingly flat, without the heat or depth I would normally expect.

I’m not sure what went wrong, but it would have disappointed me at a Chinese restaurant in the U.S. Getting such a timid version in Thailand, where kitchens are generally not afraid of seasoning, was disappointing.

Hilton Hua Hin Service

Service throughout my stay was quite good.

Most of my interaction was with the Executive Lounge staff, who handled both my check-in and check-out and also booked the tennis courts for me. They were consistently helpful and efficient.

The breakfast team was very busy both mornings, but still friendly and attentive, checking in if I wanted another coffee and clearing dishes quickly. Elsewhere, the waitresses and bartender at the Gingerfire Bar were personable. This is Thailand, so “friendly” often means genuinely chatty. Staff were quick to ask questions and make conversation rather than simply processing an order. Whether you like that or not is a matter of preference but it’s consistent throughout the country.

Housekeeping was also solid.

I only had one full cleaning during my two-night stay, but the room was refreshed thoroughly, and everything was restocked as expected. True to form in much of Asia, even towels I had hung up were replaced anyway.

There was no evening turndown service, which is slightly unusual for a hotel positioning itself as five-star. That said, I don’t particularly care about turndown unless it’s something special, so it didn’t affect me.

Late checkout for Diamond members is not guaranteed at Hilton, but they were happy to accommodate a 3 pm late checkout upon request which I appreciated.

Hilton Hua Hin Bottom Line

The Hilton Hua Hin isn’t Thailand’s newest or flashiest resort, but it does most of the important things well.

The rooms are spacious, the oceanfront location is excellent, breakfast is genuinely impressive, and Diamond recognition is strong. The gym and tennis courts need investment, and dining was somewhat inconsistent, but neither materially detracted from my two-night stay.

Most importantly, it’s easy to access from Bangkok for a getaway without catching a flight. Factor in the ability to use Hilton and Amex credits, and I wouldn’t hesitate to return.