Jaidee Resort

The hotel is a quiet escape from busy Hua Hin, and feels far more like a family home than a hotel. The resort is housed in a traditional Thai teak wood home, and is immaculately crafted and painstakingly kept. In fact, the only clue that this is a hotel when arriving at the property is the resort welcome sign out front. Traditional homes in the region have large spaces underneath and are built high off the ground (so as to be safe during the monsoon season), and the area underneath the house here has some swings for kids, places to relax, a ping pong table, and is a good spot for families to chill out. To actually reach the lobby, one must walk through the property, past the swimming pool, and out back next to the large pond, where the restaurant and homey bar serve as an extension of the lobby. It is a very laid back and intimate experience, run by a husband and wife team with a few staff who make guests feel at home right away; there isn't any pressure to do anything much in a hurry. Fans of fine architecture and craftsman homes will love this hotel, and couples and families on holiday make up the bulk of the guests here.

The Jaidee Resort is located outside of Hua Hin, in a hilly area on a paved narrow side road. It is very quiet, with little traffic. There isn't much up here in terms of development, so it feels quite rural and removed from town, though a drive into Hua Hin only takes 20 minutes. It isn't really convenient for those looking for the beach, or the restaurants, bars, and shops of Hua Hin, as guests will need their own transportation to get around (although the resort offers a shuttle bus service a few times a day). Wat Khao Takiap and Chopsticks Hill, famous for its gangs of monkeys, takes about 30 minutes to reach by car, and the closest major airports are all the way back in Bangkok, which takes at least two-and-a-half hours to reach by car.

Rooms are small, but cozy, and set in traditional Thai houses with carved wooden porches out front. Most rooms have woven bamboo panel walls and furniture, and Chalet Standard Rooms are tiny. The next category up, Chalet Deluxe Rooms, are a better option, as these have an extra settee plus benches outside overlooking the swimming pool. All rooms come with safes, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles for making coffee and tea, plus hand-held fans in case the air-conditioning isn't strong enough (though it usually is). The bathrooms are small and clean, with warm-color tiled walls, slate walk-in showers, and contemporary stand-alone sinks. Chalet Lake Rooms are located near the hotel pond. They are much larger and suitable for families. A teak-beamed ceiling looms over white walls and parquet floors laid with woven carpets and low-slung contemporary furniture. These rooms also have large terraces plus extra beds and more living space.

The Jaidee Resort may be small and outside of town, but it has enough facilities to keep guests entertained. There is a stylish swimming pool and hot tub flanked by contemporary lounge chairs set in the hotel's courtyard and surrounded by the property's stunning traditional architecture. Upstairs, the resort has a tiny gym, a massage room, and a home cinema, as one of the owners is a movie fanatic and has built a large projection room with comfortable leather armchairs where guests can kick back and enjoy free movies that are screened nightly. Additionally, the resort has an open space underneath one of the homes which houses a ping pong table and some games -- a great family feature -- and there is even a rooftop terrace for sunbathing or taking in the views over the large pond that's part of the resort. There is also a small restaurant and bar here, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and serving both Thai and western dishes throughout the day and evening. Breakfast -- including homemade breads, fresh fruit, yogurt, and eggs -- is free, as is Wi-Fi throughout the property. The hotel runs a free shuttle into Hua Hin during the day and taxi services can also be arranged.