Golden Beach Hotel Cha-am

Towering above the rest of Cha Am, this hotel looks quite impressive from the outside, especially when compared to the low-rise buildings all around. Inside, the lobby is airy and bright, with sleek tile floors and a cluster of tasteful rattan chairs and sofas accented by bright orange cushions. Artsy driftwood benches sit against a wall with orange spiral patterns, while a bookshelf full of foreign language paperbacks provides some reading material. The partially open-air space is full of natural light and offers views of surrounding greenery. One of the highlights here is the hotel's colorful rooftop, which offers gorgeous views and stunning panoramas of the landscape and sea, though it's a bit disappointing that there's not furniture to relax on. All in all, this is a humble mid-range option, with simple interiors that are just modern enough. Most guests are couples and families, many of whom are domestic Thai tourists, as Cham Am is one of the more popular destinations for Bangkokians to escape the city.

Golden Beach Hotel Cha-am is located in the middle of Cha Am beach, a block inland from the sand. The back exit from the lobby gives direct access to the beach. It's an easy stroll down to the beach road, where there are many restaurants, bars, and shops. Expect a five-minute drive up to the main Cha Am-Hua Hin-Bangkok highway, where one can find minivans and taxis. Hua Hin can be reached in about 20 to 30 minutes, with the hotel offering shuttle services to various markets and night spots. It will take about 40 minutes to reach Chopsticks Hill, which is home to a famous temple and hordes of monkeys. There is no working airport nearby, and the closest will be all the way back in Bangkok, which can take two-and-a-half to three hours to reach (depending on traffic, which can raise travel times significantly).

There are 203 rooms to choose from at the Golden Beach Hotel Cha-am, divided into six different categories -- some of which are more attractive than others. The entry-level Standard Rooms are not overly inspiring, only available with twin beds, tile floors, and no extra amenities like electric kettles, bathrobes, or slippers that the Deluxe Rooms have. The Superior Rooms step it up a notch, with laminated wood floors, brightly painted orange walls, and more updated shower units. These rooms extend to higher floors, providing great sea views from the balconies. The Deluxe Rooms and various Suites are the best option, offering lovely views from the 20th floor. Suites offer the most space and have extra sitting areas and full refrigerators. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi, as well as modern conveniences like flat-screen TVs with cable channels, safes, mini-fridges, tea- and coffee-making facilities (in all but Standard Rooms), and air-conditioning.

Golden Beach Hotel Cha-Am has a decent array of facilities. The hotel has a sunny swimming pool surrounded by a wooden sundeck lined with loungers. There is a children's section at one end, with a giant colorful mushroom sitting in the middle. The hotel offers two restaurants: Coral is the breakfast restaurant, serving free buffet spreads to guests, while La Terrace has an extensive lunch and dinner menu with Western and Thai cuisine and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Le Club is the hotel's bar serving drinks and light snacks, as well as offering karaoke and live entertainment.

Other amenities include a small game room with a pool table, foosball, and an electronic pay game. There are several meeting rooms and conference facilities available for events. One of the highlights here is the hotel's rooftop, aptly named the Viewpoint, which offers outstanding panoramic views of the ocean, beach, and surrounding terrain. Unfortunately, it's not furnished, and there's not much up here to encourage relaxing. The hotel does run shuttles to various local sights, so check ahead for schedules. Tours and excursions can also be arranged. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, though some have complained that it's spotty.