Regent Chalet Huahin

The entrance to the Regent Chalet Regent Beach Cha-Am is unimposing -- a small driveway and entrance gate lead to a parking area and roundabout. While small, the lobby is inviting, with fine wood flooring and elegant rattan chairs with colorful cushions. There are no windows in this open-air building -- instead there are carved-wood lattices, revolving ceiling fans, and styled mood lights. A wooden case full of porcelain vases and jars, along with a small Ramayana dancer statue, add atmosphere to the surroundings. While the lobby and the upstairs Lom Fang Restaurant have an elegant old-style Thai ambience, the pool has the vibe of a relaxed beach resort, creating quite a contrast. Guests here are couples and families on holiday.

The Regent Chalet Regent Beach Cha-Am is about five miles miles south of Cha Am town (about a 15-minute drive), and sits a mile down a side road from the main highway to Hua Hin. The resort is right on the beach, and though this stretch of sand is nothing spectacular, it isn't as built up as the beaches farther north and south. There is a small village within a 15-minute walk of the property, which has a good selection of restaurants, bars, and shops. The closest major airports are all the way back in Bangkok, a trip that takes about two hours by road.

The 122 rooms at the Regent Chalet Regent Beach Cha-Am are rustic-looking bungalows set amid green tropical gardens. They have outdoor sitting areas, but only those closest to the beach have sea views. Standard Rooms are housed in duplex bungalows, whereas Superior Rooms are standalone. Family Rooms have sleeping lofts, with small twin beds suitable for children, above the main room. These aren't the most cutting edge rooms, and decor throughout is a bit dated, but clean, with warm wood parquet floors, white walls, simple rattan furniture, and Thai art prints hanging on the wall. There is a bit of wear as well, including scuff marks on the floor. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, in-room phones, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and hair dryers but no free Wi-Fi; safe-deposit boxes are also lacking. Bathrooms are modern and have granite countertops, but they're small and have only showers. 

This hotel sits on a quiet stretch of shoreline. There is no wide sandy area, though, and the the water is prone to jellyfish in the summer, making it less than ideal for swimming at certain times of year. An outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrella tables, and there is a large adjacent kids' pool. The resort is family-friendly, with a kids' playground behind the pool, as well as a small library with books and magazines. Bike rentals are also available. Additionally, the resort has a small fitness center with cardio machines and free weights. There is no on-site spa, but massages can be arranged from an outside provider. Two restaurants serve Thai and international cuisine. One of them, Chom Talay, sits right on the beach and is quite romantic, with tables on a wood deck overlooking the sea. The other, Lom Fang, is more traditional, and sits above the lobby in a teak-wood house, with elegantly carved wood lattices framing open-air dining tables. Wi-Fi is free in the hotel's public areas. Breakfast is free with many bookings, though there are conditions.