Cha-am is its own town, in Phetchaburi province rather than Prachuap Khiri Khan. The Tourism Authority of Thailand calls it Phetchaburi’s beach town, relatively undiscovered by international tourists. It says the town’s beach road runs parallel to the sand, so tall hotels and small bungalows alike face the sea, and that it is low-key and laid back, especially on weekdays.
South of the town, as far as the provincial line near Hua Hin Airport, runs a strip of large resorts. Several carry the Hua Hin name but have Cha-am addresses, and Mrigadayavan Palace, King Rama VI’s teak seaside palace, stands among them.
We list four places here. You And Me Guesthouse, near Cha-am beach, is the cheapest room we list around Hua Hin, at around ฿522 a night, and I Calm Resort is a three-star nearby at around ฿1,546. VALA Hua Hin and Devasom Hua Hin Resort are the five-stars in the resort strip, at around ฿4,305 and ฿4,992.
No smoking on the beach. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources lists Cha-am among 24 beaches where smoking is banned, and says it provides designated smoking areas on them. The penalty is up to a year in prison, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both. Our guide to Thai laws has the detail, including why the list may since have changed.
Best for
A quieter beach, at almost any budget
Nightly range
฿522–฿4,992 a night
Local tips
- You And Me Guesthouse is about 500 metres from the Cha-am beach point Wikidata records
- Devasom and VALA carry the Hua Hin name but have Cha-am addresses
- Mrigadayavan Palace, which we list under things to do, is in this stretch