Active Pursuits

Golf

Probably the most popular activity in Hua Hin and Cha-Am is golf, and the town boasts some fine courses. Reservations are suggested and necessary most weekends. Many of the hotels run FOC (free of charge) shuttles, and most clubs can arrange pickup and drop-off to any hotel.

• Palm Hills Golf Resort and Country Club, 1444 Petchkasem Road, Cha-Am (tel. 03252-0800), just north of Hua Hin, is a picturesque course set among rolling hills and jagged escarpments (greens fees: 2,000B/US$57/#30.75; daily 6am-6pm).

• Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, Damnoenkasem Road near the Hua Hin Railway Station (tel. 03251-2475), is Thailand's first championship golf course, opened in 1924. Don't miss the many topiary figures along its fairways (greens fees: 1,700B/US$48/#26.15; daily 6am-6pm).

• Springfield Royal Country Club, 193 Huay-Sai Nua, Petchkasem Road, Cha-Am (tel. 03247-1303), designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1993, is in a beautiful valley setting -- the best by far (greens fees: 2,800B/US$80/#43.05; daily 6am-6pm).

Watersports

While most of the larger resorts will plan watersports activities for you upon request, you can make arrangements with small operators on the beach (for significant savings). Most resorts forbid noisy jet skis, but the beaches are lined with young entrepreneurs renting them out for 500B (US$12/#7.70) per hour. Windsurfers and Hobie Cats are for rent at most resorts or with small outfits along the beach (starting at 300B/US$8.60/#4.60 and 600B/US$17/#9.25 per hr., respectively).

Call Western Tours at tel. 03253-3303 and ask about their snorkeling trips to outer islands for about 2,100B (US$60/#32) per person. Their office is at 11 Damnoenkasem Rd. in the city center.

Spas

Hua Hin is famous for its fine spas, and each of the top resorts features excellent services (the Marriot, Anantara, and Hilton). There are lots of small massage storefronts in Hua Hin, but this is a great place to go upscale and get the royal treatment.

The best choice for a day of pampering is at Chiva-Som (73/4 Petchkasem Rd., Hua Hin; 5-min. drive south of town; tel. 03253-6536), where you pay a lot and get a lot. There's nothing like it.

Far south of town, luxury Evason Resort and Spa (9 Paknampran Beach, Pranburi 77220; 30km/19 miles south of Hua Hin; tel. 03263-2111) is a destination spa worth visiting in and of itself, but also a fine stop for high-end day treatments. It's comparable in quality with Chiva-Som.