Hua Hin's residents always believed their seaside town was different. It was the country's first beach resort. Thai families migrated from the city to build their second homes here on land adjacent to a golden sandy beach that swept south to a limestone headland. To the north as far as you could see the beaches were lined with tall casuarina coastal pine-trees hiding teakwood vacation homes, bungalows and palaces. Now Thailand's latest tourism promotion has branded Hua Hin and its twin resort Cha am a "royal paradise" confirming what locals knew all along - they live in a special place endorsed by royalty for more than a century.

	Phra Nakhon Khiri Palace or Khao Wang Palace, Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, Petchaburi Province
	Phra Ratchaniwet Meruekkhathaiyawan Palace was commissioned by King Rama VI and designed by an Italian architect.
	Phra Ram Ratchaniwet or Ban Puen Palace King Chulalongkorn (Rama V 1868 - 1910) commissioned the construction of Phra Ram Ratchaniwet or Ban Puen Palace by Petchburi River. Designed to be a retreat in the rainy season, the palace was modelled after the summer palace of Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and features a mixture of Baroque and 'art nouveau' architectural styles. Ban Puen Palace is easily recognised by its distinctive dome-shaped roof. During the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) from 1910 - 1925, foreign dignitaries on state visits were received at the palace.

Tourism promoters set themselves the task of identifying the essence of the country's popular tourist resort to capture their appeal for both local and international visitors. Hua Hin presented the easiest of tasks. There has never been any doubt that this is a coastal area associated with Thai royalty.

In the late 19^th century, King Mongkut (Rama IV) built a hill-top palace on the outskirts of Petchaburi town, just 50 km north of Hua Hin. Phra Nakhon Khiri Palace or Khao Wang Palace had its own observatory, overlooking the river and sea. It was here the King embarked on a study of astronomy that culminated in him accurately predicting the exact time of a solar eclipse.

Hua Hin's association with royalty has its origins in deer hunt held in 1910 when during the chase through a coastal forest Prince Chakrabongse came across an enchanting beach dominated by gigantic boulders worn smooth by the sea. The tranquillity and natural beauty of the bay made such a lasting impression on the prince he built an elaborate mansion. Chakrabongse Palace stood in the heart of Hua Hin until it was eventually dismantled to make way for a five star hotel.

Chronicles record that in 1923 King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) found the charm of Hua Hin quiet beaches irresistable. He commissioned the construction of a palace with 16 teakwood villas close to the location of Prince Chakrabongse's deer hunt and appropriately named the palace Deer Park.

Possibly the most fascinating link with royalty goes back to 1928 when King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) constructed a "golden teakwood" palace at a seaside location on the outskirts of Hua Hin. Inspired by the solitude of the bay he named the palace Klai Kangwon or "far from worries."

Rail tracks were laid and the first trains covered the 170 km journey in four to five hours. A royal pavilion was built at the railway station to receive honoured guests while the 1920s saw the opening of the country's first resort hotel and a golf course.

It was the stress-free lifestyle that obviously appealed to Thai tourists who found in this tiny fishing community that had settled on one of the country's finest beaches a retreat from the post Second World War uncertainties and economic challenges.

Hua Hin had a 50 year lead on other emerging tourist destinations in Thailand. Its links as the preferred destination for royalty and the country's top echelon turned into a summer retreat where families could enjoy their seaside vacation. That sentiment has survived despite modern highway links, an airport capable of handling regional services and the presence of international hotel brands.

	Photos courtesy of Chiva-Som International Health Resort

Hua Hin and Cha-am twin resorts separated by a 7km stretch of beach remain resorts for families where still traditional Thai hospitality shine through the commercial enterprise associated with tourism.

Life moves at a slower pace than you would find at other popular Gulf of Thailand resorts. Town officials will tell you that they draw a line on around the clock nightlife. They have a canny recognition that the resort success depends on identifying with its heritage and targeting family vacations. But like any village in the Land of Smiles it's still a fun place to be. Golf is a top attraction, with six world-class courses all within a short distance of five-star hotels that include the Marriott Royal Garden, Sofitel, Hilton and Hyatt. Many of the properties have opened their own health spas and activity programmes targeting families including horse riding, sailing, mountain-bike treks and trips to national parks. The world class spa resort Chiva Som is located in Hua Hin.

TAT's Royal Paradise campaign was created to elevate the resorts' status to international level focusing on the five-star spas, hotel facilities and golf resorts. Clearly the objective is to encourage visitors to spend more time in this coastal region and to present resorts that can cater to specific niche markets.

Most recently Hua Hin's airport runway was extended to 2,100 metres to accommodate medium-sized aircraft, such as the Boeing 737.

Bangkok Airways flies a daily Bangkok-Hua Hin-Samui service, while Air Andaman intends to fly a daily service from Phuket to Hua Hin and beyond to Pattaya.

	Photos courtesy of Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort and Dusit Resort and Polo Club

There are approximately 7,000 hotel rooms in the area of which 20 hotels are in the four- to five-star range and 137 hotels and bungalow resorts in the mid to budget category. Hotel rates start as low as Bt1,000 up to Bt10,000. For individual bookings, some travel agencies in Bangkok sell a twin room at the Marriott Royal Garden Hua Hin for Bt4,600, Bt5,700 at the Anantara Resort and Bt5,300 at the Dusit Resort and Polo Club.

Still many visitors are drawn to the bungalows and long-stay options available in residential condominiums that the dot coastline for more than 15 km. Both Hua Hin and Cha am have attracted the attention of retirees who return year after year for a three month vacation to escape the worst of the northern European winter. They have formed informal clubs, meeting each year at the same resort hotels and organising their own gala dinners and recreational activities.

Perhaps they have discovered that "far from worries" experience that inspired the name for a summer palace on Hua Hin's tranquil shores. From the gardens of the golden teakwood palace you can still see fishermen mending their nets; their wooden boats unchanged for generations still driven by oar and sail.

Hua Hin has drawn on a well of heritage, balancing carefully the need to be a modern resort capable of attracting international visitors while ever mindful of its royal endorsement.